Friday, Friday ... come on out and play

It's Friday !!!!!!!! and the start of a long 3 day weekend. Take time for yourself this weekend, have fun, relax and do something fun. Each day do something just for you. Too often we forget to make ourself the priority, looking out for others first. So what will you do today just for you? Hope everyone had a great week. If you stayed on track... awesome. If you took a slight detour ... hey, that's OK, we sure do understand how that can happen. My week went well. Didn't go to Curves, but walked each day and exercised here at home. It was yearly maintenace time for the A/C, reverse osmosis system, pool etc so caused me to stay home a bit more than usual. My weight is maintaining, but I am feeling great. Got new glasses the other day and after years of declining eyesight, my eyes actually improved 3 levels and the pressure is my eyes is now GREAT instead of being in the concerned level. I really feel it is a direct result of all the weight loss. Have a wonderful weekend. Hope to see many of you posting sometime this week to let us know how you are doing. Hugs, Mary

Hey Mary - I figured seeing as the posting is dropping off, I'd actually post something for a change instead of just lurking - there are still a lot of us reading, but a lot of times, things stabilize and we know a lot of the answers, even if we don't always follow them. Thanks for keeping posting even though a lot of us haven't been as good at it - based on our local group experience and online, at this point out, a lot of people fall off the support boards, and it's good to have someone still posting to kick us in the *** to keep talking, sharing I haven't gotten back into an exercise pattern yet, even though I know it's something I should do. I am pretty stable at the 240 range in regards to weight; not where I exactly wanted to be, but it beats the heck out of gaining I've been going plus and minus the same 10 lbs (20 lbs range, from 230-250, on my scales) for a while now. My A1C overall glucose range is good, but I still notice I spike up above 200 sometimes and crash down to the 60s, esp around eating and esp when I'm either overtired, get my work schedule shifted for network upgrades (I work in computer networking, and the only 'downtime' we get is overnight every 3rd weekend of a month), or, alternatively, throw the rules out the window and 'get into something I shouldn't' and then end up dumping... If I can manage to actually get exercising again and be 'good', I can probably drop some more weight and maybe a few more sizes, it's definitely not too late, and I can even identify what I *should* do to get to the point where I need to be... Now if I can actually do it Anyways, gotta run do some family stuff, so I'm going to close - hope all have good long weekend, (and that it's actually a long weekend for y'all ). ...Nick

Hi Nick, thanks for posting. We've missed you. Support groups whether local or on line are very important in our journeys. They let us know that others are still going thru what we are --- that we are not alone. A friend is 5 years out. He never got all of the weight off but did well. He saw his surgeon a couple of weeks ago and the surgeon said that the stomach was the size of an orange AND was still active with regards to WLS --- meaning if he got back on the protein first and exercised he could again start losing weight and keep it off. It was good to hear that we can still be losing weight with this great tool even 5+ years out. The power is definitely within us. Eating right and exercising can be hard now when in the beginning it was so much easier and we weren't hungry either. Changes along the way, but our tool will still function and helps us if we just let it. I eat too if I am overly tired especially on the nights I get a case of insomnia. I'm trying to do fruit instead of bread and keep some always cut up and ready to go in the fridge. Hope you have a good weekend too. Mary

I will have to admit, I've let some extra calories slip through in the last week or two. I've been getting my vitamins, protien, water and exercising in as I should, but seem to be slipping in the food intake department. Even though we're at the halfway mark to next Friday, I will commit to doing better food wise. Thanks for keeping this going, Mary! I don't seem to get to check in like usual and truly appreciate you being here as a great support buddy! Wanda

Wanda, Please feel free to drop in any time to post. No rule that it has to be on Friday. I just normally have time to post the thread then and I like being accountable on Friday verus a Monday. (less pressure on the weekend ... LOL) Great news about keeping up with the vitamins protein water etc. Take the food a bite at a time and you will get that in control too. Mary

Ive been terrible at everything. No exercise, not enough protein, and junk galore. Its very hard with school to want to do anything but sit on the couch when I get home. I lose all motivation. I still get all my water in. I have to find the motivation to walk 1/2 everyday...AHHHHH!! Im losing my mind. sarah

Sarah, I have to commend you with all that you do. It has to be hard to work, to go to school, and maintain a home etc. So much to do each day. Try not to be overwhelmed by it all. Take it a day at a time. Mary

Hey. A little late but better than not posting at all. First of all I have been doing better with the fluid intake than I was and I am happy for that. So far I have tackled vitamins and medication, and fluid intake. I have been maintaining I go from 163 to 169 but I want to go further towards 154 where I was for awhile but then I stopped weighing myself regularly and "fell off the wagon", then I noticed my clothes feeling a little snug and went back on the scales again. This weeks goals vitamins, meds, water, water, water, and I want to incorporate atleast to begin walking or doing some consistent movement for 30 minutes a day for atleast 3 days a week. That is my new goal. I have been also doing Carnation Instant breakfast with high protein milk. I didn't do protein shakes or drinks before but I am going to start now. Any good ones that I can drink without the milk in them. I can only hold down the Hood milk but any other milk gives me stomach pains. You guys are my only source of support and I hope you all reach your goals for this week and also for long term goals but one goal at a time. Annette By the way Mary you look great. I love the new pic.

Annette, Thank you. The photo was taken in Jan on a cruise to Acapulco. Hal and I celebrated our 19th wedding anniversary. (seems impossible it has been that long, the time sure does fly by). I use Pro V60 from vitalady.com It is vanilla and I mix it with water with no problem. I like adding in frozen unsweetened fruit too to make it thick like a milkshake. Very filling and satisfying that way. She has many flavors and the good part is that she also sells samples so no commitment to the giant containers until you are sure you like it. I have found that most protein shakes can be made with water no matter what the directions say. The milk adds more protein, but it also adds in calories etc. So I have never made them with milk. Right after surgery I did not want to take a chance either of lactose intolerance, so only used water. Take it a day at a time. You are doing GREAT. Be proud of all of your accomplishments too. We've all come so far and done so well. Mary

Thanks Mary, I am going to try protein shakes with water this weekend and let you know how I like them. My girlfriend have me one of hers to try and I will start out with that and some ice. Annette.