VSG Maintenance Group
Saturday, November 3, 2018
Weight: 138.0
Macros: Cals - 1,556, Carbs - 135, Fats - 37, Protein - 133, Fiber - 24
Sleep hours: 7
Vegetable/Fruit Servings: 6
Exercise: Walking
Meditation (yesterday): Yes
Liz, safe travels to you and your husband. BB, I bet you and DH had a great date night with so much to celebrate. Bonnie150, I'm feeling pre-surgery jitters on your behalf ... how are you? David, so glad your recuperation continues well. Shel, have you already started your pre-Rainier training yet (I can't recall)? DianeS, our fearless leader, I like the changes you're getting ready to make. Cecily, funk that funk! DianeO, are you back at home or still glamping or both? Paula, new love is the best weight loss aid ever invented! Shirl, sounds like you're clearing the wilderness this weekend. Lesa, DiamondD, and everybody else ... I'm glad Halloween candy has left the building!
I'll be gone all weekend to my DH's son's memorial service and will return home Monday afternoon.
And in other news, here's what's happening here. I have rented a furnished apartment in New Orleans this winter for three months (January through March) to enjoy the warmer weather, to experience a full Mardi Gras season in the company of NOLA natives, to soak up the cultural offerings of one of the world's most interesting citiesf, e.g., French lessons, great music, academic lectures and cultural events, killer cuisine (more about that in a minute), and to kickstart my own writing projects in ways my regular routine isn't inspiring me to do.
I have no interest in moving permanently to NOLA or anywhere else in hurricane country. And I don't plan to make NOLA winters an annual experience. I love my country home! But it's time (at 73) while I still have good health, high energy, and enthusiasm for the go-go phase of retirement to Do Something Different. Next year, I might spend the winter in ... I have no idea, although the options in this world are nearly infinite.
The apartment I've rented is in "Uptown" near Tulane and Loyola universities and four blocks from Audubon Park where I walk every day when I'm down there. It's also within walking distance of the homes of half a dozen dear friends who also live near the park. And it's within a half day's drive of several of my siblings and other good friends who live in Mississippi and Texas.
Now, back to NOLA's killer cuisine and libations, which are admittedly "dangerous." I hope that with my own kitchen and a beautiful neighborhood grocery only 2.5 blocks away I'll be able to manage my food choices. Besides, it's probably time in my maintenance career (going on five years post-op) that I confronted how to maintain my weight when I'm living a more social life and not eating Health Choice power bowls for dinner every night. In other words, I've rationalized that maintaining my weight in NOLA during Mardi Gras season is the next spiritual challenge I should address.
Anybody buying that? ;) I welcome your thoughts about all this.
Today's theme comes from Nietzsche: "The secret for harvesting from existence the greatest fruitfulness and the greatest enjoyment is--to live dangerously! Build your cities on the slopes of Vesuvius!" (Please note that in this passage Nietzsche offers us not one but two exclamation marks and italics, which must have been as close as he ever got to posting smiley faces.)
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.
Ann-I hope today's memorial service can be healing. I think the NOLA idea sounds great. As I've mentioned before, I strongly identify with your maintenance strategy. The shan gri la of maintenance to me is being able to enjoy the food and not have to hide from it. Like you, I don't know if this will be possible. I'll take it one thing at a time. I think you have every reason right now to believe it's possible, although if you're planning an extended stay, you may need a slightly different approach. I went to Mardi Gras a couple years ago and it was really fun. There are so many parades! And I really like that there's something to celebrate in the dead of winter!
As far as my own maintenance plans, I feel somewhat confident in my ability to not overgain in pregnancy. And that's all I can really do at this point. I haven't been eating great, but I do think some of that is attributable to pregnancy and not wanting vegetables or some proteins. I also know that I will probably end this pregnancy wanting to lose 15-20lbs. (some from way back, and some from each pregnancy). I'm glad that isn't a huge number...but I also know it will be a struggle. In my mind, I would like to do a hard reset next summer after the baby and really focus on fruits, veggies, chicken, fish, eggs for at least the first couple months. Mentally I'm already telling myself what a wonderful time of year for that with all the summer produce! I also would really like to get into walking with the babies, although that could be a job with two! I should have the baby right around the end of May/beginning of June, and in the past I've made the mistake of being too unclear about my goals and giving myself too much time. Now I think I will have to wait and see where I am come June/July, but I'd really like to set a goal of 155 or 150 for myself for January 2020.
We did have a nice date night. We tried a new restaurant in the Stockyards. I really enjoy the experience of trying new restaurants, but I usually wish I'd gone with a standby :( A Star is Born was really good...but sad.
Thank you, Bonnie. And I like your post-pregnancy plan very much. I can relate (not due to pregnancies), but because I've always done much better when I have a specific plan to execute than with vague wishes.
What a wonderful time of life this is for you!
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.
As Diane O put it, one more sleep until Florida! But no more sleeps for Chiquita.She had such a tough faint yesterday that I almost thought that visiting the vet today would be unnecessary. It is definitely time. I'm giving her a tranquilizer a couple of hours in advance in some very tasty cooked hamburger with Gouda cheese. Food has been her remaining pleasure. It will be hard to lose her but also this last piece of DD. in a bit I'm going to go through the boxes upstairs to look for some early pictures of DD and Chiquita.
On another somber note, SIL will be delaying her trip to Florida by a week because one of her SIL's, probably her favorite, died yesterday. She had been sick for the last month, but was fairly young. Prior to that it was her husband that everyone worried about. I will miss her too as she used to visit my SIL often. Very smart lady with this great dry humor.
Ann, I love your NOLA plans!!!! So cool,that you will be in that wonderful city during Mardi Gras! Costume?????
Liz 5'3" HW: 219 SW: 185 GW: 125 LW: 113 Desired maintenance range: 120-125 CW: 119ish
Oh, Liz ... I'll be sending you, your family, and definitely Chiquita strong wishes today that her passing is easy. You're doing this right.
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 this little girl! She is loved and knows it. I am sorry that the day has arrived, even tho it is the right time,
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!
