Just found out I have the day off from babysitting! I knew I would only have one kid but he is sick now
Now I have to decide what to do today. I know I want to clean some but I am so tempted to call a friend and run around but know I need to clean my house and get ready for putting up the tree in a few weeks.
Location: from Canada currently living in Cairo, Egypt
Posts: 308
S/C/G: 380/ticker/180
Height: 5"9
Quote:
Originally Posted by mnemosyne
Some of these are individual replies to new folks posting bios!
Melissa - wow, Egypt! That sounds like quite an adventure. Do you have family there, or are you just there for work? Were you there during the Arab spring? I am also looking forward to fitting into economy seats without extenders. Well, I think I might've gotten there now but I won't be traveling by air until next vacation, which is probably next summer. So I have to keep going. I would also like to be able to put down the tray table fully. Also: you shouldn't be repulsed by yourself, I don't think that that is mentally healthy!
I do not have any family here, I am here just to work. I wasn't here during the Arab Spring, I was working in China then, but I was hired during that March.
With the seatbelt thing, it also depends on the airline, because I flew Air France I think to go to Paris last year and was fine (well, you know all the way to the end, but no extender needed lol) but then both Air Canada and British Airways = no way.
The tray table, how I loathe thee.... that is also on my list... (so many travel related things since I fly so much)
I am hoping to not need an extender by May 1 (when I fly on a school trip to London, if the kids bring in their money on time)
I know it's not a healthy way of thinking.... it was more a reflection of that day (and future days I know)....
Since I've joined this site, I've felt better and more motivated, esp. since finding this particular section for 300+... just so 'nice' to see so many people who understand how I feel, and to help eachother...
But I can extrememy emotional... so I try to be honest with my emotions, even if they aren't healthy. (better than several years ago when I was so depressed I forgot how to feel any emotions)
also, since I'm in Egpyt, not really planning on buying a scale... so my weigh-ins will be minimal (won't even have a starting date until I'm home for Christmas).... but I plan on using measurements, photo diary (personal for now) and my clothing to estimate how I am doing.
definitely think I am going to enjoy this site.
and to celebrate, I got my report cards done a day early carrot time!
MELISSA ~ many of us (probably most of us) overate becuz of emotional stresses in our lives; but we CAN find alternate strategies to manage our emotions that don't involve food instead. I was just more "disappointed" in myself for not being aware of what I was doing to my body by "eating my feelings" over the years. I have learned to "face & feel" my feelings now, not try to cover them up or stuff them down with food.
Also, working on making the necessary changes in my life that are needed to deal with the stresses too. First and foremost, being aware of what they are; and how I was reacting to them. Now I try to respond to my emotions in a more positive and healing way.
RadioJane - I would definitely be encouraged by that lecture. It's oddly complimentary, really, though it does amuse me how involved other people can get in your weight loss. Meanwhile, more other people don't much notice. Hah. My parents did not really comment on my weight loss until I had lost a good deal, although I haven't talked about it with them much, either. Which I sort of prefer.
I also love cheese, though I don't buy the babybel cheeses. I have been buying some local cheeses available at my local farm to table store and/or when I can get to an especially awesome farmer's market on the weekends. I'm a vegetarian, though. So it works for me. But I do have to be reaaally careful with it.
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With the seatbelt thing, it also depends on the airline, because I flew Air France I think to go to Paris last year and was fine (well, you know all the way to the end, but no extender needed lol) but then both Air Canada and British Airways = no way.
Heh, Melissa. This is true. I was fine on Scandanavian Airways at 340 lbs and ... United at 330 lbs, so assumed I would be good on Delta to South America at 320 lbs. But no. However: I've taken off 50 lbs since then so am thinking maaaybe, I am good now.
If you don't mind me asking, how did you get involved in teaching internationally? Do you teach English as a second language, or some other subject? I think it's very adventurous of you to live internationally on your own like that.
Hah. Congrats on getting your report cards done, though.
Rosebud - congrats on getting through stress without overeating, that's always more difficult. I didn't cook anything this weekend, but my mother made a quinoa casserole for our Sunday night dinner and I have the leftovers for lunch. I had some leftover couscous too, so I sauteed some veggies in 1/2 container of the Philadelphia Cream Cheese cooking creams (4 servings per container, 90 calories per serving - so 2 servings, 180 calories) and then mixed them with the couscous to maker a casserole that I had for dinner last night. It was cook. I like the cooking cream. If I use it judiciously like that it gives me quick, easy flavor for 50 cal per serving.
dgramie - did you end up cleaning, or running around? running around sounds like more fun!
I am going to the movies tonight to see the Metropolitan Opera in HD broadcast. Well, it is the rebroadcast, since they are normally done on Saturdays. It's one of my favorite things - great opera, in comfy movie seats, for $20. Usually I would skip dinner and uhm, share a large popcorn (I mean a LARGE popcorn, which comes with one free refill) for dinner. They start at 6:30 and often are 3-4, sometimes 5 hours long. But! last night I made a couple of wraps to take with for dinner. I'm looking forward to it.
I read about people traveling. I do not fly and worry would I have to pay for two seats? I remember an Airline, maybe Air Canada was going to institute this if someone weighed over a certain weight. Also I saw a woman on the news who was confronted and told she was too fat to fly.
mnem- I ran around with hubby and had fun. I got a new pair of jeans that actually fit nicely, and a new top. We had lunch out at mcdonalds but I counted each calorie. We picked up a subway sandwich to split for dinner. I came in a little over on calories but felt great about it. I use to would have done so much worse.
I did some cleaning yesterday and got a huge stack of winter coats washed to give away.I even cooked a healthy dinner, tonight I will just have to add a can of green beans and make the meatloaf. I love cooking ahead.
The opera was great. It was L'Elisir d'Amore by Donizetti, just three hours but I was getting antsy toward the end. Dinner worked out. I was going to go out at intermission to buy the smallest popcorn but intermission came after the snack bar was closed, so BONUS FOR ME. Instead, I made popcorn when I came home and it was delicious and much healthier.
Oh, also: NSV - I was able to share the arm rest in the theater. I had room enough in the seat that I could rest my arm on it while the person next to me did that as well. !!!
pluckypear - hello and welcome! I am guilty of traveling fat. I have never been asked to buy an extra seat. It is much, much easier if you are traveling with a companion who can share your seat and doesn't mind putting up the armrest between the seats.
I fit - just - in seats on the big planes used on US to Europe flights when I was heavier, and did not need an extender. The standard is usually whether you can fit with the armrests down and with just one seatbelt extender. However, some airlines like Southwest are much stricter and the standard is generally 'whether our staff thinks you are really heavy.'
Smaller planes and shorter flights tend to have smaller and less comfortable seats, so can be more of a challenge. The last time I flew I was 320 lbs and flew from the US to Peru, and then took a bunch of short flights in Peru. I actually found the internal flights on Star Peru more comfortable than the international flight. Star Peru had different seats for the first 10 rows that were smaller, and then larger seats for the last (however many) rows, so as long as I stayed in the back of the plane I was fine even when my friends weren't sitting next to me. It was a real relief. I did need extenders on every flight, but the attendants were considerate.
We are the same height! Which helps gauge 'fit', but I am not a pear shape. More of a 'round all over' shape.
dgramie - that sounds like fun. I know what you mean, when I conquer days like that that would've been nuts once and get through them with good marks it always feels great. And I also love cooking ahead. Hah.
Also: at holiday dinners I want all dinner dishes done before we start eating dessert.
Mnemosyne - You've hit my biggest fear: Not being able to fly comfortably! I'm supposed to go to Mexico in February, and even though I've dropped a significant amount of weight, I still have a pretty hefty apron, and I've been dreading the plane. I still have a few more months to go, so I hope I don't have any issues!
Thanks for the information. I would travel with DH and he is slim. I think aisle would be best for me. I also need to pee a lot. Lol so washroom size also an issue. I will think about it though.
Radiojane I already have an apron and as I lose weight it will get worse. When I get low enough I really want surgery for that and my arms.
I'm most definitely going to need surgery for mine as well. It's already dropping so much that I'm extremely self conscious unless I'm in a good girdle!
Maybe by then it will be covered by OHIP or whatever insurance you have in Saskatchewan. It used to be covered here if you kept the weight off for one year and if your Dr. recommended it - I mean removing extra skin due to weight loss. But not anymore. I can get roux en y covered but not that, crazy in my opinion. I opted out of surgery as for me the risks were too great and people do gain the weight back or at least can.
Location: from Canada currently living in Cairo, Egypt
Posts: 308
S/C/G: 380/ticker/180
Height: 5"9
mnem- I hope you have a great flight
Honestly, I got into international teaching because I couldn't get a job at home. I was working as an occasional (supply) teacher for a year and a half (and a travel agent on the side) but I hated day to day supply, and was not getting enough regular work some months to pay my bills.
ALso my dad had some heart surgeries in 2009/2010 (aortic valve replacement) and I spent a year being a caregiver, taking care of the household, dealing with doctors, hospitals, homecare nurses (for a horrible horrible post-op infection he had) and did nothing for myself that year (except gain a bunch of weight) and I needed to focus on me and my future.... applied for a job teaching Drama (with some ENglish) at an accredited Ontario School in China, they hired me... and here I am.
I teach currently at a Manitoba school, with their curriculum. Right now I do 9 and 12 English Language Arts, Drama and 12 PSychology. All Canadian Curriculum, and I get to travel and see the world. Actually we pass the pyramids everyday on the way to work. I'm loving it and right now I am getting to design a drama program from the ground up, my directors love me and my work and this is currently an opportunity I'd never have in Canada (not at age 28 anyways)
Plucky- I have never been asked to purchase a second seat, and other than the person beside me moving to another seat (kind of embarrassing, but then he was sitting with his shirt completely unbuttoned so also kind of good) no big deal has been made. But I do fit with the arm rests down (not overly comfortable on long leg flights 5+ hours, but meh)
I forget who but someone mentioned airplane bathrooms.... even my 8 year old cousin's kid remarked how small they were.... but I will say this I used them this summer on British Airways and fit.... more or less... you might want to see where the handicapped bathroom is and try to sit near there so you can use it.
My worst experience was flying home from Hong Kong (15+ hour direct flight) I had a nosebleed that lasted about 3 hours off and on... spent a lot of time in the bathroom taking care of it...
I am flying home for Christmas in a few weeks, and have treated myself to Business class... I think I'll still need the extender, but at least I won't be right beside someone and can put my feet up... plus I can actually use the tray table properly.
hey all just checking in..hope you are all doing well. I have a new goal of losing 29 pounds to reach 313...once i reach this goal..i would have lost 100 pounds..lets go!
Maybe by then it will be covered by OHIP or whatever insurance you have in Saskatchewan. It used to be covered here if you kept the weight off for one year and if your Dr. recommended it - I mean removing extra skin due to weight loss. But not anymore. I can get roux en y covered but not that, crazy in my opinion. I opted out of surgery as for me the risks were too great and people do gain the weight back or at least can.
I think it is still covered by Sask health. Even if it isn't, if you start getting rashes etc, it should be medically necessary. I'd have to think about it, I haven't had kids yet and I would be afraid of gain.
Jane - I think you'll be fine. Especially given the rate at which you are losing - wow! I know that I was about 360 or 370 once when I traveled internationally. I don't know my exact weight, but I was heavier then than since. Anyway - I was uncomfortable, but I had a companion with me and was okay. And I am much shorter than you, so no matter the size of your apron I expect you are no bigger around than I was.
I think you will actually be more uncomfortable on the plane because of your height! If you can afford it, I strongly recommend that you check with your airline to see if they have economy plus seats available. There is usually an extra fee but you will have a few more inches of leg room that can make a big difference. Also, check out seat guru: http://www.seatguru.com/ - they have more stats about planes and seat sizes.
Pear - as I said, I've traveled when I weighed more than your starting weight. I always fit into the airplane washroom, though I've only gone on the BIG planes. Not the local jets.
And, hah, I am jealous of you both and the Canadian health care system. I doubt that my insurance would cover skin removal and even then my share would be at least 5k. Ugh. Well, and I'm not sure that I could deal with the pain afterward.
Melissa - I am really, really so impressed with your initiative and a teeny bit jealous that I never managed to do something so adventurous and dramatic when I was your age. That you didn't let your weight or anything else get in your way, and that you've made such a great place for yourself. That is really exciting, and you deserve some excitement after the sacrifices you made taking care of your dad. Are you students mostly children of Canadians working in Egypt? Or do you have locals as well?
I have never been to Egypt but would like to go. The closest I've been was in Tunis a few years ago. Before the Arab spring, so pictures of Ben Ali (I think his name was) were everywhere. And, uh, I thought he was a creepy nightclub singer at first, and then figured it out and thought it looked the way Franco's Spain might've looked.
Oh, and BUSINESS CLASS. I will have to hear a report on how you enjoy it. You must luxuriate. I mean, diet or no diet, you have to at least sample whatever free champagne they offer.
chinadoll - ooh, good luck! that will be such a great milestone for you, and I know you can do it!
MELISSA ~ many of us (probably most of us) overate becuz of emotional stresses in our lives; but we CAN find alternate strategies to manage our emotions that don't involve food instead. I was just more "disappointed" in myself for not being aware of what I was doing to my body by "eating my feelings" over the years. I have learned to "face & feel" my feelings now, not try to cover them up or stuff them down with food. 
