minidriver

You guys rock. This is so inspirational. This surely has to be the absolute BEST support group in the country. I feel so lucky to have stumbled into your midst. Mal - I hope you baby starts feeling better. I hate it when my animals are sick. They just don't understand. hotmomma - I'm glad you got through yesterday. That had to be tough. And you should be VERY proud not to be the fat mom anymore. You've accomplished so much. LA - I bet you have a huge week next week. It's your turn. dee - your advice is wonderful. I can tell you already that #2 and #7 are gonna' be the tough ones for me. I have a really hard time recognizing my hungry/full signals and sometimes I find myself eating for absolutely no reason. I am also a big slug. A true couch potato. A big, round baked potato slathered in butter and sour cream. I really like to hike, however, and last year we bought a piece of property in Southern Utah where the hiking opportunities are endless and breathtaking (Zion's Nat'l Park, Bryce Canyon, etc). I did my best last year, but it's hard luggin' all this butter and sour cream up the side of a mountain. So I end up missing out on many of the hikes that DH takes, because I simply can't do it. I hope that, by next year at this time, I'll be much stronger and able to take on some of the steeper trails. Hmmm, kind of a metaphor for life, yes? We just got back from the day treatment center that my son attends. It is part of the Clubhouse group- a network of centers where adults with SPMI (severe, persistent mental illness) can go each day and do meaningful work. They keep the clubhouse running, make meals, help other members complete their GED, etc. Anyway, the international Clubhouse association is making a documentary to use all over the world, and my son, DH and I are going to be in it! They'll be spending next Tuesday with us, interviewing us and finding out how his mental illness has impacted us, how the clubhouse has changed his life, etc. They are also taking my son to a conference in Hawaii in October. It's very exciting. Of course, I keep thinking about how "chubby" I'll look on film. Kind of my worst camera fears brought to life! :behindsofa::eek::grouphug:

My goodness, Lap. You certainly do have a great deal happening. How wonderful that your dinner with your sister was pleasant. Dealing with toxic family members is a tough, tough thing to do. Sorry about your daughter, but I'm glad to hear the grandbaby is okay. It won't be long now! Bikini- there is a preop diet (I start it next week) and it doesn't sound too tough. No pasta, bread, rice, etc. Lots of protein and green veggies. Sounds like the atkins induction or south beach phase 1. I don't think it will be too bad. I'm much more worried about the few weeks after surgery. I remember after my first c-section I was on clear liquids for 5 days and was desperate for food by day 2. It was dreadful.

Hi Deb. Well, my preop is also on a Tues afternoon and then my procedure is Wed afternoon so I decided to stay until Friday morning. I'm sure you'll be fine though. I just wanted to be able to rest on Thursday.

I wish I could come but it's a bit too far to drive for dinner. Looking forward to seeing pics of everyone though! Shelbi- I hope you enjoyed every ounce of that two pounds. How fun to go to the beach!

I'm pretty sure that the Surgery Center is at the hospital. I LOVE Lily Tomlin. How fun for you!!!

Good afternoon ladies! What a bunch of losers you are this week. YAY! Widow - I am planning to stay an extra day after my surgery. I did lots of reading about that very topic on this board, and I came to the conclusion that it would be MUCH better to take that extra day. Deb - it looked to me like it would be pretty pricey to go from the airport to the office or hospital in a cab. I think taking super-shuttle back and forth to the airport would be less expensive (35ish each way), then maybe cabs between dr. k's office, hotel, and surgical center. We ended up deciding to rent a car . . . but it would have been less expensive to use super shuttle, etc. Your doggies sound precious. I think doggies in diapers are really cute. BTW- my mini is pepper white with a black top. I custom designed a peace sign for the sunroof. It's pretty cute (IMHO).

I do love my MINI Cooper. Her name is Penelope. She's cute. Your doggies sound wonderful. We had a black lab who died 4 years ago at the age of 15. She was such a wonderful, gentle, loving soul. Now we have an Australian Kelpie who had been abandoned. She has a genetic condition and is slowly going blind, but is so darned smart that you'd never know it. I'm officially a crazy cat lady though. I have four of them. They sleep on me at night. I keep telling them that when I lose weight there won't be enough room for all of them!

And a yay for sid too. That's so cool that your top was too big. So much better than the other direction. And it's great that you have supportive friends. Support can make all the difference.

Any yay Mal for the 2.8 too. I think I'll need to get a digital scale as well. right now I just have a regular one and it's pretty hard to see parts of pounds. Well, it's pretty hard to see anything on it right now cuz I haven't looked at it for months. It's too depressing . . . . but not for long!

OMG!! That is tremendous. Oh my. I would be weepy too. Size 10 capris??? wowowowowowowowow.

Congratulations, Marcy! That's wonderful news.

YAY! Another wii fitter! woohoo!

I'm scared too. But I keep reminding myself that there is nearly 100% chance that my excess weight will cause me serious harm and a very very low chance that the surgery will harm me. But, yes, it's a scary thought.

Hi Paws. Sorry, I wasn't meaning to be snarky in my reply, just logical. I'm sorry if I offended you in any way. I sure didn't mean to.

PS- my DH and I were discussing this thread last night and remarking about the strangely fond memories we have of our old, piece of crap cars. All the more poignant for you because of your brother. Thanks for sharing your story.

OH DEAR!!! That reminded me of a funny story. When I was in grad school, we lived in a house that had a shared driveway with the neighbors who had a teenaged daughter. Apparently someone was angry at her and decided to get back at her by spray painting the "b" word on the trunk of her car. Unfortunately, they chose MY car instead and, in big red letters, spray painted "bich" on my trunk. Realizing the errors of their ways, they then painted a "t" above with a carat showing that it should have been part of the word below. Anyway, I went out and hopped in the car on the morning after the incident and didn't look at my trunk for any reason. Drove to school, went to the library, stopped at the store, etc. Didn't notice a thing until I got home and my son saw it. I called the police to report it and the woman taking my report started to laugh her butt off. Apparently an officer had seen me driving around town and thought that I was just letting people know that I'm one cranky woman. I guess everyone at the police station had been laughing about it. I started laughing too and pretty soon I had tears rolling down my face from laughter. The woman at the police station said that we'd need to catch the perps and prosecute them for "crimes against spelling". Luckily we were able to remove the spray paint with nail polish remover. But it still cracks me up every time I think about it.

I read in the paper nearly everyday that someone dies in a car accident. I actually know people who have died in car accidents. I'm going to go get in a car now and go to the store. There are risks in EVERYTHING in life. Which risks are you willing to take?

And someone needs to update her ticker to reflect her INCREDIBLE weight loss this week. :thumbup:

Congratulations Mal and Dee!!! Fantastic! Whoo hoo!!! Mal- the zoo story is too freakin' funny. LMAO!! Deb- I thought I was the only person in the world with the weird battery/back seat fire problem! What a bummer about your car though. Bikini-yes, this is definitely the best place to hang out. I feel soooo much better about my upcoming surgery knowing that I have such great support on this board. And we have fun, too!

Ooo, your first cars sound fun! And, yes, you should get yourself a Jeep!! And how fun that you skated!

My first car was a green VW beetle from the 50's. The floorboards were rusted through and you could see the road below. The back seat was "sprung" and if you sat on it it would catch on fire from pressing on the battery (yes, the battery was under the back seat). You could shift without putting in the clutch as long as you listened for the "sweet spot" of the rpms. I was driving on the highway once and somehow got it up over 45. Both running boards blew off and flew down the road. No wonder I'm afraid to drive! Can't wait to see how you all do on your weigh in tomorrow. I can't WAIT to have my surgery. I am so ready for this.

That's sad. Little girls need a mom. Big girls need a mom.

Oh, ugh. How (sadly) typical. Happiness has so little to do with how someone looks. Besides, when you love somebody they become more and more beautiful.

I hear ya' sister. There are soooo many beautiful women who are obese. Have you ever noticed how many bigger women are really great dancers? And how sensual bigger women can be in their movements, etc? And we're soft - not bony and spikey like skinny women. so there! And good looking men can be real a$$holes (pardon my French). Not all of them, of course, but too many of them. My friend and I have a good testosterone/bad testosterone classification system about guys. Some of them are good looking and manly in a really great way. But some of them - just plain trouble.

You didn't offend anyone. It was adorable. Wow, a blind date would be hard. Men are so "appearance driven". One of my least favorite things about them. Funny story about the 900 number voice. Another possible career choice for you . . .