You look AMMMMAAAZZZZING!  I can't wait to look at all the pics, but for now I have to upload mine and head to an 8:30 meeting. A bit rough after being off of work for over 2 weeks.

I have tried to like pork rinds, but they just don't do it for me. And it was 90 here at 5 pm yesterday. Not sure what it is now as I haven't left my bedroom except to start a load of laundry. I'm in vacation recovery mode today. Have to return to work tomorrow. Ugh.

Hi everyone. I have had extremely limited wifi and little time so I feel like I have missed so much.

Matbe I can catch up some on the weekend. I am very hopeful that 2 weeks of travel has not been bad news on the scale. (We had to be weighed for a helicopter flight and if the conversion from kilograms to pounds is correct, I was on track at that point). It was certainly more carb heavy than normal, but I did the best with what was available and opted for protein bars from time to time. A 35 hour travel day has been difficult, but I just had a delicious steak at the airport so I am happy with that choice. 

My husband and I have been married for almost 33 years and he has certainly stuck with me through thick and thin. I was average weight when we got married, gained weight along the way, got to goal on WW for a hot minute then gained for years, had twins, lost and gained again. He did not wante to have surgery because he doesn't like doctors or anything, but once I decided he was supportive as he knows how to be.  He understands what I need to eat, but often wants to order fried appetizers and big desserts when we are out. I have to remind him that I don't eat that stuff. Having said all that, he defers to my choice of food most of the time so that it is easier for me. Now that I have lost weight and want plastics, he says he will support it if I want it but he doesn't want me to do it for him.

Leaves are outside/yard work and that is not my area....we do have a couple of pine trees that make a mess.

Congratulations.  The more you mive the faster the gas pains go away. I changed position in bed alot too and that helped. I had horrible gas pains when I had my kids caesearean, but they were grearly reduced after RNY because of moving around. Good luck on your journey.

This will never likely happen again where I am one of the first to reply, but we have a 6 am flight which meant getting up very early. Like I have had 6 hours sleep in the last 3 days between driving straight from Vegas to work on Monday, trying to wrap up all of my work stuff, unpacking, doing laundry, repacking and getting everything done to be gone for 2 weeks. We have about 35 hours of travel ahead today so food is completely up in the air, but I will make good choices and I have lots of protein forward snacks in my carry on and even requested a low cal meal on the flights where we get meals. 

I hope everything gets worked out to your satisfaction for your son. I can't imagine dealing with this.

QOTD Jif Super Chunk. Nothing else will do. I only ate peanut butter sandwiches through all of elementary school. No meat sandwiches, no lunch line. Back then it was creamy. And my Mom would whip it with honey and butter. Yummmo.

Well we are taking off now so I have to power down phone. 5 hour layover in Seattle in a couple of hours. Then two 12 hour flights. Looking forward to the adventure. Have a great day!

I have to add that my husband is already asleep and we haven't left the gate. I envy him. I don't sleep well on planes.

Be patient. You will see it. Just keep on keeping on.

Your energy level will be down immediately following surgery, but it will come back better than ever. Mine was much improved at about 6-1/2 weeks. Just take it one day at a time, stay hydrated,  take your vitamins, and focus on protein. I only took one week off and worked from home week 2, then left an hour early each day during week 3. I took a short nap when I got home every day for a few weeks, then my energy kept.improving. I only wish I had this surgery years ago. Good luck on your journey.

Go with your gut. You will know what feels right for you and your family. It is awesome to have choices. Consider the schedule and how it works with kids.

WoW.  What an amazing transformation!  They definitely need to make fitbit straps more glamorous.

I had my surgery in May and didn't start at the gym until October. I hate to exercise, but I like how I feel when I have done it. I like to travel and hike and do adventure type things, so I want to exercise to make those things easier. Having said all of that, I agree that you cannot out exercise a bad diet.  So, diet first, activity second. Lots of people seem to be runners after WLS. Not me, not ever. I think the key is to find something you enjoy. If walking is it, then walk. I tried water aerobics for a while a couple of years ago, and it is not for me. The whole process of getting wet, having to shower off the chlorine, dry off, and change to go home was not for me. I like working with the personal trainer (I know there is a cost for that), but he pushes me far harder than I would ever do on my own and I am sooooo much stronger than ever before. It won't fix the skin, that's for sure, but it helps make the muscles underneath the skin so much stronger. I tell the trainer often that I will have to keep paying for training forever, because otherwise I would never go. The appointment keeps me committed. I am fortunate that my work reimburses me for almost all of the gym membership because that helps.  (I have to pay for the training).  I only go twice a week, but that is twice a week more than I was doing.  I won't be going at all in the month of October due to travel (personal and business), but I will be active during that time.  Good luck finding what works for you.

I dip the corner in the chick-fil-a sauce, but just the smallest amount. I throw most of it away.  According to Myfitnesspal, the calorie count in one packet is 140 calories and I use less than 1/4 of it, which is 35 calories.  I have never been one to use much sauce or dressing on anything, but I do like a tiny bit for moisture. There might be other sauces with a better calorie count.  The kids meal fruit cup is 130 calories total, plus the sauce makes it 165.  It appears that there are other sauces with lower calorie counts.  Maybe I should change it up to a lower calorie sauce, like honey mustard.

I wore another ring for this past year to keep the other men at bay. Lol.