2BHealthE!

Juli - Congrats!! You look gorgeous in that dress (and those biker-chick-calves) and oh-so intelligent in the cap and gown. A reflection of lots of hard work. D - Glad you had no more episodes of belly pain. Strike Up - I'm by no means an expert, but I had a Trek Hybrid and love-love-loved it. They are so dependable, you may be able to find one used. Good luck! TL - Good luck on braving the storm!

Finally had my "official" weigh-in at the doctor's yesterday - 200 even. So I need to lose about 2.6 lb per week between now and Oct. 6th to get down to 182. Haven't weighed 182 since 2002. I either need a time machine, or lots of time on the bike!! :thumbup: Great challenge - thanks. KY

HP - I am stunned by your news. Over the past 2 years we have had a run on breast biopsies and some breast cancer diagnoses in my college at the university. No matter what, that news rocks your world and the world of those who love you. Waiting sucks. And to have a date to hear the news dangled in front of you and then - "no news, come back" - why that's downright criminal. I want to shake the docs and pathology folks - so I can't even imagine how you must feel. I so understand your "out of control" issue. A few years back my DD was seriously ill - and gosh darn it, it was so totally out of my control. I was a glorified taxi driver getting her to/from appointments - while the real cure was in her hands, the docs and therapists, and God. I gained 60 lbs. in stress eating and then found out about the most wondrerful stress release. Throw lightbulbs. Yes, I said throw lightbulbs. Save up any bulbs that burn out - then when you have that "I can't stand this for one more minute - arrrgggghhhh!" feeling, grab your stash of bulbs and head outside. Find a good solid target (I used a brick fence across the street from my house) and wing them bulbs. You can imagine anyone or anything you want at the face on your target. Best of all, lightbulbs make a fabulous sound when you get in the groove and really hum them towards the immovable object. Yet, they are light enough to not hurt anything if your aim is off. Trust me, friends and neighbors will add to your lightbulb stash with their burned out bulbs, because they will think this cure is hysterical. But, it works...not permanently of course, but I could sleep after I'd had a bulb toss instead of pacing, thinking, worrying, and trying not to climb into the frig and eat my way out. I have put a white ribbon in my prayer book with "Tracy - HP" on it, so you will be in my prayers each morning and night. God bless you.

Re: men and healthcare - I used to run a Health & Wellness Center that our hospital had in a local mall (screenings, classes, a lending library of health related books and pamphlets, mammograms, BP checks, etc. All preventative health stuff. Well, the women showed up in droves for mammograms, cholesterol checks, and bone density screening. The men...well not so much. In fact the only folks who ever passed out on us drawing their blood were big ol' men. So, I devised a diabolical plan, but alas never did implement it. Here it is (cue scary music) - I wanted to put a big sign out in front of the center that said "Free Tools at 5 pm" with an arrow pointing toward the classroom. I am sure that a large group of men would gather, after all "free tools" to them is like a sign saying "free shoes" to most women! Men would be calling friends and sons, neighbors and golf buddies to let them know about the free tools. Promptly at 5 we would open the door to the classroom. The men would crowd into the room...and before they could take in the fact that there were no power tools in the room, I would shut and lock the door. Security from the hospital would stand guard, guns at the ready (of course, no bullets, but the men wouldn't have to know that). We could then give a fabulous program (of course) on "Tools to out live your wife". We'd teach 'em testicular self-exam (major killer of young men), why a PSA AND digital exam is important after age 40, and why large amounts of beef, brats, and beer are not their friend - no matter how appealing the commercials are. Aah - a girl can dream...pitiful that my fantasies are about healthcare, isn't it??

J - I am humming Pomp & Circumstance and applauding as I say "CONGRATULATIONS"!!!! Make the most of your time off between degrees - all 12 hours of it KY

You hear the voices too?? And to think "they" tried to tell me I was nuts. Goes to show.... I think one of my voices may be a relative of Cruella Deville. It tells me to "go toward the hills" and then I see spots before my eyes as I huff and puff up. Must. Stop. Listening. :biggrin: HH (handsome husband) is midway home on an epic ride from Steubenville Ohio (near Pittsburgh) back home to Bowling Green KY. Tuesday he rode 133 mi, yesterday 96 or so, and today is a day off (visiting his bro in Cinci). If he can average just over 80-miles per day on Fri-Sun he will roll into the driveway right on schedule. If not, I am the designated sag wagon. Isn't he amazing?? :tongue_smilie: As an Iowa farmer once told me at the end of a 78 mile day "I get tired driving that far."

HP - What you are saving with unlimited texting, you need to be banking for the Carpal Tunnel surgeries that the kids will be needing!! :biggrin: Did you know there is actually a repetetive use injury called "Blackberry Thumb"? I kid you not. Beautiful day out there today....Lil' Red is calling me......

:confused2: Drop your call? Make you sign a new contract? Monitor your text messages? Do tell....

Since everyone else seems to be missing this little gem of a posting, I must address it! Let's see....the nearest local food store is just a bit over a mile from my house. No one, I repeat, no one else from my neighborhood EVER would dream of travelling there other than by car. In fact, I think that some folks need a wee nap after they drive to/from the grocery. They get the car out, start it, wait at the "busy" street to turn left, wait at the ONE stoplight between the neighborhood and the store parking lot, park and toddle into the store. I'd estimate that they (we) consume at least 15 minutes in the endeavor to DRIVE a mile. I'd say that 17 minutes to RUN a mile is pretty damn awesome. Not if you are thinking you can step in if an olympic competitor pulls a hamstring or something and you're going to jet on over to China....but otherwise....hell ya! (oops, heck ya!) As the desigated ol' lady in this conversation, I say "Give yourself some credit girl!" YOU ARE RUNNING!!! Without anyone chasing you for your purse....WAY TO GO!!!! :Banane37: KY

- Too light - no kids allowed on the scale! - Have you been working out?? - I love you too. - I'm feelin' negative - negative numbers that is! - Go ahead, make my day. - Where are YOU going? - Whiny mother tone...Everyday I see less of you. Stick a fork in me...I'm done. KY

D - Not sure if we will do: Atlanta (closest to home), Chicago (to meet y'all), or Dallas (have friends there - good reason for a visit). Wherever, sounds like a messy good time to me. I think I will start training right now, by applying a mud pack to my face. What? What? Oh......it's not THAT KIND of mud? A girl can dream...think how smooth and soft OH and BG's skin would be after their recent mud bath! OK, so maybe I'll practice by following the Golden Retriever (aka Lucy, the wonder dog) around and rolling in the yard - she always seems to come in dirtier than she left! PeeeeUuuuuu. Must get to work..... I'm having trouble shifting from summer fun to preparing for fall. KY

I'm pretty sure it WAS the guy sitting across from him. In fact, I think I saw him do it - lol. A pretty lil' thing like you could neva do anythin' nasty like that (say that line with a heavy southern drawl for full effect). You go girl - talk about finding the silver lining in every situation - thanks for sharing!! KY

I have an MD appt. on Friday for my 1st fill. I will weigh-in there and let that be my "official" starting weight. Then I'll weigh in on Monday's with the rest of y'all. I'll work on an official 12-step program for Scale-addict Anonymous members. In the meantime, perhaps anyone needing the daily trip to a scale could enlist the help of a creative middle-schooler to draw a scale on cardboard that you can step on every morning. It might be a good idea to have the message "Lookin' Good" as the "weight" that the arrow is pointing toward. Good Luck all. MK

Talked with my HH (handsome husband) and we're IN for Muddy Buddy in '09. I just knew it would be right up his alley! Now...I just have to learn to run...:wink2: KY

Can this be a 4-wheeled vehicle? I would love-love-love to lose 18 lbs. by Oct. 6th. A friendly challenge maybe just what my fat cells need to move on OUT!! :wink2: KY

Just spent time catching up on all the posts while I was gone to Western Nebraska for a family reunion. My-oh-my...you all have been busy!! Muddy Buddy sounds great. I have to show my DH the site, seems like just the thing he would be interested in. He's a marathon runner, so he'd be a great partner! (she said in her competetive way...) Pictures were fun to see - thanks! D - Thanks for the recipe. Sounds delish. Riding in Western NE was awesome in the early morning hours. There was a scenic road about 1 mi. away from the park called "Smiley Canyon" and it's a stiff uphill ride. But there are buffalo and gorgeous views as I huffed and puffed along. The change in altitude between KY and the sandhills was a treat (not!). Unexpected death in my mom's family caused me to leave early to drive my parents home (it's really too far for them to drive without help at ages 82 and 78). Meant I had to leave the bike and scenic views behind... I'll look forward to being reunited with lil red (cue cheesey romantic music). Had the unpleasant experience of getting stuck on a piece of buffalo at the "Buffalo Stew Dinner and Campfire Sing-along" (my Dad's favorite family reunion activity). Since none of the family knows I had LB surgery I thought "this is going to be a really crummy way to tell them!" But after some time and watery eyes, it passed. Note to self: NO MORE BUFFALO! Finally, (yes this long note WILL come to an end!), I want to throw my hat into the ring of "back in school". I too am a nurse - presently I teach nursing to undergrads, Post-RN's seeking a BSN, and master's nursing students. I'm finishing up my nurse practitioner certificate so that I can practice as an Family NP. I'll be done in May 09. Of course, DH says I'll never be done, I just keep finding interesting programs and degrees to pursue - LOL!! Take care and Happy Trails! KY

1. I will ride my bike at least 175 miles over the month, riding at least 4x per week. 2. I will walk 5 days a week, for an hour. 3. I will face my fear of the testosterone filled college students and to the weight room at least twice. KY

D: BRAVO to you for choosing such a healthy way to deal with this incident. Venting and exercise - WOW!!! I am so impressed, rub your computer screen so maybe a bit of that healthy behavior will come my way! You go girl! BRAVO! KY

D - I am sad to hear your story about your brother's hurtful opinion. I'll only say this once: MEN! Sheesh! Not that only men say hurtful things, mind you - but they do always seem to think that whatever they've done rates a "10" on the exertion scale. My HH (handsome husband) even jokes about it, he calls me out to the garage a 1,000 times to see whatever project he's working on - never mind what I'm working on. I don't know if this would work for you, but I'll share how I deal with a workmate who does that same kind of thing. What ever someone's done well, she's done 4x better. And whenever someone has a problem, she's had a worse one. It does grate on one's nerves. This may be mean, but I've taken up purposeful day dreaming whenever I see her mouth begin to open, I imagine that I hear her saying equally insane things, but that won't hurt my feelings (or make me feel sorry for whoever else she's one-upping). I imagine her saying ridiculous things "l am the only person on earth who recognizes that the sun rises in the west. No one else understands." "I don't believe the civil war ever occured, I think it is propaganda from the southern states to justify their accents." "I think that saggy boobs are great, the only thing better is a saggy butt." You get the idea...my only problems is stopping my train of thought when I see her lips stop moving, and not laughing. I usually close my day dream with one silent word to myself: "idiot". I think folks who can't think before they talk are not likely to change, so I've got to change how I respond to them. This is my short term answer. Bless you - I'll keep you in my prayers tonight. KY

Got in a ride tonight (finally) - felt great!! I'm a happy, happy girl. :teeth_smile: Hoping for relatively cool early mornings the rest of the week. That's when I like to ride, love sunrise on the seat of my bike. Sounds like most posters on this thread ride in the evening - is that accurate? KY

The Hope Ride is on Sept. 20th this year. I think that it benefits the Hope Food Bank. Usually they have a website, but I haven't found one this year. Hope is in Bartholomew County Indiana. I think the nearest "big" town is Colombus, IN. KY

You know, I have trouble with pain in my wrists, the longer the ride the more trouble. I think it is two-fold: #1 If I don't consciously check my hand placement on the handlebar, I tend to hold both hand in sort of a cocked position; #2 The I couple that non-ergonomic position with too much weight on my hands/wrists. I've been trying to be minful of hand placment when I ride, it's still tough to not put my hands in that favorite spot. Curses - dastardly wrist pain!

I got "stuck" for the 1st time today. On a bite of string cheese. Yup...probably too big of a bite, not chewed well enough. I had a vision of that string cheese in my port like a drain plug. It felt like I had a rock under my sternum (breast bone). I got up and walked and walked, and sure enough after 15-20 min. it stopped. Chewing 27 times takes a learning curve, I think. After all, I've spent 50 yrs. eating without such lengthy chewing....old habits are hard to break. Getting stuck is a good reminder! MK

From Gigam: "Morale of the story is... nurses are for bedpans... Sorry if I offend any nurses here, but I am beyond pissed right now..." Part of the problem may be that the "nurse" is NOT a nurse. Most doctor's offices use medical assistants NOT professional nurses. Anyone can call themselves a nurse, but it doesn't mean it's so! The fact that she couldn't give a lidocaine injection supports the idea that she was not a registered nurse. The only training that a medical assistant would get for a fill on a lap band would be OTJ. And I really wonder if a fill on a lapband falls within the scope of duty for a medical assistant. And (while I'm on my soap box) ... don't confuse incompetence and poor judgement for an indictment of a whole profession. As some others have noted, a truly professional nurse knows when to ask for help. Patient care means just that, if you are a REAL nurse. CARING. That doesn't include causing avoidable pain or more than 2-3 sticks at an IV or port. I'm sorry for your experience. It really stinks. Your doctor is trying to get by cheaper by having an assistant do the fill, instead of the physician. You're paying for good care - make 'em give it to you! MK

HP - Not planning to do the Bridge to Bridge or the ride that starts in Starlight. I'd really like to do the Starlight ride sometime. If I did any rides this fall I'd probably do the Hope Ride in Indiana, or the Misaligned Minds ride in Paducah, KY. I haven't done the Paducah ride in about 5 years, but it used to be alot of fun. Doubtful that I'll do any organized rides, I teach at Western Kentucky University, and I'm taking classes to finish up my Nurse Practitioner certificate, so my schedule gets tight starting Aug. 25th. I try to use my bike as my "vehicle" for commuting to work (barring rain) and I'll be lucky to squeeze is some additional rides. It gets tough when it starts getting dark early, doesn't it?? I need to enjoy every day between now and then! Have a great weekend! KY