What's on your Wednesday Menu RNY'ers?

Morning folks!! I have to take my son to the doctor, so am going into work late. I think I'll sneak an extra run in since we'll have time to kill.

I don't think I mentioned that we adopted a cat. He is grey and white, so we named him Carbon. The first week we were unsure if we made the right pick because all he did was hide. But in the past few days he's opened up to show his friendly (and needy!) personality. He's the direct opposite of mean kitty, who never wanted to be bothered with people. He wants all attention all the time. And he actually meows- mean kitty was mute. I've enjoyed having him.

Happy Halloween! I joked at work that my 'costume ' was going to be a T-shirt with a heart on it, to pretend I have one :-) they all agreed it would be fitting-- but sadly I don't own one. Maybe I'll go in as an Eagles fan, ha ha.

Qotd: what do you fear? (Other than regain!!)

I hate bugs and creepy crawly things. I also am scared of balloons.

3.7 years out, no weight yet, not up.

m1: egg, turkey sausage, ham

m2: Greek yogurt and berries

m3: beef stew

m4: ? Maybe chicken something

Hello Everyone:

Happy Halloween!! May your day be full of treats (not the high-carb food type, of course) and no tricks!!

My employer does not allow costumes on Halloween. In fact, the hospital sent out an e-mail reminding us of this rule and that the Dress Code should be reviewed and adhered to by all employees!!

QOTD: As I get older, my fear is that I won't have enough time to do all the things I want to do. I am ecstatic that I will hopefully be able to accomplish one thing that I've wanted to do for many years -- lose 100 lbs!! As my weight is going down, I have had more energy so there are many new things that I would like to achieve. I truly believe that my WLS and weight loss have given me a better chance of doing many of these things.

MEALS FOR TODAY:

Breakfast: nonfat milk, SF chocolate syrup, protein powder

Snack: 1.5 oz. low-fat cheese slices

Lunch: 2 oz. turkey breast with 1/2 dill pickle spear

Snack: 2 oz. L&F Greek yogurt

Dinner: 3 oz. vegetarian chili

---Joyce

It is really amazing to me what I can do after losing half of me. Exercise and weight training have helped me to feel better in my body and to feel more able to do a variety of other things that I never thought I could do.

Hi Janet:

I have seen from your recent pictures how awesome "1/2 of you" looks! All your work with weights shows great muscle definition. You just radiate health in your pictures. Great job! You are inspiring.

At my first post-op visit about 10 days out, it was too soon to ask about lifting light weights. I was also too ill. My next appointment with my surgeon is at the 3 month post-op month at the end of November. I will ask him if I can add weights to my exercise.

---Joyce

Thanks for the compliment. Before surgery I had diabetes, high blood pressure, severe asthma, sleep apnea, etc. Losing weight and doing regular exercise has made me so much healthier in so many ways.

When I had surgery, I couldn't slowly walk for 5 minutes without getting tired and out of breath, but from that first day, I started doing what I could do...lots of short, gentle walks. I just kept at it, listened to my body but kept pushing and challenging myself to see what I could do. There are always differing opinions about whether people should exercise while still losing weight. Exercise doesn't necessarily increase or even help weight loss. In my experience, however, I found that using my body as it changed, made me more comfortable in it, strengthened it and greatly helped my overall health at least as much as the weight loss.

I would encourage you to just focus on getting moving from the point you are at. Take a walk, go for a swim, ride your bike, get in the habit of doing something active. As you lose more weight and your body gets used to being active, then you can add in strength and balance training, slowly at first. Maybe try some yoga (I found that it's not my thing, but there are folks on here who love it!) or water aerobics. Don't be tempted to overdo things by going to the gym and lifting too much weight just because a 20-something jock tells you that you should! You could hurt yourself and then not be able to move at all!

Be gentle, listen to your body but MOVE!

Hi Janet:

You have given me great advice. By your pictures, I also know that it comes from someone who actually follows this advice!

Whether exercise helps one lose weight or not doesn't matter to me. I feel much better when I get outside and move!

Since starting my WLS journey about 1 year ago, I have been walking several times a day. My dog, Jake, is my faithful exercise partner. (His weight has been dropping too!)

Now that I have lost some of my "excess baggage" and I have been walking daily, I think I would like to start working with a trainer as soon as I get the OK from my surgeon at my next appointment in about 3 weeks.

There is a trainer near where I live who works with older people (like me). He is attuned to what is healthy and what is detrimental for older individuals. I think I might start there.

Janet, thanks for the encouragement, spot-on recommendations, and taking the time to provide such an in-depth response.

---Joyce

Morning everyone!

Happy Halloween! I've added some pictures from the display here at work. The really fun part is that everything (other than the fake leaves) is from the gardens here at the Library. The gardeners have been doing Victory Gardens for the last few years and this year they also did a Native American garden with corn, beans, squash, etc. The pumpkin was growing on a ledge that I walked by every morning for months and the gardener who was setting up the display this morning said that it is covered in poke marks where people tried to see whether it was real or not! A nice way to start the day with a smile!

I did get outside at lunch yesterday and get in a 3+ mile run. It was lovely except that there was some wind that made me run fast to keep warm! Today I work out with my trainer this evening so I will take a walk instead of a run to rest my old knees a bit.

Busy day ahead including an office Halloween party. I brought in cider and apples and will deliver them and then escape the temptation. We will hand out candy tonight to the kids in the neighborhood but I will pack up the leftovers and bring them into the office in the morning to avoid more temptation.

Menu:

B: 2 HB eggs, COFFEE!

S: chomps, protein shake

L: chicken, TJ's SW salad

S: Buddigs beef packet, apple

D: probably TJ's salmon patty

Cool pictures, Janet!

That's an awesome display!

I love the pictures and that the displays are made with natural elements.

---Joyce