FERRIS ~ soothing that extracted tooth is OK; just watch how much soothing you do ...

MEM ~ your soup sounds yummy. I like homemade soup and make it often. Congrats on two (2) NSV's -- the skirt and the theater seats!!! Hope your mom can alter the skirt so you can wear it.

PEAR ~ 2.6 lbs is awesome ... and, your soup sounds yummy too!

JANE ~ hope that stone passes soon with no effects on you.

dgramie ~ would eating something small & having a drink before and afterwards help? I have heard others say this ... glad all is going will with you.

Went to the pre-surgery assessment; this doctor is arranging for the surgical team in the south as he couldn't do it himself (I need more surgery than was expected, but that could turn into a blessing for me in the end).

Picked up my new glasses but they changed them as the lenses in the others weren't big enuff for tri-focals. While they work well, I was disappointed as I find them too big & heavy for my small, narrow face, plus too dark for my complexion as well. Think I may try a different place next time.

Food has been good this week. We went shopping and got lots of gifts and most of the food for our Christmas dinner. Just have a couple other small gifts to pick up, then we'll be done.

Just Glad to hear your plans for surgery are moving along. Nice that you are almost finished your holiday shopping I still have a ways to go.

ferris- take care of yourself. I think mashed potatoes get a bad rap. I think they are just fine if you limit them.

mem- woo hoo on the skirt being too big. I hope your mom is able to fix it for you.

jane- bless your heart! I have had 3 stones in the past, only one required surgery. NO FUN!!

pear- 2.6lbs woohoo

I did have some juice right after giving blood and then came home and had a peanut butter sandwich half. I have a big bruise on my arm but otherwise feel great from it.
Eating has been good all week and just praying it can continue.

pear - I might try a belt, actually. That would make it shorter, too. Which I like these days. You and I are the same height, so you will probably see sizes dropping soon. I've gone from 26 to 22 in the past 35ish lbs. (Well, nearly 22. I am going to see if I can find some new black pants for work this weekend, and hope that 22 WP will fit.)

Rosebud - ouch, yes. I think knowing that is not good for you when you are asymptomatic, because then every little twinge can stress you out! Ugh. Though I wonder, if you are prone to kidney stones, if your diet might help with that too? Might, perhaps, already be helping? I know that there are some foods that are associated with the development of kidney stones, though I don't know what they are.

Ferris - Hey! Congrats on making it through the shorthaul flight. Hah, yes. The seats ARE smaller mostly, and can be especially uncomfortable. I live in a small town so nearly any flight starts off with a short-haul trip. Also, I am terrible at figuring out meals at the end of the long day, and am much better when I can take a Sunday afternoon to chop veggies/salad/get stuff prepped so that I am ready for any eventuality. Also: cannot exercise after work, for many of the same reasons, plus I get home late and when I exercise at 8 p.m. I find myself WIDE AWAKE at midnight, which is bad. I try to walk before work now. It is hard making myself get up, but I'm so much more alert during the day.

Oy, wisdom teeth, poor thing. I had all four extracted when I was 17, the week between Christmas and New Years (for insurance deductible reasons). You NEED to eat ice cream and soft stuff and not worry about calories right now. Good luck recovering!

Rosebud - it's nice when doctors know - heh, their limits and send you on to another specialist? With my mom, when she was first diagnosed with what was eventually discovered to be stage III ovarian cancer, heh, her ob/gyn sent her on to a specialist, a gyn/oncologist, for the surgery, and I am sure that that referral saved her life. The gyn/oncologist knew exactly what to look for and worked hard to remove all of the tumor implants, whereas a regular ob/gyn probably would probably have missed some doing the same surgery? You are so positive, too, which helps alot, I think. I'm so impressed with your attitude. Can't wait to hear about your new wardrobe, after the surgery!

And meh, sorry about your glasses! Honestly, I like heavy and dark frames? I do have a broad face, but am pale. Anyway, they are kinda hip - so think of yourself as a hipster for now. I am going to get my eyes examined shortly. I need to get glasses before the year's end (I paid off a huge medical bill this year and should be able to itemize medical expenses on my taxes this year, as you need to reach a certain threshold before you can do so. So: discretionary medical spending, go!)

dgramie - I agree with you about mashed potatoes. In fact, I might make some next week! I like to use low fat buttermilk to make them, though I am considering buying some heavy cream from the organic dairy and making my own butter for Christmas (I don't know! it seems like fun.) Then I will have butter and the whey, which is really the original buttermilk, right? I need to be careful with this stuff, but I like trying unusual recipes.

Two of my traditional Christmas projects are medieval gingerbread and sugar plums. The medieval gingerbread is unusual and not as tempting as cookies, so I will probably still do that. The sugar plums are pretty healthy (basically, dried fruits and nuts), but calorie dense and tempting, so I might need to forego them this year.

Alright: have a great end of the week, y'all!

Mnem I look forward to my clothing size going down. It is nice to notice that my clothing is more loose.

Dgramie I think potatos are fine, for me anyway. I just don't have them often.

I have a brunch tomorrow my first holiday get together of the season. I am looking forward to it.

Have a good weekend all!

UPDATE ~ got good news that a surgeon has come forward from HAMILTON, Ontario (where the surgery will take place with a team). Have to see the surgeon in Sudbury next Friday for the pre-surgery consult. Will go Thursday and stay overnight as it's 5 hours each way, and our appt is at 9 am Friday. A tentative date for the surgery has been set for either December 20th or 24th. This will be such a nice Christmas gift for me!!!

After the surgeon consult, my brother & BIL are coming up to get us (me, my DH, and our furry baby) and taking us down south to their place until the surgery. I will also go back there for the recupe afterwards too. I have been busy getting everything ready to go; so much to do, it is unbelievable. I am taking my laptop with me so I can use it in the hospital to keep in touch with everyonw as well. Will give me something to do while I'm there too.


MEM ~ Yes, will try to look at my new specs as funky and hip, but when my sister saw them on me, she couldn't help but laugh her guts out. I'm all glasses and no face ... uhm, does bug eyes tell you anything? Honestly, they don't suit me at all, but I'll wear them for now (at home) ...

Went up town and picked up the last of our gifts today; and just a few things to tide us over until we leave. Food was good this week. We had thin-crust home-baked pizza for dinner (I had a nice mixed romaine salad before mine). Hope you all have a wonderful weekend ...

Justwant Will keep you in my thoughts. Good news about finding a surgeon and having reliable caring people around you too. Keep us posted.

I am going to have coffee now. Then I meet friends for brunch where we do a gift exchange, first one of the season. The I may get a manicure and so some shopping.

Bye for now.

Rosebud - I am so glad that you have found a surgeon and have everything worked out. I'm sure that you will be in good hands, but it's great that things are moving so quickly. Even more impressive that you are managing to eat well in face of all the uncertainty!

pear - hahaha, soon, soon. You will need new sizes. I went to buy new pants this weekend and ended up with a pair of 20 WP (at Catherine's - their sizes are a bit large I think). They are really a bit too small, but the 22 WP were so big, especially in the legs, that I didn't want to buy them. By the way, I'm not sure I've ever asked - you teach, right? What is it you teach?

Spent a long time trying on pants, hoping to find some that worked. I have a "perks" discount card with them, which is expiring soon, and I was wondering if I really needed to renew it. They are the only place around here that carries plus-size petites in pants, and I will need those for a while, but now I can shop at so many different stores for tops, whereas before I was stuck there. Plus they don't carry bras in a large enough cup size for me, so hmm.

Finally, I thought I'd attach some progress pics for you. The full-body shots are comparing me in June/July, at about 305 lbs, and now, at just over 260 lbs:



And the other shots are comparing me in September, at about 285 lbs, and now.

Mnem Wow you look great. You can see such a difference. Even in the shots with 25 pounds difference. I love your glasses and hair cut btw, very modern.
I also need to get petite pants. I was going to order pants from Torrid but no petites. And even tunic tops are just too long.
I teach in the Early Childhood Education department. I have taught a variety of courses.
Today is chore day but DH and I do it together. We play records while we clean or maybe today Christmas music on the radio.

MEM ~ you look great; love the pics, the jacket, and the glasses -- they look great on you. Mine aren't as slender or rectangular, but I will use them until I can get another pair. I can really see the difference in your face and body ...

PEAR ~ thanks for your good thoughts and encouragement. Will keep everyone posted for sure. I am taking my laptop PC with me so I can keep in contact with everyone here as I recupe afterwards as well.

Just took it easy today. We had BBQ pork riblets and chicken wings for dinner tonight, and have some leftovers for dinner tomorrow as well. Had a tiny piece of pumpkin pie for dessert, but gave the crust to my furry baby to cut the calories in half ...

Have a great week, everyone ...

I had a great food weekend! I helped host a baby shower and limited myself to one cup of coffee punch and a sliver of cake. Woohoo
Sat. we had lunch with my sister and her mom( she was adopted out at birth) and i limited myself on the rolls. Rolls are my biggest downfall!! woohoo
Scales were nice to me this morning!
I also had fun playing with my grandkids this weekend. I adore them!
Sat night was a long rough night but things are looking better now. My oldest half sister who is battling cancer and has pneumonia went into pulmanary arrest. She had to be put on a vent but is doing better now and should be weaned off in a few days. I was so scared. Im not ready to lose another family member!

Mnem- you look amazing!!
just- praying for you!!

pear - thank you! I am really liking the glasses right now too. I think they frame my eyes well. Funnily enough, I have an eye appointment this afternoon and will be getting new glasses. I have had these for a long time and the shape of my face has totally changed. These are now too big and if I look down at all they will fall off. But, I am going to try to find a pair like them when I go looking as I think they are flattering. My hair does not always look like that, though. I'm terrible at fixing it, so that is just slicked back while wet. It is more of a bob under ordinary circumstances.

The petite thing is funny since it's not JUST the length, but also the length of the yoke and stuff. Oh, and tunic tops - you are right. I really like these handkerchief hem tunic tops, but I tried one on at Macy's that was down to my knees. That was silly. My Dad taught college. He's retired now - but he taught communication studies.

I hope you made it through chore day intact; it's great that your husband gives you a hand. That's how it should be, really, but often isn't.

Rosebud - thank you! And I'm sorry that you don't like the new glasses. If the prescription hasn't changed much, maybe you could go back to your old ones? Or, I am thinking about getting a second pair online. It is cheaper than in the shop, though obviously you don't have the chance to try them on. I might get a funky pair, though. Or, hmm. New sunglasses.

I went to my folks' for tree trimming/dinner last night. My mom made chick pea spaghetti sauce for me, and had bought whole wheat spaghetti, which I appreciated. There was a bit of chex mix, and we sampled my dad's fruit cake for dessert. I also bought some Jeni's ice cream in the "boozy eggnog" flavor, and we had very small dishes with the fruitcake. My mom was also able to fix up my skirt really quickly. It had once seam so it was easy, and her sewing machine was already threaded with black thread!

dgramie - Such restraint! Especially when you are hosting, I think it is easier to resist when you are a guest? I don't know. And rolls, too. My mom makes homemade bread and delicious rolls regularly, so I know exactly what you mean. Really sorry about your half-sister, that sounds quite scary. Hopefully she will continue to do well. I'll be thinking of you!

I got some decorations up over the weekend and hope to finish them this evening, since I'll be home early after my eye appointment. In the past, this same place had a machine that they can use to image the retina instead of dilating my eyes. Hopefully, that remains the case. I hate having my eyes dilated.

dgramie Hoping the best for your half sister! I know how scary it is. I've lost three family members this year, and one good family friend in the last week. Hold on to the ones you have!

I'm hosting a dinner party tonight. Dinner party makes it sound much too fancy actually, I have a lot of 20 something single guy friends that need a woman to cook for them occasionally I don't want to deprive them, but I cheated last night (pizza at ll pm no less!), and I have to go away this weekend, so while I'm going to make mashed potatoes and broccoli salad dressing and oreo cheesecake, I'm going to eat the chicken and the green beans. I WILL HAVE WILLPOWER! LOL

dGramie ~ thanks, sending up ^prayers^ for you sister that she will be well very soon ...

Mem ~ sounds like your family is really trying hard to help you with your food choices and that's nice ...

We had some lovely ***** fall today -- in whirling around in swirls which was quite pretty actually. We spent the day packing our bags for our trips down south; kept me and my mind busy for the day too! Lots to do in a short time. Food is good; had leftovers for dinner tonight with a salad.

Glad so many of you are winning the party/holiday battle; don't envy all that food tempation around you all. Hang in there -- you can do it!

Had a 3.2 gain at WI. I really did not expect it.
So disheartening.
Anyone else have a gain like this on their wl journey?