I'm down again..

I've been feeling somewhat "stuck" at 101 pounds for at least a week. I know I should be happy with that (and, believe me, I AM!)..but it just sort of scared me that it wasn't going down any more. Everyone I know who had the surgery said that this day would come where it just stopped, but I guess I thought it would be farther out than 3 months post-op. But, tonight when I came home from church I weighed myself again and I'm now down 106 pounds! Yeah! Now I keep reminding myself of how much MORE I can do when I start to exercise!! (Well, to be honest I have been doing some arm exercises with my 3 lb weights because I have some serious jiggle going on with the upper arms!). So that is my next goal - exercise!

Today I went to Courage Center to see Brad (went with Trish and Grace). He looks great. He walks some and said he's been in the pool for therapy and does the stairs with just a cane. That's all great. He is supposed to go home on Friday - being released and then going to spend some additional recovery time in St Cloud at his folks house. I'm so happy for him and so glad to see him recovering! He's been in one hospital or another since mid-January! You go BRAD!!

Did a little shopping for clothes at Catherine's today. Bought a new bra (yeah, they are gone now too) and a cute summer sweater. Put a jacket on hold at another store so I am going to try that tomorrow. I need something to wear to the interview for the ONE job opportunity that I have at Target. Please pray for me. Not sure when the interview will be, but I know I need all the prayers I can get. If this one doesn't work out, I will continue to look inside, but not looking outside until after the 1st of next year (when my severance comes through). Might take some time off to just 'chill' since I have worked pretty much non-stop since I was 17 (with time off for having my baby, breaking my knee cap and having my bypass surgery -- oh and the occassional day or two and maybe a week here and there). I think I deserve at least some time off to decide what to do next (if that day comes).

Going to watch a movie tonight so I can strategically return it to Netflix in just the right time so that Slumdog Millionaire will be sent to me upon it's release on Tuesday! I've heard it's pretty good (ha! After winning almost every award at the Oscars!!).

Hope everyone reading this is having a good weekend. I hope SOMEONE is reading this!! :o)

I'm too old for this..

..for working all the time! Geez..I'm beat. I think there was a pissy gas leak at work, because I'm not the only one that caught it. Most of the people I encountered have it too. I'm thinking it might be due to the weather being so crappy, or the fact that most of us will lose our jobs within 6-8 months..or a combination! In any event, being pissy is making me tired!!

My dear friend Sandy Anderson's mom died yesterday morning. Please say a prayer for "June-bug" and also for Sandy and her brother and extended family. This is going to be hard. I wish them peace in their hearts for knowing they did all they could for her.

I am at a standstill with the weight loss. I guess that's to be expected. And 101 isn't anything to sneeze at. But I still hope it picks up again. Maybe when I exercise, huh? Ya think? Parking my butt on the couch hasn't worked yet. Oh, and a bit of exciting news: I ate meat today! I had a pork roast in the crock pot all day and by the time I got home, it was sooooooooooo tender it was falling apart. So I shredded it, put a little ketchup on it and ate it. And it stayed put! BONUS! I'm still scared to try chicken though! We'll see.

Pray for Sandy's family and pray that my pissy gas exposure passes by tomorrow!! Thanks!

What a weekend!

I had such a fun weekend! The reunion was super dooper fun! The drive there was fun with Marylee, but as we approached Litchfield through the farm country, a heavy dense fog (is there any other kind?) covered us. So it was a little slow going, but we made it. There were a lot of people there, people I hadn't seen in a long, long time. We all seemed to enjoy ourselves and I am glad Terry was able to be there with everyone. On the way home Marylee and I pondered how it must have felt to him -- knowing/thinking that everyone was there because we know he is dying. But, like I told him - we're all dying in a sense. We all should be living like this may be our last day, because it could be. Don't put off telling someone you love that you love them, don't put off having that piece of cheesecake if it makes you happy. Don't put off wearing the good jewelry or using the company towels...do it today! I'm going to try to attach a picture of the group to this, so you'll know if I was able to (if anyone is reading this!!). That's me in the front row in the pink sweater - can't miss me! Marylee is to the left of me (in the picture). Terry is to the right of me in the picture (the guy with the hat) and he is hugging his wife. Click on the picture for a larger image. There's too many for me to name them all, but just know we all had fun!

Today I met with my friends Katie and Wendy. The both had gastric bypass about a year ago and I had wanted to meet and share some tips/tricks with them. Two others were invited, but couldn't make it. We had a good conversation and they shared some good information. We talked about a lot of things and decided we should try to meet more often. I'm in charge of setting things up now!

I also watched the movie, "Milk" last night. Good movie. If you get a chance, watch it. Makes you really realize how important our rights are!

All in all a great weekend! And it's still not done. Oh no, not yet! I still get to watch the Gopher women's basketball game AND do laundry!! What more could a girl ask for!?

What the...it's Friday again!?

Where does the time go? It's Friday again and I am looking forward to another busy weekend. Going to a reunion of sorts - for people I used to work with when in Transportation for Target. We're all getting together for a lunch in Litchfield, and to visit our friend Terry (who has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer). Terry is also the one that got me to go to the Gopher women's basketball game. Will be fun to see a lot of my old friends and business associates again!

Sunday I am meeting up with a group of friends who have all had the gastric bypass surgery done. Most are under one year post-op, one had hers done a few years ago. We're meeting to share experiences and survival tips! I haven't seen some of them since before surgery, so that will be fun, too.

Other than that - it's the usual weekend plans. Try to find tennis shoes (are you sick of that one yet?), church, laundry and napping!!

It's Springtime (almost)

I have the windows opened and the huge piles of snow are melting around my front steps. This triggers the temporary "Lake Keene" on the sidewalk at the bottom of the steps (which, incidently turns into a skating pond at night). But, it's so refreshing to have the windows open! Sophie almost pushed the screen out, she was so happy to be sitting in an open window! I'm soaking it up while I can. March in Minnesota is so fickle!!

Had a great weekend so far and it's still not done! Yesterday I did some shopping at Target in the morning. Had a double discount and so I bought the rug I have had my eye on for awhile. It's dotted, like my new chairs, and so I had to have it!! Then I had lunch with a long lost friend, Marylee. We haven't seen each other in probably 7-8 years!? We had lunch at Billy's in Anoka, and so after lunch we went to Lillian's (it's only open one weekend/month). I bought a cute purse for spring. Later I went to church and after church I went to a dance for the IABW club I belong to. Had a great time, seeing old friends and made a couple new ones. I haven't been out that late in a long...long time!! :o)

Today I slept in until 9:30. Was a pretty lazy morning...read the paper..ate some breakfast..chatted on the phone and then finally got showered and dressed. I had to get to B&N to buy a birthday gift card, and found a book I had been wanting, too! Later it's Marissa's birthday party. In the meantime, catching up with mail and might watch a movie.

I weighed myself this morning and much to my surprise I am now down 101 pounds!! I shed a little tear for the accomplishment! It isn't easy, I know some people think this method of weight loss is a cop-out or the easy way out, but it is by far the most difficult "diet" I've ever been on! But it is also the one that has proven the most successful! I'm happy and feel great!

Wishing everyone a happy and productive week ahead!!

I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder.

"I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder." - that (in case you didn't notice) is the quote of the day for today. For some reason, it made me laugh. Maybe it's because I've experienced so many car repair issues in my life that it seems almost logical to me..or maybe I'm just losing my little mind? I just hope you think it's funny, too.

Anyway - weight loss is kind of at a stand still. Might be because I have learned that I can eat a couple girl scout cookies every so often and not get sick! That's dangerous for me because a 'row' of cookies used to go down so easily! I am still having issues with meat, though. I think that perhaps it's a subliminal thing from Chelsea (who has been asking me to go vegetarian for awhile!). I miss steak. And ribs. :::Sigh:::: but I don't miss the extra 95 pounds!

Looking forward to the weekend warm up! Today was so butt-cold when I went out to my car that I almost cried! It's MARCH for cripe sake! It shouldn't be below zero any more! This weekend we've been promised 45-50 degrees and we'd better get it or else! I am meeting a friend for lunch in Anoka on Saturday and Marissa's 15th birthday party is Sunday evening. In between I think I'll once again attempt the great tennis shoe search!! I promise!

Here comes the snow again..

We are supposed to get some snow today, but maybe not. It might stay to the South of us, which wouldn't bother me in the least. I'm rather sick of the winter and the snow is the main reason I'm sick of it. I don't mind the cold nearly as much as I mind the snow. And I wouldn't mind the snow so much if people (aka: MEN!) knew how to drive in it. Sorry guys (if there are any guys reading this), but you have a tendency to THINK you can drive well in snowy/icy conditions, but you can't. You just make the defensive driving of the rest of us a little more difficult. But, even if this one passes us by, the weather people are promising a doozy on Tuesday! I hate it.

Today is 'get your free sandwhich from Arby's' day (all you have to do is buy a drink and say something about how you want to change your burger) and you get a free one. My sister did this already. I'm tempted, but since I can't drink the beverage and I am not sure I'd be able to eat the sammich..why bother? I have a pork loin roast in the crock pot since I was told that makes the meat so tender that I will be able to eat it and have it stay in me. We'll see. I went grocery shopping at Super Target as all the Archer Farms stuff is 15% off - and they have everything from meat to frozen foods in that category.

Weighed myself today and now I'm down 95 pounds! Feels good. I am running out of clothes that fit and don't make me look like a homeless person, though. But, I am also finding hidden treasures of smaller sized clothes in my closet that I had forgotten about! Waiting for the "In A Big Way" (group I belong to) garage sale of clothing this Spring to sell some of my bigger stuff and maybe find some smaller stuff or at least get money to buy new smaller stuff. It's the fun part of losing weight!

Watched a movie last night, "It's My Party" - about a gay guy who learns he's going to die and so he has his 'goodbye' party. Not a real happy movie to watch. Wasn't really too good either. I don't recommend it, but it has been sitting on my entertainment center since December and so I had to watch it and return it so I can get a new one! Netflix is really making a killing on me! I tend to keep the darn movies for months and pay $15/month for the honor of having them in my house! Stupid, huh?

That's about it. Doing laundry and cooking that pork loin. And tomorrow it's back to the place again. ::::Sigh:::: boring!

Diabetes/Thyroid Updates

Had an appointment with my endo doctor today. The results of my blood that was drawn last week were very good! My A1C was 5.6! (For those who don't know that that is, it's a 3 month average of you blood sugars and they want it at or below 6.5). He was very pleased with that. My cholesterol was actually LOW, but the ratio was a little high. My thyroid numbers were, in his words, "perfect!". So one would think that we would keep Cheryl on her same meds, right? Oh no...that would be too easy! No, he decided to lower my thyroid meds (Synthroid) from 200 mg. to 175 because he thinks as I lose weight it will effect my numbers and I will get more fatigued (which I have already experienced). And he decided I should go off Lipitor and start taking Crestor instead as it helps to adjust that ratio (and he put me on a lower dosage). So, two new prescriptions to replace two I already had. The good news is he thinks I can also ween off the insulin for my diabetes.

All in all, it was a good appointment and I feel happy that my numbers are looking good! At last weigh in (today at his office) I was down 91 pounds! I also was able to get into my "goal" jeans (a pair I've owned for probably 10 years but couldn't fit into for about 8 years). They fit perfectly now..and hopefully will be too big soon!

Thanks for all your prayers and good thoughts! I know if you are reading this, you also know that my brother-in-law Brad is still in the hospital recovering from Guillon Barr (or however it is spelled). So please keep him in your prayers, too!!

I'm rich..I'm rich!!`

Well..not really rich, but I did get a refund check from LA Weight Loss for $1,260.00! I never really thought I'd see it, but there it was in my mailbox yesterday! I had prepaid for all of my bars and program fees when I joined. When they were going out of business back in December, I asked my surgeon to write a note saying I could no longer eat the bars, and I should receive a refund. They granted the refund, but then I never heard a word from them -- until the check came! Yeah!! That covers most of my copays for my surgery!

I see my endochronologist on Friday to see how my diabetes and thyroid is reacting. I am hoping for good news. I know my blood sugars have been good and I am only taking 1/2 of one insulin (and quit taking 2 oral meds and 1 other insulin), so that is good. However, I have been extremely tired lately. Falling asleep on the couch at 8:00. I am curious to see what is causing that!

Sqeaky shoes and sweaty women!

I'm about to attend my first ever college women's basketball game today. My former boss (and friend), Terry, used to be head of the UofM Women's Basketball "booster" club and he has bugged me to attend a game as far back as I can recall. Well, the poor guy now has cancer and is using the "cancer card" to guilt us into attending -- and it worked on me! I am anticipating a lot of fun! I'll get to see him, his wife Cathy and some other work friends today. This is the last home game of the season, so they also say 'goodbye' to some of the senior girls. Should be fun.

Yesterday I had lunch with Nona, Sandy and Carlene. That was fun, too. We took our time and spent over 2 hours just talking and sharing. It was what I needed, and hope it also helped Nona. She is such a dear, dear friend and I hate to think of her hurting.

After the game today, it's back to business as usual - that means laundry!! And then back to work tomorrow! The problem with having busy, fun-filled weekends is that they go by too fast and it feels like you didn't have any time off from work! Oh well...it was fun!