Pardon the un-makeuped, tired-eyed selfie today, I took it to compare. I notice a BIG difference in my face from my high weight to now!

Gale, what a difference in your face! You are very pretty girl, now and before. Don't you just love all the changes that are happening with weight loss? You can see my before photo in my profile. I look at it often, to remind me where I started. In your previous post, you mentioned your sewing studio. Oh my goodness, I want one of those! What kind of things do you sew?

Hello to anyone reading this. Please join us!

More spring cleaning today. I don't really like to do it, but I sure do like the end results. Plus, the Rolling Stones music get me moving.

Zeitgeist & Gale - I have been loving my FitBit. Makes me get up from my desk more often throughout the day, so I can try and get more steps than the previous day.

Gale - Congrats on the -50, that's wonderful. Girl, go get you a couple new tops, you deserve it! And such a huge change in your face, it's wonderful.

Jane - When you're done, you can come over to my place and do some cleaning!

It's definitely been rough getting back into the swing of things at work, after being off for a month! Will probably only be able to check in here on the weekends, because my work-week, I am just swamped.

Today, I weighed in, and I'm under 350 for the first time in 7 years. Just barely, at 349.8, but it counts! This is also the weight I was when I started dating my boyfriend (now hubby) 10 years ago, so that was huge for me. The smallest he's ever seen me is 275, so that's a fun goal to have in mind. I'm anxious to drop this next 50, and be out of the 300's forever. I've spent my life since middle school over 300, so at 28 years old, it'll be a wonderful thing.

Non-scale victory of the week: I shopped in my closet and wore two items I've never been able to wear!

I've been venturing with some soft meats this week, to see what my pouch will tolerate. Lean ground beef seasoned with taco seasoning plus some melted cheese was a winner. This morning I had 3 Brown & Serve Turkey links (3 is 2oz. which is perfect!), and that sat well. And tonight, I'm trying some Italian Style meatballs with a little marinara and mozzarella baked. Fingers crossed the pouch likes it! Oh, and Wendy's chili settled wonderfully, so I was quite excited!

I'm having some discomfort in the lower left side of my belly. Not really painful, just uncomfortable when I go from a sitting or laying position to upright. Once I'm up and walking, it goes away. I'm not sure if I pulled a muscle, if it's a part of healing, or what. Has me a tad worried.

We having a blizzard warning in effect right now (oh joy!). I am so OVER winter. Come on, Spring!!

Hi Kayley, I had similar pains in my abdomen, and it was due to gas. That may be your problem, but if it persist, you might want to give your doctor a buzz. Kudos to you, hitting another milestone. And doesn't it feel great to pull clothes out of your closet that you couldn't wear before?

Hello to anyone reading this.

I am in maintenance, and my scales was up a bit this morning. We went away for the weekend, and I indulged a little bit, but I am making up for it today. Focusing on protein and water!

It's snowing here in southern Indiana, but thankfully I don't have to go out. Wherever you live, be safe, and have a good day.

Hi Girls,

Hope you don't mind me popping in for some motivation

I have the lapband, 10 years now... never got to goal but thats because of the choices I've made. Band is fine and dandy, I am now waiting for them to come up with one for my brain. I did good the first few years after surgery and then slowly, quietly, those nasty habits that I had before surgery came back. So here I am with at least 60 lbs to lose trying to start all over again. I too have a fitbit, its a lot of fun but I still have not hit the 10,000 mark. Trying to snap out of my SAD has not been easy and with the passing of my dear friend Jiffypop, its even harder, but I'm trying. I just can't wait for spring, I am tired of feeling like a bear just wanting to sleep the winter away lol.

Well thanks for listening.. thats my story and I'm sticking to it.

Protein and water, protein AND water !!!! lol

Toodles ~

Leenie!
Thank you so much for sharing, my friend. Jiffy would be so excited to see you posting in this forum once again. As you know, I suffer from SAD, too, and some days it gets the best of me. When it's really gray outside, I just shut the blinds and turn all the lights on. Spring is right around the corner, though.
I am fairly new to this forum, but you already know that the members here are awesome. They, along with me, will help support you through your weight-loss journey. Jiffy would want everyone here to do what we can for our health.

A big hello to anyone else reading this.

I'm snowed in, and have been using this time to make curtains for my daughter who is renovating her kitchen. Lots of sitting. Need to MOVE more.

Jane - I sew all sorts of things! Primarily bags, wallets, and aprons, but I can make pretty much anything that's not clothes (I'm not that brave yet, lol!) It's actually my business, and I just love it.

Kayley - I'm glad you're getting some food to settle with your new pouch, and big CONGRATS on being under 350!! That's awesome!!

Leenie - I'm glad to see you! I know what you mean about the head work, that's the hardest part for me by far. If only my VSG came with a head transplant, too!

I'm trucking along this week. Hubs and I bought bikes for the family and I've had so much fun riding my pretty little cruiser around. It feels great to be exercising, and it's actually fun! I did a Walk Away the Pounds DVD today (with the weights) and it was nice to do that since I can't get out on a ride today. It feels good to be making exercise a priority, and having lost enough weight that it's not painful and miserable. I am really looking forward to being able to rock climb again, but I need to lose more weight before I can do that. It's hard work hauling one's body weight up a cliff face, and it gets easier when I'm lighter.

I hope you're all having a wonderful week and staying warm! It's spring weather here in the Southwest, we've been walking barefoot and splashing in warm rain puddles.

Gale, wow, you sew wallets? That is probably a lot harder than making clothes. Pants are pretty easy. Good for you, getting plenty of exercise in. Our weather here right now is 10 degrees, and the wind chill temp is -6. Brrrr!

Hello to Jen, Kayley, Leenie, and anyone else reading this.

I've been trying to up my protein w/o using shakes or using too many calories and so far, so good. Egg whites and cottage cheese are life savers for snacks. Maintenance a year out of WLS is just like maintenance with any other weight loss method. You have to work at it.

TTFN

Jane - I'm going to shamelessly brag for a minute. This is my new favorite wallet. I love the hedgehogs!
https://www.etsy.com/listing/2230082...essary-clutch?

Gale, those are awesome! You have a real talent there, girl!

Unless we get snow and ice, there will be a birthday party at my house tomorrow for one of my grandchildren. No tempting dessert, though, because DIL will be bringing store-bought cupcakes., and I don't like them. I would much rather have a piece of fruit.

What's going on with you all this weekend?

Leenie - They can fix our stomachs, but much harder to "fix" our brains! I'm only 6.5 weeks out from my RNY, and it's already such a mental battle. Please take care of yourself, and hope to see you around this forum more. *big hugs to you*

Jane - Hope you are staying warm! We got hit with another snow storm followed by a nasty cold snap (-25 with the windchill yesterday).

Gale - Rock climbing?! Girl, you are braver than I would ever be! Just the thought of it makes me a little nauseous!


Such an odd thing....since surgery, I have had the WORST dry skin! Never ever had a problem with it before, not even in the winter. My hand yesterday was scaly, and my legs are like...chapped, almost! Anyone have that type of experience?

Weighed in at 345 this morning. I only weigh 20 lbs more than my husband right now, which is something that hasn't happened in YEARS. I haven't been this weight since about 2006. And even then, it was only for a couple of months, and then I ballooned up to 380 lbs. I haven't been this weight (steadily), since middle school. Sad, but true.

This week has been hit or miss with my pills. Something I need to work on very much. Even with as busy as I get, PILLS, PROTEIN, AND FLUID need to be my priority. Been doing well with my fluid, staying between 70-90 oz. per day. Protein has only been around 70, and I'm supposed to be around 90g daily. Again, something to work on.

The snow and cold here has been atrocious this week. I am so over winter. I'm going to Costco today, just so I can at least get out of the house and WALK....and not be in frigid temps, and 2 feet of snow! lol

I belong to a local shadwocast of the Rocky Horror Picture Show here in town, and tonight is our first show since I've had surgery. I'm such an old lady, the fact that the movie doesn't even start until midnight about kills me! Will make for a lot of walking around/movement, and lifting and toting. Get that exercise in any way you can, right?

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Good Morning,

Thanks girls, feeling the love

Kayley, YAY on the weight loss!!!! The dry skin is mostly due to what you are eating, or shall I say what you are not eating anymore. Think about all the oils/fats you put in your body before surgery and what you are putting in now. Check with your doctor and see if you can add Omega3's to your daily routine, stay hydrated and get a good lotion and keep applying, 2 a day if you can. Remember we must nourish from the inside so the outside looks good I am the queen of forgetting pills, so I bought one of those daily pill cases at the drug store, you can even get the ones that have a day and night compartment. If I didn't have that, there is no way I could keep up with my meds/vitamins. Hope you had fun at the RHP Show.

Gale bike riding is so much fun, yay you !!! I am so happy you are enjoying exercising, I wish I could get to that point but i've always found it to be a chore. I told DH this week, I can't do the DREADMILL every day, its boring, so I need to mix it up, and do a video, dance, dreadmill. I'll find every excuse in the book not to do it lol. Rock climbing is a great goal, by the sounds of your posts, I have no doubt you'll get there. .. OOoooh and that wallet, omg is that adorable.

Jane, I am an equal opportunity cup cake eater lol but I am so glad the ones in the stores turn you off. Did you have fun at the party?

Nothing much going on here today, I have a boat load of laundry and some cleaning to do. Weather bites outside, nothing but snow. I'm going to dig out my exercise video's (I hope I didn't give them away) and see if I can come up with a plan that will help me move this body more

Have a great Sunday girls

Hi all

My favorite exercise is walking outside. It's been awhile, because of the cold, the snow, and the ice. I've got a Leslie Sansone set, and a Richard Simmons sweating to the oldies DVD that I do when I'm motivated. I like the treadmill, but it doesn't like me- sets off my planters fasciitis.

What's going on with everyone this week? I will be so happy to see the end of February on Saturday.

Kayley - YES to the dry skin! It's out of control, especially on my legs. I live in the desert, so it's pretty bad to begin with, but since surgery I feel like a lizard. I've been doing what Leenie suggested and using lots of lotion. I'm not exactly the poster child for getting my liquid in, and I'm sure that doesn't do good things for my skin. (I usually manage to stay just this side of dehydration, unfortunately.)

Leenie and Jane - Are you ladies staying warm this week? We went from spring weather to ice and snow here today... sigh. I'm so ready for consistently nice weather! Fortunately, here in the desert spring usually arrives for good by the end of March.

My week is looking cold and unexciting. I have a bunch of orders to get out, and my oldest is out of school for Thurs. and Fri. because of conferences. I love it when he gets to be at home, I'm really looking forward to the long weekend!
Stay warm, everyone!!

Hi Ladies,

Gale it sure is cold here, got up this morning to -6 degrees... I don't think I ever remember seeing minus 6. I can't help but shake my head when I see runners running in this cold weather, it just can't be good for your lungs. Have fun with the kids, I would love to be able to have long weekends again with my daughter... enjoy!!!!!

Jane, what's outside???? lol I still haven't looked for my dvd's.. yeah I know.

Lets see... we are taking a trip to NYC this weekend (its only 25 min from my home), we are going to Madame Tussauds wax museum and then out for lunch. The weather is supposed to be warm, heat wave... 35 degrees LOL

Thats about it from the pnut gallery, have a wonderful night.