VSG Maintenance Group
12/19/2020, Saturday
Wow ! So much to unpack from yesterday's posts !!! I knew about dopamine triggering addiction disorders. I never noticed that I have begun to skip from like to NEED...totally jumping over want. I have quite a habit of instant gratification going on that includes eating and shopping. I have gotten lazy about sitting with want and giving myself time to get comfortable with it and/or to find other channels to the dopamine, which for me is the endorphin path. Peps... those bicep curls !! Seeking synergy between what our bodies can do and our outward appearance...brilliant !
This will be my first Christmas without immediate family, too. BB, you never drag us down. Our posts are honest and real and consistently reveal strength and determination to overcome obstacles. You should put out a calendar with your girls' in their outfits ! DD, FL tickets !! Something to look forward to !! Ceci, thank goodness for the second estimate ! Lots of before and after pictures, please. Miss Bonnie, keep up those thought provoking posts ! Liz, your tree looks awesome !
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 !!
Good morning! I am meeting my grand nephew for the first time today, going to the cemetery and seeing my daughter to celebrate the completion of her MBA. She has worked really hard for it and I am so proud of her. So lots of driving on the agenda (90 minutes from here to where they live), but right now that is preferable to sitting around doing nothing.
Have a safe, healthy and warm day!
Liz 5'3" HW: 219 SW: 185 GW: 125 LW: 113 Desired maintenance range: 120-125 CW: 119ish
Good morning! Last evening we tried to go to a light show broadcast on the face of our Catholic Cathedral in St. Paul. US and thousands of others. The line was miles long for a 12 minute show. Shows how hungry we all are for something novel. Instead we drove along the Mississippi river road, with the heated seats on, but the Windows down. It was drizzling a little, and with no snow, I could smell those delicious outdoor smells. Highlight of the day for sure.
Not much planned today but a zoom kiddie birthday party for my bff s granddaughter. Tomorrow we are meeting up outdoors with my sister in law who is having cancer treatment. She already had Covid, but we will still follow social distancing protocols, because there are lots of other germs she shouldn't be exposed to either.It's not the kind of weather that makes one typically plan outdoor gatherings, but we can flex. It's not bitterly cold so far.
Liz, I envy you meeting the new nephew! I got to hold my new grand nephew at a family wedding in October, but I don't know when I'll see him again. Enjoy that baby.
Diane you help me strengthen my resolve that I need other hormonal hits besides food. There is exercise I can do right here in my home. Seeking motivation. I started doing a 10 minute tai chi routine again. It's a start.
on 12/19/20 8:55 am
Weight down a bit, but still up .4 for the week.
Yesterday I walked on the beach with my friends for a while, picked up dog eye drops at the eye specialist, then tried to do a grocery pick up at my local grocery store. Normally I shop on my own or get Amazon grocery delivery, but they had no slots. So I thought I'd try the grocery pick up. What a mess. The ordering was smooth and I was due to pick up at 5pm. At 5 they called and asked for more time. Perfectly fine, I said how about 8pm. At 8 I showed up and they said great I think it's ready and checked in a second time 20 minutes later saying "2 minutes". At 8:45 she knocked on my window and said it wasn't ready after all and could I wait another 30 minutes or come back in the morning. I could have gotten my items 3 times over in the time I'd been waiting. I was very nice and said I could come back in the morning. She said they'd give me a discount, I said they didn't have to, things happen. So it'll be interesting to see what happens when I go to pick it up in a few minutes.
That's all I have on for today other than throwing some decorations on this stinky tree. 
That saga would aggravate me unbearably! I like to shop for my own stuff and use the self checkout at 8 am in the morning. There usually are only a handful of other people around and I am in and out in 1/2 hour or less (depending on the volume). I don't need to go down any aisles where anyone else is lingering because the store is usually pretty empty.
Liz 5'3" HW: 219 SW: 185 GW: 125 LW: 113 Desired maintenance range: 120-125 CW: 119ish
As planned the tree went up last night and is decorated. It is always a bit of a chore, but so worth it. Ron and BFF helped so I didn't have my hand on as many ornaments as I usually do. So I gave the tree a good look this morning to see all the ornaments and the stories and feelings each special one brings back. I know, sentimentality at its finest. But I do not cry at Hallmark movies - just the Wizard of Oz! 
Weight: 271.2 (I am now thinking that weighing this morning was counter intuitive to what I am embarking on, but done is done.)
Important to note my weight because I have agreed to stop weighing myself. WTF!!!!!! Right? This is my NUT therapist's recommendation to help me separate the ED from weight. She made a really good point (IMO) that as long as I keep weighing I will judge my eating by my weight, not by the behavior. The scale also is allowing me to judge exactly how much influence my ED can exert on my daily life without feeling threatened. Without the scale to guide my judgement, I will be forced really to use my eating behaviors and choices as my guide. I am feeling happily excited about this, but at the same time feel like Linus without his blanket.
Getting another estimate for turf today and have put out more feelers for retaining wall contractors. I can't see paying 21K for a utilitarian retaining wall that I can't even see because it faces away from the house and yard.
Another tree pic for you!
Happy weekend...
