Paging ROB!!!

YO YO YO ROB!!! Still around? ... lurking I hope? Sure hope everything is alright?!?!?! Hugs, Tammy aka Rob's concerned buddette

Missed you Friday night Rob. Going to any of the support meetings tommorrow night? You probably needs a rest from the boards. I'm gonna try to get to PMRI's meeting. Maybe I'll see some of you there. Elissa

Hey Tammy, Yeah I'm just lurking around. Life is good, especially when you remember the other life I left behind a year ago. By the way, congratulation on your one year anniversary. I still remember meeting you and CJ when you were both rookies. Now one year later and look at you, babe. I got ultra busy on Friday and had to go up to Albright College. My son wanted me to meet his girlfriend, so I ended up taking them to dinner. They laughed out loud watching me work the waitress for a small plate of salmon and veggies. I spent this morning walking at the JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes) 5 miler at Rockford Park and the rest of the afternoon raking up leaves in the yard. Can't wait till I get back to work so I can take it easy. Look's like all of you had a great time with Brett. I saw him on Monday so at least I got say goodbye. I'm in if someone is going to plan a gathering. I love getting together with soul mates. Actually prefer that to the meetings (topics are really getting repetitive). I am probably going to go to PMRI Monday night to find out if anyone else is considering going down to Washington on Saturday. There is also a WLS-NDE meeting at the same time. I need to find some long termers to talk about food tolerance and guilt sometime soon. Hope you can make it, but if not let me know if you are going to D.C. Always your bud, Rob

Hey Rob, So good to hear all is well. Totally understand about the need to get together and go over some of the later issues. We are planning something for the middle of November, how does that sound to you? About the meeting tonight, I am not going to be there, although this particular meeting I would really like to make (it is on plastics, and since it is looking like I will definitely need to get this hernia and stomach muscles repaired - sooner than later- I really wanted to go and pick this guys brain a *****owever, it is my anniversary but even more importantly than that, the baby is really, really sick. I am far too worried about him to leave him with anyone, to go out and celebrate or go to the meeting. He is constantly on my lap these past couple of days. I am pretty concerned about dehydration, he is having quite a bit of trouble keeping anything in him. I am hoping things are on the upswing, the last time he was late last night ... then he fell asleep and was able to sleep pretty well through out the night. Time will tell, as he is up now and starting to drink again. Any rate, you can put me on the list heading down to DC. Doing everything I can to make it, hope I can pull it off. Are you driving? If so, can I catch a ride with you if I can make it? I should know within the next couple of days if I can do it for certain. Trying to juggle something out of my schedule and it is looking like it is going to work. You working the waitress? That made me chuckle out loud also. I can picture it in my mind!!! Last time I went out, I just got the plate of Chicken Nachos (not the best choice, but oh were they goooood). Took the extras home and the family devoured them. You went on another walk. Then you come home and work in the yard all day!!! Wow Rob, you continue to amaze me. Great job! Isn't it wonderful at the many, many changes - how much more energy we have these days? To be able to have the energy and stamina to do what we want and need to do is one of my biggest blessings. I finally got my gym membership, and am LOVING it. Although I think the personal trainer is out to kill me! Okay, okay so it is not THAT bad, but ya gotta remember that my exercise up to this point has been at home with me as my very own personal coach, and I am getting the feeling that I have been soft on myself. anyway, check this out ... this is what I have done the last couple of visits. (I have not been to the gym in two days though with the baby being so sick - hope to get back on schedule tomorrow) Don't laugh, I know I am a real weakling ... but everyone has to start somewhere right? This is my beginner set: Recumbent? Bike 10 minutes 82 Watt Strength Training: Leg Press 2 sets of 12 40lb x 60 sec Upper Back Pull 2 sets of 12 35lb x 60 sec Chest Press 2 sets of 12 30lb x 60 sec Leg Extensions 2 sets of 12 35lb x 60 sec Leg Curl flexions 2 sets of 12 35lbs x 60 sec Shoulder Press 2 sets of 12 20lbs x 60 sec Vertical Traction - Pull 2 sets of 12 55lbs x 60 sec Lower Back Extensions 2 sets of 12 35lb X 60 sec Tricep press 2 sets of 12 30lb x 60 sec Abdominal Crunch - flexions 2 sets of 12 30lb 60 seconds Free Weights alternate arm curl 2 sets of 10 10lb x 60 sec Running - 15 minutes 4 mph (yes you read that right - isn't that simply the funniest thing? My body can and is moving) Cool down - Walk the track 1 mile/10 minutes Swimming 30 minutes Sure am hoping that this will help me get the last of this weigh off so I can head on out for the final piece of the puzzle (hernia repair). Yeah, we all had a great time at Brett's party ... But we all missed you. It was good to be with everyone in a social setting. It is amazing watching the transformations occurring, at first it was the physical, and it still is to some degree, but even more than that, it is the personalities coming alive. I love watching the changes as people come out of hiding and let their real selves be known. Loved the smiles ... so so many honest to goodness smiles - glowing faces. Beautiful expressions ... beautiful people! Love it!!! Well, guess I had better get going ... the baby just told me he is hungry (good sign?) And since I have already written a novelette ... time for me to head out and start my day!!! Take good care of yourself! Hugs, Tammy aka your relieved budette

Tammy, Great cardio and strength training regimen. You'll be amazed how you'll increase your weights for certain areas, and some are just real stubborn and painful all the time. I'm trying to get back into swimming but not very successfully. Tempted to start rollerblading on the weekends. Just got back from the PMRI meeting tonight, the plastic surgeon was about 40 minutes late for the meeting, so I didn't stay. I headed over to the WLS-NDE meeting in Newport. They are a really energetic group of people who love to talk about the pitfalls and successes that they are having even though some are two to three years out. I would still love to go down to DC on Saturday. Need to check out the agenda, but I would like to spend the day, and head back no later than 6pm to make sure I don't get in too much trouble at home. I'm willing to drive. I can fit 4 (tight 5) in the Honda CRV. Still waiting to hear whether anyone else is interested in going down. Rob

Rob, Thanks for the encouragement and not falling to the floor laughing when you read my routine. I wanted to post it to be accountable, even if it is a bit embarrassing!!! I am trying to hang with it and hopefully will be increasing soon. Already am doing longer on the bike - 10 minutes did not seem like enough to me. Once I start peddling, I didn't want to stop. Yeah, I can see a huge difference in the strength of some muscles compared to others. Good news is, those pecs are starting peek out pretty good about now!!! If I could only work those abs better, but they won't let me pu**** any further with the hernia and separated muscles. I will know by this afternoon whether I can make it to DC - I will let you know as soon as I know anything! We defiantly want to get you home in time to keep everyone happy at the Rob household!!! Take care, Tammy

Hey Rob, Just wanted to let you know that while I was able to clear my schedule for the DC trip, I am not feeling quite up to par this evening. It could be just from the pure exhaustion of the past few days/nights combined with tonights work-out, HOWEVER I am concerned that I may be picking up what my son is getting over. So I guess I had better not try to go. Don't want to chance infecting anyone else with this ... it was pretty hard on the baby. And my 20 yr old ended up missing work today, with the same symptoms ... SOOOOOOOO I feel awful, I REALLY want to go ... but simply do not want to take the chance of sharing this with you all. Perhaps next year I can make it and we can all do an overnight thing and bribe our spouses to come along and take advantage of the dancing and night life also??? At any rate, I REALLY want to thank you Rob, for holding a seat for me. I truly appreciate it!!! If you (and/or our group) are still going, I sure hope you have tons of fun and get tons of great information to share when you get back. Hugs, Tammy aka Gonna start popping some extra vitamins and try to get some rest, Tammy