Oliver's Mom

farted or sharted?

Happy birthday!! What a great sounding weekend long celebration - with the focus on spending great time with your loved ones. I plan to make some of Eggface's Protein ice-cream this week. I won her giveaway of the ice creammaker last month and was so excited!!
Keep up the great work TES!!

I am almost 6 weeks out from my surgery. I had a birthday yesterday and had a wonderful time. I did not miss the birthday cake at all!
On Friday, my mom had a dinner and she asked if there was anything special that I would like, like she always does. I sent her a recipe for a low-fat eggplant ricotta bake, and it was delicious! In fact, many family members who could have had much carbier/less healthful dishes also on the menu, opted to have my special dish as well. After dinner, we played a rousing game of Catchphrase--way better than fattening dessert!
My mom also gave me an ice cream maker. I made my version of Eggface's chocolate Peanut Butter Protein "ice cream" today and it was sooo good. The ingredients were soy milk, chocolate Protein powder, white chocolate SF Syrup, and powdered/defatted peanut butter (JustGreatStuff--an organic version of PB2). It was just as good, if not better, than traditional ice cream, and nutritionally, it was the same as a Protein shake (I ate 3.5 ounces as a meal and have another serving left over). I felt like I was eating a giant Reese's cup--but with 15 g of protein and about 125 calories.
Today my husband got carryout Mexican food and I enjoyed some delicious refried Beans with fresh salsa, cheese and Greek yogurt (I am a vegetarian--they were lard-free). I have enough refried beans left over to get me thru several more meals.
My husband usually works weekends but took yesterday and today off and we had a great time just spending time together. He bought me a huge bouquet of my favorite flowers, daffodils.
Yesterday, we got a lot of shopping and a lot of walking in. Tomorrow I'm going to officially start back with my Water aerobics classes (I had to wait 6 weeks to restart any type of formal exercise class, though I have been walking).
I truly did not miss anything this year--not even a fancy dinner out or birthday cake. I feel lucky to have had VSG and I really enjoyed my time with loved ones this weekend. Here's to new traditions and a new, healthier way of life!
Note: here is a photo of the ice cream. It looks like a huge portion but it's 3.5 ounces in a teeny tiny dessert dish that I bought at an auction many years ago. I always wished I had a use for it and now I do!

I'm the member of the month on vst! I will be signing autographs outside cvs on the corner of 1st and amistad. Please be courteous to others while in line. No need to push you may be there for a few hours. Also please don't shake my hand unless your wearing gloves! Thank you so much and hope to see you there!

I'm that subordinate my name does even get a capital "d" anymore

Bandicootc - you look amazing! Congrats on the results of all of your hard work!. So proud of all of the December sleevers- no matter what speed you lose your weight at - the reality is we are all losing weight and getting healthy in the process. We eat better food, we are active, we feel empowered and we are learning how to not only get that way, but stay that way for our lifetime!
So hold your head high - be proud of the job we are all doing on this journey! Yay for us!!!

Bandicootc - you look amazing! Congrats on the results of all of your hard work!. So proud of all of the December sleevers- no matter what speed you lose your weight at - the reality is we are all losing weight and getting healthy in the process. We eat better food, we are active, we feel empowered and we are learning how to not only get that way, but stay that way for our lifetime!
So hold your head high - be proud of the job we are all doing on this journey! Yay for us!!!

Bandicootc - you look amazing! Congrats on the results of all of your hard work!. So proud of all of the December sleevers- no matter what speed you lose your weight at - the reality is we are all losing weight and getting healthy in the process. We eat better food, we are active, we feel empowered and we are learning how to not only get that way, but stay that way for our lifetime!
So hold your head high - be proud of the job we are all doing on this journey! Yay for us!!!

Week 2 day 1 was last night. New shoes felt great. Still doing a lot of self talk - like you can do this! Good work, keep up this pace, etc.
Next week I will go to the class, but as am having a breast biopsy 2 days prior, no running. I can walk, so I plan to walk fast - and as soon as I am cleared to run I will do week 3 on my own.
Never in my life would have thought I would EVER feel disappointed when someone told me I could not run. What a shift in mindset.......

You guys are all doing great. The big payoff is going to be that day when you can just take off for a run with no thought to distance or time. Just run as far as you want, whatever makes you happy. There will be a time very soon when you all will be running down a trail, thinking about your life and your weight loss, family, friends...and you'll realize you're not thinking at all about running. You're just doing it. It's a great feeling. Keep it up everybody.

W4D2 was accomplished this morning. I seemed to be more relaxed with the last two runs then the first two. Hoping I will eventually find my "mojo" and be able to relax with the whole run!

Week 7, day 1: DONE! Run 25 minutes- I even pushed it to 26.5 minutes because I run slow and didn't get to 2.5 miles while running. This was a treadmill night and treadmill is much easier on my body so I can run longer.
Just let me say, it feels AMAZING! If anyone told me two months ago that I could run for two miles, I'd have asked them what kind of crazy stuff were they smoking! If I can do this, anyone can!
This is such a fantastic, supportive thread! Thanks everyone! Happy running!

Will power is like a muscle the more you use it the stronger it gets...

I crockpot. This way it's cooked, they can eat and I sit in the other room. Lately I'm ok with sitting with them talking.

Sounds like a bunch of big city talk mumbo jumbo to me. Back in reality land, we know where it goes. You slip the fat under your pillow and the fat fairy leaves you a dollar for each pound. I'm still waiting to get paid! So far that bi*ch owes me 70 bucks!

Hopefully they go to Hell and stay there.
Sorry, 8 days post op and feeling humorous again.

Holla! Went to Sea World today with my family. We were there from open until close with my sons (3 & 6 year olds). It's amazing how miserable walking around was 67 pounds ago. Today I could walk around with no problem. I fit on all the rides, even the kid ones, and in all of the chairs. Heck I even fit in the bathroom stall. So amazing. There was a dance party at the end for the kids and I danced the whole time with boundless energy even after having walked around and chased kids for almost 12 hours. This is awesome. I attached two photos. One from today and one from our last vacation in August.

Went shopping for new running shoes today. North East Running Co in Beverly, MA - folks were so great there. Explained I am a newbie at this, they watched me walk without shoes, then had me try on 5 different pairs of shoes. Each time I ran up and down the sidewalk outside the store so they could see how I did. Hahahaha - finally running outside!! I ended up with a great pair of asics in some pretty wild colors. If I'm going to do this, it's gonna be fun! Got some toe socks and some wicking socks.
Tomorrow morning I am going to do a 4th day of week 1 - then Thursday nite - move on to Week 2.

Went shopping for new running shoes today. North East Running Co in Beverly, MA - folks were so great there. Explained I am a newbie at this, they watched me walk without shoes, then had me try on 5 different pairs of shoes. Each time I ran up and down the sidewalk outside the store so they could see how I did. Hahahaha - finally running outside!! I ended up with a great pair of asics in some pretty wild colors. If I'm going to do this, it's gonna be fun! Got some toe socks and some wicking socks.
Tomorrow morning I am going to do a 4th day of week 1 - then Thursday nite - move on to Week 2.

Your friend could be concerned that the surgery may have complications and that she may lose you, or that you could become debilitated as a result of the surgery. With more knowledge, she could/would have a better understanding of your surgical choice and be less afraid and more supportive.
She may however be concerned about being "left behind". If you lose weight, an ongoing common bond between you will be broken and she may feel she is going to lose your friendship with your new slimmer lifestyle. She may also not want to be "the fat one" in the relationship after you've lost the weight, as it will feel less "equal".
There are so many reasons she may be feeling this way.........and these are just my two random guesses, without knowing either one of you or your relationship dynamics.
If she's asked you to give her space, it's probably best to do that. Focus on your own health and commitment to improving your future. If she's ready to come back to the friendship, she will, on her own timeline. You'll have plenty to keep you busy pre-op, post-op and in maintenance, believe me!
I'm only 2/3 of the way to my goal, but I'm very busy now with things I had let go in the past 20 years (all kinds of sports activities, more socializing, shopping, etc.). I hardly have time to breath! And it's very satisfying, believe me, to know I'm getting the life I always wanted back again.
Don't count the friendship as lost just yet though......she may just need some time to readjust her thinking, get over any fears she has about your health and to see that you still love and care about her just as much when you're skinny as when you weren't.....

I just licked the powder off of about 4 Cool Ranch Doritos.
These are dark times (hangs her head in shame).

Week 1 day 3. I'm going to do a Week 1 Day 4 either tomorrow or Wednesday - before my week 2 class on Thursday night. I confess that on two of the 'run' cycles I just walked super fast because my blisters were killing & (gross) bleeding. I may take tomorrow off of running - just do strength workout to let the toes heal a little. I got the Injinji socks and will likely get fitted for new shoes tomorrow.

Week 1 day 3. I'm going to do a Week 1 Day 4 either tomorrow or Wednesday - before my week 2 class on Thursday night. I confess that on two of the 'run' cycles I just walked super fast because my blisters were killing & (gross) bleeding. I may take tomorrow off of running - just do strength workout to let the toes heal a little. I got the Injinji socks and will likely get fitted for new shoes tomorrow.

Sshhhh....the wife doesn't know about the Harley. You think she ever goes into the garage?

Thank you Fiddle & Butter - I am going to the local running store tomorrow to get myself some socks!! I do love to shop so who knows I may also get some new running shoes. The place gives a discount for the clients (WLS) of the hospital I was sleeved at. Those boots are going in the trash!! OK, not the trash - I'll donate them. And pray there is NO MORE snow. Again, thanks for the words of encouragement. It means the world ....... you're both good guys. I can do this!!!