piercedqt78

I do the hot tea thing. I have gotten some really strange looks when ordering a hot tea when it's 90 outside. I also do decaf coffee when we go out. I have even started to carry a tea bag or two with me when I go out just in case they only have crap tea to offer. ~Mandy

Kat, I signed up the the email updates, that's how I get the info so early. They have had ads posted for almost 2 weeks already. ~Mandy

POSITION AVAILABLE: Hours: M-F 24/7. No vacation pay. No sick days. No experience required, but must be willing to learn on the job… and put forth a tremendous amount of effort. GREAT BENEFITS.


If you saw that employment ad, would you apply for the job? Most of us would probably be curious…but that business about no vacation days and no days off may lead us to say, “No, thanks!” What if the job opening was for…MARRIAGE? Let's say you would be applying to be a wife or husband? Would you take the job?
What if the job opening was for PARENTHOOD? You'd be applying to be a mother or father. Would you sign on the dotted line?
Those two "jobs," spouse and parent - fit the job description above. You don't get days off from being a mom, dad or spouse - not if you want to be a really good parent or want your relationship to be healthy. You have to show up every day -- whether you feel like it or not.
In 2007, Cari (the Post Op of A Post Op & A Doc) accepted a position that was neither spouse nor parent (although she also held both of those positions). Her new job had the same requirements: 24/7, 365 days a year. Her new position was as a WLS post-op living a life in Recovery From Obesity. Oh, she didn't know it at the time, but living healthy is a full-time job. The benefits have been incredible for her – being able to enjoy improved health, wear cuter (and less expensive) clothes, enjoy activities she couldn’t when carrying excess weight (biking, hiking, and kayaking to name a few), being able to travel with ease, and enjoying an improved self-esteem leading to a more enjoyable work and social life.
Those benefits come with responsibilities, because being healthy is a JOB. Being healthy doesn't just happen. You have to show up and do the work. You don't get to "take a break" because you're tired and you don't get to play hookey or take sick days. If you're sick, you still need to take care of yourself.
Are you treating your obesity like a full-time job, or a hobby?
Recovery From Obesity is a full-time job. What sort of performance evaluation would you give yourself? How would a real-life employer deal with you if you weren’t performing the job duties you signed up for when you accepted the job?
Most employers would give you a warning and expect you to improve your efforts and performance in order to secure your position. If you continued to put forth minimal effort and consequently didn’t meet even minimal performance criteria, you’d eventually be fired.
When you made the decision to have weight loss surgery, you were made aware of the requirements for keeping your weight off: eating healthy foods in healthy portions, drinking lots of water, and getting exercise on a regular basis, to name a few.
If you’re not following through with the job criteria you accepted when you decided to have weight loss surgery, who’s going to give you a warning? Maybe the doctor or nutritionist – if you attend your follow-up appointments. If you continue to treat your weight loss surgery like a part-time position or hobby, the benefits won’t be part of the package. But who can fire you?
A better option than quitting is to go after that great benefit package the job of healthy living offers and get some ON-THE-JOB TRAINING. Get to support groups, make an appointment with your nutritionist, get into therapy, find a mentor who lives a healthy lifestyle, and commit to your job/yourself. In order to perform better on your job, you need solid instruction on healthy living, eating and thinking.
This on-the-job instruction requires a whole lot more than a single visit to a nutritionist, a stopover at a support group meeting, a session with a surgeon and a 1-hour psych-eval. Yeah. A LOT MORE.
It might take a solid year or more of working with a life coach or personal trainer. It might take regular attendance at 12-Step meetings. It might take annual attendance at educational conferences, targeted toward living fully in Recovery From Obesity. It might take 3-5 years of therapy (we vote "highly likely" on this one)…Heck, It might take ALL of these things, and more.
THINK ABOUT IT: In the past, most obese people did a horrible job of managing a healthy weight. In fact, an employer would have fired The Post-Op (Cari) after moments of observing her on the job, based on how she took care of her health when she was at her highest weight. The idea that anyone would magically and immediately be able to perform the job of taking good care of their health simply by having weight loss surgery seems a bit…far-fetched. Don't you think?
To live fully in Recovery From Obesity, people need regular and ongoing ON-THE-JOB TRAINING. If you want a certificate suitable for framing or perhaps a 90-Day chip from OA, and a smiley face on your lab results as rewards for your efforts – go for it! Positive reinforcement… in non-edible forms!
Recovery From Obesity is a full-time position that requires ON-THE-JOB TRAINING for a long, long time. Understand that the benefits are the result of your very own effort and investment (of both time and money). What sorts of "training" programs are you involved with aiding your "job performance" in Recovery From Obesity?
A Post Op & A Doc have a copy of the Gotta Do ‘Em’s (and a lot more free handouts for you) on our website and on our Facebook page.

Hi Chickies,
Its been an aweful week. We had to put down my darling Susie. She had cancer an her tumor was just so big she wasn't eating anymore and could barely walk. It was the first time in 20 years I saw my DH cry. My DD said "daddy, I didn't know you could cry." My house and heart feel so empty.
I need to bite the bullet and just go for a fill...yeah I've been saying that for a year now but I've gained 10 lbs back WTF. My boss is out this week so hmmmm wednesday sounds like a good time to go.
Sherry hope DS had a good birthday Sorry your fill is acting ******-up. Mine does too. But boy can I eat.
Kat I'll be praying for your DD oh and congrats on the new ring...you go girl.
Mandy have fun with the bike
Diane we'll both envy the girls and their bikes. I wouldn't dare get one here. To much road rage in these parts.
Jetti...how ya doing sweetie? how is your band?
Betty Boop !!
Well kiddies, I must go clean upstairs, the fish tank and the hamster cage. I have a 2 PM dinner date with a friend
Where's the rest of the gang????? anyone hear from Cindy, Beanie, etc.???
Pat !!! I see you !!!
Forgot to add a picture of my beloved Susie....
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such a beautiful picture of Susie...HUGS!!!!
I just wanted to stop in and tell you all about my NSV today. I just completed the 5K Susan G Komen Race for the Cure at Branch Brook Park in Newark NJ. Not only did I finish the 5K of the race I also walked 1 mile to the race and about 1.5 miles home from the race!!! So in total I walked about 5.5 miles and I AM STILL ALIVE!!!! Granted my feet are a little sore but hey I will take that over not being able to breath any day! I didnt feel out of breath at all through out the race. Now I didnt run because lets be serious I would have passed out 3 minutes into it but I did keep up a fast pass walk and was even sweating even though its a chilly cloudy day here in NJ. So...YAY ME!!
have a great Sunday ladies!

Hi girls--SOOOOOOO good to see you!!!
The new girl at the top is actually from LBT this time. Her screen name here is BooBooKitty. They changed it, and they also added what they call a landing page.....if you click the HOME and FORUM tabs at the top you can go back and forth and see the new changes. The landing page is all part of the new magazine thing going on. Has been a time of change for sure!!!
Well I am on a less than a month countdown now!!! I told Rick this morning, this is the last 21st of any month I will wake up with this belly!!!! He just looked at me like I had lost my ever lovin' mind!!! LOL
We got some nice rides in this weekend---was pretty out, but the wind kicked up. We also helped our friends Becky & Gary do some siding on their house, and I got major sunburned on my chest, and arms....I know my chest will peel, dangit.
My DD is in need of some health prayers, please. She has been having issues, and they finally decided maybe the palpitations she was having were related to the back pain. So they did an MRI---and found some serious problems, in multiple areas. She does have a mild herniation of L2, but that is not being worried about right now, they found some serious stenosis, of the ascending aorta into her heart into the aorta valve. She is seeing a cardiologist with a cardio/thoracic surgeon on staff. The MRI also picked up a HUGE all encompassing mass on her right ovary. She has the ultrasound of it Thursday, today she has her blood draw for a CA125 tumor marker test. It scares me half to death. Trying to remain calm, and deal with each of them as the issues are being dealt with.
I will say as wierd as it is, her ex husband is being sooooo good through it all, I am unsure how to act. Just going to be thankful, she sure does not need more stress right now.
So if you could remember her, in your prayers, I would be forever grateful. Her name is Manda and she is only 26....lots to face at that age.
Well Kinsey is awake and ready for Breakfast now....so I will check in soon, and I am so glad to see you back Sherry---cool bike, you and Mandy will be Hot on those new bikes as you cruise around!!
Kat

Darcy, that is beautiful. I would buy that too. I think I would make as many reasons as possible to go there, and spend at least every weekend. My house would never be cleaned, I would spend all my free time at the cabin. How far is it from your house?
Today we had a late lunch at my sisters. I made a Turkey and a small roast, with gravy for each. I also made cream cheese Mashed Potatos ( a fave with my family) a cool whip pie (recipe at the bottom of this post) and a cheesecake ball that we dipped nilla wafers in. My sister made ham and green Beans and rolls. A request was made for my iced tea, and I made 4 gallons. It was all gone before dinner was over. I am exhausted, I was up at the crack of dawn to start cooking and I talked to a soon to be banded woman in my area until almost 2 this morning. I am tired, sore and my head is pounding. I took a sleeping pill and then the clock went off 4 hours later. I guess I should have reconsidered when I knew I didn't have 8 hours to sleep. I am going to take one tonight too, but I get to sleep in tomorrow. We are on spring break this week!!! WooHoo!
Cool Whip pie:
1 small tub cool-whip (I use lite)
1 container of Jello (sugar free is fine)
1 Graham cracker pie crust
Make the jello according to the box directions.
Allow it to set 80% of the way. Blend the jello and cool whip until smooth.
Pour into the pie crust and refrigerate 3 hours.
The mixture will be thin when you pour it in the crust, but will become like Twinkie filling texture as it sets.
I love it when I say "I'll bring a watermelon pie" people look at me sooooo strange. They are easy, cheap, lite, and really tasty. I make regular ones and sugar free ones. Today I made strawberry daiquiri pie, it was the first dessert gone. I have also made raspberry and topped it with real fruit. I make a red, white and blue one for the 4th of July (strawberry, blue rasberry, and lemon or pineapple). Abi's favorite is strawberry banana. Dave likes the lemon lime. (I make the jello with sprite)
~Mandy

I know you are already gone for but others that are reading...I fly several times a year and have never set off anything with my band/port. I also ride ALL the rides with no problem. I carry my lapband card everywhere in case of emergency. Hope you have a blast...I am counting down to my trip. Tell Mickey I said Hi! ~Mandy

Here are a few more:

Hi, all. It's been a crazy day around here. My friends husband had a massive heart attack. He had to have emergency surgery, they are giving him a 50/50 chance. Please add him to any prayer list that you have access to, his name is Lee Petsche. We had family game night tonight and it turned into Disney planning night, but it was fun. I also took a short road trip (6 hours) with my mom today. She bought a motorized wheelchair on ebay and I went with her to get it. It is really nice.
I got the first round of tests back, they were normal. I am waiting for the next set to come back. I guess it's going to be the hysto, and it's not a tumor. I'll check in tomorrow.
BTW, Kat there is a white scale looking thing up by the post count that you can use to give rep points with. ~Mandy