Monday Roll Call

Hello everyone

I have today off from work.  Which is really nice because I didn't get home till a little after midnight last night.  I was really nice to see Amanda.  She's doing great as always.  And she said she can totally tell I lost weight.  She said I look much narrower.  I met Amanda's future inlaws.  They are really laid back...I felt over dressed...hahaha.  I was also very good about food choices.  I did no cheating.  I had a couple of things I shouldn't but I just had a bite or two. 

Amanda and Charles and his family were all trying to convince me to move to Champaign.  I think I would too if could find a job there.  I really miss being near Amanda.  It would be nice to see her more often or have her just pop in for dinner.  I am very envious of Charles's mom because she gets to have that.  

I hope everyone enjoys their Monday.  See ya later 

Hi Crystal. Congrats on the great weekend!

I also had a fun weekend. Saw the Legends in Concert at the Blue Chip Hotel and Casino. Garth Brooks, Elvis, David Bowie and Diana Ross impersonators. I liked the Elvis and Diana Ross the best.  Weather was great for traveling and had a lot of fun with my friend.

Next month we are going back for an ABBA concert - don't think it's the real one. We'll see!

This is a full work week. Nothing special going on.....

Have a great day everyone.

Hugs,
Lucy

Good Morning Everyone!

Glad to hear you had a nice visit Crystal!  If you start visualizing yourself living in Champaign, it will come to you!

I've been thinking about putting a nutrition class together aimed at those of us that have had WLS.  Statisticly, we tend to loose lots of weight, and then gain all or most of it back.  That's because we don't really learn about proper eating and long term change.  A lot of our doctors are great at getting us through the first year or two, but then we are on our own.  As our bodies adjust, we fall back into our old systems of eating and the weight creeps back on.  I would love to run a class that teaches the way the body actually processes nutrients and how to make the process permanent.  Since I live all the way up in Cary, I would probably want a location that is more centrally located.  It would be once a week and the cost would be minimal.  We could make it either 8 or 12 weeks.  I don't think we would want to make it a weight loss competition since many of us are at different points in our surgery and weight loss would be effected.  Let me know if you are interested and if there is a location that works.  If I get enough interest and a volunteer for the location, we can put a class together!

Paul

Hello All.... Im more of a site lurker than a contributor, but congrats to all of you in the way you've perservered through the loss and the huge life changes that it requires! I'm at 11 weeks post op. Lost 55 pre-surgery and now 60-65 since surgery. PAUL...I'd be very interested in the kind of class you describe. I find that kind of thing interesting and not very available. Too often, it just gets back to the food pyramid or whatever, but doesn't really explain the facts of nutrition, how the body processes, what combines together, etc. At my stage in the WLS, I'm just now past the restrictions required for healing and starting to deal with when, what and how to eat for the future. I'm located in Geneva, but would have no problem with location. Hope there are enough to form the group. Thanks for the thought and the offer to set it up!

Gregg

Good morning Crystal and IL!

Crystal, glad you had a nice weekend.  The weather was perfect!! RE: jobs in Champaign, you can keep tabs with the online Champaign News Gazette.  I would alos think U of I and Parkland College, along with Carle Clinc would ahve on line job postings, all good places to keep track of.  It sounds like you have good acctg type experience and should be a good area to find a job.  Who knows, you might find the perfect job and decide to move before your 5 year plan.  I think the Champaign area is a really nice area and even if you moved later, you would prlby enjoy being around Amanda and Charles/family.  Good luck.

Lucy, sounds like you had a fun weekend with the legends concert.  It is amazing how much those performers sound like the originals!

Not much going on my way.  Chloe was up on Saturday and back early Sunday AM.  Had friends over Saturday and did  a little shopping yesterday. 

Everyone have a super day!

georgie

Good afternoon Crystal and the rest of Illinois!

So glad you had a great weekend and get an extra day to relax.  I'm sure you will do what is right for you, and am sure you would like to be closer to Amanda (in proximity).

I had a nice time on our anniversary, but wound up confronting some pretty awful demons by Saturday.  I am now feeling pretty gosh darn terrible about lots and lots of things.  I am guessing that I will need professional help to sort it out.  It seems that I have let many small stressors and some very big stressors get buried WAY too long and now it is all imploding at once.

This is why a good WLS program will have good counselors/psychiatrists available.  I will be looking into it soon, but my insurance is set to change within 2 weeks, so I might have to wait.  Funny thing is, when I have called for help in the past, it seems like no matter how terrible I am feeling, the "process" takes weeks to get an appointment in any case.

So.....send me your good thoughts, healing energy, mojo and prayers for those who pray.  I will be OK.....I always am in the end.  It is just very rough right now.

I DID walk at lunch and used the treadmill at the hotel along with swimming.  Exercise is also helpful when relieveing stress, so you all need to keep at it.  It really DOES help.

Love and hugs to you all!

Hi Everyone,

We had a great Sunday afternoon. We went to water our dedication tree, and ended up hiking a couple of trails there in the park. The weather was perfect, and a lot of other people were doing the same. The energy was great.

Today was back to work, like everyone else. It was a very easy day. We will pay for it it tomorrow, I know, plus I already know I  have a home visit to do after work. So tomorrow will be a late day.

Planning on pulled pork for dinner tonight, plus some slaw. The meat is leftover from Saturday night.

Crystal, I am glad you had such a good time with Amanda, Champlain is a good place to live. My Monica lived there for a couple of years.

Dawn, I am glad you had a good weekend. We all have demons, the trick is to keep them in thier place.

Have a great evening,
Huggers,
LISA

 Hello Everyone!

Well, Monday is over and now only 4 days left of this week!  Not a bad day so that is good.  Plus, I am off Thursday as I have another neck injection scheduled with the Pain Clinic and decided to come home after this one.  

Crystal, glad you had a good visit with Amanda.  As someone who grew up in Urbana-Champaign, it is a nice place to live.  I did not always think so living there but looking back, it is the ideal sized town.  Just lots of issues with high school -- not the best experience for me.  Now I would love to live there! 

Dawn, hang in there!  I too have my demons and have been trying for the last year to find help.  My problem is no one around here deals with my issues.    So I am trying to cope with the bandaid approach.  

Paul, I would love to attend a group.  For me, the biggest drawback is distance.  Most of the suburbs are 1 1/2 hours away.  DeKalb and Rockford and Joliet are only an hour for me.  

Hope everyone has a great evening!  

Hi Everyone!

I have been lap banded since April 28, 2009.  I am having a lot of trouble with desiring sweets.  For about three years I did not keep them in my house and I did not eat them, now since last Christmas all I want to do is eat sweet junk.  Right now I am refusing to go out into the kitvhen to do the dishes because I might eat something.  I am back into watching portions and caloric intake.  If I can just get through az week or two, I think that I can once again loose.

I can always come in here for a good read.

 Hi KaRa

One thing that really helps me when I get those cravings are sugar free popcicles.  They seem to satisfy that urge.  Low in calories and do the trick for me.  They keep me out of LOTS of trouble.  I should invest in the company.