bugwitch

Um...I guess I don't understand exactly what you are saying miz z....after having WLS, just having two drinks will make me an alcoholic? Do you know what alcoholism is? I wouldn't be surprised if people who have WLS end up substituting one addiction/habit (excessive eating) for another (excessive drinking) but two drinks does not a drunk make. There is a reason you should see a therapist before having (after too IMO) WLS; so you can make sure you are not going down a path of addiction in lieu of food, among other things.

For those who want a bit of info on it, here's a neat video:

I've been thinking of picking this up after surgery. I've tried running here/there over the years but normally end up spraining an ankle doing some other random, mundane activity and then I just don't go back out. But, I always like the "idea" of running...make sense? Anyway...I like what I've come across about this so far. Anyone here do it?

I was at the San Diego Zoo back in December. It was fun. I wanted to spend more time looking at the other stuff in the area (museums, japanese garden, etc) but didn't get a chance. All of those places are right next to each other. Not sure about where you should stay. Check out yelp.com and look at reviews.

I am a vegetarian (no surgery yet...3 days away!) and have attempted veganism a few times. I did not watch that clip, but I imagine it is from the film Earthlings which is an excellent movie and one I think anyone who wants to eat animals should watch. I am a firm believer in the concept of knowing what impact you are really having on the planet. If you want to eat meat, know where it came from and what that animal has to go through in order to feel your gut. If you want to continue to eat meat, but do so in a more ethical (and environmentally) friendly manner, there are a number of options for you. As someone mentioned, contact your local farms. I am lucky in that my local Whole Foods gets a lot of products (milk, cheese, and meat too I assume) from local farms. Here at the University, there is a program which teaches proper butchering and the cuts which are not cut to perfection are sold at a discounted rate. Those cows live a pretty decent life here on campus. Big thing: Go to your farmers market. This will be your best asset to getting good quality and ethical products. They are locally made and therefore decrease your ecological footprint. But, since these are typically smaller operations, the owners don't have the same pressure to hoard 300 cows into a space big enough for 50. Also, look at getting involved in a CSA (Community Sustainable Agriculture). Weekly deliveries of veggies, fruit and sometimes meats if those farms are involved too, can be a great. Hope that helps. I would suggest being a vegetarian for a while post-op (meaning, eating eggs and dairy products). Baby steps. Even take it slower..just phase out beef first. Then chicken and/or pig. And eventually fish and seafood. I did it all at once and that worked for me. But most people find it easier to progress in stages.

I've been at 281.2 for a few weeks now. I know I must have gone up because I've had some rather stressful days with not-so-good eating, but I keep sticking at 281.2. Damn you scale!!!!!

Interesting. I had my gall bladder removed in 2004. I left the same day and stayed with family while I recuperated. I had a tube sticking out of my belly that sucked the Fluid that had built up. I was up and moving around, but kinda drugged and wacky/sleepy for a few days. The tube is what hurt the most, not the surgery. I think it was pushed up against an organ, so when I stripped it (pinched and sucked fluid out), it hurt like a son of a biyatch. My surgery is coming up on Monday. There is still the chance that I might not be getting the sleeve and will instead be doing the band (don't post about why one is better than the other...I don't want to hear it and that's not the reason). Anyway, from what I have read, it sounds like the day of surgery you're pretty groggy and unhappy. But it starts to get better after that. Funny, it never crossed my mind that this experience would be similar to the gall bladder. With the exception of that damn tube, the removal was pretty easy and pain free.

So, I just finished my two final exams and I am pretty sure I failed them. No, don't give me any of that, "It's better than you think" crap. I know my own abilities and I know what just happened...and what just happened was one big steaming pile of sh!t. For each exam, my brain and body were just empty. I felt like I couldn't understand what the questions were asking. I felt so lost. During the second exam, I couldn't focus at all and found my mind wandering between pondering the questions, starting to panic about finding a job because I won't be passing this quarter, and not having the money to pay for surgery next week because I'll have to save it for rent!...assuming I can even pay rent to begin with. I'm really lost right now. I titled this blog post 'Empty' because that is kind of how I feel. My mind is empty. My body feels empty. I just feel like there's nothing left and I can't figure out why the hell I even decided to do this whole graduate school thing to begin with. If I didn't have to hang around for the class I TA for to take their exam, I would be home right now, curled up with my cats. That's the only place I want to be at the moment.

Increase your calorie intake for a couple of weeks. Then go back to normal. Keep your exercise level about the same.

SN.........................Starting Wt........Current........Goal.......Lbs to Goal bugwitch...............285...................281.2...............255................26.2 So, I've been having a couple pretty awful days food-wise. Trying to snap out of it, but it's slow going. Gotta stop letting crap get me down. Surgery is in 8 days, I fly out a week from today.

Hey...tequila and vodka are Clear liquids.... Yes, as mentioned above, empty calories, diuretic, wakka wakka wakka. I've also heard from others that they get drunk WAY quicker then before having surgery.

Here's the kicker for ya'... What it everything is just fine?

Ack...am I the only one going to Dr. Aceves on the 21rst?

21 March with Dr. Aceves

I am going to Mexico for two reasons: 1) Self-Pay. My insurance will not cover it, so I gotta go where I can use my own money. 2) The doctors in Mexico (and Europe, etc) have been doing these procedures far longer and have much more experience than the ones here in the States.

Okay...back from a rather stressful weekend of moving a sick friend into a new apartment. Crazy, crazy crazy. SN.........................Starting Wt........Current........Goal.......Lbs to Goal bugwitch...............285...................281.6...............255................26.6

So, for some reason I am having a not-so-good food week. For the last week and a half, I was keeping my food intake low and just wasn't hungry. I know a lot of this was due to recovering from a short stint with the flu as well as a significant amount of stress...but I was really hoping I had started to get over those hurdles that had been put up over the years. I was consistently stopping eating when I was full. I was dividing up my food before I would start eating, and I was simply being better about food. But this week, it's been rough. Not gorging, but just eating too much, to the point of being uncomfortable. Perhaps it is a stress reaction. Perhaps those old habits (eat everything on your plate, etc) which were forced on me and then reinforced over the years are just impossible to lose. I know, just a few days of slip ups are not the end of the world and can be recovered from. It is just quite disheartening to be here again. Just over four weeks until surgery. I am still working at saving my pennies, but will be taking a hit this next week. I am taking an unexpected trip back home to help out a very sick friend and am looking at quite a large bill in the long run. Hopefully he will be able to reimburse me in time. I posted a note on Facebook asking if anyone back home would be willing to help out with getting him moved (sick and has to move!) or even willing to donate a little bit to my travel fund. I offer the simple idea of, if just five people, donate five dollars each, that covers my cab fare to get to the airport. Simple right? I've helped out other friends on FB who needed a new laptop, or had a pet that needed a vet appointment, etc.....The most I got was one person offering her "prayers" for us. Well...sorry, something constructive and real is what is needed. Prayer is just a way to feel better about herself for not doing anything constructive. I said nothing to her...she strikes me as an overly "fragile" person. Oye...quite frustrating. I do not expect people to help...I learned that long ago while trying to organize events for our Amnesty International club....but I had hoped people would try. Oh well...So, that's part of my last few weeks. B!&chfest over....for the moment. Thanks for listening/reading. Be well everyone and I hope your weeks go swimmingly.

Well, I was 2 lbs short of my goal for the Vjay jay day challenge. So, for my goal of 275 by Surgery, I need to lose 2 lbs a week. Do-able I think. I don't know about Easter. I care even less about Easter than I do about V-day. My surgery (band or sleeve) is smack in the middle between now and then. So...10 pounds down by 21 March....Easter....hmm... SN.........................Starting Wt........Current........Goal.......Lbs to Goal bugwitch...............285...................285...............255................30 A bit too ambitious? Probably.

Damn. But losing 1.4 pounds is better than gaining. SN................Starting Wt........Current.......Goal.....Lbs to Goal Avilda...............275.....................187............177..............10 BlackBerryJuice.........208..........145..............145................0 Brendasgonnalose...335............224.............225................-1 BonnieEJune . . . . . 325........................271.............275............-4 bugwitch....................291..............285...........283..............2 Cherice95405..........248...........177............ 164...............13 Chilo1.....................216...........158.............154................4 Cludgie................235..............210...............209..............1 Coops ...................238...........183...............177..............6 Cwalker.................250...........180...............170...............10 Daisy......................237..........138...............130................8 DJackson..............229.............213..............215................-2 HollyW...................259............214..............215..............0 Ibejjo.....................249...........249...............229.............20 Juliarh...................230............211.2..............215................-3.8 Kimmes................239.............197.8..............200..............-2.2 Kgremmy.............225.............190.8..............199...............-8.2 Laylasmojo...........242............180...............170...............10 LeslieH.................212...........204................199..............5 LilMissDiva...........235............221.8.............220.............1.8 livelovelaugh.. ...236............ ..207........ .....189..............18 Mellifrits...............210............132..............125................07 Meriteri................240............177..............170...............7 MichelleLee..........252...........222................199...............23 MINI-Me...............203.............124.6...........125...............0 & holding! mlr777................200.8...........174.6...........160.............14.6 Mommy2Girls.......275...............240............228..............1 Moniluv.................190.............181...........178...............3 MRSKOUBIK...........317............252.............255..............-3 NannieG . .............250. ..........153........... 150............... 3 OregonDaisy . . .. . . ................135 pattimomof3nj......203.4...........157.3............155................2.3 missed it by that much! PlannerGirl………..…327…..……..275…….........255………….....20 Sailorgirl................240............220.............200..............20 Secret Surgery34....205............174...........165................9 Seniorsleever........290.............279.............260..............19 Sleeve 4 me.........166...........159..........159....................0 Sweatinitout..........245............170.............160..............10 tlang262 - Texas.....240..........240..............230..............10 Yolanda240.....236.................191..............170..............21

Yup. I prefer Tribal and fusion styles but I have lately (in the last year or so) developed a love of vintage cabaret. I absolutely love the music of the 40's - 80's and have a decent vintage bellydance record collection. I've been wanting to design and make a vintage/modern-fusion-ish (if that makes sense) style cabaret costume. I have an old prom dress that I think will serve as a perfect base for the skirt and left over fabric for the top. Your idea about the little packets along the way is a good one. Could use them for that costume. Yup...I am fully aware of Tribal Bazaar (I've purchased a number of things from them. A good friend of mine operates Silk Road Tribal (www.silkroadtribal.com) and has some equally gorgeous goodies. I often get things from her too. I cannot remember if I wrote this earlier or not...but there is a neat vintage clothing and furniture strip here in Columbus. I would LOVE to have some of those vintage dresses from the 60's and 70's. And when I'm thin, I will.

Slim in 6 is part exercise program and part nutrition program. When you order the program, you get a nutrition guide and some other helpful info. Proper diet and nutrition is the first step to ANY successful weight loss regime. This program though, does have a pretty intense fitness component. What you do is use the DVD's that are provided for a 6 week period. There are 3 basic stages: Start it Up: Basic and shortest of the routines but still does give you a great workout; Ramp it Up: Stage 2 which incorporates more resistance training and more cardio than the first and then Burn it Up which is the third and final stage which is totally killer but is definitely worth it, even if you can only stick with it a little bit. This is one of the BeachBody programs (think P90x, etc) and does have a pattern of great results. However, as with all of the BeachBody programs, it's not easy-peasy. You have to commit and stick with it. Even if you miss a day, that's fine, but get back in the next day. Why I like it, is because it mixes cardio and resistance training into a workout utilizing resistance bands as well as your own body. Squats, push ups, crunches and lunges all work your body, without any fancy equipment and give both good cardio AND strength training. A lot of people I find, also mix in Shakeology, which is a protein/multi-vitamin/meal replacement shake. They have that for Breakfast and call it good. I've often considered going to that at some point.

Making my way through the week. Gonna give stage 2, Ramp it UP a go tonight. It kicks your butt, however my arms and thighs always get much stronger when I hit this stage for a week or more.

Avilda......................275..........187..............177..............10 BlackBerryJuice.........208..........149..............145................4 Brendasgonnalose...335............233..............225................8 bugwitch....................291..............286.4...........283..............3.4 Cherice95405..........248...........177............ 164...............13 Chilo1.....................216...........158.............154................4 Cludgie................235..............210...............209..............1 Coops ...................238...........185...............177..............8 Cwalker.................250...........180...............170...............10 Daisy......................237..........138...............130................8 DJackson..............229.............219..............215................4 HollyW...................259............214..............215..............0 Ibejjo.....................249...........249...............229.............20 Juliarh...................230............216..............215................1 Kimmes................239.............222..............200..............22 Kgremmy.............225.............210..............199...............11 Laylasmojo...........242............180...............170...............10 LeslieH.................212...........212................199..............13 LilMissDiva...........235............224.8.............220..............4.8 livelovelaugh.. ...236............ ..207........ .....189..............18 Mellifrits...............210............132..............125................07 Meriteri................240............187..............170...............17 MichelleLee..........252...........222................199...............23 MINI-Me...............203.............124.6...........125...............0 & holding! mlr777................200.8...........174.6...........160.............14.6 Mommy2Girls.......275...............240............228..............12 Moniluv.................190.............190...........178...............12 MRSKOUBIK...........317............266.............255..............10 pattimomof3nj......203.4...........160............155................5 PlannerGirl………..…327…..……..275…….........255………….....20 Sailorgirl................240............220.............200..............20 Secret Surgery34....205............174...........165................9 Seniorsleever........290.............279.............260..............19 Sleeve 4 me.........166...........161..........159....................2 Sweatinitout..........245............170.............160..............10 tlang262 - Texas.....240..........240..............230..............10 Yolanda240.....236.................191..............170..............21 Oops....it looks like I'm supposed to update this myself. I didn't realize that. duh

Hey...where did my name go!?! You just don't love me anymore. My weigh in today had me at 286.4! Think I can get there? One week to lose 3.4 pounds.

I'm starting up Slim in 6 tomorrow because it marks the 6 week until surgery point! I want to be fit and ready for action when I get on that plane. Anyone else wanna join me? Or start up a new routine and keep updating it here with me?