... my husband's gonna love me for it LOL.

I love flowers and such, but I'm not a gardener by any stretch of the imagination. I've tried it once or twice, but it always made my back and knees hurt and hey, I'll admit, I'm a lazy girlie lol. Add to that, I really can't stand getting dirty hehe, I can be a real girl's girl when it's convenient. I'd much rather pay someone else to do that manual labor thing and have it come out looking decent.

We live in a townhouse with an ocean view. One of the downsides to that though, is that we don't have a yard. Instead, we have a courtyard out the back that's filled with all kinds of shrubbery, flowers, trees, etc. We just rent. One of the biggest pluses of this place was that a gardener was included and meant to come once every three months. Well, two years later, he still hasn't shown up, even once.

This morning as my husband was leaving for work, he asked if I would please sweep the courtyard if I had a chance. We've just let a good friend have our dog (my best friend Fudge - I'm still heartbroken but I know he'll be happier there), as he needed a yard to run in and we just can't provide that at the moment. So anyway, the courtyard had alot of dog hair and such in it.

After I finished my online work this morning (I rushed through it cause its a beautiful day), I suggested to my daughter that we ride our bicycles along the beach to a nice restaurant on the Water for lunch. When we came back, I thought .. hmm, I might as well go ahead and clean up the courtyard. Got out the broom and started sweeping, only to say to myself, "this just isn't gonna work". So into the garage I went and found a pair of gardening gloves (courtesy of my Mum's visit last year lol), pruning sheers and one of those lil rake things .. not sure what they're actually called? Anyway - four hours later, I have the most amazingly clean (and weed free) courtyard in the world! hehe.. okay, so I probably killed half the trees in the process as I over pruned, but I can actually walk through it. I even gathered up all the green waste and put it in the skip we have here for the week (garage cleaning time of year).

This time last year, I would have tired out in 20 minutes flat, hurt my back or stuffed up my knees. Its amazing how much added energy you can have after a bit of weight loss!! I'm loving my band!

So tell me, what can you do now, that you couldn't (or wouldn't) before the surgery?

That's a personal question but he enjoyed it. LOL

Wow you are a ball of energy now. With all that work, I am sure you lost more weight and below that 199 now. You go girl. Keep it up.

good to see you have lots more energy

you are doing great

Since I lost this last 10 lbs & have been exercising, I seem to have more energy too. I noticed it this weekend. I usually am a couch potato over the weekend, but my hubby kept looking at me oddly & I finally realized it was because I was cleaning! On a weekend!

LOL! Feels good doesn't it?!

That's so cool that you were able to garden for 4 hours! Working outside is great exercise...

I started taking a yoga class two weeks ago. I've always wanted to try yoga before, but I was too self-conscious. I'm feeling so much better about myself that I decided to give it a go. It's a very gentle class (mostly stretching). I still have to alter some of the moves because my stomach gets in the way. Fortunately, she teaches the class with the lights off!

Hmmm well its going to sound very vain but its the truth. Everytime i pass a mirror my "damn im fat" have changed to a "DAMN who are you?" lol.... And before surgery i had confidence but not like i do now. Im even considering rock climbing at my gym!!! And the rock climbing wall is out in the middle of the gym for everyone to look up at my behind!!!!! So maybe im not even halfway to my goal wieght but im feeling great!!!!!

Kim

LOL...WTG!! Hmmm...today I worked all dayin a doctors office two people short, came home scrubed my back deck now it is ready for stain tommorrow night, planted 16 plants watered, gathered up the trash and about to take a shower (cause I stink now) then work on payroll to key in tommorrow morning then vaccuum...

Did some one say energy to burn?

Oh I long to have that sort of energy again. At the moment I just about pass out once I'm home from collecting the kids from school - and I still have dinner and the evening clean up (which is when I get most of the housework done) to get through. If I sit down for 1 minute I"m cactus.

I havent looked at the garden for a looooong time but I did pay someone to come and clean it up.

I swear going to the gym 2 or 3 times a week doesnt even begin to make up for the lack of all that type of stuff in my life as I've gotten too fat and tired for it.

Parvanthi,

Great NSV!!!! you go girl. Was your husband impressed with the fruits of your labor??

4 hours, you must have burned some serios calories!

Enjoy the garden.

LOL...WTG!! Hmmm...today I worked all dayin a doctors office two people short, came home scrubed my back deck now it is ready for stain tommorrow night, planted 16 plants watered, gathered up the trash and about to take a shower (cause I stink now) then work on payroll to key in tommorrow morning then vaccuum...

Did some one say energy to burn?

Yeah, but yer all in love and stuff. Mr. Herman has got you down to 184?!!!! Wowza! Well done!!!

I want some of this energy you all have! So much of it is in my mind. I'm in a frump...heeeellp!!!!!!!!!

Post a pic of your courtyard Pavarathi!!! We wanna see!!!

Okay, you asked what we could do that we couldn't do before surgery. I am sure you meant work but I am lazy. I am wearing low cut jeans today.....!!

WTG road queen!!! Me too!! Yes, Kathy, I got all kinds of energy for Mr. Herman...LOL!! Too bad he is in Little Rock, Arkansas on business this week. Note to self..must save some of this energy for him!