OH Juli

What's the exgirlfriend's number? We'll take care of her for you. D, HP, BG, you with me?

You are on your own for Sunday. I'm going to need to head home. You all joke about your hammocks, cots and trailers. I know I reserved a spot but there still maybe a hotel in my Saturday night future. If the ride is rough and I'm expected to sleep on the ground I might just have the ultimate prima donna diva fit! I'm trying to be optimistic. It will be fine I'm sure. JC I'm with you on the slug feeling. I need to stop effing around on here so I have time to workout this afternoon. XO

HP- I have the same worry. I hope you all like me when after we meet. Then I think the only way to find out is to meet each other. And girl, look at my beginning weight. That's not even my highest known weight. I have 338 on a scale, it was probably higher. You know we aren't going to judge you. Really we (I speak for the group) have all been there. And are still there in many respects. So don't you fret. JC- Good to get that project behind you. Did you get that work out done? I only have 2 tea bags left of sleepytime. I need to put in on my list. BG- Bitch Ass Mother Effen Bitches. Hide the keyboard. JC had a point. But still cleaning up after grown people is frustrating. B, S, and D-howdy.

Eddie, Congrats on the sand castle and non shirt wearing day. I'm going to a les fest in a few weeks and don't see me losing my shirt. Not now, not ever. But then again, you fellas are lucky in the shirtless department. I'll be happy to sight see at the fest. hehehe.

I have a secret. I don't know if I'm ready to share. I have a room dedicated in my house to scrapbooking and people have paid me to scrap their pictures. Shhhhh don't tell. I don't want to lose my bad ass reputation. I had to put it on the back burner when I started back to school full time. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I love this group too. My peeps. I have to say I've actually started calling you Stacy and Traci to people when I talk about the camping trip. JC, you're still JC. B and Slack, you two seem pretty well up on the dynamics. Good to have you on board.

I'll be putting up my before and after, maybe even in a swim suit. That should be a riot. I did do before in clothing and a swim suit. The idea of sharing that is pretty amazing. To think once upon a time I would have never even thought about it!

To answer, yes the fitness center is at my place of employment. It's attached to the cafeteria and I am the cafeteria manager. My office wall shares a wall with the fitness center. -yes I can hear weight stacks drop!- What's super cool is that I'm a good project manager and last summer's project was putting the fitness center together. The Phys ed teacher, a maitenence supervisor and I did all the planning, purchasing and made it happen. People looked at my 300+ body and wondered wtf does she know...also I'm on the wellness committee for the nutrition information...but the fitness center is full of $100,000 worth of Lifefitness/Hammer Strength equipment. Floor to ceiling mirrors, rubberized flooring.... I've been spoiled all summer with very few people using it. I'll have to get used to sharing again next week.

Well aren't we having a love fest. Sorry fellas, we get a little misty sometimes. :pout: :think But really, people who think there's not an emotional element to this journey are fooling themselves. D- Don't be surprised if you find time to sneak in some exercise. Now that you know how it makes you feel you be prone to find a few minutes here or there. I have to say, I got my ass into the gym today and decided to do an extra sweaty workout. I got on the treadmill and did a walk run thing...walk 2 minutes, run for one or as long as possible...I did that for 15 then I did 10 minutes on the stair master. HOLY CRAP that kicked my ass. I was literally dripping sweat on the machine. Of course it's the day two people interruped my workout for work related questions. (my office is 50 feet away from the fitness center). I had mascara smudged under my eyes...the people didn't linger...you know when you get the feeling you are not welcome. Hehehehe. I have a email into my professor asking for additional resources. I made the GF's new neice a scrapbook for her baptism, her brother called her to say he was very touched. She called me to say it was a hit. That helped my day too. So all in all, the afternoon is better than the morning. :car: :biggrin1:

I say that when I got a band put around my stomach I got one on my head too. (That's what made me stop at this thread!) I have changed completely how I relate to food. I have the help of a fantastic counselor too. It's done a world of good. I think really there is a three progned approach to this banding thing. One is physical, the band keeps us from eating too much or too quickly. We all know how the band works. Two, is behavioral changes. That's where we exercise or use smaller plates or buy the right food in the house. Three, and this ties one and two together is the cognative piece. We think differently about food and our bodies. We think in terms of out comes. Like if I eat that icecream I'm not going to the outcome I had surgery for so I'll behave differently. There's much more to it, like sorting out why we over ate in the first place to help put that to rest, but really the mind is the best tool for success. Having the band assures that it can happen. XO

Oh D! Wow, that last one, about loving life is nearly making me cry. I'm freaking out a lot right now. I put my finger on it last night which is helping me cope, but I am not my normal chipper self. My issue is that there is a WHOLE LOT OF CHANGING going on in my universe right now. And that always makes me edgy, but everything is changing and it's good but not predictable so I'm freaking out. Kid is starting school-YEAH! Work dynamics are changing because it's fall-CAN'T STOP IT. My body is changin-THAT'S THE PLAN! My schedule with the GF is changing- CAN'T BE HELPED. I've got a conference to go to in 3 weeks.-THAT'S RARE. New subject in school that I don't excell at.-THAT JUST PISSES ME OFF. So, I'm rolling with the punches and managing my time so I don't lose touch with what's important of miss some of the things that need addessed... But when I read what you wrote, I thought you know, I feel so much better than I can remember. I love my fitness level and how I can do so much more than ever before. Thanks D, for the reminder.

I'm down for a chat. But I don't know what I contribute. Nearly all my equipment happily went with the ex. I asked to borrow stuff back for the weekend but she too is camping that weekend. I do have a tent and the stuff that's needed in the tent, I have chairs and a cooler, but I don't have the wear-with-all to cook. I have the ability to go to a restaurant. HA. However, I can actaully cook. Like it's been my job before, so I can be helpful in that way. In the morning I just need to boil water for tea or have coffee. Dinner can be whatever you want. Zoe can live on cereal, fruit, and PBJ sandwiches. BG-I love the idea of recovery cocktails. And you might want to look at bikes because it's the end of the season, there may be some good deals to be had on 2007 bikes. Just a thought. Tell me where and when I'll tune in. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ D. I'm so stoked for you new bike. I haven't taken a minute to say, wOO Freaking Hoo to you. Not that I'm counting but is this not your third bike this year? Got to love it! Please send us a picture of the bike or a link so we can see what she looks like.

Slack Can't help you with your jewels, google that. B or JC can be of help maybe. If you are jerking as you pedal you need to shift up, so that it is more difficult. If you are going up hill one typically shifts down so you do more revolutions with more ease but you go slower. A measure of biking is cadance, how many revolutions in a minute....the more the better...over 90 is a good goal. It will make you less tired. Again, google that too. I'm no expert, but I have one coaching me on my rides at times. Standing up will take time, but most folks only do it for a bit, to get away from a dog, to sprint to catch up, to finish a hill. All I can say about the crotch issue is to get back on your bike sooner rather than later so you build up a tolerance....if by your 4th ride your still feeling tender go to the bike store and look at new seats. Bigger doesn't mean better...just more ass to chafe. But there are options. HTH HP- yes, I made the reservations. Yes, this is going to happen. Yes, I need to buy an air mattress! I'm excited too. I need to register with the bike ride too. BG, you want to give the link again, so I don't have to scroll back? I am lazy.

I reserved 363, BG looks like you're going to want 361.

Jmc- Awesome! That's so great!

Nana you kill me! In my family we say we got, "noassatall" from our mother. My daughter has quite the booty. We were talking about the junk in her trunk when she was 2! Too funny.

I looked at the site, looks like site numbers 306, 304, and 289 would work. (I'm guessing we'll get three sites.) JC is sharing with BG... Let me know if this works and I'll reserve one of them. J

JC What's your point? We talk too much? I got RAINED on during my ride so it was only 14 miles and somewhere around 12 mph. Oh well, it's better than nothing, B You'll be eating soon enough. Really as soon as you can start eating you will and you'll be wishing for the days when mushies worked to keep you full. Good job on the walk though. Talk it slowly, but the more the better, in my opinion. Yeah JC, I was wondering about your lack of cycling. Did you set it aside when you started recovering from the slippage/incident? (Don't know what you called what happened.) If you're going to do the 40 mile ride with us in IN you have 4 weeks to get it together. I have no doubts in your abilities...just saying. On that note, chicas, I've only done 33 miles tops in a ride. Now that I look at it I thinks it's funny I'm asking what are we going to do in the afternoon after the ride. WE'LL BE RECOVERING! HA!

I'm heading out for a ride. The sun has come out. It might rain later so I'm hitting the neighborhood trail. I slept throught the start time of the group ride this morning. I went to see STARDUST last night. It was cute, but eh. Anyway, it was after midnight when I got home. I rarely see midnight in public these days. Catch you all when I get back in! Oh, I was able to eat two eggs over easy and a piece of toast this morning! It took a full 30 minutes, but it went down and stayed down. Woo Hoo. J

"Front Butt" That's what it looks like!!!! I wish I had that kind of junk in my trunk. My butt's as flat as a board and just as wide. Hell, good thing I like myself, because this body is freaking not pretty. Here's to plastic surgeons being able to work miracles.

Flouro is an X-ray type thing. It's different some way, though I can't tell you how. But they needed to see the port because I had lost so much wieght it had moved far from the scar. Also it was pointing down. It was still attached where he put it, by my anatomy has changed pretty dramatically. I'll need them done under flouro from now on, which is fine with me. Today I'm trying real food, like an egg over easy and toast and it's not going so well. But I'm sure it will get better with time. I'd wait and see about the September appointment. It's hard to judge this far away.

D??????? Road bike?? We need the details. HP- What a cutie pie! JC- I love sleepy time tea... I love tea in general, but that's one of my faves!

I play Euchre. And Ohioans are nuts for it too. Michiganers are not alone. JC It's like spades or aces. You need four players, look it up. It's fun. I too am looking to do body fat measures. The GF and I talk about doing the total submerssion...I guess is what it's called. I'm hoping to work with a trainer this winter. I did find a ride for tomorrow morning. I just don't know how far they go...hehehe. I know what you mean BG about daycare robbing you blind. Next year it's over for us. Zoe is in half day Kindergarten, so we still have to pay for mornings, but I can not wait.

HP When you find the place, give us the number to reserve the spaces. I'll call right away. Yeah, I'm with your duaghter about staying at a hotel too. We can sulk together. But really, camping will be a hoot. Are you card players? Considering we will be riding Saturday morning what will we do to fill the evening? Just curious. I'm too excited for this! Did I tell you this session's class is Finance? Can I tell you I don't much care for finance? It's my second attempt and my last chance so I can't mess up....Expect to see some stressed posts coming from me...The second week and I'm not happy already. Oi. BTW, HP, cute new pic!

Oh, I'm going to not make any friends here. I've noticed my arms and legs got smaller before I noticed a difference in the trunk of my body. But it could be my own messed up percerption. I feel like a melting figure. The smaller stuff is getting smaller and the bigger stuff isn't shrinking as rapidly. YIKES!

You know what they say