VSG Maintenance Group
Friday September 29
Yes, Liz... There are a lot of similarities between driving in NYC and Boston. Always have loved the Boston subway system, though ! Have a great trip and appointment.
We are renting a "Villa" in Old Orchard Beach Columbus Day week. It has a full kitchen, so we can make sure healthy food options are available, although I'm planning on fish, fish, fish when eating out. Hopefully, lots of walking and sunshine await.
With two people hired to replace me, I was asked to return for a few days to assist them. The drama and stress related to that brief interaction brought it home. I'm done ! I've made the break and there is no looking back for me. I'd much rather volunteer at the VA ! When I was there yesterday, Sadie made such a positive difference in their lives ! There is one *****ly ex army gal in her seventies who most feel is generally difficult. She has taken a shine to us and I was asked to accompany her on a field trip to the mall in October, which I'm looking forward to.
Ann's words about all of us being one moment, choice, event away from "fuckdom" continues to resonate and I get fixated on negative what ifs, rather than expressing gratitude. Affirmations work so much better for me...All of us are one moment, choice, event away from pure peace and joy. I need that vortex swirling upward !
Age: 64; 5' 5"; High weight: 345; Start weight: 271 (01/05/15); Surgery weight: 218 (05/27/15); Pre-Op (-53); M 1 (-18); M 2 (-1.5); M 3 (-13.5 ); M 4 (-13); M 5 (- 8); M 6 (-12) M 7 (-5, Xmas); M 8 (- 9) Under surgeon's goal and REACHED HEALTHY BMI 12/07/15!! (Six months and one week.) AT GOAL month 8. Maintaining at goal range (139- 144) ~ four (4) years !!
Weight: 133.2
Macros: Cals-1,419, Carbs-160, Fat-43, Protein-83, Fiber-21
Veggies/Fruits (goal 8): 7
Sleep hours (goal 8): 8
Exercise: Yoga class
Yesterday's 7 vegetables and fruits came from carrots, butter lettuce, potatoes, green beans, and cantaloupe.
We have company coming this weekend, an old friend and business client. We'll feed him well, and I'll take him hiking along Ozark springs and rivers.
Yesterday, he called from New York City to say that at a conference he's attending there my name was mentioned five times from the podium. That news made me happy that I'm remembered by colleagues, but even happier that I don't have to navigate an under-construction LaGuardia this morning to catch connecting flights home and then drive for 2 and 1/2 hours to sleep in my own bed tonight. Which makes me feel this morning even more than usual like shouting TGIF!
Let's all have a great weekend. And following DianeO's suggestion, let's be grateful for our many, many blessings.
ANN 5'5", AGE 74, HW 235.6 (BMI 39.2), SW 216, GW 150, CW 132, BMI 22
POUNDS LOST: Pre-op -20, M1 -10, M2 -11, M3 -10, M4 -10, M5 -7, M6 -5, M7 -6, M8 -4, M9 -4,
NEXT 10 MOS. -12, TOTAL -100 LBS.
I am sure your colleagues recalled sage advise regarding vegetables/fruits, fuckdom, wearing tutu's, do-it-today and some 5th thing that I can't think of right now.
Hiking in the Ozarks sounds great!
HW:361 SW:304 (VSG 12/04/2014)Mo 1:-32 Mo 2:-13.5 Mo 3: -13.5 Mo 4 -9.5 Mo 5: -15 Mo 6: -15 Mo 7: -13.5 Mo 8: -17 Mo 9: -13 Mo 10: -12.5 11/3/2015 Healthy BMI Reached! Mo 11: -9 Mo 12: -8 12/27/2015 Goal Weight Reached!
I made my peace some time ago with "being forgotten" professionally. I figure the real contributions I made will be made through those I've mentored. I have about a dozen of those "children" out there in the World of Work. They're MUCH cooler / smarter / more effective than I ever was.
For me, as for DianeO, that season is over now. It was great. But I'm on to other things now. And there are more "new" adventures for me I bet I haven't glimpsed yet. Sometimes retirement feels like having immigrated to a new country where I'm still learning the geography -- in a good way.
ANN 5'5", AGE 74, HW 235.6 (BMI 39.2), SW 216, GW 150, CW 132, BMI 22
POUNDS LOST: Pre-op -20, M1 -10, M2 -11, M3 -10, M4 -10, M5 -7, M6 -5, M7 -6, M8 -4, M9 -4,
NEXT 10 MOS. -12, TOTAL -100 LBS.
I love hearing about everyone's lives after retirement. It helps me look forward to it (I do have some normal trepidation, but also worry about DH's future).
And you are right that the greatest satisfaction is those we mentored who do well, and I have quite a few of them who stay in touch.
Liz 5'3" HW: 219 SW: 185 GW: 125 LW: 113 Desired maintenance range: 120-125 CW: 119ish
Weight 161.2 (down 0.6)
The floors are officially DONE. Unfortunately they put our washer/dryer in backwards, meaning the doors slam into each other. And they still have to come and retack down the carpet. But hopefully that will get done eventually.
I did big maternity shopping yesterday. Still don't need it, but my "bump bucks" were going to expire. I "saved" a ton of money, and yet I still spent $340 on 8 pieces of clothes. And most of them very utilitarian work essentials. This is definitely making me realize I think I have a problem with clothes. Like honest to goodness. I want to buy things that look nice. Like duh. But more than others. I was thinking about it last night. I spent my WHOLE LIFE in clothes I didn't like. Buying things that were flattering or I wanted pretty much wasn't an option. Most of the time I simply looked to see if they had something, anything. So maybe I'm making excuses, but in the interest of exploring my emotions with respect to my weight, this came up. The idea of getting fatter (ahem, pregnanter) and wearing ill-fitting unattractive clothing literally triggers a very negative past response. So maybe I spent too much. And I certainly need to be smart about it. But it's important to me to feel good about my appearance. Plus, like are attorneys allowed to get pregnant?! I literally saw ONE suit option that made me look like Charlie Chaplin's "The Little Tramp." Grrrroossss. So I guess I'll try to make due with my non-maternity blazers + maternity dress pants.
