OH Juli

I'm a rock star. I just have to say this has nothing to do with cycling or losing weight but with school. I know, I bitch and moan about having to do it all the time and it's only getting tougher, but I'm getting my stuff done and it feels great. I've just finished a paper and some other homework a day early so I can attend a coference tomorrow...W00T.

That's quite a lot of driving, but we'd so love to see you!

RSG, Again girl, I've got your back. I agree with you that big doesn't equal ugly and healthy is the goal, not skinny. And hello, I'm nearly 200 pounds, I can run a 5K and bike 50 miles in a morning. I am fit, fat and beautiful. But there are places and times when what we say can be heard and understood. On a weight loss forum you're just not going to get broad support for the notion that fat is okay. However, this is a place for airing different points of view and you are articulate and smart so keep on spreading the gospel. Glouster, You mentioned promoting healthy in this country, which is true and false depending on what you look at. There a public service announcements about getting kids moving and eating differently, but the real money goes toward mass producing and marketing cheap, poor quality food for the masses. One can well argue both sides of the issue. Really what I see that we are talking about here is fat acceptance and internalized fat phobia. And we, the obese choosing WLS, are at ground zero trying to make personal choices that are right for us while still being true to who were are/were politically-historically. It's not a problem easily resolved with a few paragraphs.

ZZ, TX, D, B, BP, You all up for a trip to Lansing Michigan? It's a beautiful state.

BP, That's a contender for the "Best PB Story EVER" catagorie. I'm sure it was no fun at the time, but gald you came away from it no worse for wear. How's the cycling going?

That's a whole lot of Water weight. I'll never complain again about the two pounds I carry at TOM. As for the chica at the top, I agree it's a bit much to have the same header on every page, but she's not the one who formatted the page, the powers that be chose her pic. And she's a LBTer, not some random model, so props off to her. I really appreicate you coming back and telling the newbies to keep on at it. That's a message everyone needs to hear. Thanks,

Well look at us. We have a real live get together happening here. JC, oh JC where are you???? We'd love to meet the love new love interest.

you should be approved and have date before you start your liquid diet, right? The timeline is a little screwy. You do the liquid diet a week or ten days before surgery. They weigh you in the morning and I doubt seriously they'd refuse your surgery at that point. However, talk to your doctor, not his office staff to get a the real message. Sorry you're stressed.

To the six pound to lose person, I've been known to say, "Yeah it does start with the first 6 pounds you don't lose, it just keeps on adding and adding..." Freaks them out. Rain, You look great. Back handed compliments are mean. Just wish the dieters luck and don't let it bother you.

I think you need to define "GOAL". It doesn't need to be a number on the scale, but it needs to be something for you to strive for. Also, it doesn't need to be public, it can be your own internal goal...but they say people who state goals publically achieve them better. But your public can be a journal or here... Anyway, yes, create a goal, like exercising or following the rules 99% of the time. It doesn't need to be your end goal, but milestone that you can reach and feel accomplished for reaching them. Go for it.

It's the 100,000 metre, t-shirt ride. It's $15 with food and SAG.

Get a light.

HP, C, WYD, or anyone for that matter. See if you can get to Lansing the weekend of June 7th for the ride. Lettuce know.

Bike to Work Week (b2ww) |considerbiking.org | columbus This is a bike to work campaign that is happening in central Ohio. I'm my work's captain. I feel so ecologically minded. I just want to see more people on bikes!

Well, our schedules mesh for the 7th or 8th. That's the 100 Grand or 100,000 meter. The 100,000 is closer to both, and is cheaper to enter. Want to set it up a tentative date?

I'm just being a smart alec, but a stupid person might not get they are being poked fun at. But yeah, people get indignant for MRDD folk and the phrase "that's retarded". As for ugly people, that's just unfortunate. And the joke doesn't go beyond one or two lines, well because there's just not enough fodder. However you can take a fat person put them in a scene and get many laughs from it, from a broken chair, to giant panties, to whatever... And I'm an advocate for saying, deal with your stuff and don't expect the world to bend not to hurt your feelings, because if you wait for the world to meet you, you'll be waiting a long time. On the other hand, it sucks to be poked fun at. And being quiet about it when you don't want to be quiet isn't acceptable either. So if you're pissed speak up. And if you see someone being hurt, speak up for that person too.

BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB Missed you too, Buddy. Oh, BG, I wanted to tell you that I rode part of that very same windy ride last week Thursday and it was actually pleasant. I can't imagine how enjoyable it would have been if the weather wasn't brutal. Are you finding us a June date to ride in South MI together?

Duh, there's her banner ad below. Well above as I type but below as you read this. I'll check it out. Thanks.

I think there's a line we tread as women, as American woman (pardon me other women, but speaking from my own experience here to my yankee sisters) who are or have been of size, between fat acceptance and a desire to not be fat. Certainly there's a place for advocacy for fat people. We/they are not any less human because of our/their size. Treating someone as less than because they are different isn't okay on any level. But it's still considered reasonable to treat fat folk badly. We question fat folk advocating for themselves and we question them laughing at their own pain. It's institutionalized to the point that a self loathing fat person thinks they deserve to hate themself and they deserve the scorn of others. I don't have the answer...but talking about bad media, pizza Hut had a commercial where the baby sitter was ordering pizzas on the phone and the chubby boy walked in and she said, "Better add to the order." Because he obviously was going to eat vastly more than what she had ordered. I called the company and complained. Didn't get very far, but I feel better for it.

TammyJ Is it a video? How do you do it? Is it via the internet? I want details. That's fantastic that you're finding a great workout. J

It is a beautiful day in OH-IO. I feel for ya, C. I'm on the fence about riding or running today. I've gone back to running. I took off a few months but I'm loving it again. I like it because it's quicker and if my schedule is full I can still get it in. Gearing up for run takes less time as well. I've got plans tonight so it very well may be a run day. Anyway, I have two, count them two 60 mile rides this weekend. One on Saturday and one on Sunday. I'm gonna be smokin' come TOSRV in two weeks! W00T

Okay, My gay sistah, btw, I love that you put your partner out there in your initial post. Got to love the out people. Thanks from all of us. I wanted to write sooner but had other obligations...I hope you don't mind me coming late to the conversation. Others have touched on hormones being released and emotional eating. I was initially struck with how it seems like you are greiving. You've given up your comfort mechanism and you can't go back. Ever. Not that you want to, but it's real and final and done. Now you need to find a new way to cope. What's a rational person to do? Temper tantrums seem reasonable to me. Well, so long as you don't hurt anyone or yourself. And this will be a short lived phase. I don't know if medication is the solution or if really wrapping your head around the tantrums will be effective for you, but certainly try different methods. I mean you've got to live in your skin and people do have to live with you. One effective way to work your way through the rage is to just own it. Lay on the floor and kick and scream like a 3 year old. You might look foolish, but it feels great. I did it once when my kiddo was having a fit and I was going to beat the tar out of her. So instead I took a clue from her and did the same thing she was doing. She thought I was nuts. I thought it was effective at getting out my stress and no one got hurt. As for the crying jags they will become fewer and longer spaced inbetween. It's happening for the same reason a child has fits. You don't have the words to describe your emotions, and without the words you don't have a way to process the concepts. This is from some business model I came across but a way to get answers and solution is something like the 6 Whys or the 6 questions. Example: 1. Why am I sad? I'm sad because this man has cancer. 2. Why does cancer make you sad? This person will die. 3. Why is death sad? People I love will be gone from me. 4. Who do you see passing soon? Grandma, grandpa 5. What can you do to connect with them? Visit write a letter, etc. 6. What is stopping that from happening? Make a plan.... I don't know what to say other than be kind to yourself right now. You need not add guilt or other stress to an already stressfull situation. Ask your partner for a little understanding and maybe an end date that until you meet it she'll be flexible with your bad behavior. Then she gets to say enough is enough. Keep on writing. I'm sure many other people will propose solutions that will help you out. One of them is bound to give you peace. Juli

Hi Marchies. I've been reading but way busy. I hope everyone is well. Juli

It was a three tiered caked. And pink. With yes many many candles.

I'm glad you bought the purple dress, BG. Whew, I'm just getting caught up reading. TX, you look great! Sorry you felt like poo. I hope the unfill/refill works for you. I like your positive thinking about being able to eat well during your 150 miler. HP, Sorry your mom surgery didn't go according to plan. I'm glad she's home. You'll get back on your bike in no time. C, How is work? You are back now? Right. The party was FUN. And my house is nearly back in order. Alison got DRUNK, which was pretty funny. I'll see about posting pics of the cake ablaze! Yes, they put on 40 candles. I was throwing off heat! Got to write a paper. School stinks like always. XO. J