phyllser

Wow! Welcome to all the "newbies" today!! Glad to have you join us. This is a great place to come for support, advice, encouragement, etc. on this weight loss journey! Thanks to all for the kudos on the new hair color. I think I will add a couple of pictures where you can see it better. We had a family picnic yesterday since our son, Chris and his family are in the area to pick up their oldest daughter from the U of WA. He flew his plane up here, so we'd hoped he could fly it up to our area yesterday but it was too "bumpy" so he drove up with his wife & kids. We had a great afternoon, although the weather could've been a little warmer!! We were able to sit outside on the front porch at our oldest daughter's fora while, though! Not a great weekend for food. Too many temptations yesterday. I restrained myself, but my weight was up this morning. Pictures... me and oldest son, Chris, me and grandson, Justin, Our three oldest, Chris, Tracy, Jodie, & and Dh, me and our two daughters, Jodie & Tracy.

Ditto what Janet said, Candice!! My one word for today..... DEPRESSED!! Later, Chicks.

Phyllser--I am so sorry to hear about the "speed bump". Sincerely hope all goes well with the test and you will get back to normal and no more complications once they start putting fluid back. I joined a gym this past month, too. So...in addition to the pool PT, I'm using the gym several times a week to ride the recumbent bike and use weight machines for arms and legs. Congratulations joining the gym wish I had your enthusiasm. :thumbup: Think I totally lost that when I graduated from high school. Understand the pool though as use to swim and water ski a lot and totally love water. Of course, during this time when you have no restriction in that band working out will help keep the weight off, of course it will definitely help when the band is filled again. Keep up the good work.:waytogo: We had a nice day of summer yesterday.... finally reached 75! But the clouds are back this morning. Weather report said it would be nice today with clouds coming in later in the afternoon, but.... woke up to a cloudy day! We are having rain, rain, rain and more rain. The creeks and rivers are either out and there are flash flood warnings or the rivers are at bank level. When there isn't any rain, then the temperature goes up close to 90 degrees or above and the humidity is about the same. yuck. Not use to the humidity and I myself don't care for it. Sweat is not my favorite word or smell Here's a picture of one of our "grandpuppies" who thought she'd like to be a lap dog like the little one!! Good look'n dog, but if he is just a puppy, do believe he is going to be a "big" dog and is going to have to have his own chair as it looks to me that your lap is small. Thanks for sharing the pic. And again good luck with the test and that all goes well. But I know you will be just a-okay. LOL! Well, I guess Misty is probably about 1 yr old now, so probably finished growing! She is just so cute! She saw little Gigi on my lap several times getting lots of attention and she wanted some, too! TOO FUNNY! Still smiling about it! See... we just needed ONE person to step up and say, "HEY! Where is everyone???" Welcome back, Doddie!! You may need a bit more of a fill. I have been hovering between about 196 and 202 for MONTHS and it's getting very frustrating. And now... no fluid at all for a few weeks. So far I am holding steady. Go back Wed. for reassessment. I'm thinking... about the "stall", that I weighed 200 for quite a few years and maybe my body wants to stay there! But I want to lose another 50 lb so I'm going to have to shake things up!

It was so funny! Misty is a sweetheart. She doesn't know she's too big to be a lap dog! She saw Gigi on my lap and licking my face and getting all kinds of love, so she wanted some, too. So first it was her head on my lap, then up came the front paws and she was on my shoulder and licking my face, then... we couldn't believe it when first one back leg and then the other came up on my lap. By that time Tracy and I were laughing so hard she could barely get her phone out to take the picture!

Good Morning! I guess great minds think alike! LOL! I was looking at our thread last night and almost posted something. Wondering how Don and his wife are doing. Haven't heard from them in a long time. I've hit a bit of a speed bump this month. Was having a lot of reflux at night. Coughing, and then started bringing stuff up during the night. So I went to see my surgeon and they did a barium swallow. Said my esophagus was dilated. And I was too tight... things just not going down right. So they took out all the fluid. I have to go back on Wed. for another test and then maybe they can start putting fluid back in. So I'm being very careful about what I eat. Comforting to see that my eating habits really have changed! I joined a gym this past month, too. So...in addition to the pool PT, I'm using the gym several times a week to ride the recumbent bike and use weight machines for arms and legs. We had a nice day of summer yesterday.... finally reached 75! But the clouds are back this morning. Weather report said it would be nice today with clouds coming in later in the afternoon, but.... woke up to a cloudy day! Here's a picture of one of our "grandpuppies" who thought she'd like to be a lap dog like the little one!!

New Mah jongg game I'm playing is on the Fandango site. Was actually looking up movies when I accidentally found it!! Here's a really funny picture of me and one of my "grandpuppies" from this afternoon. Don't know if you can see the new hair clor very well or not... but I love it. This silly dog is one of DD's outside dogs, Misty... she was jealous because Gigi was getting so much lap time and hugs from Grandma, so she decided she'd get some, too. She was in my face licking me and I was hugging her and talking to her and first up came the front legs, and next thing I knew she had her back legs on my lap, too. DD & I were laughing so hard she could barely get her phone out to take this picture!!

AMAZING pictures ladies!! Here's a picture of me from this afternoon... with one of my "grandpuppies"on my lap!

Took Gigi home this afternoon. Such a beautiful day... we sat outside on the porch for several hours! Had too much wine. We actually had to move to the back porch for a while because it got too hot in the sun in the front. Later, we moved back to the front! Exercise... front, back, front!! HAHA!! Actually, I got in a lot of walking with Gigi here for a few hours. Have to show you this photo... Tracy & Jim have two big outside dogs besides Gigi, their little inside dog. Misty and Shadow. Misty is only about a year and a half old... she is a kick! She saw all the lap time Gigi was getting and she wanted some love, too. She is HUGE! She came over to me for some snuggles.... put her head on my shoulder, etc. so I was hugging her and talking to her and next thing I knew... first it was her front legs in my lap... then the back legs! We were laughing so hard Tracy could barely get her phone out to take a picture!

DD & I got our hair cut and colored the other day, too. I really like mine.. blonde highlights. Turned out good... didn't like the way she styled it, but cut was good and I fixed it my way the next day. So I like it just fine. Didn't get it as short as I've been keeping it the past few years. DD didn't care for hers though... can't see any highlights in it at all... and she charged her $100, plus she tipped her a 20 because it was DGS's girlfriend who did it! I wasn't THAT generous! She gave me a 40% discount... I think because it was my first time there.. so $66 and I gave her $75. Helping support the girlfriend because DD & SIL want DGS OUT of the house by July 1!! They're suppsed to be moving in together, but... we're not supposed to know this. We get our info off of the girlfriend's FB page, or from DGD!!! LOL So.... DD came over with my sweet grandpuppy, Gigi, and we took a long walk. Later... as she was leaving.... my DH, who does NOT want a dog, asked if Gigi could please stay here for a while and we'll bring her home later!!! Go figure! He'd love it if we had a dog! And I'm getting in lots of walking today!! Just walked her around the whole condo complex again! Seriously??? Threw away all the clothes you wore that day!!?? That's funny! Anyway.... I think I look better if I tilt my chin DOWN and to the side a little! Why no profiles?? Interesting info from a photographer! He must know what he is talking about!

What's a dremel??? Tracy came over and walked our "lake loop" with us... 3 miles. I'm thinking it's time for me to try it without the scooter. Anyway, Gigi walked wiht us. Then Earl went to the gym and Tracy & I went first to Surf Shack and got our latte, then we came back to the condo, left the scooter here and walked across the street to Albertson's parking lot... fire dept. having a health care fair there today. Browsed around a while and came back. Earl was home when we got back. So he talked Tracy in to leaving Gigi here!! No, he doesn't want a dog!! So we'll take her home later this afternoon. In the meantime, she's pooped out on my lap after all that walking! Actually, my dr. appt is this Wed., BUT, if I have to do jury duty I'm going to have to cancel it! As it is now, I called their automated number and I don't have to show up on Monday. I have to call back after 5 pm Monday to see if I have to show up on Tuesday. But if my group is not included Monday, I'm hoping they have enough people in the other groups that I don't have to go ALL week! I hope, I hope, I hope! I have things to do and places to go!! I'm doing fine with no Fluid in the band, though. Dealing with the hunger pains, but still 198 on the scale this morning. I had one whole wheat toast and one egg for BF, one whole wheat bread and 45 calorie hot dog for lunch, and about 1/2 cup coleslaw. I made another huge bowl of it yesterday. Earl chops up all the stuff in the blender and then I do the dressing. He put in a head of cabbage, a handful of carrots and some onion. I used apple vinegar, Splenda and a little Lite Miracle Whip.

Here I am!! I was playing that stupid Mah Jongg game last night. FB did away with Challenge Sudoku! GRRR! So I found this game online and now I"m hooked! So... dinner last night was one grilled chicken thigh... boneless, skinless, and some green beans. Had 100 cal Skinny Cow, but don't remember if it was before or after dinner. At any rate, small dinner, so I got hungry and had 2 of my crackers again, with lite cream cheese and oysters. The whole can of oysters is 170 calories and I usually get 4-5 snacks out of it. I had a 60 cal pudding before bed! Tough fighting the hunger pains. I think I did okay with calories yesterday though. Getting ready to go to gym... in a few minutes. I will ride recumbent bike for about 1/2 hr before PT in the pool. Kind of neat that Earl is going with me most days. He LOVES the sauna! He uses several of the wgt machines, treadmill, eliptical.. for about an hour, then sauna. Later, Chicks!

Good Afternoon, Chicks! Hope your day is going well. We'll be waiting to hear about your CT scan, Julie! I think the Las Vegas trip may work for me as we'll be in southern CA then and I can probably ride with Janet??! I enjoy reading all your posts. Not much time to respond the past few days... seems when I'm online I'm either playing this Mah Jong game I've become addicted to since FB took away the Challenge Sudoku that Lori & I so much enjoyed!! :eek::crying: Or else I'm researching DOGS!! Seriously thinking maybe DH is right. Where in the RV would we put a dog crate????? Next week we have Gigi for 5 days, so we'll see how that goes. But I have found a couple of dogs I want to go look at, including one little gal who is having heart surgery today with a 90% chance of full recovery... heart murmur. DS & DIL & grandkids are in the area for a week to pick up DGD from U of WA. DS flew his plane up Tuesday. Glad we didn't know until he was on the ground because the weather was awful that day. He said it was rough coming in. Sunday we're having a big family get together and he is probably going to fly his plane up here. DH bought a huge pork shoulder roast which he is going to slow cook on Saturday for pulled pork sandwiches the next day. We've never done it before, so we're taking suggestions. One friend said spray it with apple juice every hour and cook for 6+ hours. Oh, and inject it with marinade first... so we have to figure out a marinade. TOO OLD for LB?? NAH!! My surgeon told me he'd done a 75 yr old man! And I was 63 when I had mine. I'm doing fine with my unfill. I go back next Wed. to see if we can start filling again. I'm being oh so careful about what I eat and reporting everything to Janet and my Lucky 7 group! Went to gym this morning and worked out for about an hour... weight machines first, then bike.

I can't believe it hasn't rained in almost 3 hours!! And the sun came out a few times. We went to the gym about 9:30 a.m. Kinda funny--- Tracy & Jim were there, too. Tracy went to a Yoga class... Jim was on treadmill, etc. I did 5 wgt machines, then 20 minutes bike, then about another 10-15 minutes on the bike... but pedaling backwards! Use totally different muscles. I was listening to music and reading a book on my iTouch at the same time. Couldn't stop reading so I just kept pedaling! When I got done, Earl was in the sauna so I cruised over to Surf Shack. Was just about to leave when Tracy & Jim pulled in!! Too funny... following each other! So I stayed and visited with them for a while and then I went to Target to browse. Didn't get home until after noon and then I was HUNGRY!! I"m just not used to these hunger pains!!! But I was good... finished off my veggie salad, put about an ounce of cheese on top and had 2 of my 30 calorie crackers. This morning... small eggbeaters omelet with cheese and a little shrimp. About 20 oz of black coffee, 24 oz Crystal Lite and 16 oz SF, FF latte. And that's my day so far!

Yeah, it wasn't gas... my left shoulder is often painful... it's arthritis. It just was worse than it's ever been that night. I think it's the crappy weather. We're supposed to get sunshine and maybe near 80 degrees this weekend. I hope so! Weather forecast for today was just on... morning showers followed by afternoon showers followed by evening showers!! Tapering off tomorrow night! UGH! food yesterday was okay. Had a small eggbeaters omelt for BF, Primetimers served hamburger Soup for lunch.. lots of veggies. And I had a small roll with it. Desert... small piece of carrot cake w/NO frosting and a small scoop of ice cream. dinner... finished the spaghetti.. but had a WHOLE turkey sausage this time... 160 calories. And the green Beans must be gone because I was served 2 oz of angel hair! LOL Then I had 1/2 slice of homemade whole wheat bread that Earl made. Later... 100 cal Skinny Cow. Wine in the afternoon and about 1/2 oz white cheese.

Don't think the shoulder pain is gas. It was so intense I finally had to take a hydocodone. Then it went away and when I went to bed 2 hrs later, I slept like a log... don't think I ever woke up all night long and next thing I knew it was 8:30 a.m.!!! I NEVER sleep that late! Boy, was it a good sleep! I have pretty bad arthritis in that shoulder... it grinds when I move it sometimes. And... the rain was coming back.. which often aggravates it. Have to get in the shower... Primetimers this morning and obviously we are going to be late. Have to go work on someone's computer afterward.... this is our 3rd try and if this doesn't work, we're done. Old lady with an OLD computer who is trying to install a printer. Software won't load and I think it's because the computer is too old! But I downloaded the software from the website this time... to MY computer, then put it on a jump drive. So I will try to install it from the jump drive. If it doesn't work, we're DONE!! Have already spent HOURS over there, so this is my last hurrah!! Keep telling her she needs to buy a new computer... all she needs is a laptop... takes up way less space and way more capacity, speed, etc., than she has now.. and they're CHEAP!!! HELLO????? We'd like to go to the gym today... but by the time we finish at her house, it's going to be so late.. We're going to be ready for "Judge Judy" and a glass of wine!! Snack last night... 2 of those crackers I like.... 60 cal, 2 tbs lite cream cheese.... 70, and about 65 calories... canned oysters.

The problem is, the puppy I am REALLY in love with belongs to our daughter and she's not about to give her up!! LOL But I found one on the internet last night that might be a keeper... and adult dog, female Schipperke mix. I did a little research on that breed a few years ago and they are sweet. I had an email from the shelter lady saying she would be perfect for me because she is an absolute lap dog! I just want to know how big she is and how old they think she is... picked up as a stray. Still looking all over WA state and further on the petfinders site. I don't know if I"ll find another Gigi, though! She is a Yorkie/Shih Tzu mix... "Shorkie". And she is adorable and loves her "Grandma"! Yeah... .gotta stay away from those places!! Did you happen to see Al Roker on the Today show the other morning? I LOVED it!! He had bypass and then lost over 100 lb, but in recent years, 40 lb crept back,. But he caught himself, went back on the wagon and he's looking better than ever. But, his message was that surgery is NOT the easy way out and he had to change his lifestyle and the way he eats and he HAD to incorporate EXERCISE in to his life! It was GREAT!! You're going to do FINE!!! YAY, KURBY!! Get in to that stuff and get pumped!! This is going to change your life!! Stay positive!

Pain in left shoulder just kicked in again... big time! Earl just fixed me a shot of tequila in some pineapple juice! Hoping it takes the edge off soon. Wonder what is causing this!? It gets so intense. Tracy and I had some good time together today.. went to Adam's GF for highlighting and styling. Then we took a ride to the Everett animal shelter. All BIG dogs there, so I'm looking online again. So many have problems... enlarged heart, eye problems, missing a leg, etc. Just want a healthy little dog to sit on my lap and lick my face!! LOL! Wonder if I could clone Gigi!?? Anyway, Earl has no clue that we went to look at dogs! Told him we went for a ride so Tracy could show me this park along the river in Everett!! Haha... didn't tell him that the shelter is across the street! We get to have Gigi for a few days next week while they take a road trip down the OR coast.... if they don't back out and decide to take her with them. She loves to ride in the car in her carrier. They put it so she can see them and she can see out the front window. He also didn't ask how much money I spent on my hair. I did go withdraw $100 from my "mad money" account so he wouldn't know what I spent. But, she gave me a 40% discount, which was $66, so I gave her $75. Like Tracy said... we're trying to support her, and Tracy wants her and Adam to have enough money to move out soon!! LOL! Had a burger for lunch... BUT... Tracy took me to Jack in the Box.... the calorie count is posted outside at the drive up window! So we each got their $1 "deluxe burger"... for 350 calories, but told them to leave off the mayo, and we didn't get fries. So... we figure we did pretty good. Then Earl fixed "spaghetti" for dinner.... sauce is always chopped canned tomatoes w/onions and mushrooms. Then he put in 2 turkey Italian sausage cut in slices... 160 calories each... but he only gave me 1/2 of one... so I know hunger is going to hit soon! I told him.... practically no calories... no spaghetti... had it over french style green Beans which are practically free. So why couldn't I Have a whole sausage????? Nothing there to keep me full for very long! I might open a can of oysters and have a couple w/lite cream cheese on a cracker if I get too hungry.

Who knows!!??? Sun finally came out today and it's lovely, but clouds are supposed to move in tonight for a couple more days of rain. Weekend is supposed to be nice. Puppy would definitely be the type that goes with me EVERYWHERE!! And sits on my lap and licks my face and worships the ground I walk on!! LOL! I want a SMALL dog.. like Gigi... yorkie mix, shih tzu mix, Maltese mix, etc. DD & I went to the local pound today... all BIG dogs! Smallest one was a long haired dachshund mix, 5 mos old, about 25 lb already and had HUGE paws... so I was afraid, VERY afraid! DH still does NOT want a dog, so as far as he knows, Tracy& I went for a ride so she could show me this pretty park on the river (which is right across the street from the animal shelter... but he doesn't know that!! HAHA) NUTS is DEFINITELY the right word!!! LOL You read my mind!!! HAHAHA!! Exactly what I was thinking!! Look what Demi Moore pulled off!!! I agree.... it's not only men that do that.... and younger generations are SO self-centered. Once had a clipping from an Ann Landers or Dear Abby column...described how to teach your children the art of conversation by thinking of it as a game of catch.... If someone throws you a ball and you just hold on to it... not much fun. You have to toss it back in order to engage in the game! DD & I had a very enjoyable girls' day out... besides going to the animal shelter... we had our hair done. DGS' girlfriend is also a hairdresser... just starting out in her sister's salon, so we are trying to help her.. went and had our hair cut and foiled. I love my new blonde highlights!! LOL!! That's funny!! There is a downside to having a husband who is handy... you don't very often get to have new stuff because they fix EVERYTHING!!! HAHA! That is DEFINITELY not a traditional Baptist church!! LOL Yeah...cabin sounds fun. We were in WS for a few days a couple of years ago and mosquitoes almost carried us away! And we lived in Minot ND for 2 years... where the mosquito is the state bird, right NDers???? HAHA!

Yesterday went well. Dealing with the hunger is a challenge, but not falling off the wagon. Had 1/2 protein drink for BF, 95 calorie granola bar later in the morning, then latte. Salad for lunch... put a couple of frozen shrimp on it, and a little cheese, very little FF Catalina dressing... mostly my vinegar dressing. Later in the afternoon... 100 calorie Skinny Cow. About 6 oz wine, small piece of left over steak for dinner... no more than 3 oz. Had sauteed mushrooms and onions with it, 1/2 of a very small baked potato w/FF sour cream, Sauteed spinach, garlic, onion and peppers. Later.. snack was 60 calorie for 2 Wheat Thin Flat Bread, 2 tbs lite cream cheese for another 60 calories. Small eggbeaters omelet w/cheese and shrimp this morning. Going soon w/Tracy to get our hair done... styling, trim, maybe highlights Oh... 1 hr vigorous pool workout yesterday, too.

I am so tired of rain and NO sun!! It's really getting me down! REALLY!!! Joyce... I am STUCK at about 200 for TOO long now!! I go a little under, a little over, a little under, a little over!! Trying so hard to get under and then continue OUT OF THE 90's! Struggling with hunger right now since I had a complete UNFILL last week! Afraid to eat!! Keep craving things I shouldn't have and having to exercise extreme restraint!! So anxious to go back next week and see if I can start getting Fluid put back in. Those pictures are GREAT!! I think I'm pretty computer savvy, but don't know if I have the patience to do what Jessica did... she makes it sound so easy! It's the resizing that I find difficult.

I wouldn't care.... I'd be on a floatie in the pool sipping on some wine. Instead, I'm sitting in my recliner in a hooded sweatshirt! It finally quit raining, but no sun and more rain coming. Chris is hoping to fly his plane up here this week. I think he should stay home or fly commercial! No energy today! Went to TOPS... down .2 lb! Big whoop! Then right to PT in the pool... good 1 hr workout. Had planned to go upstairs to machines, bike, after that, but by then I was tired and too hungry. So I went and got my latte. When that was gone, I had a salad with about 2 oz shirmp, 2 oz white cheese. Had 95 calorie granola bar for BF, and about 4 oz Protein drink... 75 calories.

Candice, Tracy called this afternoon and straightened me out on the camping trip.... we come home on Tuesday, the 29th, not Wed., the 30th, so.... No problem with picking you up that morning!

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Yeah, I would like to get that stupid scooter out of the car. Don't need it for shopping anymore. Probably walked close to 2 hrs at BX/Commissary yesterday and Walmart after that. The big blue scooter.... use it around the neighborhood.. like a golf cart. If it would quit raining and warm up, I'd walk more. If it's just drizzling... use an umbrella and head over to Surf Shack or Albertson's or whatever. Have walked to Surf Shack twice... once with Candice and her dogs, once with Gigi when we were dog sitting. Tracy and Jim have gone twice to an all-inclusive in Cabo and LOVE it. They want us to go with them... I think March or April. Haven't yet told Earl but we ARE going with them this time! I'd be game for a cruise next year.... we could do one out of Seattle and go to Alaska, or in the fall and go to Mexico out of San Diego! You see.. I'm trying to avoid a plane trip!! LOL~! I hope you don't have to kennel the dogs.... maybe can talk Earl in to dog sitting for you if you can't find a house sitter. ABSOLUTELY..... Red & White on the 1st, Red, White & Blue on the 4th!! Food so far today..... 1/2 Protein drink for BF... 75 calories. lunch was the Ensenada chicken Platter at Red Robin. No dressing... just salsa. Ugh! Forgot the calorie count again... I think 629. Then went to Surf Shack with Tracy & Jim for 16 oz latte. Having a small glass of wine now. Brought home leftovers and will probably eat them for dinner. I ordered 1 chicken breast and they gave me 2. I couldn't even finish 1, so I have one whole chicken breast left and a little piece of the other one..... Oh.... almost forgot.... 1 onion ring and a few french fries! Alisha was ordering a burger with bottomless fries and asked them to bring some before we ate... and they kept bringing them over and over while we waited for Kellie & her mom & kids to get there! I didn't eat too many.