HELLO & WOW MOMENTS & "ONE"DERLAND!!!!!!!!!!!!

THANKS EVERYONE WHO POSTED, E-MAILED OR CALLED ME; Y'ALL ARE THE BEST!! JUST BEEN THROUGH SOME REALLY STRESSFUL TIMES ESPECIALLY WITH MY PARENTS' ISSUES, SO HAVE HAD TO BACK IT DOWN A BIT TO RECHARGE MY BATTERIES. I GOT SO TIRED OF HEARING MYSELF REPEATEDLY SAY HOW EXHAUSTED I WAS THAT I FINALLY DECIDED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT ... HAVE BEEN ACTUALLY GETTING ABOUT 8 HOURS SLEEP & TOOK SOME TIME TO RELAX & VEG OUT & I'M NOW FEELING SOOOOOO MUCH BETTER. NICK'S BEEN SHOWING THE STRAIN AS WELL ... REALLY, REALLY TIRED SO ... CONSIDERING THAT WE GO, GO, GO FROM ABOUT 4:45am TILL WHO KNOWS WHEN & ONLY GET ABOUT 5 (MAYBE 6) HOURS SLEEP A NIGHT, IT WAS TIME TO CHANGE COURSE A BIT ... I'VE REALLY BEEN ENCOURAGING HIM TO SLOW DOWN A BIT AS WELL ... JUST A FEW NAPS HERE & THERE TO GIVE HIM A BOOST ... A LITTLE SLOWER PACE ... &, HE SEEMS TO BE RECHARGING AS WELL. SOMETIMES WE ALLLLL GET ROPED INTO THIS IDEA THAT WE MUST KEEP UP THIS HORRENDOUS PACE OF LIFE ... RUSH, RUSH, RUSH ... NEVER STOP ... SO MUCH TO DO ... & WE JUST FLAT BURN OUT ... NOT TO MENTION THAT WE MISS SO MUCH OF THE BEAUTY & ENJOYMENT OF LIFE DASHING FROM PLACE TO PLACE IN A BLUR. SOMETIMES, WE REALLY NEED TO STOP & REPRIORITIZE ... TAKE A BREAK ... RECHARGE & THEN GET BACK INTO LIFE USING A LITTLE MORE COMMON SENSE ON OUR SCHEDULES. I'VE FOUND THAT "LESS" IS ACTUALLY "MORE" SO MANY TIMES. WE ADOPTED A DOG/PUPPY FROM THE SPCA. NICK'S WANTED ONE EVER SINCE WE HAD TO GIVE LITTLE BIT TO MY FOLKS WHEN WE WERE DRIVING CROSS COUNTRY SEVERAL YEARS AGO. "NATASHA" APPEARS TO BE A JACK RUSSEL/GERMAN SHEPARD MIX WITH THE "PUPPY" ENERGY OF A JR & THE COLORING O**** SHE'S A SWEETHEART. WHEN YOU ADOPT FROM THE SPCA NOW, THEY FIX EVERY ANIMAL & PUT A CHIP IN THEIR NECK, PLUS YOUR FIRST VET VISIT, DHPP & RABIES SHOTS ARE INCLUDED IN THE COST OF THE ADOPTION. SHE HAD KENNEL COUGH (DOGGIE COLD) SO WE DID HAVE TO PUT HER ON ANTIBIOTICS BEFORE WE COULD DO THE SHOTS. WHEN WE GOT HER HOME, WE FOUND SOME OF HER REACTIONS TO NICK INDICATED THAT SHE HAD BEEN ABUSED SO WE TOOK HER TO THE VET & SURE ENOUGH, SHE SAID THESE WERE TYPICAL OF AN ABUSED DOG. BUT, NICK HAS WON HER OVER ALTHOUGH SHE IS MORE CAUTIOUS WITH HIM THAN WITH ME. HE'S DEFINITELY THE "ALPHA DOG" IN THIS PACK. SHE WAS ALREADY CRATE & LEASH TRAINED SO WE ARE NOW TRAINING HER WITH HAND SIGNALS & SHE'S RESPONDING WELL. WE WATCH CESAR MILAN, "THE DOG WHISPERER" ON THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CHANNEL ALL THE TIME & ARE USING HIS TECHNIQUES WHICH ARE WORKING FABULOUSLY. NOW, IF WE COULD FIND A WAY TO STOP THE SHEDDING, I'D BE THRILLED! A FEW DAYS AFTER WE GOT HER, SHE BROKE HER COLLAR & TOOK OFF. I'M BAWLING & NICKY COMES HOME EARLY & HUNTS THE NEIGHBORHOOD & FINDS HER BUT IN THE MEANTIME, I CALLED THE VET, DOG CATCHER & 2 COUNTY SPCAs. BECAUSE SHE HAD A MICROCHIP PLACED IN HER NECK, THEY SAID HER CHANCES OF BEING RETURNED WERE VERY, VERY GOOD IF WE HADN'T FOUND HER. THEY ARE VERY INEXPENSIVE SO DOG LOVERS ... NEXT TIME YOU GO TO THE VET, GET ONE OF THESE PLACED IN YOUR DOG ... WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO HAVE THE 2 DOGS MEET YET DUE TO NATASHA'S KENNEL COUGH, BUT WE'RE HOPING FOR THIS WEEKEND. THEY ARE BOTH VERY SUBMISSIVE LADIES, SO WE HOPE THAT THEIR MEETING WILL BE A SUCCESS. LITTLE BIT IS GOING IN FOR SURGERY 6/6 FOR A 2nd JOINT SURGERY TO RELIEVE PAIN & ALLOW HER FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT AGAIN. POOR THING IS REALLY IN PAIN. AS FOR MY WLS JOURNEY ... I REALLY HAVEN'T HAD MUCH OF AN APPETITE LATELY ... POWER CRUNCH PROTEIN BARS, CRYSTAL LIGHT PEACH TEA, SF POPCICLES & CRAB LEGS (FROM GOLDEN CHOPSTICKS ON DORCHESTER) HAS BEEN MY TASTE LATELY. I'VE BEEN DUMPING REALLY BAD ON ANY PASTA OR RICE DISH SO NOT DOING THAT FOR A LONG WHILE. I DIDN'T GET TO SEE DR BYRNE FOR MY 6 MONTH CHECK UP/BLOOD WORK AS MY REFERRAL GOT MESSED UP, WHICH I'M STILL TRYING TO GET CORRECTED. WEEKS 1-12 WERE GREAT WEIGHT LOSS-WISE. WEEKS 13-26 WERE SO FRUSTRATING THAT I DIDN'T KNOW WHICH WAY TO TURN OR WHAT TO DO, BUT IT SEEMS THAT ALL IT WAS, WAS MY BODY READJUSTING (AN AVERAGE OF 1 # A WEEK LOSS FOR 14 WEEKS). NOW, WEEKS 27-29 HAVE BEEN BETTER LOSING 5 #s, 1.60 #s & 3 #s FOR A TOTAL OF 80.20 #s LOST IN 203 DAYS (THE FIRST 50 #s WERE LOST IN JUST 69 DAYS). WHEN I MET NICK IN EARLY 2000, I WEIGHED 202. WELL, LAST SUNDAY, I HIT 201.20, MY LOWEST WEIGHT IN OVER 6 YEARS!!!!!!!!!!!! &, TODAY, I ENTERED "ONE"DERLAND & NOW WEIGH 199.60!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ONEDERLAND = 199.60 I'M DOIN' THE "HAPPY DANCE" I'M CHASIN' NICK DOWN ... I'M ONLY LIKE 1.20 #s HEAVIER THAN HE IS RIGHT NOW ... I'VE NEVER BEEN LIGHTER THAN HE IS IN OUR ENTIRE 6+ YEARS TOGETHER SO WE HAVE REALLY BEEN HAVING FUN WITH THIS. HE KEEPS TRYING TO LOSE MORE WEIGHT & I KEEP CHASING HIM!! WHEN I PASS HIM, I'M GONNA GET A PIC OF ME IN HIS PANTS!!!!!!!!! SO, I'M OUT OF THE "200s" F-O-R-E-V-E-R!!!!!!!!!!!! MY NEXT BIG GOAL IS TO BE 171, WHICH IS THE LIGHTEST I HAVE BEEN IN 10 YEARS SO 171, HERE I COMEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!! OH YEAH, MY BMI HAS DECREASED 14.7 POINTS FROM 51.2 = SUPER MORBIDLY OBESE, DOWN TO EXTREMELY OBESE & NOW INTO "JUST" OBESE ABOUT HALF WAY TO "JUST" OVERWEIGHT ... WOWOWOWOWOWOWOW!!!!!!!!!! I'LL REALLY TRY TO UPDATE MY PROFILE. I HAVE WEIGHT COMPARISON PICS & NICK'S BEST FRIEND (NATASHA) PICS AS WELL. GOD BLESS Y'ALL ... DAWN & NICK SW = 279.80 CW = 199.60 LOST = 80.20 DR BYRNE'S GOAL = 140 = 59.60 #s TO GO MY GOAL = 125 = 74.60 #s TO GO WELL, ON THAT NOTE, I'M GONNA TAKE NATASHA FOR A WALK & GET A LITTLE SUN & EXERCISE!

HEY Dawn!! So glad to hear you and Nick are finding some down time. They don't make enough of that stuff anymore. Congratulations on getting to ONEderLand!! That is Remarkable! You're fast on your way to meeting your GOALS!! 171 lbs WaTch OUT!! How awesome, you and Nick adopted a new puppy!! I really hope she gets well soon, so she can meet her new roomie! I think I will mention the competition you and Nick have going on to my sweet husband. He is really excited about my upcoming surgery, he too, sees it as a opportunity for him to get Super Healthy also. By the way I finally got a date and approval May 30th, the day before my 25th birthday, (talk about a new birthday)!! I really pray things will settle down for you, it's always nice to see your smiling face and sweet words on the message board!!! Keep us updated!! Hugs nora

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, MS NORA!!!!!! I WAS BEGINNING TO WONDER IF I'D EVER WALK THROUGH THAT DOOR TO "ONE"DERLAND, BUT I'M HERE 2 DAYS IN A ROW NOW SO I'M NOT LOOKIN' BACK! WELL, THIS MORNING I WASN'T SO HAPPY THAT WE ADOPTED LITTLE MS "CHEW EVERYTHING" ... SHE JUST CHEWED UP MY CANDIES (HIGH-HEELED SLIDES) ... THAT, AFTER ALREADY CHEWING UP 2 SETS OF MY SANDLES INCLUDING MY FAVORITE ONES WITH THE PINK BUTTERFLIES THAT ALL MY LCBBuddies LOVE. THE LITTLE FART ACTUALLY WENT INTO MY CLOSET TODAY & PULLED OUT MY SHOE & HAPPILY DESTROYED IT! SHE'S PEACEFULLY SLEEPING AT MY (SHOELESS) FEET RIGHT NOW. YEAH, NICK IS EATING BETTER SINCE MY SURGERY (NICE BENEFIT!) ... HE'S FINALLY LIMITING THE WHITE CARBS WHICH HELPS WITH THE DIABETES ISSUES ... &, HE'S DRINKING PROTEIN SHAKES, EATING PROTEIN BARS & PUDDING & SF DESSERTS INSTEAD OF SUGARY ONES. HE'S JUST STARTED LIMITING HIS SODA INTAKE & NOW DRINKS CRYSTAL LITE, WHICH HAS REALLY HELPED HIS GASTRIC ISSUES. WE'VE NOTICED HIS MORNING SUGAR LEVELS WHICH ARE HIS WORST, HAVE NOW BEEN 10-20 POINTS LOWER LATELY. YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! OH MY GOSH ... ONLY 10 DAYS AWAY, MS NORA!!!!!!!!!! THAT IS JUST TOO A BIRTHDAY PRESENT!!!!!!!!!! GOOD FOR YOU!!!!!! GOD BLESS YOU ON YOUR WLS JOURNEY, MS NORA DAWN & NICK

A dog who chews shoes .....I don't know!! Congrats on reaching onederland!!!! I am so excited for you! I am 2 lbs. away from the wonderous day myself and I can't wait!!!! I am working on SLOWING my schedule down so I can "see" for myself all of the wonderful changes that everybody has made!!! Congrats again!! Towana

WELL, AFTER WATCHING CESAR MILAN'S "THE DOG WHISPERER" ON THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CHANNEL, IT SEEMS MY LITTLE SHOE-CHEWING FURRY-FACED KID IS BORED & IT'S MYYYYYY FAULT. OH MY GOSH! BAD MOMMY! THE SPCA THOUGHT SHE WAS ABOUT 2 YEARS OLD BUT FROM HER ANTICS & ENERGY, I THINK SHE'S STILL SOMEWHAT IN THE OLDER PUPPY STAGE ... MAYBE A YEAR OR SO. SHE'S JUST FULL OF ENERGY & WANTS TO GO, GO, GO ... SO, I NEED TO TAKE HER ON A WALK DAILY. WHEN I DO THAT OR TAKE HER FOR A RIDE WITH ME WHEN I GO ON ERRANDS, SHE'S GREAT (SHE LOVES GOING TO PICK NICK UP FROM WORK - GIVES HIM KISSES ON HIS NECK) ... BUT, WHEN WE STAY IN THE HOUSE & ON THE SHORT LEASH IN THE BACK YARD ALL DAY, SHE'S JUST FLAT B-O-R-E-D ... SO, MOMMY GETS EXERCISE AS DOES MISS NATASHA & WHA-LAH ... BETTER MANNERED TASHA & NO SHOE FETISH! I'M SO GLAD YOU ARE SLOWING DOWN JUST A TAD BIT & TAKING TIME TO REVEL IN YOUR SUCCESSES! MS TONYA HAD A GREAT COMPARISON ... WE USED TO OVERLOAD OUR PLATES & NOW A LOT OF US ARE FINDING THAT WE ARE OVERLOADING OUR SCHEDULES (I'VE DONE THAT FOREVER BUT AM REALLY FEELING THE STRESS FROM IT NOW) ... HMMMMMM ... PRETTY INSIGHTFUL COMPARISON! BALANCE ... WE NEED TO FIND BALANCE ... I'M REALLY WORKING ON THE TIME MANAGEMENT THING ... TRYING TO BALANCE RESPONSIBILITIES, ENJOYMENT & REST. GOOD TO SEE YOU'RE BEGINNING TO DO THE SAME!!!!! IT WAS WONDERFUL SEEING YOU LAST THURSDAY AT LCBBuddies; WE SURE HOPE YOU'LL BE ABLE TO JOIN US MORE OFTEN NOW. GOD BLESS YOU DAWN & NICK

Congratulations Dawn!!! WONDERFUL ONEDERLAND! I'm happy for you! I went for my 4mo check up the third of this month and my labs were great..surprisingly. I just haven't been feeling very well lately.. My B-12 was >2000 but the doctor didn't seem concerned. My hemoglobin was over .o2 which he said is nothing to worry about. But glad I got checked out because I've been worried about myself. I'm still not over how I'm looking these days..so sad looking and like a very old lady. I'm down to 175 now from 248 since Dec 30th..the loss has slowed down a lot so maybe my skin wil start to firm up some..HOPE. that waddle under my chin is driveing me crazy..I hate to look at myself..as selfish as it sounds..I'm not ungreatful to have been able to have this surgery and have my health back. I'm just scared of myself and I think my husband is scared of me too..it's creepy the way I feel and look..I got a new hair cut and had some blonde hightlights put in, bought some new clothes and I'm about to leave for a cruise on sunday..why am I so down on "me"? I still feel like crap! I'm going to ask the doctor if I'm depressed. I'm just not happy. Enough about that..I really didn't mean to go there. On another note: Sounds like you are enjoying your new pet. Terriers are very smart and are a lot of fun..full of energy for sure! Protective too. I love them so much..I don't think they know they are dogs. Well, ours don't know they are dogs..they are like children.. Well, I'm happy you have started to pace yourself and not spreading yourself so thin. (pun-pun)LOL at least getting enough sleep...It's real good to hear you are feeling well these days!! Be sure and get your check up, and soon! Hugs, Jan

THANK YOU, MS JAN! &, WHAT WONDERFUL NEWS THAT YOUR LABS ARE GOOD! IT'S FAIRLY NORMAL NOT TO FEEL WELL, NOT TO FEEL LIKE YOURSELF, TO BE EMOTIONAL OR DEPRESSED ... THE 1st 6 MONTHS, IN PARTICULAR, ARE SO HARD ON YOUR BODY ... SO MANY CHANGES ALMOST ON A DAILY BASIS & TONS OF HORMONES BEING RELEASED IN LARGE AMOUNTS DUE TO THE RAPID/HUGE WEIGHT LOSS. IT HAS TAKEN ME 6-7 MONTHS TO EVEN BEGIN TO FEEL "GOOD" & EVEN NOW, I STILL TIRE VERY EASILY. ALSO, THE MAJOR CHANGES IN EATING, MEDS & SUPPLEMENTS & YOUR BODY READJUSTING TO A NEW DIGESTIVE SYSTEM ... IT'S A WONDER WE DON'T HAVE MORE ISSUES & PROBLEMS FROM ALL THAT WAS DONE TO US. SO, ALTHOUGH IT WON'T MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER, KNOW THAT MOST OF US GO THROUGH EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE GOING THROUGH NOW. I WENT THROUGH ABOUT A MONTH - MONTH & A HALF OF THE DREADED "EMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTER" ... ONE MINUTE I'D BE FINE, THE NEXT CRYING & THE NEXT I WAS RAILING LIKE THE WICKED WITCH OF THE EAST. I WAS READY TO GET ON ANTIDEPRESSANTS WHEN THE WHOLE MOOD LIFTED & I'VE BEEN FINE SINCE THEN, BUT IT WAS AWFUL GOING THROUGH IT. &, BEING 4 MONTHS OUT, I BET THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE EXPERIENCING. I HAVE AN ARTICLE POSTED ON MY PROFILE ABOUT IT IF YOU'D LIKE TO READ IT. IF YOUR MOOD DOESN'T LIFT IN 4-6 WEEKS, THEN I'D ASK YOUR DOC ABOUT ANTIDEPRESSANTS FOR THE SHORT-TERM. AS FOR HOW YOU LOOK ... WELL, PART OF THAT IS YOUR OWN PERCEPTION & PART IS FROM THE MASSIVE WEIGHT LOSS. THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES IN MY WLS JOURNEY, WHEN I LOOKED FABULOUS BUT JUST LATELY, MY POOR FACE LOOKS LIKE I'VE BEEN RUN THROUGH THE RINGER ... VERY OLD, VERY TIRED & GAUNT. ALSO, FEELING AS TIRED AS I HAVE BEEN & AS STRESSED OVER MY PARENTS HAS REALLY SHOWN ON MY FACE, SO I UNDERSTAND, BUT AS YOU GET OUT FURTHER, YOUR FACE WILL CHANGE AGAIN & AGAIN. THERE'S NOT MUCH WE CAN DO ABOUT IT ... WE'VE STRETCHED OUT OUR SKIN FROM BEING FAT & MOST OF US HAD THAT PLUMP YOUNGER LOOK, SO WHEN WE LOSE WEIGHT, WE "SEE" OUR AGE. I HAVE THE TURKEY NECK AS WELL AS DO OTHERS I KNOW. MY FOCUS IS ON MY IMPROVED HEALTH, BODY SHAPE & THE HOPE OF PLASTIC SURGERY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! TRY YOUR VERY BEST TO ENJOY YOUR CRUISE & YOUR NEW HEALTH ... EASIER SAID THAN DONE SOMETIMES, BUT JUST PUT ONE FOOT IN FRONT OF THE OTHER & PRETTY SOON YOUR BODY & EMOTIONS WILL DEFINITELY CALM DOWN, BUT IT DOES TAKE A GOOD 6 MONTHS SO BE GOOD TO YOURSELF IN THE MEANTIME. &, EXPLAIN TO HUBBY THAT THIS ALIEN THAT HAS INVADED YOUR BODY WILL DISAPPEAR IN A SHORT TIME! GOD BLESS YOU DAWN & NICK

Dear Janet, I understand completely how you're feeling about the way you look and the way you're feeling. I'm 1 1/2 years out and have also been dealing with an underactive thyroid for about 6 months which is part of the problem, but I have gone through periods of extreme exhaustion. Not to be a whiner, but I have a raging case of fibromyalgia and diabetes which did not go into remission after surgery. I take 13 medications, which my doctors constantly adjust to keep me in the best condition they can. I don't like to take meds at all, but I want to live a full and active life and I try to keep a positive attitude. I worry about my health quite often. Not in a hypochondriacal way, and not because I want another trip to the doctor, but I know when something is just "not right" and I don't want anything to go too far without doing something about it. It's hard to juggle that. I am going to be 51 in July. I have never looked my age until now. My husband says I still don't. I have lost 120 pounds, with 10-15 to go, and am so thankful for this surgery and my weight loss. I would do it all again. People tell me I look great, but when I look in the mirror I'm alarmed by the circles under my eyes. I don't look healthy to myself. At times when I really have had health issues, like elevated liver enzymes and had been taken off most of my medications, my L C Bypass Buddies later told me they were worried about me. We notice the changes in our faces so much more than our bodies. We can cover them up, thank Goodness. As we get closer to our goal, all the angles and hollows come out that make us look older. I have creases in my face that I have never had before and I'm having trouble with aging because it's happening all at once instead of over the years. I know what you mean about being afraid of yourself. I don't look in the mirror any more than I have to and sometimes I'll catch myself unaware, and I don't even recognize myself. That's scary. I haven't even put my picture on the messageboard. I had lunch this week with a beloved friend of mine who I hadn't seen for months and she told me I looked fantastic and she said, "Aren't you so excited?" I didn't know what to say. I just laughed. We've lost weight and we're supposed to have all kinds of energy, and sometimes we can hardly drag ourselves out of bed. Then, the doctors tell us our blood tests are okay, so what are we supposed to do? What I have found is that these episodes of exhaustion and frustration/depression come and go because our bodies are going through so much. My doctor told me that this surgery was the best thing that I ever could have done for myself but that it is a tremendous insult to the body and it will take a long, long time to fully adjust to it. We just have to accept these periods of our bodies recharging and do just what you did - be kind to ourselves,pamper ourselves and get highlights and new clothes, whatever works. We need to rest when we're tired and eat healthy foods and just love ourselves. These times pass and then come again. Your energy will return. I bet your cruise will rejuvenate you. A little sun and fresh sea air....sounds good to me! I had a little wattle under my chin, and a big wattle runs on my mother's side of our family. I was really scared to death of it. It has mostly gone away after I lost some more weight. My neck looks old to me, but I am 50. It's no****tly though. So, don't give uo hope. I didn't do any exercises or anything, but I do moisturize heavily. I have very dry skin and I do think that it makes a big difference. I'll bet your husband isn't any more afraid of you than mine is of me. I'll bet he just loves every little bit of you any way you are, and wants to help you feel better. It's a great idea to talk to your doctor about the way you're feeling. It's just as important as your physical condition. They go hand-in-hand. Hang in there, Girl!! You should be so proud of your success and things ARE going to get better! You have lots of people who love you. If you don't believe that, just come right to this board. Have fun in the sun! Love and hugs, B

That is so wonderful! I am so happy for you! Well, I definitely think its time you strutted your stuff now!! You go ahead and strut and I'll tackle anyone that tries to stop you!! Kathy

THANK YOU, MS KATHY ... AFTER LOOKIN' AT MY 75 # COMPARISON PICS, I AM DEFINITELY FULL OF MYSELF & STRUTTIN' MY STUFF, AS YOU SAID! I REALLY DIDN'T "SEE" THE LOSS UNTIL I LOOKED AT THEM. I THINK I'M GONNA GET SOME PICTURE COPIES & STICK THEM ON MY FRIG SO I CAN SEE THE CHANGES EVERY DAY. TOO COOL ABOUT YOU BEING HALF WAY THROUGH YOUR SPRING CLEANING & SELLING SO MUCH AT YOUR YARD SALE. I KEEP TRYING TO GET MY SPRING CLEANING GOING, BUT KEEP GETTING PULLED AWAY BY OTHER THINGS TO DO ... JUST GOTTA DIG IN ... NICK'S OFF 3 DAYS OVER THE HOLIDAY & WE HAVE THINGS PLANNED EACH DAY, BUT MAYBE I'LL GET INTO IT THIS COMING MONDAY! GOD BLESS YOU DAWN & NICK