Friday check-in #1 for Mary :-)

Okay, it's Friday again - how's everyone doing? Actually, to be brutally honest, I haven't stepped on a scale this past week, or even 2 weeks I don't think, as I was up north in Lowville when my mom was in the hospital, then for her funeral as she passed away from lung cancer on Tuesday 13th. (It really was a blessing, as it was quick at the end, and she's been doing chemo & rad for 3 years, so had much longer than most ppl with lung cancer...) This week has been hell catching up at work because there was all kinds of stuff going on that got put on hold when I was out, but now is all behind schedule. Despite all that, I'm actually doing better about not snacking or stress eating than I normally would.. Some of that's because I'm either too busy or tired to reach for the bag, part of it is that I don't have anything "snacky" in the house & really need to go shopping after being not home for 1 1/2 weeks. When I do go shopping, I need to avoid certain aisles (LOL) so that I can keep certain bad triggers out of the house, I think. Anyways --- how was your week?

Nick, Thank you so much for starting the thread. Been swamped this morning with last minute details. My brother just called and the plane has been delayed, so had a few minutes to pop in. I'm so sorry to hear about your mom. It is so hard to see our loved ones suffer. My father died many years ago from throat and stomach cancer. He also did chemo but for about 7 months. Did it only to extend life, he knew it was terminal from the beginning. My heart goes out to you and your family. I agree totally with you about keeping the bad triggers out of the house. I do so much better when they aren't here. I find we do most of our grocery shopping but shopping on the outer perimeters of the store and then down the freezer aisle. If Hal needs his Snackwell cookies (I don't like them), we have to think where they would be in the store unlike the old days of knowing exactly where the cookie aisle was. It will be interesting this coming weeks with 3 of us as post WLS in the house. All of us eat differently, but I think I have enough things/variety to meet everyone's needs. Have used the pool almost daily this week. Have taken my vitamins too. Mary

Mary - Thanks for your thoughts and kind words... It is rough to see anyone suffer, and as I (think I) said, at least the end was quick and as painless as it could be.. On a brighter note, I finally got my May bloodwork copy back from my bariatric surgeon. I'm having issues with the main local lab - they seem to forget 1-2 tests that are ordered each time they are done This time they forgot the cholesterol panel, but remembered the A1C (glycohemoglobin, diabetes measurement over 3 mos). Last time they remembered everything BUT the A1C, which is the main one my primary is looking for, to make sure I'm keeping my sugars in control. Unfortunately, they're the main lab in the whole area, I'm not sure who else there is that participates and has Saturday hours, but after 2 strikes, you can bet I'm going to start looking. Everything looked pretty good - my A1C was 5.4 which is well below "non-diabetic" levels (< 6.0), all WITHOUT MEDS! Irons were all great. Calcium was in the high range of normal, B1 was 104, which is normal, but in the bottom 15% of normal range; B12 was 283 (again, towards the bottom of "normal", but yet still normal). There were only 3 results "flagged', and those were only out of the ranges by either .01 or .1 either high or low, so still right on the edge of normal, and they weren't the "big ones". Wish they had managed to remember my cholesterols too *sigh*. Now I have to go back AGAIN to get jabbed to get that done. Oh well; it's starting to cool off now, so I think I'm going to run outside and start dinner. Hope everyone's having a great weekend!

Nick, I am sorry to hear about your mother, my deepest sympathy goes out to you and your family. Triggers I am glad that you mentioned them, it is true as long as they are not in the house I am fine but when one of my kids brings in something I can't/shouldn't have I am extremely tempted. I get rid of it quickly, I am lucky though that my kids are not candy eaters, they tend to lean towards fruit when they want something sweet. My weight has been lingering at 165-166 and I am fighting to get it down, I need more protein in my diet so that will be my goal again for this week. Get busy with protein intake. Water, water, water and remember to move. I hope we all reach our goals for the week, remember one week at a time and one pound at a time. Love you all Annette

Nick, My sympathy goes out to you and your family. It is so hard to watch a loved one go through such a hard time. My mother had Huntington Chorea and was very ill the last 3 years of her life. I was fortunate enough to be with her when she passed, as she passed away peacefully. I've done okay this past week. I was on annual leave for the week but didn't go anywhere. Mark and I ate out quite a bit, but I did try to eat healthy. One night, we went to Colton's Steak House and I got a 7 oz filet with sauteed mushrooms as my side. I stayed away from the bread; however, I did have a glass of wine . Its been so hot around her, I really haven't had much of an appetite. I have gotten all my water, vitamins and exercising in. Got on the scales and have not lost any weight. Haven't gained any either. Everyone have a great week. Wanda

Im sorry to hear about your mom Nick, but Im glad you see it as a blessing. Im finally doing ok with my stomach, Mary. I finally was forced to go to the ER on sunday night, and while nothing is bleeding or abnormal, they did put me on protonix for 15 days. Since I cant afford them I went with the Prilosec for the same amt of time and Im avoiding all things with flavor. HAHA. ACtually, the Prilosec makes every taste terrible so it coudl be a blessing in disguise. Im lacking in the protein dept. however by the only protein shakes I enjoy are CHOCOLATE!! Everything else is gross...blah. Ive been eating some whole wheat mac and cheese and chicken cooked in cream soups so its tender. So the scale isnt in the equation but lots and lots of water makes the yucky taste go away!! WOOHOO!! sarah