Getting to know you better

Hey Judy,

Thanks for chiming in... I would never have thought of you as being guarded because you are always so warm and giving... I truly appreciate that and the support you give, especially now that I know that you are naturally guarded or cautious. 

I haven't tried the yogurt and SF vanilla pudding thing yet... What are the ratios? 

I know I drink more than the 64 ounces, but like you I make a lot of decaf SF sweet tea as my drink of choice most of the time. 

Like you I can still eat a bunch more than I'm comfortable with, but I'm also maintaining my weight, so it must not be too much. I also know that I have to really watch it so that I don't go overboard on the carbs, because like you I can eat just about anything ... with the minor exception of walnuts. 

I know I love to SHOP, SHOP, SHOP... I just need a wallet with some $$$ in it ;-)

Hugs,

What is your favorite WLS friendly snack?
I love Click also.  I drink it hot and cold.  I have mixed it with other protein powders, PB2, soy milk.  I also love greek yogurt with sf syrup (gingerbread is my favorite) topped with pumpkin flax granola for crunch.
Last movie you saw in a movie theater?
I only go to movies with the girls at the office on "girls night off".  I'm not a movie or tv person.  I love to read.  But I believe the last one I saw was that vampire/love story, I don't remember the name.
Do you have a BFF?
I too have many friends, but I would have to say my friend Sandy and my husband are my two best friends.  I feel unconditional love from both.
What is your favorite time of day?
I enjoy the short time in the morning I have between the time my husband leaves for work and I need to start getting ready for work.  I usually reflect, pray and check out the OH site.
What is your favorite way to relax?
I love a good massage when I can afford to get one.  I also love to read a good book while enjoying a cup of tea or coffee.
How much H20 do you drink a day?
This is something I am actively working on.  AnnieP suggested a 32 oz sippie cup to get in my minimum of 64 oz and this has been working out really well.
What is your biggest struggle?
Making the time to exercise.  I really need to work on this.
List your 3 best WOW moments?
I love crossing my legs.  I couldn't even cross my ankles preop!
Not needing the extender for my seat belt when flying and actually have extra room.
In July 2008 when I flew into Boston, my 28 yr nephew met me at the airport.  He walked by me 3 times as I came down the escalator before I stopped him to ask if I could get a hug.  He said he did not realize I was his Aunt Carrie!
Do you like being in pictures?
No, I still do not like being in pictures.
What can you do now that you couldn’t do before WLS?
Sit in any chair without trying to find one without arms or worrying I may break it.
Walk, walk, walk.
Shop in "normal" clothing stores.
Wear shoes that are not wides or WW
Wear heels without my foot looking like a stuffed sausage.
There are so many to list that most people just take for granted in their daily lives.

I now live life and enjoy alot more.  I am told that I laugh alot more and don't seem to be as serious as I was preop.

Thanks Barbara, this has really helped me get to know everyone else but it also helped me to see myself and how far I have become.

Hey Carrie,

I think that you are right about these threads not only helping us to get to know one another, but to reflect on where we have been and where we are going... 

I think that you are right about the fact that there are sooo many changes and that many are things that the 'normal' sized world just takes for granted. 

Thanks so much for your participation and for your daily 'Checking in' thread.

Wishing you all the best this holiday season and in to the new year. 

Hugs,

Great idea Barb!  I certainly have not been on the board as much over the past few months.  I have spent most of my time on the Plastic Surgery board  as I prepared for my lower body lift.  It is a pretty active board too but the participants are from all over the country so the intimacy is not like what we have on the NC Board. 

So here are my answers:

What is your favorite WLS friendly snack?  Individually wrapped low fat cheese
Last movie you saw in a movie theater?  Backside,  It was fabulous!
Do you have a BFF?   Yes, my hubby!

What is your favorite time of day?  I'm a morning person, I love to sit and drink a cup of coffee and read the paper in peace and quiet.

What is your favorite way to relax?   Watching TV with hubby in the evenings.  We tape and Young and Restless and Ellen and watch them after dinner.

How much H20 do you drink a day?  Not nearly as much as I should.  I do drink a lot of hot tea!

What is your biggest struggle?  At 2 years out, it's trying to eat enough protein, still!

List your 3 best WOW moments?  #1 (tie) When I could stop taking all my Rx meds and when I could cross my legs, #2 the day I tried on a size 10 red suit and it fit beautifully, and # 3 when I tried on a size 6 pants (post LBL) and they fit!  I didn't buy them but just had to try to see if they fit.

Do you like being in pictures?  I do now, before RNY, I was always behind the camera!   I still set up the camera and use the self timer to take pics of myself in different outfits to see how they look.  The mirror lies to us,  A photo does not!  I'll post a new photo, post LBL on my profile if anyone wants to see the new Alice.

What can you do now that you couldn’t do before WLS?  Fit comfortably in an airplane seat and not need a seat belt extender.  I can do 30 minutes on am eliptical machine and hardly be winded.  I can see my toes without having to bend way over.  I can paint my toenails and still be able to breathe!  Best of all is that I can walk into a room of people and not feel like they are staring and judging me for being morbidly obese!

Merry Christmas and Happy 2010 to all!

Alice

Hi Alice,

It's wonderful to hear from you again and I'll check out your profile to see the new you. I know that our focus changes as we move through our journeys and I truly appreciate your coming back to touch base. 

I love those little individually wrapped cheeses... They are wonderfully decadent and the come in pre measured little packages that help keep the quantity down because I have to think about it as I open each one. 

Like you, I was beyond delighted when I was able to wear a size 10. If I never got any smaller, I knew I had 'arrived' when I got there because I could do whatever I wanted, I felt good and looked 'normal.' I also agree that getting down to a 6 was fabulous and not something that I had originally even thought of... Congratulations!!!

I hope to see more and less of you in the new year. 

Hugs,

What is your favorite WLS friendly snack? low fat cheddar
Last movie you saw in a movie theater? it has been years since I have been to a theater, I did watch Sweet Home Alabama on cable last week end
Do you have a BFF? yes, my BBF Tonya, she has been my "rock" of support over the past few months
What is your favorite time of day? early morning, when it is just me and the cat awake
What is your favorite way to relax? curl up with the latest Nora Roberts novel
How much H20 do you drink a day? some days only a little straight H2O (since surgery plain water tastes like pond water), with a lot of caffeine free/sugar free tea, Kool-aid or Crystal Light; I do manage 60+ ounces of liquid
What is your biggest struggle? daily exercise
List your 3 best WOW moments? 1. being able to wash and dry my feet without pulling a muscle 2. moving the car seat closer to the steering wheel 3. using "NO" Novolog insulin
Do you like being in pictures? never have, probably never will, I would rather be behind the camera What can you do now that you couldn’t do before? bending over to pick something up out of the floor without fear of passing out

Hi D...

It's good to meet you and I look forward to getting to know you better as we continue our respective journeys.

When I was losing weight I used to use Crystal Lite or SF KoolAid constantly and it really helped me get the fluids in... Thanks for the reminder.

Thanks so much for participating... 

 

Hey Barb,

Thanks for posting this.  

What is your favorite WLS friendly snack?  Chef Jay's Lite Bite Oatmeal cookies -- 78 calories, 7 grams protein.

Last movie you saw in a movie theater?  "Partly Cloudy with a chance of Meatballs".   This was my daughter's favorite book growing up and she wanted to see the movie.   Going to see "A Christmas Carol" this afternoon.

Do you have a BFF?  Absolutely -- my loving wife.

What is your favorite time of day?  Late night after everyone else is asleep.   I'm a night owl.

What is your favorite way to relax?  "Puttering" around the house.   After I finish that, reading a good "techno thriller" book.  Used to get most of my reading done on planes, but my travel has cut WAY back this year, so I've got a big backlog.

How much H20 do you drink a day?   Minimum of 64 oz but usually 72-80 oz

What is your biggest struggle?  Trying to stabilize my weight now.  Past goal and don't really want to lose much more. 

List your 3 best WOW moments?  1)  Putting up the Christmas lights this year without having to worry what the weight rating on the ladder was.    2)  Sprinting across the parking lot to stop a runaway grocery cart from hitting a parked car and not feeling any negative effects afterwards  3)  Having my own sister not recognize me for a split second when she saw me at 7 months out.  4)  Playing basketball with my daughter and *she* was the one ready to stop instead of me being the one who was ready to stop because I was winded and about ready to pass out.

Do you like being in pictures?  No -- I'm always the one behind the camera.   Really had to search for a "Before" picture.    Hasn't changed much after surgery.   Need to get a new family portrait done and I've been told multiple times that I need a new picture for the online directory at work.   Just never get around to it.
What can you do now that you couldn’t do before WLS?  1)  cross my legs without having to think about it  2)  tie my shoes without getting "red-faced"  3) Run -- I'm now running 2 miles 5 times a week

Merry Christmas to all!!

Syd

Hi Syd,

I'd love to know where you get your Lite Bite Oatmeal cookies ... I love oatmeal cookies! 

I also love your list of Wow's... I know Ben had a similar ladder wow when he had to go up on our roof and was worried that we didn't have a ladder rated for him... Of course we do and this year I'm making him go up into the attic to put the holiday decorations away. I've always had to do it because he didn't think that the attic stairs could/would hold him. 

Have a wonderful holiday and don't worry too much about your weight. It may go down a bit more or hang where it is, but it eventually, it will likely bounceback to a place where you are comfortable with it. It took a few months for this to happen for me, but it did and I'm sure it will for you as well. Being too thin is not a problem I ever thought I'd have... and now I don't. I feel like I've found that sweet spot and my weight is just about where I'd like it to be. 

 

Hi Barb,

I get them from Netrition.

http://www4.netrition.com/chef_jays_trioplex_lite_bites.html

As a matter of fact, I'm eating one right now.   :)

Thanks for the encouragement regarding stabilizing my weight loss.   This was not a problem I thought I would have, either.    I envisioned myself as one of those folks who struggled to get off the last 20 pounds or so.