Hi everyone--I thought I'd listen to some advice from one of the other monthly groups and start one master thread in which we have an ongoing discussion/updates. I don't know about you all but I certainly spend most of my time on these boards on the pre-op forum and the general forum, not here. It would be nice to have just one thread to go to once in this forum.

We can maybe start out with introductions?

As for me, I'm going the "online privacy" route for now (paranoid that people I haven't told about this will somehow stumble across me on this site I guess, which is crazy, I know) but I can give you the big picture:

You can call me Penny, I'm 27, single and live in the Washington, DC area. I have a background in politics (which is why I live in DC) but now I'm a librarian which is much cooler and way more fun (trust me on that). Oh, and there's no "Marion the Librarian" thing with me either. One of the things I hear most frequently (besides the cliche "you have such a pretty face") is "but you don't LOOK like a librarian", which is another one of those bizarre backhanded compliments that you never really know how to take.

Personality wise, I'm kind of dorky, big into public radio and books and popular science. Oh, I'm also a little on the paranoid side (as you may be able to tell from earlier in this post). Beyond that I'm just kind of silly and friendly, VERY much so into traveling and I'm an aspiring "green" domestic diva (but that's not going so well).

Belly weight. As I lose..........my belly goes down,down, down........I will need a wheelbarrow soon. lol! I have had three laparatomies so I don't have much abdominal muscle. Probably why my back is so bad. I know I will have to get it tucked when I lose to my goal.

I must say this is a hell of a journey, Everyone reminds you when you get down that you didn't get fat over night and you won't lose it over night. but I must say I had a lot more fun getting fat then I am losing it. (LOL) But not being obese is much much better then being obese Just not as much fun. Well that's my mindless ramble for the day.

You are right getting fat was more fun but being thin is a whole lot better so I can be around for my family. I just wish I was one of those people that grew to love exercise like some.

Hi friends, I know it has been a while since I checked in. I wanted to wait until I had some good news for a change. My husband got a job, and started last week. He is working at the Pentagon! The pay is about 2/3 of what he was making with Boeing, but it is enough to pay the mortgage, etc. His actual work hasn't started yet, as he is still going through the process of getting all of the security badges he needs, etc. I've been kind of holding my breath to see if he would come home relaxed and happy, or exhausted and depressed. So far, it's looking good. He has adjusted to taking Metro instead of driving. He only got on the wrong train once! He corrected himself the second time. And best yet, he said yesterday that it might even turn out to be a fun job. Which was what I have been praying for all these months, a job he would enjoy. A job he would come home happy about instead of frustrated and angry.

He was talking last night about how long to get completely vested, which will take most of three calendar years, but he was talking like it's very doable.

So. I'm finally starting to relax a little. There was another job he really wanted, which would have involved a small move. That interview was scheduled for a few days after this job offer arrived, but despite promising to get back to him in a day or so, they never got back to him at all, so he took this position. Which is why we weren't quite celebrating immediately. There were some mixed feelings involved.

He doesn't get his first paycheck for a few weeks, and of course we will be interested to see what size it actually is. That will relax me more, too.

Our son finally got to start his first real post college job a couple of weeks ago. He got his first half paycheck last week, and said it was really nice to be back in double digits, financially. He is anxious to start paying us back for the college loans we made to him, and for the work clothes he put on our credit card since he had nothing appropriate for that.

Now I really need to refocus on the weight loss effort. And on exercise.

Hugs,

Orea

OMG YEAH OREA I AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND!!! :tongue2::)

Now, if I can just get the scale moving in the right direction again...

Orea............I am so glad you are back posting. I have missed ya. Oh, by the way, I watered your flowers on Farmtown a couple of days ago. Whew! you have a bunch, but I love your farm!

Thank you! It's good to be back. :-) And yes, that is a LOT of flowers! I appreciate your watering them for me.

Now, if I can just get the scale moving in the right direction again...

Hang in there Orea it will start moving it again :thumbdown:

Hey guys,

I was just wondering now that we are a year or more out how many calories do you guys stick with?

As some of you know from other boards I am struggling and I am starting to write down my foods. But I don'r know what my calorie limit should be?

There isn't a magic answer. Since we are all different, your body is your best calculator. Try a given level of calories, and see what it does to your weight. Adjust as needed.

FYI.........I don't know if Kroger is just local to Texas, but they have a low carb yogurt(Carbmaster) that is yum........12g of protein, 1.5 fat, 80calories. I am going back to counting protein too. I need 60 protein a day. This yogurt is one of my snacks.

Hey guys,

I was just wondering now that we are a year or more out how many calories do you guys stick with?

As some of you know from other boards I am struggling and I am starting to write down my foods. But I don'r know what my calorie limit should be?

You may think you are struggling, but you are closer to your goal than I am to mine!!!! You just had less to lose than I do. As far as calories, I normally eat 1200-1500 per day. Sometimes I go below and at least 1 day a week I hit about 1600. I am satisfied so far with my weight loss, have very recently ended a 3 month plateau and I eat most foods that I want, just a lot less of it!

Good luck in your journey and Celebrate your accomplishments!:biggrin:

Thanks all for your suggestions everyone.

I actually shop at Kroger but never looked for a lower carb yogurt. I will look for it this weekend when I go shopping.

When I think about what I lost I am proud of myself but I guess since I have a cold right now and feel crappy all my old way of thinking is coming back to me.

The stinking thinking has kicked in big time

Thanks all for your suggestions everyone.

I actually shop at Kroger but never looked for a lower carb yogurt. I will look for it this weekend when I go shopping.

When I think about what I lost I am proud of myself but I guess since I have a cold right now and feel crappy all my old way of thinking is coming back to me.

The stinking thinking has kicked in big time

Here is another thing I found. Orowheat has a new flatbread called Sandwich Thins. It is also split for easy use.......100calories.........5protein. Try it. Now, I found it at Sam's.

I hope every butterfly has a great Labor Day Weekend!

Just dropping by to say Hi to all, nothing to report. I think I'm heading for the longest plateau in lapband history. Well, it feels that way anyway but bright side I'm not gaining just stuck. Hope everyone is having a great holiday. It's raining here today but had a great weekend on the boat fishing with my DH. I love it, it always reminds me that life is good! Even when hard times come there is still so many wonderful things in this world!

Hey All,

I am still sick but hanging in their it has been 7 days so far. I am taking it easy today since I have to go back to work tomorrow. Hope you all had a good labor day