Friday September 15

Weight 115, calories 662. I buckled down to high protein, low carb eating the last couple of days to curb the bad cravings and dropped what must have been sal****er and poop weight (down 3 pounds in 2 days). I went from the top to the bottom of my comfortable range. As Ann was commenting, it is so amazing to feel like I can actually control my weight. Obviously is there was more to drop or I left it on longer, it would take longer to drop it, but it really gives me a satisfying sense of control to be able to make that adjustment.

If you didn't see my second post yesterday, the amazing happened and as a result of my department reorganization EVERYONE has been given 60 days notice during which time they must either be accepted into one of the new roles posted today (or another job) or they leave with severance. In my case it means that my retirement moves up to 11/13 and I leave with 51 weeks of severance pay. I'll lose 1.5 months of bonus, but gain about 10.5 months in pay which is a tremendous plus (especially since the bonus may not be too great due to the hurricanes this year). So I only have 38 work days left until retirement (59 elapsed days). It's a good thing I wasn't in the office because I was grinning from ear to ear while everyone else was freaking out.

Today I am taking DH to the Newport RI Boat Show for something different to do and eating at a restaurant there. We haven't been to Newport for a few years so we are really looking forward to it.

BB, I saw your post on weight. I know it is hard to know how to handle planned weight gain, but just like weight loss it will not be a straight line so sometimes you will gain more than you expect and sometimes less. Your daughter will actually grow in spurts (you'll be able to see it once she is born - sometimes they get measurably taller from one day to another - often when they have a bunch of unusually hungry days in a row, followed by a growth spurt). Right now your body is handling the calories so it is getting the hunger signals. Have you asked the doctor for the expected number of calories you should eat in excess of your usual? You probably could use that number (usual maintenance calories plus baby growth calories) to figure out what to AVERAGE to (accepting that during really hungry periods you probably need to go higher).

Have a first-rate Friday!

Congratulations, Liz !!! Ann and Diane are leading the way, modeling rich, fulfilling lives after high power careers ! You have been fortunate to begin to transition into this new phase, through surgeries and your modified work schedule. You are getting a handle on the positives and challenges ahead. Retirement is fabulous... we've got this !!

BB... you are going to be such a wonderful mother, bringing up that sweet baby to be comfortable in her own skin and to develop a healthy relationship with food. What a luck little girl !!

Paula... how is DH doing with the feeding tube issue? Yes, if shots of Fireballs gave us focused crab cravings, we'd all be in big trouble !!

Shel.. again... the photos and adventures are awesome !!!

Devon... puppy posts continue to be the highlight of my day !! You are a blessed man ! Hopefully, you've carved out some of this weekend for yourself !!

Diane

Good morning!

Liz, what great news about 38 days left. 38!!!!! I'm grinning ear to ear, too.

While I try not to talk too much about work for a variety of reasons, I can't resist this next diddy because if it is about poop. When a provider blew into my office with a "poop emergency" I said "I'm your girl" but thought "oooo, the vsg board would be soooo interested!"

Anyhoo, while I looked at drug options and insurance coverage (speaking of poop), the patient was off at radiology to confirm it was just poop and nothing worse. When I met up the the doc, he was just about to pull the scans so I got to watch the reveal. The doc says "well, there it is." And I said "what are we looking at?"

The scan showed severe constipation across the abdomen. Sort of fluffy/curly tho that may have been my imagination. (I could never be a radiologist.) So, that's my diddy! I saw a whole lot of poop on an xray.

I wondered how much weight the patient would lose when it was released but I kept that thought to myself. Until now. Saved that comment just for you.

Have a great day! I'm doing my gym's clean eating challenge. I cheat, but not too bad. Less cheating than usual is a win, I say.

Shel

LOL - isn't it amazing how we post-WLS people focus on "poop"?

Weight: 134.0
Macros: Cals - 1,514, Carbs - 154, Fat - 53, Protein - 88, Fiber - 27
Veggies/Fruits (goal 8): 7
Sleep (goal 8 hrs.): 6
Exercise: Yoga class

Liz, I'm so tickled for your retirement plans and grinning here on your behalf. :)

I'm still a bit flushed with the success of my portobello/feta/peppers/tomatoes sandwich yesterday. I swear I can feel new vitamins and minerals swishing through my body. Last year from time to time I felt I should eat more different menus and not so much the same things. Maybe my new fascination with V/Fs will lead to more food variety. (I really can be a stick in the mud, menu-wise.)

Fall is in the woods. There's not a lot of color here yet, but it's peeking around the corner. The big autumn signal here is an increased presence of deer and squirrels hanging around our house, which is surrounded by monster oak trees and starting to drop acorns. We have a doe/fawn family (sometimes with another doe/fawn) who show up early every evening for supper. I go out on the porches and wave. They look at me, then munch the acorns, look up again, then munch again. Because we don't hunt we like to think our place is a deer haven, although I have no idea whether they actually feel safer here.

And here it is Friday again! Although I loved the wedding weekend, I'm glad there aren't any bacchanalias scheduled in the near future. :) I hope to spend this weekend on my lawn mower.

T.G.I.F.

I am going to make that sandwich this weekend....thanks for posting the specifics!

Weight: 163.2

I'm hoping I have a poop emergency. Yikes what a gain!

I'm feeling pretty stressed and tired recently. I feel like such a complainer! My floors are still not done, which is super aggravating! Everything just seems in such upheaval and that's a very stresfful feeling for me.

I've been wanting (needing?) a lot more carbs recently. I've also been thinking about how much protein I eat: is it enough, too much, too little, perfect? I had what I thought was a very high-carb, low-protein day, but in comparison with another pregnant lady, she commented "wow, you're getting so much protein." And hearing all the fruits and veggies Ann gets...well I guess I'm just feeling I'm missing some of the other foods. Like I haven't made a vegetarian chili in YEARS. Because maybe that was against the purpose? I will say I do believe in eating protein, and even probably higher protein than the old 15-20% guidelines. But I'm beginning to wonder if I can make more room for healthier other macro and micro nutrients.

Now yesterday wasn't a good example. I made my husband and step son spaghetti and meatsauce. We do this rarely but oh did they love it. This might be the cause of the scale today.

Am doing a fly by post.... Am alive, but life centers around 17 very active little pups that need a lot of attention.

Frenchies all leave on Sunday... mixed feelings..... First Airedale pup leaves on Saturday night or Sunday morning and heads off to live a life of luxury in Chicago! Three more the following weekend and the last 6 will go the weekend of 9/30-10/01. That will leave me with two. I can handle that! Lol

Cravings are in full swing. I know because I wanted bread for breakfast. I never want to eat in the morning. Only explanation is cravings have been awakened. Damn....

Hope everyone is well. Haven't read the board in several days, so I'm lost on what is going on. Congrats, Liz, on the job news. BB, I will go back and read your posts, so I'm in the loop.

Good weekend all!

Oh I would feel terrible if you tried to catch up on my posts, lol. Enjoy your puppies and just suffice it to say more meanderings along this journey. :)

At least you won't be an "empty nester", but what a change it will be with most of the pups gone!