Suziecat

Michelle, so glad to see you home. Now the recovery begins. Take good care and remember to not overdo anything. Jenn, Glad to see you post and it's great to know that you are busy, busy and busy. That's what keeps me out of trouble. Work this morning and then have to run my sis to her Doc appointment. After that I'm pretty much free for the day. Not sure what I'll work on yet. I have a few things I need to get busy on. Make it a good one.

Thanks for the update. Poor Manda. I know when I had my shoulder in a sling it froze up and I had to have therapy on it. I tried several times a day to take it out and use the arm but it still froze on me. Good Luck to her. My surgery was in 87 and I was in for 5 days, they wouldn't let me leave till I passed gas. It's weird how they do it now. We are done with mowing. It stopped raining long enough for us to get it done. It wasn't as muddy as I thought it was going to be but it is supposed to get down into the 40 tonight. And I packed all my winter stuff away last friday, lol.

Any news on Manda yet?

Anybody hear anything on Michelle yet?

Hey Girls. Hi Jenn, we sure do miss you alot. Glad to hear that they had a good time. I hope everything goes ok at Manda's appointment. Sure hope they find out what is causing the problem. I worked this morning and then went to my WW meeting. I'm down 22.6 pounds since I started so I am extremely happy with that. There was a girl there today that is down 10 pounds and she got to telling us that she had had by-pass surgery 3 years ago and lost 100 pounds. She has recently put back on 19 pounds and told herself that it needed to stop and that is what brought her to WW. She still has about another 100 to lose on top of the 19. She was telling that they did the surgery and then there was 6 weeks of follow-up and then they were done with her. Sent her back out into the world with no idea of how to eat now. Even though her stomach says it only wants 1/2 cup of food, her head is telling her that she can eat what ever she wants. Poor thing. I am so extremely proud of my Doctor and the role he plays in our lives. He is so into us it's scary. We have monthly support group meetings, Monthly nutritional meetings, Reboot camp and a whole list of other things that are available to us at no cost. He's awesome. And I use as much of it as I can. When I'm not working I go to the monthly meetings and they are such and inspiration to me. Sure do hope that everything is going ok with Michelle's surgery.

Michelle, I'm sending my best wishes for you and saying my prayers that all goes well tomorrow. I know in my heart it will, you just need to tell yourself that all will be good. As soon as you can, have some one post and let us know. Good Luck and my little angel is on her way to watch over you for me.

Tracy, when I read your post I just wanted to get in my car and drive 12 hours to come and hug you. I'm so sorry you are having problems with your head and your band. I totally understand the struggle between the two. I've had my days, weeks and months where my head wants to rule and not allow the band to do it's work. I would like to think that my band is broke and not working but reality is that it is all fine and I need to make my head understand that the band is in charge. I finally had to go back to WW's to help me with this issue. How sad is that. Al the time and money spent on this band and I have to go back to WW. But I find that it also keeps me accountable not so much for the amount of food I shove into my mouth but also the RIGHT food. I think twice about the ice cream and candy and go for the fruits and veggies. It helps me. Maybe you can find something like that. Have you ever tried Overeaters Anonymous? They are free. Check out some books at the library on eating disorders. Money is also a issue here in this house. I would like to think that Hubby and I have endless buckets of dough. Reality is that he is retired and we are on a fixed income. I mention all the time about getting a full time job and hubby gets mad at me. I really like to work, keep myself busy and the extra money would give us the oppurtunity to do the little extras that we would like to do. Right now I just have this little PT job working about 12 hours a week not even making minimum wages. This trip we are making is going to cost us about 4 thousand and it just kills me to think about what else I can be doing around the house here with that kind of money. But the trip will be doing us both some good. I will get to see people I have not seen in over 25 years, some in over 33 years. And a few on the way home that I have never met but look forward to seeing, hint, hint. It's a cloudy cool day here today. No yardwork because the grounds are soaked. Guess I'll get to crackin on the quilts and get them done. I'm also making some banana bread, need to use up the 3 that I have left that are starting to stink up my kitchen. Have a good one and I'll check in soon.

Michelle, one more thing. Make sure you take your slippers with you. I know they would not let me leave the hospital or even have anything to eat till I passed gas. One way of making that happen is to walk a lot. I got to know all the people on my floor just from walking up and down the hallway. The nurses really liked it but hated when I went down another hall, they couldn't find me, lol. And be prepared that when you do pass that first gas after surgery, IT HURTS. Keep a pillow close by to hold over you belly for when you cough or even laugh. I'm saying my prayers for you. I saved all my calories this morning for dinner tonight. I made bacon and eggs and hash browns. Yummy.

Oh Prom, I hope they have the time of their lives. I went to mine and had a great time. Funny now that I look back at it. I didn't really want to go but the girls I hung around with made a pack that we ALL go. If one didn't then no one else went. So the hunt was on to make sure we all had dates, it was such a hoot. My older sister and brother had their proms at "The Queen Mary". I was so excited thinking that was where we might have ours. Nope. It was at some Hotel near LAX, but it was still nice and fun. I wish I still had my dress. A friend of my mothers made it for me, it was so lovely and nice colors. Rainy day here today so it looks like catch up time on some stuff I have recorded. Maybe get my laundry done also. Thanks for being there when I need you guys.

Kat, so glad you are home but how tramatic that must have been for you. I bet you are exhausted. I too don't understand why they didn't call someone closer or even dial 911, that would have been the best thing to do. Sounds like they really do rely on you more than what they want to admit. Bless you for being there.

Getting ready to head to work. I only have a 3 hour shift to do. I love Fridays. Kat, hope all went well with your dad today. Michelle, Sorry to hear about the Yarn Shop. It's so sad to see the little shops like that close up. I may not use them all the time but I like knowing they are there when I need them.

I found this article and thought I would post it here instead of making you go out and buy the whole magazine. I thought this was really interesting. It's called "Wisdom to Go", When time is short, what really matters? I remembered an exercise I used to suggest in my workshops: I'd ask the participants to make a list of things they would do if they were told they have only a year to live. Then I asked them to write down what they'd do if they had six months to live. After that, it was a month, a week, and then finally, a day. With a year to live, they'd say things like: I'd travel to Istanbul, live in France, stop working, learn to weave, eat as much ice cream as I wanted, eat all the potato chips I've never allowed myself, spend as much time with my children as I possibly could, binge on sweets, stop dragging myself to the gym. With six months to live, they'd say things like: I'd go on a major shopping spree and buy everything I'd ever wanted, I'd travel constantly, I'd never travel again, I'd eat dessert after every meal and especially after breakfast, I'd stop doing anything I didn't want to, I'd learn to sing, I'd eat whatever I wanted, I'd show all my paintings, I'd spend all my time with my loved ones, I'd spend time alone, learn to meditate, eat in the middle of the night and not worry about burning off the calories. But as you imagine they have less and less time to live, the answers become more poignant: I'd hold my children close, I'd tell my husband how lucky I feel to be with him, I'd smell the air, I'd crunch in the leaves, I'd watch the birds, I'd spend every waking moment I could being grateful for still being here to see, breathe, smell touch. Bingeing is never a part of this last list. No one wants to miss a moment of being awake or alive by overeating or not feeling well. Which is a good thing to notice. When you imagine that you have a month or a week to live, you suddenly become aware of what's really important. The entire cheesecake you wanted to eat, you had to eat, suddenly becomes an obstacle. You realize that when you eat compulsively, you feel drained and tired, unable to pay attention to the things you love about being alive, the things you might not notice as you run from errand to e-mail. The size of your thighs no longer seems crucial. Some of the things that feel important when you think you have all the time in the world seem inconsequential when each moment becomes precious. "On the last day of my life, I would want to plant a tree," the poet W.S. Merwin said. As for me, I would want to love extavagantly (and, although I wouldn't want to binge, I would definitely eat a piece of bittersweet chocolate sprinkled with sea salt). Ask yourself what you'd do if you didn't have endless time to live. Ask yourself what your not doing now that you'd do on the last day of your life. Especially, ask yourself where food fits into all of this. Does it make you feel more alive, or does it deaden you? Is it a consolation prize, a substitute for all the pleasures you really want? There is more to the article, I shortened it to fit here. But I'm still processing my thoughts about it. Wandering why I feel with so much to live for that I allow food to take over. There is so much I want to do but I have let food get in my way of enjoying the people and things I want to spend time seeing. I still have a lot to think about but I wanted to share this with you guys with the hopes that maybe something in here will inspire you.

It's on mornings like this where I would really like to sleep in, it's raining out and a little chill in the air. I don't mind going with hubby but sometimes I just want to sleep in a little. But I am thankful that he gets my butt moving. I'm posting an article. It's kind of long but I feel it might be worth your read. Have a great day.

Morning, trying to wake up. For some reason Hubby insist on going to the gym and wants me to go, ughhhh

Tracy, You are not the only one that can't do Golden Corral. I'm in that same boat. I can't do the chinese buffet either. Kat, I hope you and Rick had a great day. I just got home from work and it was ultra boring, we only had 5 women come in. The weather sucks here. Been raining all day long. Nobody wants to workout when it's raining and today was take your kids to work day. Now I'm just kicking my shoes off and enjoying the rest of the evening.

Morning girls. Last night after we got home from the hospital I posted a little note. I went back later to check and found out it never posted, wth??? Now I don't remember what I was telling you guys, lol. I did a pedicure this morning on myself, just don't have the time right now to go have it done, I'll try next month to go. I need to get moving, we have rain on the way and I need to get to the grocery store. About a year ago I broken the nail off of my thumb all the way down to the skin, I couldn't text for about 2 weeks. I really rely on those nails to push the little buttons down. Make it a good one.

Hey Irene. good to see you post. Stop by more often. The new Fridge is here and BIG. And it has bells and whistles. think I can send it back??? Don't need no stinky machine telling me to close the door. lol. Off to our Volunteer luncheon. Michelle, Thanks. She was a good friend and a confident, I still look to her to guide me and I know exactly what she would say to me. "Sweet Jesus Girl". She was a delight to everyone who met her. My Mom lived with us for years before she passed away. That was back in 2000. Sometimes to this day I think I still hear her in the apartment, like she dropped something. Maybe it's her way of telling me that she is still with me. Be back later.

Hi Jenn, have a great time. Michelle, my Doc gave me a big one gallon jug of powder that I was to put water in and mix it. It was cherry flavored. For an hour I was to drink so many ounces every ten minutes. After that first hour I was in and out of the bathroom. It really cleans you out. They had told me the reason they do this is because they will be working so close to the bowels that incase they knick it there won't be the risk of infection. Made sense to me but I hated it. To this very day I can't do anything cherry. Thanks for the thoughts. I still have my days were I want to grab the phone and call her. Her husband and daughter went with us to the George and Reba concert, we all had such a good time. Off to the gym and then back home to get cleaned up and ready for the Fridge. Make it a good one.

Kat, I was going to ask you if she able to move it all, hopefully it is just the nerves still in shockmode that are causing the numbness. Glad to hear her spirits are up. They will be delivering our new fridge between 9:15 and 11:15 tomorrow. I'm glad about that because we have our volunteer luncheon to go to tomorrow and than work at the hospital. Didn't want to miss either one. Tomorrow is the one year anniversary since in help my best friends hand while she slowly slipped away. Earlier tonight hubby and I were sitting outside listening to the ballgame and I was thinking that one year ago I was at the hospital spending the night with her and her family. I'm so glad that we have remained close and still get together. I'm gonna finish up American Idol and then head to bed. Sleep tight.

I don't know why it is but look, it's 4:45pm and I just finished a bowl of pretzels and now it's almost dinner time. Great.

Oh Manda, I would tell you to give her a big hug for me but that won't work. Why don't you give her a wink, I think that might help a little. Poor thing. I've had some good wacks but nothing like that. I imagine the pain is horrible. Tracy, My eating danger time is 3pm to 5pm. I want to snack and taste and then guess what???? It's dinner time. I was at the grocery store today and it was so weird to not buy anything. I took my sister there for her to do her shopping. There were things I wanted to get but untill we get our fridge, I'm not getting anything. Now is the hard part. Try to fix something for dinner that doesn't require refridgerating the leftovers. I'm gonna have fun friday at the store. lol. Went to my regular Docs today. I have this weird fingernail thing going on. After looking on the internet I was concerned that my liver ight be in question. He has now clue as to what it is and has decided to send me onto a dermatologist. I'll call around tomorrow for an appointment. He is also sending me onto the Ortho Doc. My hip has been killing me for months now and he wants him to x-ray it and see what is going on. I haven't been able to get out and walk in a long time. I hate getting old. Michelle, I don't mind driving in the snow, it's the other drives that worry me. Not sure what they are going to do.

I remember alot from my childhood, I just don't remember there ever being anything that happened to me to cause me to over eat. I was never beaten, molested, raped or anything as bad. To tell the truth, I had a great childhood and I owe that to my parents. Sometimes I wonder if it would be worth it to find out that something did happen to me. Then I could get counseling and move on with my weight loss journey. It's a bump in my road that I will someday get over. I made a meatloaf, mashed potatoes, gravy and rolls for dinner yesterday and had half a meatlof sandwich for lunch today. Yummy.

Like I have said Tracy, my weight is my problem. I'm the one who shoved the food in my mouth. I don't blame the people around me. If I didn't want to go to DQ for sundaes I would stay home. But I choose to go. It's my decision and I rely on that strength now to get me thru. I won't deny my family or friends a nice dinner out, we can still go and have fun. I just won't let the food take over the evening or define who I am.

Tracy, I was watching the latest episode of "Ruby". On there they had a session with the therapist and she had them all sit down at a table. They were allowed to drink and say as much as they wanted but then it was to be complete silence and no water for the rest of the meal. They spent forty five minutes eating the food that was on their plate. They took a bite and then put the fork down, chewed 20 times and swallowed. I know at the monthly meetings that I go to they really stress how important this is to our weight loss. To take your time eating and chew very carefully. It should take us about 30 minutes to eat a meal. The part I have the hardest doing is putting my fork down between bites. That shoveling my food in is such a big part of my life.

Back from shopping and I'm glad. That was not any fun. It would have been ok we if had 2 thousand to spend on something and wasn't locked into a certain color. We started out at Home depot and it was going to be 4 weeks before they could deliver it. Nope. We headed over to Best Buys and that was kind of a joke. Not happy with anything that they had and most of it was damaged anyway and all visible. So we went over to Sears and found one in our price range and the right color we wanted. We need a Bisque. So we left there and went to Lowe's and we couldn't get anything in that color. So back to Sears we went and we the one that was on sale and in the color we wanted. They also will be able to deliver it on Wednesady. So we only have to buy ice till then. It's a side by side with ice and water on the door. It also has the controls on the door for the temp and lights. Within a week I will like it better. We looked at the french 3 door ones and I kinda liked them. It would have to be something you would have to get used to. They now have the ice maker in the upper part so it's on the door also. Keeping my fingers crossed that this one will last a whole lot longer. But it is one good way of losing weight, move all your food to the fridge in the basement. You think twice about running to get something to eat. lol. As we were leaving Hubby spotted the section that had all the t-shirts and sweatshirts for the Royals ball team. We stopped by there and I ended up buying a sweatshirt jacket for myself, in a smaller size. Happy me. Kat, the ride sounded lovely. Some day I will take a ride on our Harley. Just not ready for that yet.