VSG Maintenance Group
Recent Posts
Love the shirts Peps! I wouldn't expect such colorful shirts, perfect for California, in Germany. But then I remembered that Germany does impact global fadhions. Isn't it fun to speak your other language? When I speak Portuguese, it feels a little bit like singing.
Glad your trip home went so smoothly Liz. DD said they've had lovely weekdays in Boston, but it inevitably rains or is overcast on the weekends.
DH has a new hobby buying Tommy Bahama shirts off eBay and Poshmark. I like it! Liz, that's your DH's preferred brand if I'm remembering correctly.
Yesterday I got up at 8am, had my slow start, then DH and I went to work out. I found all the retired people ~ they were at Planet Fitness. Past summers it's not been crowded at 10am, but it was raining and Monday, so maybe everyone decided to get their work out done. It felt good to push and pull some weights. I took it easy because I didn't want days of soreness, and I think I hit the right spot.
After, DH and I stopped at the grocery store and I needed to keep reminding myself I did not have to rush through like my hair was on fire. This shift in time perception is going to take a bit. But there I was in the grocery store, relaxed enough to have a laugh with DH rather than acting like I'm storming the beaches at Normandy. Then I finally settled in with the NYT Sunday paper. Later I cooked dinner! Leftovers today. The sun is out, so maybe we'll even be able to eat on the deck. I bought a new tablecloth :) After dinner we went to the Wake for DHs friend's spouse. And then I did some straightening up of my office. It feels much nicer when I walked by it this morning.
Today we will go to The funeral Mass, and I will work out. Since the weather is nice, I suspect DH will probably go for a bike ride. After I work out, I'll do whatever strikes my fancy!
118.8 - the gym scale was around 1-1.5 pounds heavy. I thought so!
Nice shirts! I imagine Ron is probably dressing like my DH was to try and hide his belly but then he looks like he is wearing an oversized maternity shirt. Now that he is smaller, they are actually comical on him so it is nice to see him wear some shirts that fit. Like my DH, Ron will have to find his own way. Though mine has resisted the meds, I think if he gets off the rails and starts to regain that he might be willing to try them. Hints of that during some discussions lately.
We had a smooth trip home yesterday. The weather in Aruba was of course the best we had in our 16 days there as we were leaving. We were home half an hour earlier than we thought our best time would be. My wiggly little Justice was thrilled to see us and snuggled all night. We are going out soon for a morning walk down to the beach.
Today is supposed to be drizzly but start improving tomorrow. I don't mind it today as there is lots of laundry and food shopping to do. DS who was here with Justice is staying through the week so we are going to my old town to have dinner with SIL tonight. DH is trying to golf with a friend mid-day but I guess it depends on how drizzly it gets.
Have a terrific Tuesday!
Liz 5'3" HW: 219 SW: 185 GW: 125 LW: 113 Desired maintenance range: 120-125 CW: 119ish
Interesting comment about the slugs, the gallery and you're not really wanting a job. There is a bracelet often copied on Cape Cod which was originally developed by a jewelry maker called Eden Hand Arts. They only wanted to make limited supplies of their jewelry but then the bracelet and some subsequent work became all the rage and their little tiny store was overrun. For the last 10 years or so they had used a ticketing system to limit the number of people allowed to come every day and it was a big deal to get one (I do have one as do most of us on the Cape). And they were only open July-August lately. But they didn't want to have a mass production shop nor did they want all this work. As the owner said in a recent article all they wanted was decent salaries out of it and to enjoy making the jewelry. So after many years they are closing the shop, originally started by the mother. They are going to sell their work on Etsy staring July 2, with limited copies of each item available (basically what they feel like making). I feel for them, though many will mourn the closing of their tiny, cute shop.
Liz 5'3" HW: 219 SW: 185 GW: 125 LW: 113 Desired maintenance range: 120-125 CW: 119ish
I looked up a Big Mac salad and they look really tasty. I may try it! I used to love those things.
It is really helpful that these multi-use vials of our meds allow us to tweak the dosage. I'm sure the brand name pens don't. I won't if those "single use" vials by Lilly can actually be used more than once so I could continue on my half doses twice a week?
Liz 5'3" HW: 219 SW: 185 GW: 125 LW: 113 Desired maintenance range: 120-125 CW: 119ish
It does look like a warmup in Massachusetts is coming starting later this week. It is supposed to be 90 even on Cape Cod by mid-week next week. I leave for Spain on the 25th so will move to Madrid heat at that point LOL.
Liz 5'3" HW: 219 SW: 185 GW: 125 LW: 113 Desired maintenance range: 120-125 CW: 119ish
I came up to the bar/lounge this morning after breakfast for some quiet time. I had forgotten there is a glass blowing talk and demonstration scheduled to begin around 10. The place is packed! Oh, well... Fun to people watch a bit. There are 185 passengers on board. I'm still seeing a few new faces each day.
I had such a fun time yesterday. I loved visiting the Würzburg Residence (palace) and walking around the Altstadt. I stumbled across a men's store during the tour. After the tour was over I went back with Ron (who was taking in the Würzburg cathedral). I found some lovely shirts by a German label. Fabrics and patterns were very much me. So, I left Würzburg with three new shirts - big, bold patterns and great fits. Best part of the shopping was speaking German with the woman who was helping us. She had a good eye and appreciated an American speaking the language.
Luckily, Ron was also able to find a shirt that he liked and was really flattering to his figure. He started out trying on some shirts that made him look like a stick figure with a ginormous beer belly - just fitting his belly, but big and drapey around the neck and arms. Not a good look. I was afraid he was going to get really discouraged and get in a mood. He is feeling distressed by his size.
I will take some photos of the ship (and food for Diane S.) today and post on TT. I'll try to put a photo of my shirts here.
Breakfast "felt" big today. 2 poached eggs, each on a triangle of toasted white bread. About 30 minutes later I had a small bowl of muesli with some fruit and nuts. Probably still not much more than 500-600 calories, but eating like that feels a bit decadent. I don't believe I'm over eating, but it feels a bit unsettling to eat the way I'm eating. Perhaps that's the eating disorder speaking.
After lunch we'll dock in Bamberg. Another walking tour. I do wish there was a small gym on board - especially with the leisure time built in to the cruise. I feel a bit sluggish and would enjoy a workout.
Hoping for better than a turbid Tuesday for all those suffering from June gloom! 
Greetings all
It is sunny here and the ocean is sparkling. I had banking chores to do including breaking the 100 bills received yesterday. All done. I went to the studio and picked up new items and made some more slugs. Took the new stuff up to the gallery. I raised prices on some of my stuff so it will not sell so fast. It's not like I want a job or anything,
Yay Peps your description of the cruise sounds so inviting. Sitting on a boa****ching nice stuff go by. That is for me. Hope you can book all the stuff you want. We did Alaska some years ago and it was great. Glaciers! DH and I referred to the ship as the Binge Barge. Food was excellent and abundant, Greece is on my bucket list too.
Your hike sounds great Paula. How did your DH not discover blue cheese on his own? Maybe something he tried once as a kid and hated it. Glad you "summited" the bluff.
DD you will dream about work for some time. Then wake up and go "aahhhhh". Now you have us all curious about your DD's boyfriend, Do tell when you learn more. Meanwhile laze about.
Liz I am envisioning a happy Justice when he sees you. Enjoy that and summer on the cape.
Deli roast beef tonight. Maybe in a grilled sandwich.
Cheers. Diane S
Join US On The VSG Maintenance Group Forum!!
http://www.obesityhelp.com/group/VSGM/discussion/
125 on the dot this morning. Took 2.5 mg yesterday instead of my normal 2. Still feeling a bit snacky but less real hunger today. Hope both a curbed more by tomorrow.
DH and I went for a 2.5 mile trail hike. Lots of stones and tree roots to navigate along with some little streams of water. We even tackled the 220 foot bluff that we have avoided the past few years as we (I) were just not in good enough shape to do so. I exclaimed that we are in far better shape than the majority of 60 year olds out there and that surprised him. He said he just takes his health for granted!
Grilling out burgers tonight. I'm going to make a Big Mac salad out of mine. DH wants his to be a blue cheese burger. Funny, he had not had blue cheese before meeting me and now can't get enough of it. Same with sushi! Glad I could help expand his culinary experiences!
No real plans for the rest of the day except to continue watching the newly released episodes of The Chosen!
Peps, we have some similar places on our travel bucket lists. I too want to go to Egypt, Africa and Alaska. I also want to make a trip to the Holy Lands and Europe!
DD, you will probably dream about work for awhile. I still do occasionally.
Liz, give Justice a big hug when you get home. Hope your weather is better than ours has been!
5' 4" tall, HW: 242, SW:215.4 Weight Loss - pre-op: - 26.6, M1: -15.4, M2: -16, M3: -11.4, M4: -11.2, M5: -12.2, M6: -7.4, M7: -7.8, M8: -2.0 Goal of 130 lbs. reached at 8 months, 2 days post-op!
$500/month for a GLP-1 "on sale" still sounds cray cray expensive to me.
ANN 5'5", AGE 74, HW 235.6 (BMI 39.2), SW 216, GW 150, CW 132, BMI 22
POUNDS LOST: Pre-op -20, M1 -10, M2 -11, M3 -10, M4 -10, M5 -7, M6 -5, M7 -6, M8 -4, M9 -4,
NEXT 10 MOS. -12, TOTAL -100 LBS.
When we cruised 2 summers ago, I gained minimal weight (maybe 2 pounds?). I think eating food that "is worth it" satisfies in a whole different way. And although there is an overabundance of food on cruises, eating actual meals also helps me know I've had enough vs. the snacking habit instead of meals I sometimes find myself doing.
I hope the weather improves when you get back to the Cape Liz. It continues to be a real bust here, but I am not as personally offended as I usually am, knowing I have lots and lots of warm days ahead when traveling. Next week it looks like Western Massachusetts is having a heat wave, with temps in the 90s. We will be with my Aunt in Amherst the 24th -29th, and bookend nights with DD. That sure made it easier to put her on the plane yesterday. :)
DD is enjoying her time with her new beau. You can tell when a text from him arrived, by the smile on her face. He also works at the VA, but in IT. DD has a lot of friends at work who are invested in this romance. He asked her, is it my imagination people are suddenly staring at me in the elevator? She burst out laughing, and said, probably some of my coworkers. Her old boss sent an IT ticket and specified she wanted him to take care of it so she could check him out. Haha. He is being a good sport about all the buzz. She said if they're still dating in August we can meet him then. LOL.
So I got up at 8am, made my tea, and am planning my workout time. DH took this week off from his part time work, so he is part of the negotiation. I think 10:30am. Other plans include reading a stack of papers, and we need to go to a wake this evening. One of DH's coworkers/friend has lost her husband. She is the sweetest woman, with one of the most truly purest souls. We will attend the funeral tomorrow.
It probably does take some time to shed the work pressure. Both nights I dreamt about work, and thoughts pop into my head like last night, what will I pack for lunch? Feels INCREDIBLE to remember not only do I not need to do these tasks tomorrow, I never need to. Hard to wrap my head around it.
