Hi Gang! Poll...

Just peeping my head in here to say hello!  Hope you have a good weekend! I am off to work for the weekend...

My parents came to visit this week and it was really fun and a good week!  I am so glad. 

I am starting to plan for the holidays, looking at what to get people for Christmas presents etc.  Can you believe that time is approaching already?  Amazing...

I am excited that I am going to keep my weekend job afterall.  Those of you that don't know I decided to step down from the Bariatric Coordinator job, it was way too much for me in my life right now with thinking of starting a family etc., would have required A LOT of overtime and I would have been salary paid and not much more money than I am making right now.  I realize it isn't about the money but it has to be a factor when you consider I would be working triple what I am working now. 

We are going to foster/adoption classes starting January and still waiting to hear back if I am approved for a pani removal from insurance then I would have to pick up the rest of the LBL.. still a lot but every bit helps.  I don't have the documentation of rashes so it will prob be denied but I am trying nontheless.  Should know by the end of october.  We may also go the natural baby route, still deciding!  Decisions, decisions.. lol.  We are going to take one LAST big trip before our family starts.  Our 5 year wedding anniversary is the end of November and we didn't go anywhere for my husbands 30th this past summer so will be to celebrate that too!

Here is the Poll Info...

So I want to try and start daily threads again with weekly weigh-ins.  I am going to have the time to do this once again so I would love to... are you all wanting this? let me know... its about being accountable.  We are all approaching 2 years out and this is where it gets harder and harder and we start seeing a lot of folks regaining b/c they have gotten away from the cardinal rules of postop life.  1 - protein first 2- no grazing 3 - getting vitamins in 4 - water 5 - exercise.  So I want to hear from you all.. do you want daily accountability or just weekly weigh in wednesdays or both? I really wanna hear from *EACH* of you!  Please..

Ok.. I am off to work, I will start the weekly stuff Monday if you are up for it!  Need to pick back up on Beck too!!! LONG OVERDUE!

Hugs,
Melissa

Oh yeah.. Melissa.  Been meaning to ask, when anyone is submitting for their PL tummy tuck, if someone has tried the whole argument in appeals of, "Masectomy patients are given PS for the psychological benefits of maintaining  a normal appearance, clothing fitting correctly, etc."  You can probably see where I'm going with this.  Insurances have approved this as a standard now, as part of breast cancer post surgery.  Wondered if you'd heard of anyone trying that angle yet with PS?

Clothes fit correctly, no excess skin to get in the way with movement/exercise, better self body image, better mental health.. etc.

My husband is still walking around, grinning ear to ear, because he's off the hook for our 5th wedding anniversary next weekend, because of the baby.  ROFL 

After he got over the shock, he blurted out, "So, um.. I guess this counts towards that me owing you big for this year's wedding anniversary after all the crap last year?"  I had to laugh and let him off the hook.  Because, yeah, it does.

Where you guys thinking of going?  We're planning for Ireland in 2 years, with our friends and their little girl.  Of course, I'll be toting a toddler, and with Devan (my friend Sam's wife's) luck, she'll probably be toting another infant or pregnant at the time.

It's a good thought but sounds like its still cosmetic in their eyes unless you meet certain criteria like unresolved rashes after getting prescription agents from a PCP and continued documentation of failed attempts at trying to resolve those rashes or back pain or pannus hanging lower than genitalia in some plans.  It all depends I think on how well it is documented and just how hard your PS is on your side with documentation and most are very good but still hard to get many benefits and if so its a panni removal which is a small portion of a larger procedure (esp if u are going for an LBL).  I can't see how losing 10-15 lbs of skin couldn't help me feel better but I can still run a 5k race in 30 minutes.. know what I mean?  They see it as "livable".  I say try living with it in my shoes for a few days and then make that decision lol.

So why is he "off the hook" for the anniversary?  Just because you have a baby doesn't mean you can't be showered with pampering and gifts ;)  You can tell him I said that.  Haha..

I want to go to Ireland but husband has no desire.  We have no idea, not sure we will even travel outside the US.. if we do it will be to Hawaii aboard a cruise as its the cheapest way to travel there. 

Yes, yes, Yes, YEs, yes, YEs,,,,,how many times do I need to say it? I think its a great idea...we all need it but I have to confess that I might not be able to post evey day but I sure read it every day..you might ask yourself..how come she can read and not post? well, I do it at work when my boss is not around and loggin on takes a little longer and she might cacht me at so I avoid loggin on at work..and then when I get home at nite sometimes I really do not have time to get to the computer and now even less with the rental of the apartment and the renovations and moving to the new place. WOW, that was a lot...but I vote for the daily threads and weekly weigh in again...

HAve a great one!!!

Lol, glad you are all for it.  No problem about not being able to post daily, I do understand and I will do my best to do everyday that I can but ya know life does get hectic sometimes but the winter months are always slower for me other than the holidays.  Last year was unusually busy but I think this year will be better.  Especially now that I am staying at my old job. 

Good luck with the new place :)  Keep us updated on the move happenings!

I need it bad so I am a big YES, I have tried this week to be more accountable to me and knock wood it seems to be helping.. I need to find my Beck book as I bought it but never read it.   Glas to see a post from you as I have missed you.

Aw *hugs* I miss you too Diana.  I am starting accountability Monday, so be on the look out!  My plan is to eat lower carbs and get healthier carbs back in, been letting way too many sneak back in and its driving my energy level down not to mention reactive hypoglycemia attacks :(  I don't have them when I eat right and that reminds me to take a step back and reevaluate things. 

See you Monday!!

I don't participate often...but I have to say YES to a weekly weighin or some form of accountability!

Melissa,  I also wanted to say Congrats on your decision to foster/dopt!  I did foster care (without the intent to adopt at first) for a few years.  I brought home my son when he was 10 dys old and our adoption went through when he was 19 months old.

It is a roller coaster ride of its own and GOOD LUCK!

Hi Elaine!  Good to see you posting!

Thanks, well the decision isn't totally made up with the foster/adoption but something we want to look into.  We like exploring all options so we can say we looked at all avenues before picking a route.  We haven't tried to have kids naturally either but husband has always thought adopting a child would be a wonderful thing. 

Wow, what a neat happy ending story about your son, so glad you shared that with me.  I hear it is quite the emotionally roller coaster, sorta scary but I am sure its all worth it in the end!  Thanks and also for putting your two cents in on the poll.. I am starting accountability tomorrow! Be on the look out!

Hi Melissa!  Count me in for a yes to both the daily eats/moves/etc and the weekly weigh-in.  My journalling has slipped terribly the last few months and I promised myself not to ever give it up so accountability is key. 

The rules I'm having most trouble with are grazing and water.  Very good about protein, vitamins and the exercise is built in to my job.  However....my body is really soft and squishy in the core these days so in reality I need to get back to the Pilates...Tailbone From H*ll be d*mned! 

Hope you are having a good work weekend.  I am working this weekend too and so far it is going great.  Even got to have a fun outing with another co-worker to our city's Autumn Leaf Festival and we got free compost bins.  Came home and even limbed up (read: Whacked Mercilessly!) our humongous Sequoia in the front yard.  It is dark out now and DS is outside grumbling hotly about having to do the cleanup.  I love being an Evil Mom. 

Bea makes a really great point and it is important now that we can see how many people are reading and not posting.  Not all of us have time to post but just knowing that OH and my Dec 06 family is here is so important for times when I really need to connect to you ut haven't got the time or energy to sit down and post.  Thank you everybody for being here.  I love you all!

Hugs and Sequoia Needles (they're all in my hair, ick!)
Molly