cleo66

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It's time again for an update with the change of seasons.

The summer was great.  I golfed every week plus driving range time in between.  Not looking forward to short days that will prevent late afternoon golf games with my girls or bad weather that will make me store my clubs! I will just have to re-instate my 5 days/week gym excursions. I've only been going 3 times/week to make time for golf.

Dating is interesting...men just seem to have trouble with that size thing.  I now know that I must be 6 feet tall, not 5'6" because I tower over men who think they are 5'9".  Also, pictures lie!  If you take them from far enough away, no one can see the missing teeth.  Gross!

Got to meet a June 2007 WLS pal from upstate NY - Crystal is a real trip!  She is so much fun and I can't believe she and her husband came to Virginia Beach for their vacation to meet Jen R and me.  I wanna visit her!

Went clothes shopping since I had no winter clothes that fit.  I was wearing size 6 summer clothes and all my winter ones were size 8.  Way too baggy!  Well, I'm actually wearing  size 4 pants and skirts now. My weight stays between 135 - 139 and I have to watch it to keep from losing any more.  I'm snacking more frequently but still make sure to get in 60 g of protein, which is what the dr said to do once I lost all the weight I wanted to lose. Still don't eat bread, potatoes, rice, pizza or pasta - more because I really don't want to succumb to convenience meals (sandwiches on the run) or trigger foods (ooohhh pizza!!!!).

I guess it's time for an  update...starting now and going backwards in time.

I weigh 143 and wear a size 6/8 bottom and a M/L top.  Unless I get some ribs removed, I will never wear a small top!

Had a neck lift one week ago today...something I've wanted for 10 years to get rid of the ugly neck and lack of jaw line. Thought I might as well do the lower face lift, too, and the doctor said I'd get the best bang (and longest result) for an eye lift.  So I did it all.  Eyes - no problem.  Neck and face - OMG!  Thank the lord, the doctor, and whatever scientist invented valium!  I started just with 2 percoset every 4 hours, which puts me to sleep.  When I went back to the dr the next day the nurse practitioner said I would benefit more from the valium as it relaxes all the muscles and gets rid of the extreme tightness under the chin and around the ears. In my dictionary next to the word ambrosia is a picture of valium.  Let me tell you THAT script got renewed! I go back in 2 more days to get all the rest of the stitches removed.  Unless the bruising gets better real quick, I won't be back to work Monday like I planned.  Under eyes are pretty good, but around my mouth is really dark. Although I've been pushing protein drinks, yogurt, cottage cheese and turkey, I've now lost 3 pounds.  Not a problem as I can lose another 9 before the dr would start to worry.  I'm sure I'll get my appetite back before that happens!

Prior to PS, I rejoined a local chapter of my sorority and have already been on the go with them.  Kentucky Derby Party, monthly meetings, movie night (Sex and the City - yeah it rocked!), picnic at Yorktown beach, and an upcoming pool party.  Plus 3 of the women play golf - an old hobby being resurrected since I now have smaller boobs to swing around!

Had my first full body message during a spa weekend with my sister and her sorority in Berkeley Springs WVA.  A very relaxing weekend which of course included shopping - outlets and boutiques - and lots of sitting, talking and tasting coffee.

While getting the car gassed up for the trip to the spa, I was picked up by a man 12 years younger than me saying he was going to pump my gas because I was too hot to pump it myself!  Well that line was good enough for 4 dates then I realized we were too far apart in our life stages - and I got tired of listening to what went wrong with his marriage and how rotten his ex-wife is.  Been there; done that; so NOT doing it again!

Had my 1 yr checkup in June.  All systems GO.  So good that the dr suggested I skip the 18 month checkup (unless I developed a problem) and just come in at 24 months.  When I told the nurse I was having a face lift, we agreed to wait for my 1 yr photo until the end of July.

Then I had a four-day weekend, always termed Gabfest as in Gabfest 2008 this year.  Three of us meet and sightsee, talk and eat.  This year we met at one friend's new home in Hot Springs Village, the largest gated community in the US.  With 9 golf courses and the cutest lakeside restaurants, we were able to withstand the heat and humidity. A couple of strawberry margaritas helped with the heat and I was able to lose the 4 pounds I gained within a week after getting home.

So...life is good and I want MORE!

Well, I made it to 2008 a different person --- 92 pounds lighter and minus 66 inches!  I found my collar bones and hip bones and discovered sitting for long times is painful!

Other than committing to staying on plan to lose at least 16 more pounds and continuing my exercise regime, I have no specific goals.  I am looking forward to getting to goal so I can buy decent clothes.  So far, I've been buying the minimum to stay clothed, but I see soooo many things I could fit into that I just won't spend the money on.  I'm tired of shopping then having to return stuff I haven't worn before I've undergrown them.

Happy New Year!

I'm finding travel to be a pain in the neck!  I'm so worried about getting in enough protein so I take protein powder, LF cheese and LF yogurt with me when I can.  Restaurant choices are fine, but I'm never sure how much I'm eating and how do you account for any sauce that might be on the meat you eat.  Too much trouble!  Yet I find I've always lose weight while traveling.  This is a mystery unless I'm actually undereating in my effort not to take in excess calories.  I've been away 2 weekends in November plus another week for work.  I'll also be gone 2 weeks (back-to-back) in December.  Let's see where that gets me in the WL game!  My pants are getting loose again!  YAY!

Found this on the main OH forum.  It substantiates my dr's protocol of 55g protein shakes.

...bariatric conference of surgeons in Maryland last week [Oct 2007]said this:     Protein absorption The commonly touted myth of only being able to absorb 30 grams of protein at one time is not true! In any 24 hour period, we can potentially absorb as much as 300 to 400 grams of protein. This is obviously not recommended because there are complications associated with this high amount of intake. (kidney problems).   Recommended range of protein per day can be up to 120 grams. Absorption of protein relies on many factors, including source of protein, length of the Roux limb, size of the pouch, and our intake of micronutrients like zinc.

PLEASE make it successful to avoid hair loss!!!

Hmmm....gotta let my body rule my mind. I kept thinking something was wrong with my body, and always would be, because I just could not find clothes that fit.  Turns out my mind was wrong and my body was quite alright. My body had to drag my mind outta the plus size department and there were the right clothes all along.  I also found out I can't wear "relaxed fit" pants even in regular sizes - way too baggy in the seat.  And the biggest surprise of all is that when I left the plus sizes it wasn't to just barely fit into the largest regular sizes.  I'm into 14/16s easily and size large tops.  Nope, no 18s and extra larges for me!

Oh, and da sistahs went from 46DD to 40C thank you very much!

So my next picture will be of me in my cowboy boots and my pretty lace bra!!

OK - I'm now below 200 pounds, the lowest I've been since the late 1980s (who can remember the exact date that long ago????).  Every diet since that time, I've gotten close but either I sabotaged myself or hit a plateau and got discouraged and stopped trying.  I was feeling that way this time too because I got to 200 pounds and my body protested and stayed there for 11 days.  I was convinced that was it because my honeymoon period seems to be waning.  I feel real hunger and boy can I get a lot of food in at one sitting!  I have a protein drink made with FF milk for breakfast every day (occasionally an egg beater omelet on the weekend), a mid-morning snack of yogurt or cottage cheese; lunch is usually 4 oz of dense protein (tuna salad or left over meat/poultry).  Many times I don't get in a mid-afternoon snack, but if I do it's some form of cheese or occasionally 1/2 a protein bar. I limit myself to no more than 4 oz of dense protein and 1/2 cup of vegetables for dinner, then I may also have an evening snack - again cheese maybe on flat bread crackers.  So far I haven't had any strong temptations or irresistible head hunger.  No potatoes, rice, noodles, bread or desserts of any kind.  My indulgence continues to be my morning capuccino.  I now have more SF syrups than Starbucks!  I love those DaVinci syrups and use them in my protein drinks, too.  Caramel Nut and chocolotate protein powder plus hazelnut SF syrup - yowza!

I've been telling myself this is the point at which I'll be getting really excited about my weight loss.  The picture taken of me yesterday may have just done that for me.  I look NORMAL!  Not skinny but not scary either!  It gives me hope for skinny - well, skinny plus saggy skin that is.  As long as I can keep the sags covered up, I'm fine with it though.

It's still hard to gauge how much better I feel physically though because my knee is still swollen and a little painful - more painful after exercise as it swells more and gets real tight.  Talking with others, it seems it will take another 2 to6 months before that goes away - if in fact it does.   So although I should be going up and down stairs easily due to WLS, I'm still kinda creaky and going slowly.  But at least I'm not completely out of breath and I can bend over easily.  I haven't flown yet, but I remember after my last weight loss a couple of years ago how good it felt to be able to reach things under the seat in front of me without taking off the seat belt. I have a trip to Philly coming up in November and looking forward to seeing how well I can maneuver in those uncomfortable airplane seats!

Another week gone! Tomorrow I will be 13 weeks post-op and I'm just 1/2 pound from onederland.  I hope I hit it this week!

Wednesday (Sep 12) I had an appt with the orthopedic surgeon.  I think he would have kept me off work longer as my knee is still swollen and I have limited movement and occasional pain, but I was bored, so he released me to work and will see me in another month.  Thursday was interesting at work....I could tell people were noticing my weight loss, but no one said anything.  On Friday these same people did mention it when we were alone.  One man even did a literal double take then came to my office alone to tell me I looked really good.  It was really nice and each time I wanted to say, "Just wait.  You won't believe your eyes in a couple of months!"

I also went to my 2nd support group meeting Wednesday evening.  It was short (45 minutes), but I got to see and talk to Will and Melissa, a young couple who had WLS since my previous meeting in July (he first the week after the July meeting and she a month later).  He is so good at finding WLS friendly foods on the internet and they are both interesting and friendly and are looking really good. I liked being able to follow up with them on their experiences.

I had a really hard work out Friday after work, which by the way is a great time at the fitness center - it's relatively empty.  My strength training took over an hour and I did another 30 minutes on the bike afterward.  I was able to up the weights and sets on many of the machines and expect to do the same for the balance this coming week,  I was pleasantly sore yesterday, then I did some gardening and got unpleasantly sore!  I put in some of the edgers in the back yard.  I had to stop when my design encroached into the grassed area and I sprayed Round Up to kill the grass before trying to take it out.  That Bermuda grass is tough! I was extremely tired all evening and slept soundly last night! I got some more in today but the grass hasn't died all the way and is still too tough to deal with.  Next weekend perhaps!

Now to get ready for dinner out with a group of friends, then work, work work this week!

What a wonderful week I had!  I left home Thursday to drive to northern Virginia and meet with the hotel event planner about my son’s rehearsal dinner on Friday.  Everything was A-OK. On Friday morning I met at a nearby mall with Courtney P (Virginia Board) to pick up some jeans she has undergrown (Thanks Courtney!). Then I got a manicure and picked up lunch to eat at the hotel room. My sister and brother-in-law arrived and we visited until we had to get ready for dinner.  The food was served buffet style and was very well received by the 40 guests,  We had 4 different salads, tilapia with mango chutney, shrimp, scallops and crab in a Madeira sauce, beef tips, four cheese baked rigatoni, green beans with parmesan cheese, fresh fruit tart and a molten chocolate soufflé.  After dinner we had the mehndi (henna painting) with about 75 people in attendance. Five people from my family (including myself) participated in the painting and all of us participated in the singing and dancing.  I had to pay about $120 to “ransom” my son from my DIL’s girlfriends – a mehndi tradition I was told.  I put the final amount in when my DIL said it would be for a good cause – grandbabies!

 

Saturday morning some of my friends from out of town, my brother and SIL and I went to Mount Vernon and to lunch before returning to the hotel to dress for the 6 pm wedding. I was very excited that 2 of my sister’s 4 children and spouses came (I hadn’t seen them for YEARS!) as well as a number of my friends from out of town. The wedding started with hors d’oeuvres outside the ballroom where the ceremony was held. At 7 pm the guests were seated in the ballroom. Then my son’s family members, including myself, escorted him into the ballroom where he was seated in a chair on an elaborately decorated dais awaiting the bride, Sahar.  Sahar was escorted into the ballroom by her girlfriends under a canopy.  She was in a beautiful traditional red Pakistani wedding dress with tons of gold jewelry, including face jewelry.  The combination of the heavy face jewelry and the head covering prevented free-movement of her head, but she was still radiant.  After the ceremony the couple left and my son changed from his Pakistani wedding outfit into a suit and Sahar removed the face jewelry and head covering before returning to mingle with the guests.  A wonderful dinner of salad, skewered beef and okra (appetizers), curried lamb, butter chicken, yogurt sauce, chole (chick peas in sauce), and rice (all Indian food) was served family-style as well as cake (sorry I can’t describe it as I had none). Imagine some of the most beautiful colors and jewels on dark and beautiful women! It was just gorgeous!  Belly dancing was a hit with everyone.  Several very happy men participated and a couple of the bride’s attendants danced as well. Traditional western-style dancing followed and the bridal couple was escorted out under a canopy at the end of the evening.

 

The next morning I was able to say goodbye to my son and DIL before they left for their honeymoon to Gteece . Then 13 of us took a lunch cruise down the Potomac River to celebrate my brother’s 35^th wedding anniversary.  It was a gorgeous day of bright sunshine – warm but not hot. Six of us went sightseeing in DC afterward, had dinner in Chinatown and ended the evening listening to the National Symphony Orchestra on the steps of the Capitol with the Washington Monument in the distance beyond the orchestra. Warm breezes, no bugs and beautiful music capped the wedding weekend off marvelously.  Friends and I drove to Virginia Beach on Monday (stopping in Williamsburg for a little sightseeing and lunch), spent all day on the beach Tuesday and again Wednesday. I arrived home Wednesday evening and slept in on Thursday!  I posted the pictures I have now and will add wedding pictures when I get them from others (I was a bit busy to take any!).

 

I now weigh less (205#) than the last time I dieted ( 215# 2004 - South Beach ). I'm within 5# of my weight beginning with a "1" for the first time since about 1980. I'm more than halfway to my goal weight. For the first time ever in my weight loss "history" I DON'T want to buy new clothes - a waste of money! Twice I've returned new slacks for a smaller size after they hung unworn in my closet for a couple of weeks. Now I'm examining my clothes to see if I can take them in enough so they don't look ridiculous on me. Physical milestones are difficult to chronicle because I still have limited movement due to knee surgery, but I'm not as tired as I used to be.

More to come....

Finally!  The Nikkah was held Saturday (I posted pics) in Sterling, VA at the ADAMS Center (All Dulles Area Muslims Society).  It started late, but was quite short.  A LOT of paperwork! The Imam (officiant) spoke of the commonalities of Christian and Muslim religions (beliefs in the same Father, Adam and Eve, and the unity of humanity prior to division into tribes) and the purpose of marriage to unite two people into one in tranquility.  The Imam had been Chris and Sahar's marriage counselor this past summer and they both felt the experience of counseling was beneficial. Sahar's parents, brother, SIL, sister, BIL, nieces, 2 cousins and 1 uncle were there.  I don't know why, but Chris's father and stepmother did not come even though they live closer than I do.  After the ceremony we all went to the Javaid's (in-laws) for a meal of rice, green beans, lamb and lentils, chicken, beef kabobs, and strawberries w/chocolate.  I wish I could have eaten more, but I just tasted everything (except rice and chocolate) because I wasn't sure whether or what would agree with me.  I had no trouble though, but on the drive home I had a yogurt smoothie (I came prepared!) because by that time I was hungry!  Got home late and went right to bed, my knee very sore after confinement in car for 8 hours!

Today I go to the knee surgeon and hope he does not release me to work yet as I still can't bear full weight without pain and my knee stiffens up if I sit more than 15 - 30 minutes.

Weight loss this week was good - 4.8 pounds - even though I've not been able to exercise for almost 2 weeks. I feel the weight loss, but either I can't see it in pictures or I just don't like the way I look. I can tell from inches lost and smaller clothes that the weight is gone, but...What size do I have to get to in order to like the way I look in pictures? Can't wait until that happens!

My sari came last week, but I don't like how it fits and they made the underskirt and blouse lining out of a nylon material instead of cotton and IT IS HOT!!! There is no way I can wear it for hours.  I'm going to try to get some cotton material from the local fabric store and make my own under skirt, but I can't re-make the blouse - too complicated!

Oh - I've now become tired of cooking and want to get fast food!  Not that there is a food I grave, I just don't want to have to go to the trouble of cooking a miniscule amount then having the big kitchen mess to clean up!  Laziness is one of the reasons I gained weight from eating convenience meals!