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).

Hey Charlene,

I'd read a few of your recent posts and yes you sound a bit like me. I'm fairly certain I have fibro too, but I don't want the diagnosis because the medical community is very judgemental about the condition.

I think the best thing I could do is to start exercising. I'm one of those people who does things all or nothing. I start out strong and work out hard, and I burn out very quickly and just stop exercising. We have a Wii fit, lots of work out videos and in spite of the bitter cold and tons of snow I can walk for free at the football dome in town.

I hope for good luck for you in the coming year. I'm actually optimistic myself.

Happy New Year and here's to 2010 and it being our year to get in control of our tool. To those who are in control have a wonderful year.:biggrin:

Happy New Year!

Hey Charlene,

I'd read a few of your recent posts and yes you sound a bit like me. I'm fairly certain I have fibro too, but I don't want the diagnosis because the medical community is very judgemental about the condition.

I think the best thing I could do is to start exercising. I'm one of those people who does things all or nothing. I start out strong and work out hard, and I burn out very quickly and just stop exercising. We have a Wii fit, lots of work out videos and in spite of the bitter cold and tons of snow I can walk for free at the football dome in town.

I hope for good luck for you in the coming year. I'm actually optimistic myself.

I started on the Savella.....so far so good. Less pain, less IBS. My band is tighter and that is a good thing. I did start at a low dose of 12.5mg. I will build up to 100mg. The recommended dosage was on the internet.

Happy New Year to All!

Lets make 2010 our Goal Year! And for you who have reached it.......CONGRATS!

happy new year and here's to 2010 and it being our year to get in control of our tool. To those who are in control have a wonderful year.:smile2:

I so hope your right!!!!!

Happy New Year and here's to 2010 and it being our year to get in control of our tool. To those who are in control have a wonderful year.:thumbup:

I am hoping to do just that this year. My weight loss has completely stalled. I am on my 3rd plateau (2 1/2 months so far this time). I know that I will have to get off my lazy butt and move it for the weight to start dropping again. I also think it is time to start measuring my food again, at least for the next week or two. What good is journaling if my portions aren't correct?:tt2: I have restriction, but I want to make sure I am eating the portions that I perceive I am eating. Now, I have made positive steps already by starting at the gym last week on a free pass and I am signing up probably tomorrow, since they are running a special. Good luck Butterflies!

I am hoping to do just that this year. My weight loss has completely stalled. I am on my 3rd plateau (2 1/2 months so far this time). I know that I will have to get off my lazy butt and move it for the weight to start dropping again. I also think it is time to start measuring my food again, at least for the next week or two. What good is journaling if my portions aren't correct?:thumbup: I have restriction, but I want to make sure I am eating the portions that I perceive I am eating. Now, I have made positive steps already by starting at the gym last week on a free pass and I am signing up probably tomorrow, since they are running a special. Good luck Butterflies!

Yeah, I know what you mean. The holidays derailed my journey, journaling, measuring, exercising.......and this cold weather hasn't helped. Texas is usually 50-70degrees this time of year. We are going to be in the 20's this weekend. Walking is not an option. I guess I will have to break out the indoor exercise crap I have bought over the past years. Lets see.....I have a bicycle, bands, weights, wii, dvds, oh I forgot.....I bought one of those chairs with the exercise cords for stretching........oh and that doesn't count the stuff my DH has. No excuses here!

I am going to take my ticker down till it starts moving!

Yeah, I know what you mean. The holidays derailed my journey, journaling, measuring, exercising.......and this cold weather hasn't helped. Texas is usually 50-70degrees this time of year. We are going to be in the 20's this weekend. Walking is not an option. I guess I will have to break out the indoor exercise crap I have bought over the past years. Lets see.....I have a bicycle, bands, weights, wii, dvds, oh I forgot.....I bought one of those chairs with the exercise cords for stretching........oh and that doesn't count the stuff my DH has. No excuses here!

I am going to take my ticker down till it starts moving!

You are in Texas and I am in southern Louisiana. I know what you are talking about. WE AREN'T BUILT FOR THIS!!! We will have lows in the 20s for about 3 days and then lows in the teens for about 3 days. The last time this happened pipes starting bursting everywhere. Stores were out of supplies to fix them. I remember my grandma didn't have water for a week.:thumbup: Dangit, I am getting colder just thinking about it!

You are in Texas and I am in southern Louisiana. I know what you are talking about. WE AREN'T BUILT FOR THIS!!! We will have lows in the 20s for about 3 days and then lows in the teens for about 3 days. The last time this happened pipes starting bursting everywhere. Stores were out of supplies to fix them. I remember my grandma didn't have water for a week.:thumbup: Dangit, I am getting colder just thinking about it!

I know that's right. We can handle Hurricanes, but let us have sustained cold weather we wimp out. Yep, teens and 20's predicted for Thursday thru Sunday. Well, maybe this cold weather will speed up our metabolisms.

The high has been 28-30 and at night at low as 17 we are supposed to have snow this week in GA. I miss Florida

Ok, ladies, here's the deal...I just measured out my bowl of Special K (1 cup), and dangit, I have been eating about 50% more than that!!!:thumbup: I am measuring EVERYTHING in the next few week, heck maybe the next month. Oh, I have been a very naughty girl:crying:

Yeah I need to start measuring cause I just got a fill and he wants me to take it real slow and measure and write stuff down the 2 thins I hate doing

Yeah I need to start measuring cause I just got a fill and he wants me to take it real slow and measure and write stuff down the 2 thins I hate doing

I am going to measure, but I'm not writing down JACK! I post mine on Fitday. I don't mind clicking some buttons, but I write all day at work, I just don't have it in me when I get home. I haven't been to my surgeon's office in over a year. My 2nd, and last, fill was in November of '08. I still have restriction. I still eat slow and don't usually overeat. Cereal, however, is a sneaky thing.:thumbup:

You guys are wimps! Twenty degrees is t-shirt and shorts weather here on the shores of Lake Superior. Okay, not quite but 20's aren't so bad! The wind chill is what really kills you up here, it's usually well below zero, not to mention the two plus feet of snow we got in the last week.

The only time I've ever lost a good amount of weight on my own is when I keep track. I don't know how many times I need to learn the same lesson! So I've started tracking my food again on livestrong.com (daily plate). I'm a little insane when it comes to the format of my "food journal" and suprisingly this seems to be working for me.

I finally made an appointment with my surgeon to address my pain issues. I hope I'm down a couple of pounds by my appointment. I've gained 15 lbs since May, I think I'll be down at least 5 lbs by my appointmenta and hopefully a little more.

I'm a little insane when it comes to the format of my "food journal" .

I am the same way but I can't log into anything not workrelated at my job. I try to write stuff down but then forget or don't do it all together. Excuses I know.