Tuesday July 18

Weight 117.5, calories 1371.

I will be buying a new car by the end of next week when my rental coverage ends (the last one was my dream car which I figured was the last so I'm just going to do it!). I agreed to the final settlement amount (I did get her to bring it up) and sent the signed title to them. My car salesman is looking for what I want.

BIL is coming today to do something with DH while I work. He is going to try to do that once a week. Tonight we have an Alzheimer's support group meeting (men with early Alzheimer's in one group; wives in a separate one at the same time). This is our second time going so we are looking forward to it.

Enjoy your Tuesday!

Weight: 133.8
Macros: Cals - 1,719, Carbs - 165, Fats - 56, Protein - 114, Fiber - 23
Veggies/Fruits: 3
Sleep: 7.5 hours
Exercise: Yoga (at home)

Good therapy session yesterday. Hadn't seen my therapist since March, thanks to crazy schedules (his and mine). But we now have appointments nailed down for the next 3 months. Yea! Afterward I had a summertime splurge -- junior cone of Braum's capuccino chunky chocolate ice cream. Summertime!

The wren has laid a fifth egg! Would not have been my choice, says the woman who had no children on purpose. ;) And I can't even imagine what it would be like to raise all those squirmy, snuggly puppes, Devon and Ron.

Remember those bobcats we heard crying a few days ago? Yesterday morning hubby saw two bobcat kittens cavorting in the road. They scampered off before he could get a photo. I hope I get to see them at some point.

Busy day today -- yoga class (wearing my new pink tutu I found yesterday at my favorite consignment clothing store -- I've wanted a tutu forever!) and lots of mowing and yard work (sans tutu).

Gratitude.

I absolutely NEED to see a pic of you in your tutu! I bet you look adorable!

I have a funny story about a tutu. My Mom was out with her best friend (as adults) and the friend (a bit on the portly side, as was my Mom) was talking about dancing and how she would need to put her tutu on. My Mom, without missing a beat said "but you would need a fourfour". The friend was not at all amused at my Mom's joke and sulked under a table in the restaurant! Lol! I guess even best friends that share in the obesity problem shouldn't joke about weight! I would have thought it was funny, but then again she is my Mom and we probably share a similar sense of humor and tolerance!

My son, grandsons and I did a tutu run a few years ago. I cut apart two tutus and sewed them together to make a giant tutu for my son and a FOUR-FOUR never occurred to me. I'll be over in the corner banging my head against the wall for my missed opportunity.

I need to see you in the tutu as well!

Liz, hope your new car will be your new dream car. Sorry for the hassle though and the added expense! Enjoy your time at the support group tonight!

No much new to report for me. Just waiting to see if insurance company will deny the request for surgery at Mayo or not.

Looking forward to seeing more puppy pictures Devon. Praying for a safe delivery of Ella's big brood!

Ann, I hope to be 1/2 as active (and hip) as you are at your age!

Shel, every time I see your stunning hiking pictures I want to book a trip out there! If my life wasn't so crazy right now, I might just do it!

Diane O, sounds like your are getting settled in with your new life with your old love. Also congrats on the teaching Reiki Master certification!

Diane S, continued prayers as you say your final goodbyes to your Mom

Joey Jo, things sound like they are going at least a little better. Glad your son is out of the hospital and hope your daughter is able to get her transplant soon!

David, you are seriously the busiest person I know! Glad to have you back posting on a more regular basis.

Shout out to Carbon, and BB, and Linda (we miss you here) and Lorna (it has been forever, wondering how you are doing!) and to anyone else that I may have missed.

Love to my VSG family!

Remind me later to tell about tutu tuesday

off to memorials today

diane s

Hello all. Still checking in.

I feel bad about my little "crisis" with everything everyone else is experiencing. Weight gain in pregnancy? Pshhh

But I'll admit it has alarms going off all over my mind. I didn't think it would affect me this badly. But today my weight was 158.8. I've gained 5lbs. in less than 3 weeks. That does not seem natural, normal, or healthy. And I'm still below my high weight for the year. I don't know what I'll do when I reach 170s...180s...190s?!?! Tbh when I dig deeper, it's not the weightgain that has me as concerned. Do you guys have those days from time to time where you want to, can, and do eat so much, and of not great foods, that you actually scare yourself? I have those days in normal time when I'd think "oh crap, my sleeve has totally gone kaput!" And I would be scared like "what am I gonna do?!! I cannot do this entirely by myself!! Here begins the climb back up." But then a few days later I'd be like "wow, my restriction is really good." Except this time, every day I feel hungry...like I haven't felt in a long time. Monster hunger seems to be an appropriate description. It's one thing to gain weight, but what if I'm causing irreparable harm to my sleeve and I will never get back down in weight?!?! It's been SO hard losing these 12lbs. this past 6 months--and I had much better restriction than I do now!! And it's caused me to do some reflection on life before sleeve. It wasn't bad. But I also didn't know how much better it could be back then. To buy clothes from any store! to sit in any seat! to cross my legs! to know people get to know me and not just prejudge me by the weight!

Needless to say, I'm having some anxiety. Here's what I know: I don't technically need to gain any weight/consume any extra calories right now. As long as I'm getting enough calories, hunger still does not need to be the main driving force in me eating. Hunger is okay. Hunger is okay. Hunger is okay. So I'm going to try to make a 1600 calorie meal plan. My maintenance calories should be 1700-1800, but I always seem to go over my goal, so I'm building in padding. And anything that I burn off through exercise I can eat that as well. I think doing this will help me not be as concerned about the scale.

I understand that a pregnant woman's body produces relaxin. I wonder if that could cause my stomach to be more elastic too?! Ok maybe I'm really reaching now. Just looking for some excuse.

I had no time for Bradley classes when I was pregnant with the twins, and I had already had two kids and two rounds of Lamaze classes, so I felt like I did not need weekly Bradley classes. I am telling you, it was the best thing to help control anxiety and I learned so much and you don't have to wait like you do for Lamaze. They start from early pregnancy. http://bradleybirth.com/

Your body knows what it needs, but your head will play games with cravings. It was fun to share those cravings with the instructor and classmates to determine if my body needed something or was playing with me. I had lost significant weight before pregnancy. This was almost 20 years ago, prior to surgery, but weight gain was a serious concern. I believe Bradley helped a lot with nutrition, exercise and definitely anxiety.

Don't forget about the water you are retaining right now. I remember that there were a lot of changes early on, which could easily move the scale. You need a lot of water and will retain a lot. Think of some mantra's for when the unhealthy craving**** - healthy baby, healthy mommy, you'll think of some.

I, for one, am enjoying your "crisis." It is good fun to think about a pregnancy!

This maintenance board is at its best when we talk about how real life knocks us off axis and how we don't give up.