06/02/18, Monday

I emailed him about the PE just to keep him in the loop, but haven't mentioneed the anemia yet.

I'm so mad at myself for not thinking to have my blood levels checked when it was first apparent I wasn't healing. Maybe I could have sped all this up. But part of me thinks the surgeon should have that be part of his protocol when patients, especially post-wls patients, aren't healing as they should. I should have been a better self-advocate, but he should have suggested it!

I wouldn't have known to even think about it! Don't be hard on yourself --- it is hard to be a self advocate even under the best of cir****tances. And, you have felt absolutely terrible.

Your surgeon might will be able to provide more information, tho, for sure. Be sure to your lab results with him.....sometimes how far off, or the other numbers collected in an iron panel can provide context.

Not Noodle (or any dog I ever knew)

Oh that's so cute! Think of how easy it would make dog ownership, though!

Greetings Monday Onions

What an interesting analysis Diane O. I never had a stuffing chant - more of a primordial urge that must be served. Very wise of you to come up with a new tape. How about " its alright its okay-deal with it another way". I so love little poems.

But I most identify with Miss150. Everything is indeed my fault and if only I were a better person everything would be better and bla bla bla. It took a long time plus Paxil to get beyond this but it still haunts me. Like Diane O, a tape that hasn't played in years is still not erased and can play at unexpected times. Funny as we age how distant memories (both good and bad) can pop up.

Liz sorry for your SIL troubles. Hope she is not badly hurt. Once I was in the ER with DH as he had a kidney stone. I could overhear a man in the next room who had fallen down drunk dancing and the doctor talking with him about drinking and injury. Did your SIL require medical attention after bouncing off the limo?

Yep Shel, love the image of the Walla Walla bouncing down the road. DH told me that his dad, whom I never met, used to eat onions like an apple. Yuck.

Dinner last night was some little costco chicken wontons plus sautéed peppers. So love those little ones. The fridge is kind of empty so a grocery run is coming on. I feel the urge for a nice rare steak and think I will splurge on one of the high priced ones from the health food store. Grass fed organic beef that probably listened to sitar music all day before slaughter. Reminds me of a scene from "Portlandia" where the people in a restaurant asked about the chicken and learned its name, where it grew up, and decided to go visit the farm.

So our local dog training club is having a seminar with a Phd psychologist - dog trainer in a couple of weeks. I used to go to lots of these when I trained dogs actively. Its about how to make your dog more confident with play training or something so I am signing up. Its near my house so I can just leave if its a waste of time. Tesla is a bit of a spook and maybe this will inspire me to work with her. Shows coming up this weekend so I have to get her groomed.

Well the change in the sale system went ok - except the receipt printer is acting up. Someone else is going to have to fix it. And its five minutes after the store opens and I have not yet received a call so fingers crossed.

Cecily, wishing you good healing and good blood circulation!

Wishing everyone a lovely day. Diane S

Diane, thankfully SIL wasn't banged up enough for ER. There was an EMT who happened to be there who assessed her.

What an mentally energizing two days of posts!

Gotta ask: When is Ann leaving for her trip? Somehow I missed that one, but it must be soon, soon, soon!

Okay, hard work food! I soooooo relate to that! I have some thoughts around that, but I'm not exactly sure if I can nutshell those thoughts. Gonna try! Ultra refined foods were once for only the very wealthy. HUMANS CRAVE ULTRA REFINED, EASY TO EAT FOOD! Otherwise, it would not be such big business. Those super duper easy to eat slider foods are filled with lots of easy energy (not healthy, but easy) and often trigger dopamine response in our brains. How could we NOT delight in those delectable slider-y foods? We are by nature programmed to seek out sweet, easy energy foods.

Eating well in today's world either takes time and effort, or MONEY. Healthy food is expensive to buy prepared. It can't be mass produced, really. Also, because it is trendy, the market will bear a higher price, e.g. 4 leaves of Kale for $5! Geez!

Many healthy foods, because they are unprocessed (or perhaps I should say, not pre-digested) are physically more work to eat. If you fail to make a healthy food appealing and palatable, then the extra work of eating it can become drudgery. I get that. I find, too, that if I eat healthy food (even a larger volume) without enough protein or fat, I am left unsatisfied. I will be hungry much too soon after eating for my liking.

I love Diane O's new mantra - especially because it rhymes like a song or school chant! I am well versed and practiced in emotional eating. I am realizing more and more how much my eating is truly emotional. Yesterday I was busy from morning until 4:00 grooming those two dogs. No food passed my lips until after 4:00 pm. I was not starving all day long. I was busy and didn't really even feel the need to eat. Yet, when I'm bored, or procrastinating, or tired, or upset, miffed, or feeling celebratory, I WANT TO EAT! And I'm not taking carrots and celery. I'm talking super refined, dopamine triggering foods. It's a vicious cycle type of thing.

Anyway, such great conversation over the past two days. Also, since all my travel weight has vanished, I'm feeling a little bit incentivized to get back on my broomstick, and do a little logging on MFP today. BTW - can anyone tell me if there is way to create a frequently eaten foods category on MFP? I am a routine eater (I wonder if that's a guy thing? Several of my male friends can do the same, though Ron will not). Any help you can give on the MFP logging short cuts would be most appreciated.

Thinking of Paula and hope she and the boys are doing well.

Shell, your pictures of yesterday's hike are beautiful! I was wondering yesterday what wonderful adventure you were taking. Since you only did a quick response post in the wee hours, I figured you were off to somewhere "special". Your fitness level really is freaking awesome! I doubt I have anywhere close to your stamina level!

Ann, hope the travel prep is going well, and if you're already on your way - have a blast!

Liz, sorry that you are dealing with the drunk factor again! While it's a pain in the ass, there is nothing you can do but divorce yourself from it. She won't change UNLESS she sees the need. No one else can convince and addict to get clean. Interventions don't work unless the addict is truly ready and just needs that little extra nudge. My aunt never stopped drinking. It wasn't until her dementia really kicked in that she stopped drinking. She sort of forgot that she drank after being hospitalized and we never reminded her. She substituted Orangina after that. Even put it on her cereal.... YUCK!

Here's to a good week!

I said I was back but I guess I'm not fully back. Still so, so busy with all the financial crap. Still have boxes from the Celebration of Life to unpack and still working on getting my leave approved which I hope it does soon....especially since I am not working! Lol!

Cecily, oh my goodness - not healing, low blood levels and a PE!!! You got the raw end of that deal! Poor thing. I hope things start to turn around for you soon!

Shel, stunning pictures as usual. The elevation you do is remarkable! I would love to do a fitness test on you.....you are a machine!

Liz, love your new deck. Sorry about the SIL.

Diane O, I must have missed something about onions!

Ann, have a grand trip!

Devon, good luck on the soon to be born litter. Can't wait to see pics!

Off to pay bills, clean before the cleaning lady and write more thank you cards! Love to you all!

Venice ROCKS!!!! It's so gorgeous here I can't even describe it. Have started to post a few vids and pix on FB. Two more days here, then the Adriatic beckons. Am definitely coming back.

Well, that answers my question! You are there! So glad it ROCKS! Will check out your FB!