Sunday, May 6, 2018

Welcome, Bonnie ! Kudos for your hard earned recalibration ! So glad you took the next step, and joined us !

Hi, Miss150. :)

I've just returned from a three week vacation -- 16 day cruise to Ireland, with extra days on the front and back ends. Happy to meet you. And yes, you are my HERO after your incredible loss of that regain. Looking forward to getting to know you and learning your regain secrets. :)

FYI, I was sleeved in August 2014 and lost 100 pounds. I'm fighting the good lifestyle change fight right here in this group. I love everyone here and find them all so very, very helpful. It's by far the smartest group of people I've ever communed with online.

Good morning,

It is going to be a pretty day here. My home will be on receiving end of self care, today. I have some planting to do, and want to get all the knickknacks from travel put away.

Cecily, aok with you if I stay in your closet while you are at the recovery center? How beautiful.

Did a late afternoon hike yesterday with Buster. Just 5 miles but >2000 ft elevation. Not easy for my Busterboy on the way up but he recovered well after a quick break at the top.

Ann, are you back? That would have been quite the trip without your guy. Hugs to you.

Go find some fun!

Shel

pic below is Buster at the top of Tiger Mtn. What a good boy.

A-ok with me! But you'd be disappointed with the state of the rest of my house. My organizational activities seem to just make other unaffected areas into brand new affected areas in need of organization... Vicious cycle.

Pretty puppy!!

I see those little "fiddle front" front legs and marvel at how well he keeps up with you! Good boy, Buster.

Thoughts about fiddle front legs and exercise? I don't want to create problems in near or long term. He is about the 7 years old.

I think our typical shorter (3 mile) walks are ok and needed for health. Those walks include 10 minute incline up Nike hill and he typically lags behind a bit up that. Otherwise he is full of snorts and vigor.

Our recent start of longer hikes/walks have included temps in the 60-70's (we are more used to 40-50's) so heat may be playing a part. Buster begins to lag after initial excitement but I don't see any lameness or obvious signs of pain. He doesn't show a need to simply stop, he is just slower than me. If I was forced to guess, I would say that he needs conditioning, like most Americans.

Yesterday, after being behind me most of the way up, I was definitely behind him on the way down. He didn't seem to be racing to the car, but rather enjoying every smell the trail offered --- to the right, to the left and everything in-between. Clearly more fun going down. If he was suffering in some way on the way up, it very quickly passed after 10 minute water/snack break at the top.

If Buster is 7, he has made it past the crucial first 5 years when congenital/medical induced lameness occur (elbow and hip dysplasias, luxating patellas, torn ligaments, etc...). What you will see is that he will have normal wear and tear as he ages. Because he is fiddle fronted, he puts more pressure on his "ankles" (pastern joint) than a well structured dog will. You may notice his toes turning to compensate as he gets older. That's sort of normal for a dog built as he is. I would start him on a joint supplement now, rather than later. I use this: Glyco-Flex. I have all my dogs on it, except Tank.

Overall, you will want to keep him lean and moderately well exercised as you are currently doing. It is normal for dogs to need to build up to the warm weather. Older dogs are more prone to heat sickness in the spring than at any other time of year.

Does that answer your question????

Yes, that helps a lot. How nice to know he made it thru the critical first 5 years. I'll pick up the glycol flex. Thank you!

Weight 167.6 Improvement

On days when the scale is down, it's usually because I didn't eat any meals or snacks outside of my house. My control crumbles when I'm not in my safe home bubble. Not sure how to fix that and never eating outside these four walls doesn't seem like the answer!

On that note, I'm heading out to lunch with some friends. At least the restaurant is Seasons52 that is relatively healthy and most items on their menu are under 500 calories.

Ferg didn't get his bath yesterday, but he did get brushed, so into the bath this afternoon. Then more readying for the next several weeks. Eek, 43 hours to surgery...

Liz, that isn't the least bit fair that your scale would respond to your recently limited calories that way. Who do we complain to on your behalf??

Diane, glad they snipped out those polyps. It's not 10 years inq between, but it's better than 1 or 2!

Happy Sunday all!

LOL! We can complain to the powers above! I think it is likely at least partly reaction to salt and carbs, but geez I have to see my PCP for my annual physical tomorrow so I wanted to be toward the bottom (a mental thing for me). The following week is my 2 year WLS appointment (a little later than usual). Same goal for that.