Hey Nancy!! I am so proud of you that you got below 300. I am trying my hardest to catch up to you but you just keep zooming right along lol. I haven't been doing so well; I just feel as though with the babysitting I have no time for anything now but that just sounds like an excuse to me. Maybe making excuses isn't so good. I noticed that you go to a personal trainer; if you don't mind how much doesn't that run you because I am thinking of getting one? you can pm me with that information if you don't want to share in an open thread.

Lynn

My personal trainer is $380 for 10 half hour sessions, but I am super lucky that my company will pay half of the expenses up to $1000 per year.

You will be out of the 300's before you know it! I don't know why you are trying to catch up because you have still lost more overall than me. You are doing great!

We have a Fitworks about 10 miles from us I am thinking of looking into it.

Thanks Nancy. My husband is not happy (he hates me being fat) at the cost or the fact I'm 'cheating' by having surgery, get the feeling he never struggles with his weight? xxxxx
I had the pre-op screening & weirdly my BP was VERY high, usually it's quite low. Everything else was ok, I need to lose 6lbs before the op (7th July); to shrink my liver, as they have to lift it to get to the stomach; so I'm on a low carb, liquids only diet they gave me, as of Saturday (I'm out with my sis tonight-Friday-as it's her birthday pub crawl) and NO booze which might be difficult! lol (I LOVE my wine!) BUT who'd have a drink every night over being size 12/14?
xxxxx sharon
PS Where are you RATKITTY? xxxx

Hiya my Peeps!

I'm here Sharon!! There's nothing about WLS that is cheating or taking the easy way out. There's nothing easy about surgery. It's a tool to use and it can be easily circumvented. It takes a lot of work, but it is a great tool to use. The WLS patient has to be vigilant about compliance. With the band, it's small meals and protein first. You'll do fine!! Don't listen to anyone about your choice.

Lynnie, I am also eating gluten-free (wheat free) due to intolerance. It makes me soooo gassy and bloated. I can have a half a piece of bread occasionally, but I have to be very very careful and make sure I have no important meetings at work LOL.

Torist - hang in there. *hugs*

Hugs to all my chicks and roosters.
Ratkity

Wow everyone,

I've been gone so long and so have many of you. I hope that it is nice sunny weather that has you all out and about!

I wanted to mention a few people specifically but I am thinking of you all.

Peggy!!!! I am so upset about your husband's stupidity of not seeing what a lovely, wonderful, beautiful and amazing woman he has right there. I want to kick his ***. Okay. Just had to say that. I am a Christian as you know but I get a bit p'd off at times and this just floored me reading this today. I am so, so sorry hon. I know that lots of people's relationships really struggle after someone has a big weight loss. Strangely it is usually the spouse who didn't lose the weight that has the weirdness. They often times just can't handle the new improved you and that you now possibly have more of a voice etc. I love you and hope and pray that you are able to be strong and know that if there is anything I can do for you I would do it in a heartbeat. You are so amazing and wonderful and please don't forget that!

Lovely: Thanks for the thoughts. I did pulminary testing and found that I don't have asthma so that is a good thing. It may be allergies from the smoke or something like that. I don't know.

Lostbutstilltrying: I have to tell you that your jealousy is very normal. I had to confess to my weight loss support group in April that I was jealous about all of them being able to exercise so freely and do races and stuff and I really want to participate but I am not allowed to medically. I was getting angry and really prayed about it and thought it through and realized. It is a normal feeling to be jealous. I believe (little Annieism here) Envy is a sin because when we are envious we are jealous PLUS we don't want the other people to have their successes. So jealous is normal. If it turns to envy try to work on it. I'm sure you don't wish anyone on here that is close to 300 pounds to not get there you just want it to be you too! Hugs sweetie.

Carol: I think of Catherine often and hope that she is enjoying her life and writing and probably almost finished with school by now

Sharon: Best of wishes to you. Your weight loss journey and how you get there is your business and no one elses! When I made the decision for me to have RNY. It wasn't a cheating easy way out. I had to be on a liquid high protein low carb diet from April 16th 2007 until after my surgery on August 29th 2007. I had to get my weight down by at least 80 pounds to be safe enough to have the surgery. It was life or death for me and it has been a life saver for me literally. You go girl and do the very best you can with your choice. Hugs.

Debbie: So sorry about your hernia. I hope that you are not in pain and that you are able to lose enough weight before December's surgery that you feel comfortable with it. Hugs.

Nancy: Woot Woot on -2!!! Sorry you have been feeling blue. I know that was closer to the beginning of June I think so hopefully you are feeling better now. Hugs.

Rat: Hi glamping girl! Glad to see you.

Everyone else that I didn't mention by name please don't be offended. Just know I'm keeping you in my heart and prayers.

As for me. I have to see my primary care doc tomorrow or Tuesday whenever they can fit me in. I have been having some other issues. Shaking, feeling like I am going to pass out then I eat something like cottage cheese and I'm all better. She is thinking hypoglycemia (sp) I had some severe chest pains around my birthday like horrid and no nitro was helping. It felt like when I had tested positive for a blood clot. I just kept pumping in as much Tylenol as I could stand and stayed as still as I could and after a couple of hours It went away and.... I can breath fine now. I don't know what the deal was but I didn't want to go to the hospital again. I know now that I should have gone (Dr. reamed me out) because if it was another blood clot they would have been able to give me those shots in my tummy again (ouchie) but I am just so sick and tired of going to the hospital so I thought I would "cowboy up" and be tough. I think that is one of the reasons that my primary wants to see me tomorrow or Tuesday. She is going to take a Diamond somthing or other test to check for blood clots along with other things. Oy Vay. lol.

A wonderful thing hapened last Thursday though. I got to swim for the first time in months! I was so happy to be in the water again. I swam for an hour with the kickboard and without and then did about an hour of water walking in the "lazy river". It was bliss for this water bug. lol.

I hope you are all having a wonderful day. It is Iron man here in Coeur d' Alene so I am hanging close to home. It is really hard to travel around town with so many bikes and runners. I would love to go see the swimmers but they started at 6 a.m. so that is over and done. The race is on until midnight tonight then the ones who qualified head to Hawaii for the final Ironman race.

Woke up this am. having to take some nitro and with blood pressure high (for me) so I am just kicking back today. I got to sit in the sunshine for a while which was so nice because it has been so cloudy and rainy here forever it seems.

Blessings all,
Annie

KITTY AND ANNIE!!!!! HUGS you both have been missed.

Annie I am sorry you are having troubles but I will keep you in my prayers sweetie.

Lynn

Annie I think you deserve a bit of 'jealous' feelings! I'm glad you enjoyed your water, swimming & walking. How are your pups doing? xxxxx
I started my pre-op diet today, loads of sugar-free squash, 2 pints diet coke, 1 low fat bio-yoghurt, 1 strawberry smoothie (home made - rice milk, frozen strawberries and low fat yoghurt). Just got a milky coffee or small smoothie to look forward to now, I'm BLOO*Y starving! I want a cheese cob (bread roll), crisps (potato chips) and some cold beer! I'm thinking of smaller clothes & a smaller liver which I need pre-op.
xxxxxx sharon

Good Monday Morning Everyone.,

Thanks Lynnie

Baking cookies and then possible Dr. appt. and maybe swim.

Everyone have a great day and be blessed.
Annie

Sharon: I am so happy for you. I would have my surgery again in a heart beat honestly. If possible try, try to cut out the soda pop of any kind. It really will eventually stretch your pouch out. Hugs and I'm so happy and proud of you.

I do get jealous especially when people that can exercise and just don't do it complain that they can't lose weight. I love to be moving and exercising and it gets old to have Dr.'s and family members tell you "no" or "You Can't" I am a brat and I don't like the NO word towards anything that I wanna do. lol.

Hugs girlfriend

Hello my Peeps!

I went to NC this weekend and brought my guitar. I was going to play music for my sweet auntie who had a stroke in March. Well, by the time my Mom was done telling the nurses I was coming to visit, I was doing a concert for everyone in the acute care facility. When I got there, there were about 7 people and they were all asleep in a circle. Well, I played a few folk songs and by the time I was done, everyone was singing and clapping. I did many versions of "You are my Sunshine" and "Kumbahya". There suddenly was 30 people there all standing around and singing and dancing and clapping (even the nursing staff). LOL. I was nervous at first and I know I don't project my voice well, but there was a fellow who sang with me who lived in the assisted living and livened up everyone (he conducted everyone too). Mom is still talking about it and my Auntie even sang and hummed some. Sometimes she makes sense and other times she doesn't and won't open her eyes most of the time. She made lots of sense while I was there and smiled lots and lots. I told her that I heard her singing and she smiled and smiled and said she sang horrible. I told her I was going to come back and do it again and she said that would be good.

Most of the songs I picked from my own songbook from things I've collected over the past 30 years were too slow for this group. LOL. I promised I would sing some other things more lively for next time.

Annie, reactive hypoglycemia is a common result of the RnY WLS. It's good to know you don't have asthma on top of everything else! Yay for swimming!! Girl, can't you just float around?? Mind what your doc says. I'm glad you got into the water.

Sharon, I'm excited for you!! Oh yeah, I did that 2 week liquid diet to shrink da liver. Yes, it works!! The doc said my liver looked so good, he didn't do a biopsy. After my surgery, I had another 2 weeks of liquids. Oiy!!! I was so tired of greek yogurt by the end of that time period.

Tor - just think, if we could, Annie and I would get together and drop an anvil on your ex's head because he has let go of such a wonderful woman, you!! After we kicked his butt, we'd have gone swimming. Just FYI.

Keep plugging along Lynnie! Nancy, I'm glad you have a trainer!!

I'm home now and laid down for an hour after unloading the car. Dad gave me a bunch of stuff that auntie had in her little apt. She was a bit of a hoarder. The animals were happy I was home. Buford the parrot screamed for 30 minutes straight. Boss kitty furred me big time. Doggies got treats too.

Hugs to all my lurkers!!
Ratkity

dogpal - good to see that you made it in the pool, I hope that everything goes well with your Dr!

voodoo - you can do it! your smoothie sounds tasty!

Ratkitten - its sounds like you brought great joy to your guitar fans! How wonderful that you can play and that you will go back to sing for them again! I always get yelled at by my pets when I've been gone for awhile too.

I just had the funniest dinner. Finishing up bites of various leftovers. I had 3 bites of green chile enchilada & cheese casserole, 2 bites of BBQ chicken, a couple bites of cucumber and tomato salad, 2 orange slices and a half a baked apple! boy was it good and I finally got rid of a bunch of leftovers yay!

Hi all...I come back...forget my log in...and disappear for a while LOL..its been one of those lifes you know.

Looks like I have lots of catching up to do.

My son is now seeing his daughter. They have all the court papers filled. They agreed to everything. In a year he will ask for more time. I have NOT got to meet her yet. It breaking my heart..but in time. Once the judge signs..holidays will be here.

My tummy is doing better. I have gained 20 of the 70 I lost. Its ok.

We MOVED!! To a house with more space and a pool!! YEAH!!! If yall know arizona....we can swim from late April til Early October

Family is still going to church and becoming rooted in God. I know that has helped me ALOT.

Job is fine..I am a cordinator now. It pays good but comes with stress lol.

I am opening a craft shop on Etsy and a craft blog if anyone wants the site PM me.

Here is getting to know my wonderful friends on here again..and meeting new ones.

Rat: My heart melts at your story about going to the care facility and singing to the folks there! I just love that. I spent my birthday at an end of life facility, not hospice, with my good friend and her dying mom. I was very worried about her being alone so I stayed until her famly came. I was thinking about what I could do for the folks in that home. I can't play guitar. I lettered in music in high school but it was percussion. lol. Don't think they will go for that in the home Glad that your furbabies and fur family was happy to see you home. Nice to have some mementos of your Auntie's. I have some very precious things that were my Grand dad's and Grandma's and Great Grandma's. They are priceless just knowing that my family used them and had them in their home and cherished the things makes them more special. Hypoglycemic is a good thing then huh? lol. It doesn't feel good when I almost pass out but if it is because my body is working better that is a good thing. I can just float you pill. I just love, love to feel the muscles burn when I kick as hard as I can and when I use my shoulders to pull my weight through the water. I love the burn!

Lost: I missed out on the Doc appt. today because I was on the phone talking to my Daddy when they called. We have caller interupting service but I call it "call rudeness" and I'd never even check it when it beeps in. I guess if I'm waiting to see my Doc I should. lol. Her office said they filled the appt. that they had because I didn't answer in time or whatever. I realize I'm not their only patient and I really don't think I need to see her so badly anyway but she wants to be sure that I don't still test positive for blood clots. So, they are pretty sure I will be going tomorrow. I am thinking about getting up out of bed early. I wake up around 4ish every morning cause my Joel has to be at work by 5 so if I get up and go to the pool at the same time then I can get my swimming in and get home way before the Doc's office opens at 8 a.m. and I can be all ready to go and showered before then. I love it when we can have left over dinners

Cyn: I am so glad to see you back and so happy to hear that your son is getting to see his baby girl. I pray that you will be seeing her soon too Congrats on the new job and new house and new craft store! Whew. lots going on for you. Glad that you are enjoying your church too.

Well, I had a part of a home made chicken burritto for dinner. I stripped all of the skin off of a baked chicken and added a jar of pecante sauce and 8 oz. of greek yogurt and mixed it all up. Spread a thin layer of refried veg. beans on low carb tortillas and put the chicken mix into the tortilla with a bit of cheese. They are very yummy and I made a few dozen of them to have in the freezer for nights like tonight when I am too tired or too whatever to cook dinner.

Hope you all have an op day tomorrow.

Hugs and blessings,
Annie

OMG.. I am sooooo craving burritos now!!! Gonna have to make these especially since you said they freeze well.

Hugs,
Ratkity