OH Juli

Denise Congratulations! I know about the wardrobe. I have a conference in two weeks and I have exactly one pair of pants I can wear. I need to get some clothing, but I want to get one size smaller...I'm in 22's now and I just want to buy 20s. Isn't that horrible?! I ought to be glad to be getting 22 instead of 30's. I'm sure your a head turner! Are you going to do 6 month pics on the 8th? I know I am! Wooo Hoo... I love my band.

Wow Stevee.....That's fantastic!!!!!!!!!! Now you need to be concerned with not eating too many last meals...you don't want to gain before your surgery. And really, really REALLY, aside from carbonation there's nothing you won't be able to eat later. Not as much, but most things will go down if you chew well enough and take small bites. CONGRATULATIONS!

I get the rolling green hills of Ohio. The seasons change so there little riding in the winter, but some hard core folks do it if it's not icy. I'll wave at them from my heated car. D I hate when computers do that! B Awesome report back from the doc. How are feeling in general? Are you sleeping okay?

mcondjel Hi- Welcome to the bycyling thread. We all make fun of how it's spelled, but I've come to love it. We all love biking and are happy to have a new cyclist with us.

Oh and to the females, and guys please don't hijack the thought into something else, if you haven't bought new bras it's time. Some good support does wonders for making your waist look smaller. You're smaller, your tired bras don't fit anymore and what elastic they had in them is worn out from holding big, old, you together. Just saying....

D, Me toooooooooo.... Tick tack size bites and to stop between bites to be sure it's all good. I just had refried beans with a bunch of salsa...like I said I'm scared I'm falling into the soft food syndrome. But damn, a girl gets hungry and doesn't want to cry in pain just to eat! I've got class tonight. Oi. I hate it. I do. I'll be happy when I'm finished..... And D that reminds me. I was thinking about this early this morning and I've been so busy I forgot...I was thinking about your classmates not saying anything to you about your weight loss. I'm not making excuses for their dumbass behavior becuase Geez, but I'm guessing age is a factor. Most of them are young, and I'm sure talking to you about something personal like your body size is rough. Also, they are twigs and that's a factor. And you are wearing scubs right? They don't do much to show the new shapely you... But really, I wanted to say it's about how you feel about you and how your fella is being responsive. I know, it sucks. It does but it speaks more to their comfort and maturity than it does your success. You know you're one hot chica! BG- Where are you?

D, I know of what you speak. I'm finally losening up a tad. Or I'm just eating soft foods...really I'm trying hard not to get into that habit, but I do slather everything with lowfat mayo or ketchup, just to help it slide down. Oi Vey. Are you getting hydrated? That's really the most important thing. If not call your doc.

OMG I wrote a freaking book on here and my iternet died! It was a response to HP I have a WSD bike because it fit me well. I'm little, fat, but little and I liked the more narrow handle bars and the proportions of the bike. You can give her a spin when we meet. Just ride 4 or 5 different bikes. The dudes at the LBS will be helpful too, they expect you to go off on a bike and be gone for a few...so don't be shy. Entry level bikes start at $600 and hop about 200 to 400 for the next level up. Don't worry about your weight you're not that heavy for it to be a concern for the bike. Look for dual rims for strength and underfill your tires by 5 pounds, and you should be fine. Dual rims aren't hard to find. I have a Giant OCR3, it's the entry level bike. I love it. I've changed out the seat and will upgrade my gears next season and I want to aerobars too, because my hands get tingly. It cost me a hair over $600. I can keep up with the big girls too. Happy Hunting.

Lisa, I love imagining next summer too. The difference in clothing already has been amazing. When we are closer to goal it will be better yet!

Band Chick Thanks for the BUMP. I think it's just too far away for many folks to plan. I was telling my friend, even if it's just 4 of us out there, we are going to have a fantastic time. But I do hope we see more like 20. Come on LBTers...join the party!

B That's cool you have someone to ride with. HP Flat is good, but hills are good too. I'm think I've got it in me to be a hill junky. I really do like them. The challenge of um and all, plus (shush to don't tell) I'm particularly strong...that's what all the people tell me and I'm starting to believe them. Like I can't stand having anyone in front of me going up a hill because I tend to go faster then they do and it pisses me off if they are in my way. Tonight's ride was great except for I had ice-cream at the half way point which tasted good going down, but sat like a rock on the ride back and absolutely gave me too many calories for the day. Though I did do 20 minutes of interval training on the eliptical trainer, and 30 minutes of weight training along with my ride, so I burned some kcals. But damn, damn, damn. Okay I'm on fire, it's a long ass post......... If you have a local group to ride with and are thinking about maybe doing it but haven't...DO IT! We go out for beer and burgers (tea for me) afterward and the folks are so great. The median age for my Tuesday ride is probably 50...at least those who go to the restaurant, but they are amazing and really have accepted me into their group. It's a boy/girl mix and there are A and B riders. I'm inching up to being a B rider. But they talk about marathons and scuba diving and other great things they've done. You know "The Secret" says hang with people you want to be like. Or so I'm told, I've not read the cult material, but there's some truth to it. Okay, done. Good night. I love my bike. Juli

JC When is that surgery?

So, I got the details on Saturday's ride. It's 54 miles from start to finish with lunch in the middle. It's with the WOW chicas too. I'll be taking pictures because FIFTY MILES IS HUGE!!!! I'm so absolutely stoked!!!!! And I really feel like I can do it! Oh, I want to get aero bars put on my bike before then....I do, I do. I'll be going out tonight for my little 23 regular Tuesday ride. Please resume your non biking talk.

Cindi, I didn't know that if you weigh yourself slowly it measured lower. That sounds a little odd to me, but hell if it works for you that's all that matters. I'd twirl three times and click my heels together if it gave me a tenth of a pound.

Okay, heterosexuals, enough with the dick and pie jokes. It's funny for the first 10 pages....

Woo FREAKIN Hoo Ms Stevee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BG, you are a freaking riot! I promise you here and now, I will snort/laugh many times when we are chatting in person. OMG. HP, the middle picture you posted is really nice. You look great, good smile, hair's cool. Don't be so harsh on yourself. Also, how do catch a chicken on fire? You're supposed to put the lighter fluid on the charcoal, not the food. Oh, I want some grilled food............It so not worth the effort for the few bites I get. OH, OH, OH...do you guys have pie irons and weinie sticks for camping??? Not that I can do much along those lines, but the kids... I was talking with Alison last night about do we camp or do we hotel it...and she was like, what's the point of going if we are in a hotel. You want to hang with these people! She was so right! So the debate in my head is done. I only waffle when there's lots of time between committing and doing. Typically I'm such a last minute doer that never happens! XO

awe shucks. It does feel good. I don't see the changes as much as other people. Denise how were folks when you returned to school? You are much changed as well. And again, not to brag but to share an awe shucks moment, today our students returned. There is this kid, he's maybe 16. He was chubby a few years ago but really gave up sweets, ate salads for most his meals and walked the grounds in the afternoon (we're a residental school) and he's slim now. Also, he grew tall. Anyway, today when no one was around, he said to me, "Honest, no, honest, I'm not being smart or anything, but wow, you've really lost weight and you look great!" Okay, it was in sign language but that's pretty much the gist. I was so touched. I said, "thanks for noticing and thanks for saying kind words. Also, it's a bunch of hard work, like you know, but thanks." Well, there you go, props to the kid who will tell a 39 year old woman he noticed her efforts. There's hope after all.

HP Awesome pictures! You look great, even if you are being all sexy with that truck! Ha. Really, I'd love to see them side by side with a before picture. That's how I really tell the difference.

B A few years ago you asked if I do fitday on the web or PC. I use the web not only because it's free but I access it from work and home and sometimes a stranger's computer. I do recognize some of the limitations of the free web stuff, but it meets my needs. It's my home page on both computers.

I'm with you Eddie. There was no pre diet for which I was greatful. I take my hat off to those who do well with it. Edd, you rock!

Tia- Yuck at feeling poorly. I know by the time you read this you'll be better. Jmc- You go! Getting a trainer is a great step forward! Just to brag on myself for a minute, I'm wearing a XL! Do you see that?! There is only ONE X in front of the L!!!!!!!!!! That's something else! J

I know logging your food is the difference between losing and not losing for the majority of people who keep their weight off for a lifetime. I figure if that's what I have to do, it's a small price to pay. I have to say I don't stress about it as much as I did 6 months ago. But I still do log about 98% of the time.

Holy Crap..........You all are a mess!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think I'm scared of BG and JC now. I may cower the entire weekend of the ride. Actually, I'm scared what HP's husband and my GF are going to think of us. Like what kind of people have we introduced into our lives... Really, I love yous guys. D- It's on the agenda. Actually I have the option to ride 80+ on sat and sun. I don't see THAT happening, but there's an orgainized ride that goes south and back to a campground on Saturday and north and back on Sunday. You can go as far as you want and turn around. I might do 25 south then turn around....we'll see.

I like to think of it as the By-Cling thread. By the way, I'm shooting for my first 50 this weekend. Woot woot.