Random Musings #10

Good day to all my formerly fat friends! Or, as OH's famous DxE would call us..."Those who no longer belong to the Royal Order of the Deep Bellybuttons." (For such a classy southern gent, he certainly is a little wacky.) Okay... I'm back, baby! Are ya excited? Me too. I've been doing way too much stuff at work and at home over the past few weeks and, consequently, have not really been participating much. I do lurk almost every day, but rarely get a chance to post more than a few words here and there. Which is difficult for a guy like me who likes to hear himself speak. (Or is that - see himself type? Hmmmm...) So stand back, here goes: ? After our last support group meeting, a few of us, as we usually do, went out for a bite at a local diner. Sometime during the course of the evening, the conversation was about friendships and relationships... The fact that we all had some people in our lives that we should rid ourselves of, and the need for us to surround ourselves with people who were more positive influences on us. Then, today, I stumbled across this little essay in a book that I'm just finishing up. I found it to be a fitting epilogue to our discussion... Investing in Friends Even if we have a lot of money in the bank, we can still die very easily from our suffering. So, investing in a friend, making a friend into a real friend, building a community of friends, is a much better source of security. We will have someone to lean on, to come to, during our difficult moments. We can get in touch with the refreshing, healing elements within and around us thanks to the loving support of other people. If we have a good community of friends, we are very fortunate. To create a good community, we first have to transform ourselves into a good element of the community. After that, we can go to another person and help him or her become an element of the community. We build our network of friends that way. We have to think of our friends and community as investments, as our most important asset. They can comfort and help us in difficult times, and they can share our joy and happiness. ? You know what? I have not had a cold all year. I used to get sick for a one to two week stretch every two months - That's six full blown colds a year. At least one of them each year would evolve into bronchitis. Antibiotics wouldn't help. I would literally be sick for 25% of the year. Not now, boy. A little sniffle or scratchy throat? Gone the next day. While researching WLS, no one ever told me about this lovely perk. For 2006, I've actually gained 12 more productive weeks where I don't lay around the house, blowing my nose all evening or go to work feeling like total crap, getting all my co-workers sick. And, not one of them has thanked me. ? The week before surgery, I went to the mall to see where normal sized people purchased their clothes. While there, I broke out the credit card and bought a pair of jeans and a shirt in the sizes that I wanted to be able to wear one day. They were size 38 waist carpenter pants from Old Navy and a sporty-looking XL Nike long sleeved pullover. I wore 'em the other day. They weren't even tight... How is it that normal, semi-"hip" looking threads from a regular store fit me? That is just flat-out, cool. And, right now, I'm still considered obese. I've got 58 more pounds to lose before I'm at my goal of 199. Hot damn... I wonder if I could wear 32 waist or medium shirts. Back in January, that was way too hard to fathom. Now it's a distinct possibility. Well, there you go kiddies. Whee doggie, it was fun to muse again... thanks so much for taking an interest in my occasionally coherent rambles. Be Well, A.J.

Nice to see you AJ You've been missed

Welcome back AJ! I too, have noticed the lack in colds! YEAH!!!!!!!!!!! You are so close to goal, you'll definately be in those 32s and Mediums! Whoopppeee!

Oh No Jaci! You grew a second head! With a five o'clock shadow!

You're toooooo funny

A.J. Loved the story about the clothes you bought. I have a pair of jeans in my closet that I bought with the same thing in mind. I still have about 20 lbs to go but I'm optimistic!

Hey A.J.: Sounds like you enjoyed your trip to "Normal-Clothes-Ville." I ventured out there for the first time last week, myself. And it was also to Old Navy. I bought a mini-skirt in a size 12 and two shirts in a size Large. Never thought I'd see the day...it was a beautiful thing. Congrats on your amazing success! Hugs, Jersey

You are too funny. Congrats on fitting into your "goal" outfit. I bought a size 14 jeans and still haven't fit into them yet, even though I could at least get them on the other day, just not zipped up. I need to lose 60 more pounds. Glad you're back to posting. Karla

Hey former fatty.... Glad to see your posts and musings again. I hope to one day post some musings, too, hoping that I can share and help others the way that you do. Congrats on being able to fit into the clothes you bought pre-op. I've had a few experienes like that, mostly tho, I waited too long to try them on and when I did they were too big!! All the best...Tiffany