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Just for the record.. I have updated twice since the last published post, but they failed to work when I tried to save them.  Stupid.  The summer is going very well.  Today was very strange.  It wasn't as hot out as it has been lately (I think it was the upper 80s) but I was so hot! Actually decided to come inside. That almost never happens.  Of course once inside I'm absolutely freezing again.  Despite that, I haven't turned on my heater yet today.  My vacation is creeping up! 47 days from now.. and though I can't wait to go - that means the summer is over.   I do have to call to change at least one of my ADR (advance dining reservations) because I made it way too early on my first day there - I likely will just be getting to the Pop Century and there's no way I can make it to the Magic Kingdom.   I reserved my scooter (ECV - electric convenience vehicle) already since my feet are still my feet and hurt.  I have a follow up appointment this coming Tuesday to review the results of my latest battery of tests - nerve conduction tests.  They found a bunch of anomolies and abnormalities.. what a shock - and it seems the plantar faciitis is getting bad again.  At least thats only bad in the morning for now.  I have been wearing Crocs daily and they are probably the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn.  My psoriasis is also getting bad again.  I lost like 55 pounds and feel great - aside from the aforementioned bull. 
I do hope the foot doctor comes up with something though.  I know they shouldn't be hurting all the time - though they do hurt a lot less than before.  But that month after surgery, before returning to work - they didn't hurt at all.. so I have experienced non hurting feet and want that again. 
I have been walking a lot more than ever before - and I park my car well away from the entrance to work. 
Back to WDW - the only thing I really need at this point is a bathing suit.. but I don't have a clue what size to get.  I'm going to order one in the next few weeks - as long as it isn't going to fall off or choke me I'll be happy.  I can always resort to shorts and a tank top. 

On an OH note.. I'm still in total amazement about the goings on from the DS board people on the RNY board yesterday.  It never occurred to me to separate or divide people up based on the surgery that they had.  My feeling is that people are trying to find a healthier life and regardless of what procedure they choose - have the same goal.  Well... based on the words of some of the DS people.. the ones that posted anyway.. show themselves to be a bunch of judgmental bullies who are downright nasty.  I can't imagine going to another message board and saying the things that they said.. so much for support for those trying to lose weight.   There were 2 or 3 of them that I can't even bear to look at.. especially after knowing how badly they upset some folks.   I did block a bunch of them, but I do wish I could smack them upside their pigheads

Damn weekend is almost over.  I'm about to go outside because it's going to be another beautiful day.. 95 degrees.. I'll be in the sun.  Tomorrow is supposed to be 99! But I have to work.. which means they'll up the air conditioning and I'll be the idiot wearing a coat.  To think that as I lose more weight I'll be even colder.. I sort of hope I'm backwards on that and I'll start to warm up. 
My scale is evil and possessed. I have to step on and off at least 15 times before I can rely on what it's saying. It goes up and down by 5 or more pounds before sticking to a weight.  It's a digital.. I also bought an analog one.. but when I step off the dial goes back to zero and I can't see the little lines from 5 feet above it. It's just the point of it and it's pissing me off.  So I can't choose a weight until I get the same thing 5 times after weighing something else because the scale has a dumb memory and reverts to that weight.  I don't want to waste even more money on another scale.. so if I just use the same one,maybe it is sort of accurate. 
Yesterday I walked on this hilly trail at a local park.. my knees hurt but I managed to walk the whole trail.  The best part was that no one else was there because it was too hot for most people.  I had a tiny sweat.. just behind my knees.. so I guess it must have been very hot.  :)
I'm going to try to go to that park evenings after work and start to walk a lot more.
Ok.. time to go outside now!

SUMMER! My time. Heat! I love it.  Though yesterday I was totally freezing.. it never went above 70 degrees.. everyone else was happy - I ended up wearing a flannel pajama shirt at work (only thing I could find that was warm).  I wonder if I'm going to get even more cold as I lose more weight? I guess it's possible.  That'll be quite funny. 
90 days to WDW! I realized I can't even shop in advance since I have no clue what size to buy. Virtually everything I have is going to be way too big. Most of it will be wearable - at least shirts - so I don't have to worry all that much.  It's stupid work clothes that are the bigger issue.  I hate spending money on new stuff as it is - so I'm buying as little (clothes) as I can.  
My removed toenail got infected (my fault) - so I'm trying to treat it.  I want it to heal yesterday. It does feel a lot better though.  I made all my ADRs for Sept - got smart and made the majority of them for lunch - that was I got virtually every reservation I wanted.  The dinner ones.. or anything late afternoon to evening are always made very early - and for me it's not going to matter what time I eat.. plus it's nice to have a table service/sit down meal at lunch as break from the parks.  In 3 months, I should be eating better also.  I am trying to eat as many "normal" foods as I can now.. just very small amounts of it.  It's the only way I'll have long term success.  I ate a soft taco - no lettuce from Taco Bell yesterday - well.. most of it.. couldn't finish the soft taco shell.. but I ate the meat and cheese.  I'm eating a lot of the Gerber graduate meals - again.. most of it, but not the whole thing.  I need to get the feel for portion size.  I haven't gone over 600 calories a day yet..  I usually am in the 500 range - which will have to increase.  I'll have to go to 3 or 4 meals eventually - but for now I'm going to increase my protein supplements - I tried to limit it because if it were up to me that's all I'd eat.. or drink.. and I don't want to go there (memories of OPTIFAST) 
My only issue is liquids.. I'm not anywhere near what I should and I still have a problem eating without drinking.  I'm working on it.  
Otherwise, things are great.  I'm about to venture to the great outdoors to do some garden work.  (I covered my toe this time)....

This morning.. the scale finally moved.  Like 3 pounds down... weird as hell.. but I'll take it.  So I kept stepping on and off to try to see if it would change.  I'm going to stay off it for a few days.  
Today I went to a new foot specialist! (This is about the 9th one I've seen over the past 20 or so years - I usually just give up because they never can figure out what to do)  Anyway.. I've learned to tell them my basic history - surgeries, diagnosis over the past 20 years...  but I never mention that I have had issues literally from the day I was born (several congenital abnormalities affect my entire lower body)... and so far, this woman was the FIRST ever to tell me she saw signs of this without me prompting her!  She also asked other questions which showed she really was listening and feeling things..  It'll be a long road to figuring out what to do (if anything) to relieve the pain and I need help with coming up with a way to walk without killing myself now.   The massive pain I had from wearing shoes was a major massive ingrown toenail - one that I had removed about a year ago, but grew back and was misshapen and very painful now... so that is now removed again and the root hopefully killed. 

So I have a big ass bandage on my foot (it's pink.. it's really cute) Anyway.. that's it..

The weekend is almost over.. grrrr -  I did go out and get a pair of Crocs.. everyone is saying they're so wonderful and since my feet are acting up, I'm willing to try anything.  I am having lots of trouble with closed shoes (sneakers or any running shoes) because it's pressing on my big toe nails and it's very painful.  The arthritis problem I have with my left foot appears to be back... I can't flex or move the foot without pain - and it seems much worse when wearing shoes...  Used to be that a very supportive shoe was helpful but that's changed.  So I was wearing my Teva sandals to work with black socks (not allowed to wear sandals) and that was ok.. but not for any amount of time.. so I got the Crocs and I'll see how I do with that.  I made an appointment with an new foot specialist next week so maybe she'll have an answer.  I've been going for years and no one gets past the arthritis thing.  Now that I'm off celebrex and every other NSAID - I'm in a little pain again.  Of course I probably should stay off my feet.. but I can't.  I'm still not exercising though. Not like I should be.. but that's mostly because I can't do the walking right now. 

Oh.. I'm having a stall!!!  I'm telling everyone to stay the hell off their scales and here I am getting on every morning and for a whole week it hasn't moved.  I stand on it cursing it like it's gonna care.  I expected a stall about now.. but it sucks to be having it anyway.  I get that stupid thinking like how this is it I'm not going to lose anymore...

Today I got daring and stopped at Taco Bell.  Even before surgery it never quite agreed me... I ordered a beef and potato burrito - it actually tasted pretty good.. I took 2 lactaids before eating..  I didn't feel sick.. not at all.. but about 30 minutes after eating.. just when I was getting happy I could drink something.. I had that familiar gurgling in my stomach (like with IBS) and knew I had to drive home.. LOL... I made it home -- it was exactly like IBS - never felt sick at all.   I was very curious as to how I'd handle that - and now I know.  It definitely has lots of fat in it - (the burrito that is).

103 days till my vacation!  I can't wait!  Walt Disney World here I come!!!  Several people have been getting emails for free upgrades to their hotels for their trips (mostly around the end of August, beginning of September) which send them from a value resort to a moderate or higher.  Since mine starts on the LAST day of the free dining package I doubt I'll get that chance.  Plus I did enjoy staying at the POP Century last year.   I've decided to never pay more than I have to for a room there.  Years ago, before the moderate and value resorts were built I always stayed at the Polynesian..  well mostly - I liked the Disney Inn a lot also when that was alive.  Once the moderates were built I stayed at the Port Orleans mostly - when that was still alive.. and then I went to the Caribbean Beach.. followed by the All stars... now I think I'll stick to the Pop.  I think my favorite resort was the Grand Floridian - but that is just stupid to pay that much. (I stayed there back when there were stockholder & annual pass discounts during value season) and I really liked the feeling of the treehouses (it was different) - but the Port Orleans and walking through the Dixie Landings (before they merged) was my favorite for a long time.  Beignets.. I loved those.  Why am I writing about this?  Hehe.  Anyway, I'm older and wiser and know that I go once a year now and may as well take advantage of saving money anywhere I can.  And so I do.  Plus I have like no money.. heh.

Things are going well.  I'm avoiding the scale during the week because I don't want to obsess about it - so as far as I know I've lost like 30 lbs. Which I am happy with.  My clothes are all fitting differently and I had to buy new bras.  I am having a lot of trouble with getting in enough liquids.  I have always drank (lots of Diet Coke) with my meals and thats tough to get used to - and not drinking before I eat and not drinking during or after is really very hard.  By the time I can drink I'm usually busy doing something and it's the last thing I think of.  I'm working on it.   I'm finding that I wait too long before feedings and I'm filling up very fast.  So I'm not even eating what I should (which I'm less concerned about because I take the supplements including protein) but I would like to figure out how to stick to some sort of pattern.  Today was the first day I've felt any signs of pouch issues - probably both minor dumping.  Tightness, pressure.. but it passes.  At lunch I made some tuna fish (3 ounces) and for the first time I ate the whole 3 ounces - my pouch apparently didn't like that.  And after I ate my supper (cubed chicken with baby food garden vegetables) it felt like it was stuck.  And then it hurt..  I guess I ate too fast or too much.  

I got through the first week back to work.. my feet.... are killing me.. and I thought I was cured..  I guess it's not as bad as it was though because I'm not on pain meds.. all I have taken is Tylenol but not even that much.. and I'm still able to stand and walk.   I am going to a new podiatrist next week.. maybe there's something they can recommend for me...

I had my first post-op visit with my surgeon (at 28 days) - and I was down 25 pounds from the last time they weighed me (which was several weeks pre-op) - personally I was thrilled.. my surgeon however wasn't too impressed and stated that he would have expected me to lose 30 pounds.. at which point I was open mouthed (shocked actually) and he referred to my chart and said.. "Well you are really only 28 days out so you still have a few days".  My reply was "First of all I feel great. Second, losing 25 lbs is major for me.  Third - I am not and will not try to break any records - every pound I lose is a happy thing and I don't care how long it takes"   He tells me that his statistics indicate that the most successful patients tend to lose more in the beginning because of the limits they place on eating for the first few weeks.  To me it seems that their primary concern is simply bragging about what their patients lose.  He told me he wants me to start a daily walking program where I aim to walk at least 3 miles a day.  (I laughed)  
I'm sure that it's his way of trying to encourage patients to try harder - but I'm very happy with my rate of loss and how I feel.  It is more important to me to learn how to eat properly and lose weight and keep it off.  I never pretended that I was concerned about the rate I was to lose - and I never will be.   Needless to say, I was totally pissed off. 

Meanwhile, I pulled something - internally - which Dr. C thinks is probably just an internal staple that will re-heal.  It's uncomfortable when it hurts - it sort of pulls (it's to the left of the incision and he said it's probably near the pouch) - so I've been trying to take it easier.  It happened when I was laying mulch in the garden and was bending over for a very long time.  (as in like 2 hours)
I'm going back to work Monday - which I'm not looking forward to - but I'll be happy when I'm there.  And in 112 days I'm going to walt disney world!!!  I've lost count but I know this is my 50 something vacation there.  I'm going by myself and I just hope no one gets mad that I never mentioned I was going (which I did - months ago but as usual I don't give the opportunity to join me)  I can't wait.

Things are just moving right along. And that means going back to work.... I'm so enjoying this time off! Yesterday I went to IKEA in Paramus, NJ - bought stuff I really don't need, but hey what the hell.  Then I went to Home Depot and bought more things I really don't need.  But they're plants so who could blame me.  Today I stayed home mostly - gorgeous sunny day -- I set up a table outside and started a 3-D jigsaw puzzle.  Nothing like that to keep me challenged.  Stupidly I forgot the part where I'm supposed to take the sunscreen bottle and actually put it on my skin.  I must think that buying it is protection enough.  So of course I'm peeling. Oh well. Somewhere in the back of my mind I believe that baking in the sun broils away fat...  so it's okay then.  :0   
I've been doing ok with food.  Still only tried tuna fish and refried beans.  Got my period today and was hungry so I had an extra few ounces of refried beans.  I'm still way under 600 calories.. but I'm only supposed to care about protein - so I'm ok.  it's all ok! meanwhile.. time for bed now..

Stupid idiot weather.  It's raining .. again.. and down at like 50degrees out.  I have things to do. I can't wait for next week for it to be back in the 70's.  My idea to be a tourist is sounding better and better.  I may even opt to take a bus into the city instead of driving in and dealing with parking.  I will have to bring some type of food with me.  Today for lunch I made myself tuna fish with a small amount of fat free or low fat or fat reduced or they took out the fat somehow  mayonnaise. I put it into my brand new food processor and I have to say it was absolutely delicious. So I can easily take that with me in a little ziplock thing. All I'll have to do is buy water and be sure I drink it.    I'm going to relax and watch the Mets play - where they will hopefully beat the crap out of that other NY team whom I despise.  I may also go to a Met game though I probably will change my mind. I get too bored sitting for that long.  I'm hoping one of these days the sun comes back out.. it's supposed to be nice next week.. crosses fingers.

This morning I got brave and tried to eat instant grits.  My pouch didn't particularly like this attempt.  I didn't feel especially sick - just over full sort of - and then had TMI TMI diarrhea.  I'm pretty sure this is cause and effect.  My stomach reacted more like it did to accidently having milk products, but without the cramping.  Tomorrow I'll try something else.  I would like to try to blenderize tuna and try that. I've had small pieces of chicken in the cream of chicken soup - so I may go for some of that too.  Meanwhile, I'm just taking it easy and will have a protein shake later.  Unfortunately the weather isn't cooperating - it's chilly out and rainy.  I need nice weather.  I want to go walk somewhere.  I may actually do a NYC tourist bus tour -- just to get out and go to different places.  They have a 48 hour double decker bus tour that I did years ago when I had friends not from here visit.  It's fun to be a tourist sometimes and I think I may take advantage of this off work time.  I haven't been down to the city in like 2 or 3 years now!  Ok.. going to go look at my gardens :)