Thanks Diane I got caught on a bad day when I posted. The sun is shining and life seems brighter all round even though cir****tances haven't changed. Often all it takes is our outlook doesn't it. Easier said on a bright day though!!!

Ruth, I am proud of my cardio workouts. I starting jogging/running a few weeks ago and have already worked myself up to 2 1/4 miles. It's quite exciting, doing something for the very first time! Every day feels like I am achieving my personal best. Diane

so what did you do this weekend? Hugs, ANDI

I love the thought that I went dancing! That is so cool. It is funny, I remember being really cold the last time I had the knee surgery and this time I wasn't. I had read the message about the angel hugs before I left but I was in such a fog that I didn't even think about it when I was in the hospital, but now I know that I was much much warmer than I was before so obviously it works! This surgery was easier. The spinal worked and it made it so much easier to deal with the people afterward. I got food that I could eat because I was able to explain myself better to the dietitian when she came to visit me on day 2. I had brought in an article about medication absorption rates in WLS patients and I educated my brains out while I was there and ended up the night before I left with an adequate dose/time that worked to keep the pain down to a dull roar. That is a good thing. My sister who is looking after kids and me said that I was not green this time when I got home. Apparently I had a green tinge to my skin when I got home (from pain and lack of sleep and adequate food) so I am far further along than I was before. So thanks for all the good wishes, they obviously worked! Holly

Hi Ruth! Thanks for posting that article ... that was very uplifting! I had a bad episode at the gym the other night when a fitness trainer tried using calipers to calculate my body fast percentage. She was pulling all my loose skin and ultimately couldn't give me a good read because of my saggy skin! Talk about embarrassing and humiliating! So I tried to shrug it off and not think about how awful that felt!!! On a brighter note ... I finally talked myself into trying rock climbing last week! I felt so excited because I made it all the way to the top 2 times and got to ring the bell at the top! I also went up 3/4 of the way three more times. But boy, it sure wears out your forearms!!! I also just bought myself a heart rate monitor watch and I kept track of all my calories burned yesterday and I burned 3300 calories! A little over 500 of those calories were from a Spin cycling class but that just shocked me that I burn so many calories in a day! So the fitness trainer said I am definately NOT eating enough to compensate for my calories spent so I need to try and eat more. Who would that thought? And that could be part of the reason for my 5 pound weight gain too. So, I'll try and eat more and see how that does. It's scary though ... how much food is enough without it being too much? Sorry this is so long! Keep up the good work with your paper clip chain ... you will get there!!! Deanna