Momonanomo

You've done the right thing by asking him to pick up his things. It's time for you to concentrate on yourself and your wonderful son. Life's too short to waste time being with someone who doesn't make you feel good. And I mean it -- love is supposed to feel GOOD! And.... you want your son to know that you are a strong, happy, healthy woman. You're doing the right thing.
It's natural to be sad when a relationship ends... but you've got quite an adventure coming up that will help distract you!
I send good thoughts your way. We're all pulling for you!
Onward!!

Hey Ms Vicki! It does sound like The First Stall has indeed ended, yay!
I say join the gym, get your swim on And, as you progress on your journey, you may decide to try the various classed they may have and/or use their machines for strength training. IMO, having the gym membership will give you exposure and access to new and cool things to try, and therefore keep you motivated to keep moving!
lol I am SO looking forward to that whole energy and libido surge thang!
keep on rockin!

I think we would all be really appalled to know the truth about sodium levels of restaurant and fast foods. I have no doubt that the majority of that gain was water retention.

I think we would all be really appalled to know the truth about sodium levels of restaurant and fast foods. I have no doubt that the majority of that gain was water retention.

Hey Ms Vicki! It does sound like The First Stall has indeed ended, yay!
I say join the gym, get your swim on And, as you progress on your journey, you may decide to try the various classed they may have and/or use their machines for strength training. IMO, having the gym membership will give you exposure and access to new and cool things to try, and therefore keep you motivated to keep moving!
lol I am SO looking forward to that whole energy and libido surge thang!
keep on rockin!

Oh Vicki that is SO wonderful! I can't wait to have the energy you're describing!
And 20 lbs (gone forever!) in 5 weeks is total kick-ass. You're doing great!

you look gorgeous! I always love your posts; you are very inspiring! I'm the same height, and the thought that I could end up looking as trim and healthy as you look makes my heart sing!
thanks for posting, and congratulations on ALL you successes!
ps -- the 30s can be just as fun --- MORE fun even -- than the 20s, I promise!

Erp makes a good point that there are some higher calorie foods that are also nutritionally valuable. Just keep after it, you're going to find that sweet spot.
That is surprising and upsetting that the premier shakes are staining your teeth! Costco has an awesome return policy - I'm sure you could take your unopened cases & return them.

Erp makes a good point that there are some higher calorie foods that are also nutritionally valuable. Just keep after it, you're going to find that sweet spot.
That is surprising and upsetting that the premier shakes are staining your teeth! Costco has an awesome return policy - I'm sure you could take your unopened cases & return them.

To get my calories up, I added healthy fats like avocado and hemp seeds. I stopped buying low fat cheese (except string cheese and babybel- prefer lowfat there). I also added more fiber rich foods like carb balance tortillas, fruit and veggies. My carbs are up but they are healthy carbs. I did add one food that could be considered a slider but it is healthy, dry roasted edamame, 1/4c is 130 calories and 14 grams of protein. I can eat 1/2c of those buggers. I would try for 800 cals for a couple of weeks and then 1000 after that.

Sounds like you have a very good support system!! You're almost there!! Wish I had to go to Oahu for appointments...LOL

My surgury date is my Dad's Birthday!! (Although I am not telling him about it!! ahah) what he doesnt know wont make him wear down the carpet!

I am so happy for you. I'm sorry I haven't responded yet to your message. I actually wrote a whole long letter and then the computer I was on shut off (it is not my computer) and everything was lost and I was like crap!!!!!
But as for my opinion...stay in Kailua if you can. It is close by, more beautiful, less traffic, easy to find parking, free parking etc. You don't know how good or ill you will feel afterwards. The less stairs, bumps in the rode, time in the car etc. will be loads better than having to travel to Waikiki. I mean who knows you could wake up and feel absolutely nothing, but just in case. Also if you or your hubby forget something, then your abode is like five minutes away instead of half an hour.

YAY!!! You are so close!!! Sounds like you hae some great support around you. Wish I had to go to Oahu for my appointment...LOL

the side by side comparison is really interesting! I was surprised that the protein grams don't follow the pattern that the fat and calories do.....verrrry interesting. Just glancing at it, I'd say ground turkey looks like an all around best choice. Hope my post surgery tastes change enough to appreciate ground turkey over ground beef. I am such a red meat kind of girl right now. . . .

for the sweet tooth recipe try going to the spark recipes website and search ricotta custard. High protein & low carb -- can enjoy it warm or cold (when cold it's like cheesecake -yum!) Probly need to sub splenda for sugar on some of the recipes.
Sounds like you're really in the groove congrats on your successes! I'll be on Oahu on the 4th for my next round of appointments....

I'm impressed that you've traveled and been SO on the go since having surgery so recently-- what a trooper! That was really great of your sis to have all the supplies waiting for you; that's so supportive. Especially when she was getting ready for her wedding
I just wanted to say that I've heard flying causes water retention, so if you weigh on Thurs after flying on Wed., keep that in mind -- your actual weight loss for the week will actually be better than what the scale says.
Congrats on your progress!

Fantastic work! As with anything, no one starts at the 5 mile walk! I do a 3 mile walk every day at lunch, but I'm 10 months post-op and I started with a 1/2 mile walk that kicked my ass!
Momoanomo has some great advice about "mixing it up" during the session too. There is definitely truth in going hard core for short bursts......it makes your heart rate jump up and sweat (really feels good to get the sweat going!) and then going back to your pre-burst speeds feels "leisurely"!
I've just bought a road bike after 20 years of not riding a bicycle. Weather is too cold to ride yet (- 4 degree Celsius), but I can't wait! That will certainly get my cardio going, and work on building leg muscles like crazy too!
Just keep going and build on your success. In time you'll be rocking those long sessions and crazy workouts like a veteran!

This post has been on my mind since yesterday-- I just had a hard time accepting that it is better to not quit than to quit, under ANY circumstances! ......so I goooooogled it! This article makes a LOT of sense about the headaches, and it gives good tips on how to succeed. This topic is close to home for me, because I quit only about 8 wks ago after smoking for 25 years! I've used the gum. It is HARD but I didn't get headaches when I tried, so I'm sure it's that much harder for you. But you CAN do it if you want to. There is nothing redeeming about cigarettes -- they are so bad for you, expensive, make you a social outcast, make you smell bad, stain your teeth, stain your fingers, and did I mention they are SO bad for you ?!?! Like poison. That you are addicted to repeatedly inhaling into your lungs. There is help available to stop if you want it. No one is going to say not to quit because you get headaches initially. Except you. You can do this!
OK check this article out: http://www.livestron...hout-headaches/
I wish you the best of luck!

I quit 2 1/2 weeks ago with Chantix and a nicotine vaporizer (basically an ecig, but rechargeable & refillable). I saw my surgeon last week & asked if the vaporizer would be a problem since it is A) inhaled and still nicotine. He said he didn't think so, that his main concern was lung capacity, not nicotine itself. He hasn't mentioned a pre-surgery blood test, either. To be on the safe side, I will probably transition to nic gum if needed a month or two before surgery. I'm hoping it won't be necessary, though...I didn't even touch the inhaler yesterday til almost 6:00 pm, so I can really tell I'm needing it less & less each day. Don't try & cheat the requirements...they are there for a reason. Good luck to you!

From a former smoker....Just keep trying. It took me 1 year after being diagnosed with COPD (emphazema) to be able to quit.keep going back to your doctor for different ways to assist your quitting. Their are alot of tools and drugs you can try.
I tried everything from hyptnosis, cold turkey (usually would last just a few hours), prescription drugs, over the counter remedies, etc. Finally 2 1/2 years ago, instead of going on vacation I stayed home for a week. I quit that Monday morning on the patch ( which I tried many times before). During that first afternoon I had to do something or I was gonna fail once again. The best thing I ever did was grab a putty knife and start peeling wall paper. I now call it "MY WALL PAPER THERAPY". It gave me something to focus on and kept my hands busy. Oh, and by the way....the best wall paper remover is 90% warm water and 10% liquid laundry softener.
If you really want to quit, you just have to keep trying to find something that works for you. Good Luck, I wish you the best.

Sorry you're having frustration with your co-worker, that sucks. I can tell you are trying so hard, and you don't need his temptations! But....I just wanted to throw this out there, from a third person perspective: I could be way off base but it sounds to me like this person just plain likes you. Could be romantic, but maybe not, maybe even just as a friend. Either way, the way he always was able to connect with you was through food. And now that's gone and he misses you..... but that's the only way he knows.
Like I said, I could be totally wrong, or I just always want to see the good in people. But perhaps his motives aren't to try to sabotage you (although it seems that way). And just remember, it's challenges like these that make us stronger!

Sorry you're having frustration with your co-worker, that sucks. I can tell you are trying so hard, and you don't need his temptations! But....I just wanted to throw this out there, from a third person perspective: I could be way off base but it sounds to me like this person just plain likes you. Could be romantic, but maybe not, maybe even just as a friend. Either way, the way he always was able to connect with you was through food. And now that's gone and he misses you..... but that's the only way he knows.
Like I said, I could be totally wrong, or I just always want to see the good in people. But perhaps his motives aren't to try to sabotage you (although it seems that way). And just remember, it's challenges like these that make us stronger!

Sorry you're having frustration with your co-worker, that sucks. I can tell you are trying so hard, and you don't need his temptations! But....I just wanted to throw this out there, from a third person perspective: I could be way off base but it sounds to me like this person just plain likes you. Could be romantic, but maybe not, maybe even just as a friend. Either way, the way he always was able to connect with you was through food. And now that's gone and he misses you..... but that's the only way he knows.
Like I said, I could be totally wrong, or I just always want to see the good in people. But perhaps his motives aren't to try to sabotage you (although it seems that way). And just remember, it's challenges like these that make us stronger!

It sounds like he misses you his friend. You had a relationship with him and lunch time food and he wants that back. Maybe suggest that he bring his lunch once in awhile and you both could eat together. Then explain what you are going thru now so he understands. Men are dense sometimes and have to be told outright.