WOW you ladies have been chatting up a storm!

Last night I came home to an unpacked kitchen ! My youngest got everything unpacked and put up. Now to get the rest of the house in order and I will be happy.

My son and his ex girlfriend are still talking. She got her cell phone back and was told by her parents to not have contact with him. She does. I will be glad when she is 18. Hopefully she can make her own choices then.

Lindyry and do whatever you can in bed. Keep posting here! I know it helps. I also like the name Rat suggested "my life list" or "My life's journey list"

Annie:love your avatar!!

Catherine:Swimming pools open this month here yeah!!!

ok..heading off to work. Let's hope the phones behave today

Good Morning and Happy Tuesday everyone!!!

Jenn: Welcome back sweetie. Hang in there. How many times us old timers here have left and come back.... uncountable. You are in a good place. Hugs.

Lindy: I am so super proud of you too. I love to speak at my weight loss surgeon's seminars and let them know that I was "too fat" for surgery. I let them know it is doable just dream big. No person will be trapped in their own body of fat without a spark of light at the end of the tunnel. I was there! Keep on going on and realize your family is scared in more ways then one. This will be a whole new life for them too. I remember asking my husband Joel of almost 25 years (got married when I was 19) did he think when I started this last weight loss journey if I would actually do it that time. He said, " not really". I can't be mad at him cause I asked and we are very honest with each other and he was going by what I had done in the past, yo yo dieting, never sticking to a diet, etc. So, your family is maybe afraid to be hopeful. I listen to what you said to Catherine a bout the butterfly kicks and remember back when she told me the same thing and I was thinking to myself... Heck just taking a shower then drying of my huge body makes me out of breath. Hang in there. It will get easier and easier!

Sharon: praying for your family and your patience with your little one.

Rat: So sorry that you are having allergies. Things haven't really started blooming too much here but I am prepared with lots of nasal things I have to tell you that since I started writing every single thing down in a fun new eating/exercising journal with stickers. I am doing so much better on everything. If I don't get all my water/protein and exercise in I don't get a star sticker for that day. Little things make me happy. tee hee.

Amy: Woo hoo for your night out. I have to say I am pretty much a square on most newer singers. I love country and old rock and unless my hubby comes home singing a song that is on the radio or he buys the CD I have no idea who or what new singers are. I have heard of Nora Jones but have no idea what she sings so... I am gonna imagine how excited I would be to go to a Trace Atkins concert so yipppeeeee!

Cyn: Ahhh. Give your youngest son a big ole hug from all of us for being such a good boy! Thanks for the avatar comments. I love that picture because I am wearing a size 14 jeans. I always look at it and think maybe I will get into a 12 or 8 or whatever and then I say, "Annie, you came from a 6X be happy and proud of yourself" so thanks for that.

Okay peeps. I am so excited. I wrote to someone on Craig's list for a couple of programs that he has for sale. One of them I am going to buy for sure. It is Zumba workout. Dancing and stuff. I can't wait and he is selling it to me for $40 the other... well, I will have to really pray about it and talk Joel into it. It is P90X and he wants $110 which is a great price but right now it is a lot of money for us for something that we don't need. Of coarse I think I need it lol. So, we will see if I can come up with the money and if Joel can get him to go lower. He does have OBO on his prices.

Today will be a super busy day for me. Lots to do and hoping I don't forget to get my walking in while it is not raining and also the elliptical. Group meeting tonight for weight loss support.

Hope everyone has a wonderful bootie moving water drinking program sticking to day.

Blessings,
annie

I finally got himself home from the airport for at least a few days. I'm glad he got home yesterday because we woke up to a blizzard this morning. Not real cold, but real windy, and lots of wet snow. It caused a train/car wreck with several fatalities and lots of power outages.

I've been getting stuff together for a camping trip. I haven't been since I used to go with the Boy Scouts when the boys were little. I think we will wait until the snow is gone though.

Hi girls! Big hugs. I am on the verge of passing out from exhaustion, but I wanted to give you all love and will be back for personals later tonight or tomororw. I am taking a 2-month-long intensive ancient Greek seminar and it is BLOODY HARD.

Hello from BikerChick, mah Peeps!

Yes, BikerChick is out and about these days, growling at squirrels early in the morning. I'm riding my commuter bike to work now and doing walking in the lunch hour for 20-30 min. I *will* break this stall. Yes, stalls happen, even with WLS.

Pink, I'm sorry, but that class would put me to sleep in about 5 sec! hehe. Now, if it was the biochemistry of inborn metabolic diseases.. that would be another story. Get some rest!

Blizzards?! Catherine.. geesh. Keep firm footing there, ok? My sister has a campground reserved for Memorial day. I haven't been tent camping in a long while. Gotta find the doggie camping stuff too. I'm looking forward to doing some lake swimming. Reminds me of growing up and all of our lake picnics as a kid.

Amy, did you have a great date night out with the hubby?! There are 2 ellipticals at the gym: one that moves the arms and one that doesn't. I can do the no arm movement one better than the other. I'm really not that coordinated, even though I can ride a bicycle and yell at squirrels.

Lindy, how are you doing?

Annie, did you get at least one of the programs? I finally found out what P90x was when I saw a commercial on tv about it. It looks hard. Someone told me that Wii fit plus has one exercise where you put on a chicken flight suit and flap your arms around the island to get arm workouts hehe. I need to find that one! I usually do the boxing on Wii Sports Resort.

Hugs to all,
Ratkity

PS Evil Ratkity got your XXXOOO's Sharon. She meowed, but I'm not sure it was gratitude or disgust hehe.

Ratkity, I love my wii Fit plus the island one is funny.

Hugs to all of you, I am doing well am down two lbs this week and this is also counting TOM so may be down a bit more when she is gone. Not much to talk about must run have a date with laundry and a vacuum.

Had a great night last night, but came home to a very sick baby. Little man was running 103.5 fever, so hubby is taking him to the doc this morning and I will probably have to take over at lunch so he can get to work for a while. It is going to be a long day.

Catherine: I am so envious that you get to go camping. I wanna go and I think we will plan a trip out. I haven't been in about 3 years. It will be interesting to see how well I tent camp without 300 extra pounds! Last time I went I had a really hard time walking up the hill to the outhouse and stuff. Now I really want to go. Hope you are safe with all the blizzard stuff. It is supposed to snow here tonight or maybe later today. I'm ready for some Spring but I think we will go right into a summer thing. Anything warm will be nice.

Pink: hope you got some good rest. The class sounds really hard.

Rat aka bikerchick: I am going to buy the Zumba on Friday. He is meeting me at a mall in Spokane WA as he lives in WA. Not too far maybe 15 miles or so. I told him if he hasn't sold the p90X to please bring it and maybe I will buy it. I have to talk Joel into that one. It does look super hard but.... I really want to complete my journey and I need some extreme things I think to make more muscles. I haven't been lifting weights because I am frankly board with it right now so if I can make some muscles doing P90X I will be super happy. So, I will have to let you guys know on Saturday if I got more than Zumba.
Glad that you are riding your bike to work again. That is great! You will break this stall. I know they happen and it is just our body fighting us for that final control. lol.

Tracy: Congrats on the -2 pounds down! Way to go. I am gonna have to check out the Island game. Sounds silly and to me silly = fun!

Amy: Praying your baby will get better very quickly.

Well, I am going to go take a bath and shave my armpits before yoga. tee hee.

blessings all,
Annie

Howdie, ladies!

Like I said in my other post, I'm new here. But I wanted to let you all know that you are AMAZING and it's awesome there is a place like this that people can go and get the support that sometimes society cannot give.

I'm a fluffy chick (I refuse to call myself fat), and I'm hovering around the 300 pound mark, but I dont feel nor look it for some reason. But, I've been having some esteem problems and reading all your wonderful posts have made me feel so much better about myself. Because, no matter my size. I'm beautiful.

I just wanted to say thank you. Finding this site has brought me out of my depression better than anything else.

-Jess

Hello, Ladies!!!

I have been so NOT active on the computer since my surgery! I didn't feel like sitting here for very long. I think I developed abdominal adhesions. But, then I ate a slice of toast and spent 4 hours puking up everything that couldn't pass through my teeny tummy and I think I ripped them. So, no more pain!! Woohoo!! Not that I have started exercising. Need to do that!

Spring has sprung in Ohio! Pollen is heavy. I'm not usually one for seasonal allergies, but I have the window open and every time the breeze pushes in my eyes itch.

Reading everyone's updates is great!!! I am so envious of riding a bike! I haven't been able to ride a bike in ages. Anyone know what the weight limit is for different kinds of bikes?

Speaking of weight limits, can't wait to get on my Wii Fit! My husband bought it a year ago thinking we all could use the exercise. Well, imagine my disappointment (and tears) to see the 330 pound weight limit. Grrr... But, getting closer!

I have a stationery bike right here. I need to get on it. I have been walking part of the way to get one of my kids after school. I think I will park the van farther away each day so that I have to walk a little farther. My energy level is still so low, I'm scared to get stuck.

I've been so focussed on 40 grams of protein as a minimum, I haven't been thinking about the fact that I should really be much higher than that. I frequently make smoothies with a chocolate protein shake, a banana protein shake, two bananas, 6 strawberries and some ice and water. But, I've been counting that as two meals. I should really count that as one. Hmmm... Need to rethink that.

Good to know about the KFC humongo chicken thing. 53 grams of protein. It seemed like the kind of thing that would make an Atkins diet person ecstatic or would be great to chop up for a couple of salads! Haven't tried one, yet, but it probably would be a very yummy lunch/dinner option.

Isn't it amazing how you can try everything in the world, but, unless YOU make the decision to truly work it, it won't happen. As Yoda said: Not try. Do.

I finally made my decision Feb 16th of this year and I've lost almost 50 pounds since then. 30 since surgery (March 30 - RNY).

Yay BasketCase! Did you have the gastric surgery? I had that four years ago and I've lost almost 300 pounds. I was bordering 600 when I had it, at 22. Now I'm down to 300, and I still have so much more to go.

But that is a great step in the right direction! I am so proud, and I know how it is to eat something and have it not decide to stay down lol It sucks, majorly.

But, it will get better! :]

Greetings again Mah Peeps,

Welcome MEM!!! There's a few of us that have had WLS here. I had the intestinal part of the Doudenal Switch in February (had the VSG in 2004). I'm technically a lightweight, so I'm a slow loser. It still takes mucho commitment, right? Congratz on your loss so far.. amazing!!!!!

Basket mah dear, bicycles are so overbuilt it's not funny. A regular men's 10-speed can handle 500 lbs. I was riding at my highest weight (350 lbs) in full spandex shorts, out-performing da skinny anemics and yelling at squirrels (my alterego, BikerChick). My Bianci touring bike never excessively flexed when doing hard pedaling at 350 lbs. I will say that I've been thru $1000's in bike seats and found that the more padding you have on your butt and girlie bits, the less you need on the seat. I currently ride a Brooks all leather girls seat (wider placement for hip bones). When on a bike seat, you want to use the same bones on the seat as you'd feel when sitting on a curb. OHHH and you can cheat Wii Fit by putting it on carpet. Works for my sister's 6ft 11" BF.

*soapbox incoming* Kmart and box-store bikes WILL flex excessively, unless you are <90 lbs. They have cheap welds and cheaper metal that will rust as soon as you start walking out the store! lol With the recession, there are good used bikes for sale at your local bike store. They won't let you buy something that doesn't fit you properly. Support your local bike shop! *falls off soapbox*

Tracey, w00t on minus 2 during TOM!!!! Right now, TOM is lurking, but not appearing. GRRRR. I'll be complaining on the board soon enuff.

Amy, oh noes about da sick Babes! I hope he's feeling better and it's not too long of a day for all of you.

Annie, have a GREAT time at Zumba tonight and good luck on obtaining the programs. They are saying snow for you too? Geesh, this crazy weather. My tomato plants are about 6inches high and the hot peppers are doing very well. This is my first year to have done both types of plants.

I accomplished my 30 min walk at lunch and have been actually working since. This has been a very good week in that I've gotten my protein up to a daily average of 120g!!!! Just FYI, I malabsorb 50% of protein so I have to get double normal people to function. As I start more bike riding, I'll have to up it even higher.

Hugs to all,
Ratkity

Hello friends,
You have all been so welcoming and sincere that on a discouraging day I find this a safe place.

Amy - hope your little one is doing better.

Catherine, we are from an intense scouting family and I miss camping so much. I hope you get to go and enjoy it!

Jess, I hope you don't mind, but i'm going to steal your 'fluffy chick' idea. I like that a lot.

Wow am I proud of all of you who can walk, and run and bike ride and do all of those other wonderful things. If you ever feel to tired, sore, or just tempted to not exercise - know that being able to exercise is a gift!
I hope to report someday that I can do some of those things too!

Annie, some of the things you share are on target with what I am going through. I asked Dear Husband to get a rotisserie chicken and salad for supper and he (who works 2 jobs plus cares for me, the house, lawn and cars) ordered a pizza instead as he worked late and didn't want to go to the store. When I protested he told me to just wait until his teaching year ends On June 15th and then he'll help me with my "Latest diet" . He obviously has lost all faith in my chances of losing weight. Can't really blame him. I first joined weight watchers in 1973 and have been on some diet ever since.

Then, after I insisted on eating the pizza at the table, I was heading back to my bed when my oxygen hose got tangled on a chair and he and my son had to rescue me making them a couple minutes late to the scout meeting.

For the next month I'll have to eat what he brings me and stay in bed unless he has time to deal with me being out of bed.

My son is finishing high school, taking college classes and working so he is never home.

A month seems like a long time to wait. I feel like I'm cheating now when I threw away 1/2 the bread from the cuban sandwich he left today and did not eat the fritoes. I also 'sneak' and do my bed leg stretches while they are gone. I feel guilty taking up so much space her, But I am feeling kind of alone in this and you guys are a lifeline!!!

Lindy

Anytime, Lindy!

And I adopted that because 'fat' is such a nasty word. I know I am, and everyone else does. But it causes negative thoughts and negative thoughts do no one any good. Fluffy is something that get good laughs from people and it is kind of sassy lol

I'm so sorry to hear that! Your husband should be more understanding and supportive. I don't know what I would do if I didn't have my boyfriend as support. You can do it, I have faith in you!

Never feel bad for taking up space, ever. You are amazing and you are a person just like anyone else. Don't let anyone make you feel otherwise.

Lindy, keep up the great work by sneaking in those stretches! I ditto what Mem said... never, ever let me hear you say you are a waste of space. I shall throw wet noodles at you (and they are cold too!).

Hugs,
Ratkity