My first post! I've been lurking for a few days, testing the waters and I find them warm and inviting here. So Hello, and without further ado, I give you:

Top 10 Reasons Why I Don’t Lose Weight Anymore.

You’ll notice that says ‘don’t,’ not ‘can’t.’ I’m nothing if not realistic about my excuses, transferences and denials. I know better than anyone that losing weight is not for sissies. But hey, I have compelling reasons and I have come here to… what? Multiple choice now, because after all, isn’t multiple choice what dieting (excuse me, life style change) is all about? So why am I here at DietTalk?

A: To argue my points with myself, and anyone else who will listen?
B: To defend my life, or at least the place where I find myself just now?
C: To seek advice, suggestions and support?
D: To unload?
E: Or simply to keep my mind and hands busy so I stop forking comestibles into my face? Can’t type and eat at the same time.
F: All of the above?

10. The plateau from hell. In Dec 2002, I got a dire diagnosis from my doctor. Newly diabetic. Blood pressure, cholesterol and trikes red-lining. I was a walking heart attack waving passing ambulances to the curb, looking for a gurney to collapse on. I got scared and followed my doctor’s diet, and took off 72 pounds in something like 8 months. But then it was like damning up a stream. Nothing came off anymore. And I found that in order for me to lose anything at all anymore, I had to stay at no more than 1000 calories a day. I just can’t stay committed to that for very long. Because:

9. I’m hypoglycemic. Losing the weight and staying on the diet and exercise program made the diabetes a non-issue. It only took 2 months and the first 25 pounds to make the diabetic meds unnecessary. I started experiencing dramatic blood sugar lows, bottoming out in the 50’s and 60’s almost daily. The meds were stopped and the diet adjusted, but the damage was done. My pancreas can no longer gauge the correct amount of insulin to impart to my bloodstream, and the carefully balanced carb intake means there’s not much in reserve for glucose dumps when it’s needed anyway. So I must eat every 5 hours or my blood sugar level drops. The dramatic crashes are uncommon now, because I never let them happen. I carry glucose tabs with me always, and take food with me on long hikes. So, it’s damn near impossible to meet that frequent meal schedule and stay under 1000 calories a day. Breakfast: under 200. Lunch: under 350. Dinner: under 450. That’s 1000. But I still have to take 3 snacks in there somewhere, at least 25gr of carb each. I decided my health was more important than losing more weight, and if my stingy metabolism wouldn’t give over even one more pound at 1200-1400 calories a day, then I’d just have to accept it. But:

8. What about exercise, you say? More calories out means more weight off, even if you eat a little more. You’re right! See, I knew you were smart and helpful. I walk at least 2 miles at least 3 workdays a week, and then on weekends, I just go crazy, hiking 6-8 hours every Sat and Sunday, weather permitting. And it takes a lot of weather to keep me in. I’m fine anywhere from 20*-90*. Even I have my limits. I’ve hiked in driving thunder storms, white-out snow storms, howling winds where the trees threw things at me, and steaming stagnant mosquito-ridden 100* and 100% humidity. I’ve hike with my wrecked knees in braces and I’ve hiked with streaming sinuses and 103* fever. So, what am I, nuts?! Nope. Well, maybe. I’m a geocacher. If you don’t know what geocaching is, Google it. You’ll be glad you did. If you love the outdoors, need a reason to stay motivated on those long dull walks, want to learn more about your town and state and want to meet the best new friends you’ll ever have, try geocaching. When the weather is too severe, I have an elliptical trainer in my living room, smack dab in front of the TV. I do enjoy it, but must admit it’s way too easy to just step off any time you want. When I’m out in the woods, 2 miles from my car, I can’t just decide I’m done and step off. Gotta keep on keeping on. But there aren’t any geocaches to keep me going in my living room. The kitchen is way too close. And then there’s all those damn food commercials on the TV.

OK, yes. I can see that light bulb on over your head. But hey, you say. What about stepping up the pace? What about running and weight lifting and all the other more aerobic or resistance based exercises? Well, I’ll tell you:

7. Old car wreck injury knees and spine. In 1982, I, in my Toyota Tercel, was rear-ended on a freeway by a semi truck carrying 28 tons of grain. I spent the nest 6 months in and out of hospitals and physical therapy with 2 compressed discs in my neck and 3 in my spine. The legacy of that injury is still with me today in the form of arthritis in my neck and knees. My knees have very little cartilage left in them and cannot take high-impact activities. Walking at 244 pounds was not something I spent much time or effort at. But I started slowly with the diet change in 2002, and worked my way up. Was having no end of difficulty staying motivated, until I learned about geocaching. Then, I couldn’t get enough, and as the weight fell off, and my leg muscles got stronger, my endurance increased. I walk quite well without a limp and mostly, hiking is OK, but my knees do get surly in hilly country (what hills in Indiana, you ask? You’d be surprised!) I still keep my knee brace in the car. But running remains outside my reach. Not only because of my knees, but because:

6. Even after losing the 72 pounds, I didn’t lose much of it off my chest. I went from a 46 EEE to a 42E. And all that bouncing jouncing flesh is well out of the control or containment of any sport bra on the market Let’s face it here: bra manufacturers do not expect that anyone in that neighborhood of endowment would possibly imagine that they could run. That market must be so small in their minds that they don’t see the profit in even making anything that will attempt the job. That much bouncing meat is painful. So, unless I want to run while holding the sisters down with both arms (hands won’t cover half the real estate, kids,) or call Madonna and see if she’ll part with the name of her iron corset courtier, then running is out. At least until Dec 12, when I have my breast reduction surgery scheduled. Won’t fix them knees, but hey, I’ll be able to lose about 8 pounds overnight!

5. I’m no saint, and I feed emotions. What is it about a good mad-on, or a blue day, or just about any reason to celebrate that just makes me ravenous? Now, to keep me honest, you really have to watch those semantics. You’ll note I didn’t say ‘hungry.’ Because hunger has very little to do with these binges. Oh, I may be hungry when I get started, but when my emotions are churning I have no OFF switch. I just keep on shoveling. Past the point of full. Past the point of loosening belts, sweating profusely, belching and groaning. And still that craving will not say STOP! Still, that seratonin trigger has not fired. There is no satisfaction at the end of these events. No sigh, and belly pat and peaceful easy feeling. (And yes, binging is a lot like sex for me, but that’s a different excuse. Er, I mean reason.)

4. I feed stress. And I work for the American Red Cross. The last 2 months have been brutal for a great many people, and I fully realize that my contributions to the relief effort, way up here in Indianapolis, cannot begin to measure up to the stresses face by those who lost lives, loved ones, livelihoods, homes. But I cannot deny that it has been one of the most stressful times in my life (see also reason #5.) And Stress makes me want to EAT! It doesn’t help that our lovely restaurant community has been so gracious in donating meals, breakfast lunch and dinner, to help keep all of the volunteers and staff fueled everyday for 2 months. Under normal circumstances, I seldom eat out anymore. I take maybe two or three meals out in the course of a month, and those never at work. I always bring my lunch to work. But here it is: a nice varied buffet, all laid out and free. Longer hours; working weekends; non-stop need everywhere I look. FEED ME! And so I have gained 8 pounds in the last 2 months. Yikes!

3. I live alone. Never been married; never had kids. That is a blessing in many diet ways. I don’t have to have groceries on hand that I can’t eat, to satisfy others in the house. I work out when and as long as I like. If I want to be gone out on the trails all weekend and let the housework moulder and the laundry putrify, I’ll have no one to explain it to but my 2 cats. But there’s no one to see if I fall off the wagon. No one to scold me or give me dirty looks when I stop for pizza on the way home. No one to congratulate my successes or nag my back slides. And also:

2. No one to, um, meet other basic human NEEDS. Food is a poor substitute. You don’t have to tell me that. I’ve lived alone all of my adult life. It was a personal choice I made early in my 20’s, and one I very seldom regretted. I am basically a very selfish person, I guess. But that’s not how it started. Mostly, it was self-preservation and self-defense. After an abusive childhood and a couple of disastrous relationships, I decided that there’s only one thing a man has that I want, and I learned to live without that. (I’m talking about money. I don’t know where your mind went there!) And I’m not gay. So what’s that leave? Yup. Pizza. Didn’t help that I worked in pizza restaurants for most of my 20’s and 30’s. Now, being alone is just a long comfortable habit. Speaking of money:

The number one reason I don’t lose weight anymore: I’m poor. I’m sure I mentioned that I work for a not-for-profit organization. Sure, I’ve had better paying jobs, but after years in food service and retail, I know that it’s more important to love your work and make a difference than to make better money but work outrageous hours and never have time for a life. In the five years since I escaped food and retail work, for the first time in my life, I have friends. Lots of friends, courtesy of the geocaching community. It’s my favorite fringe benefit of the weight loss and exercise.
But losing weight ain’t cheap. Healthy food is much more expensive than fast food, sugar and fat. The good stuff is seldom on sale, and there are no coupons for produce and fresh fish. I can’t afford a health club membership. I can’t afford yoga classes or a personal trainer to teach me how to work out better within my physical limitations. A home gym? Heck, it took me six months to pay off that elliptical trainer. Then I had to put a new roof on the house and replace the furnace and A/C in the same month. Just when I’ve nearly paid all that off, I’m getting this breast reduction done, and my insurance won’t cover it. (But my very generous sister is helping.) My car is 11 years old and has 135, 000 miles on it, and it’s all I can do to scrape up the bread for the gas to go caching every weekend. But some things in life are more important than money. Won’t cut out that.

So, there you have it. Let her rip, gang! Suggestions, support, advice, criticisms. Even cold, hard reality. I can take it. Heck, if I can take on Katrina, Rita and Wilma, I can handle you all!

um.


Wow.


:wave:

Hi, nice ta meetcha, I'm Jess. Sounds like you have some serious stuff happening. I can't help you with money, signif one and child and dog and I are really strapped as it is (God I love overdrawn notices.) --but I'm a good listener :)


(un?) Solicited advice??
Up the standard daily cals--if you're not hungry, you're less likely to feed the emotional issues. WHen I'm hungry, I am in danger of being the binge-o-matic machine, and that's on a good day. So...I dunno, at 179, I'm thinking 1500 is as low as you should ever go. (but I'm not a doctor or dietician. SOrry.)
Cheap fruits and veggies I have found: Frozen sale ones. Roma tomatoes. grapes can come and go, and when they're cheap, I buy and eat and feed in bulk, more or less. Certain apples, certain times of year, are pretty good deals. And carrots and celery. Generally cheap, year round. BUy these, and feed emotional urges thusly.

Last: exercise. I help comoderate the exercise forum here, and I wil tell you my dirty little secret: I really started losing weight when I stopped focusing on my movement, and started focusing on my intake. Seems the 3 hour wourkout sessions created a very hungry Jess, same as the 1000 cal days did. Hungry Jess likes to eat, and lose control eating. and then not lose weight.


...and that is all I have.

Hope to see you more, your writing is refreshing and open and smart. All good things!!

:wave:

Hi there,
i am on my way out the door to work but just wanted to stop in and welcome you to Diettalk! you have an awesome way of writing..i laughed out loud at your description of running whilst holding "the sisters" down..
i look forward to getting to know you better.
There are a couple of other geocachers here at Diettalk..sounds like a good outdoors activity..should check it out here in Australia.
anyway...welcome again..i am sure you will like it here!
hugs bell :)

Wow, impressive post. I'm not good at advice but I do have two shoulders to lean on and listening ears :)

I can relate to many of the things you're saying, especially about money, eventhough you appear to be my direct opposite and plenty of other ways. I'm not too good at the American food prices but from what I've noticed they are pretty close in range to the ones over here.

Vegetable soups has been my help through all of this, accompanied with some high fiber sandwhich. Now a big help for me is that I actually like the soup I make most of the time. I make a batch with potatoes, carrots, leek and ... yeah if I knew the word in English I'd put it in here... add a bit of chicken broth and some salt and pepper. Costs me about 2-3 dollars per batch and they last 3-4 days if me and my better third (can't call him half since he's so damn skinny) eat it for dinner every night.

Maybe just take it slow... eat sensible, keep moving about (but be carefull on the knees) and drink lots of water, are you in a hurry? If you need a slap on the wrist or some comfort after messing up, I'll gladly help out.

Hi :wave: & :welcome:

My grandkids ages 5 & 6 are here and I can't believe I will even get this short post completed lol

I don't have the can of answers BUT together with all the wonderful DT members here - we will support you and work this out.

I come from the old school of hard knocks ;)

Hang Tough !

Will be back in a few days when brain cells regroup after kids go home :D

Thanks, group. Appreciate the replies.
Jess, I gain weight on 1500 calories a day. My metabolism is incredibly stingy, and my job is very sedantary. I struggle to keep it under 1300, and pay the price when I boost it. I do walk at least 2 miles a day at least 5 days a week, weather permitting. And eliptical when I can't walk. There's a great walking park just 5 minutes from my house with a 1 1/2mi cloverleaf track around it. Doing a double figure 8 gives me 2 miles.

You're right that the 1000/day is non-conducive on the exercise front. I lack energy at that level. So I always come home from work, eat an early dinner and then go to the park while I have fuel on board. New Reason #11 in the very near future:

11. It's getting dark too early now!! By the time I get home from work, snarf 450 calories and hit the track, it's dusk. By the time I complete a fast 2 miles (35-40 minutes; that's fast walking for me: I have short legs,) it's nearly full dark, and since (Reason #1), I don't live in the best of neighborhoods. I am not comfortable walking alone in the dark, and all of my friends live on far sides of town. None of them are close. I've walked with people I meet in the park sometimes, but now that it's getting colder out, there's no one there but me and the runners at that hour. Everyone else is still at work or home at dinner, I guess. Or hibernating already. Pansies! No dog for me. I do like dogs, but my cats would disapprove! Plus (Reason #3) and I don't think it's fair to a dog to have to sit on a full bladder waiting tor me to get home when my hours can be erratic.

Bell, who else caches here? That's fun news!

Izola, Yes, I like to cook in bulk too. I love my crockpot, and make a cajun chicen gumbo to die for. The numbers (other than sodium) are very good on it, and I get about 9 servings from a pot. I also do alot of variations on chicken and rice with veggies, jambalaya with Healthy Choice sausage, and more. I freeze the extra and take them to work for good hot lunches. Much cheaper than buying Smart Ones (which I love and do use often as well.)
Am I in a hurry? Yeah, a little. My mini goal is to lose the weight I've gained in the last 2 months, plus another 12 pounds or so before my breast reduction surgery in mid Dec. Because I'll have to park it for 3 weeks after that, and I'm afraid that total inactivity, besides making me crazy, will make me eat out of ... uh oh, Wait for it; here it comes:

Reason #12: I eat out of boredom. Indoors on a quiet day? No gas for caching, no yard work needs done... Oh, No! Its the dreaded TV! I was such an addict in my bigger days. Spent 12+ hours a day glued to the commercial devil, watching Judge Judy give way to Oprah who turned into endless reruns of old sitcoms I've seen dozens of times with a sixpack of beer within reach, a bag of chips on my lap, and DING DONG! Oh, goodie! Pizza Hut's here at last! Oh, yeah. That's living, ain' t it?:shrug: These days, I certainly wouldn't do anything that heinous and sef destructive. But I might munch a whole bag of lite popcorn. Maybe a SF jello with fruit, how bout some Orville corn cakes? One after another til I snarf up 700 calories worth of the good stuff. Sigh.

OK, rebuttals?

Hello, 2QwerqE! Just thought I'd drop by to say "hey", and offer my support wherever/however I can. Loved your first post, btw. I mean I love the way you expressed yourself, not the stuff you've been through... We share a few things in common, so I can definitely commiserate with you re: the knees, the lower metabolism, eating while watching t.v. (I don't watch t.v. but I watch loads of movies), spending a lot of time alone (I'm married, but our schedules cause us to be away from each other a lot, and most of our friends are out of state)... We also have hiking in common. :)

Suggestions?

1. If your knees are okay with the elliptical, maybe you could make a deal with yourself that the t.v. can't be on unless you're on the elliptical. If it has a distance meter on it (I honestly can't remember if the one I use has it or not - will check today), tell yourself you must have gone x distance by the time the show is over, to help keep your pace up.

2. Most libraries carry fitness videos, and a lot of videos don't require any home equipment such as weights. Maybe you could check some out of your library for variety in your weeknight workouts. You'll have to watch them first all the way through to make sure they're okay for your knees.

3. 1000 calories just sounds way low to sustain a busy job and exercise. I'd ask your doctor if there isn't something else that could be done. Thyroid? I dunno? I've had to resign myself to vigilance on my intake and activity levels, but I'm seeing a slow, steady loss at ~1600 calories per day. Lower, and I wouldn't be able to exercise enough, and that wouldn't be a good thing...

4. I commend you for all the hard work you've done at the Red Cross on behalf of disaster victims. That's not a suggestion, just something I wanted to say. :)

5. I had a major problem with eating in front of the t.v. - I retrained myself to have herbal tea instead of popcorn. I get those sweet fruity kinds so it tastes like something.

6. On weekends, if you're bored and the weather's bad, how about spending time at the library (no food allowed! yay!) or a museum, gallery, etc.? I know money is tight but some have free admission. Or community plays/recitals are often cheap admission. Or how about volunteering? You must be pooped at the end of the week from Red Cross work, but there are some pretty low-energy volunteer jobs out there, in pretty fun environments, like a science center or theater.

7. You've already done a tremendous job of losing the first 72 pounds. That, too, is not a suggestion - just an observation. :)

Hope the breast reduction surgery goes well for you. I imagine that will be a big boost for helping you feel better. Hang in there, and welcome! :wave:

Crapola!! I just wrote a longwinded reply to Anne, and when I clicked post, since it had a photo attached to it, I got this :

'You are only allowed to post URLs to other sites after you have made 15 posts or more.'

And it dumped my entire reply! X-( X-(

If I'd've know it was going to do that, I would have done the reply on Word first and saved as I worked. Sigh.

Welcome to the world of diettalk.. Yep we sure learn a lot of cutting and pasting here as even we experience some losses in cyberworld when we post.. So glad you posted what you were feeling in your first post.. We get to learn a lot about a person such as yourself and know from there where we can help out.. Again welcome aboard..

sorry that happened to you - I 99% of the time copy and paste before hitting reply.

So, here's what I was trying to say:
Thanks, Anne. It's nice to 'meet' you. It was stumbling onto your journal that first led me to DietTalk. I was searching the net for keywords 'Yahoo groups weight loss,' and was paging through those links when one of the posts in another forum had a link to DT. When I got to the home page, your journal was the top link; newest post I guess. I was instantly hooked, laughing and commiserating all over the place. I spent my first 2 days on this site reading your entire 19 page journal, and then I sent the link to several frineds and coworkers who fight the same battle we do. Thanks so much for your efforts here! The other sites I scrolled through seemed thin and uninspiring by comparison. I'm enjoying reading the journals here!

You make some good points.
I do love the library, and have tried several of the fitness tapes. But the main problem I have is:

Reason #13 My living room is too small for much of what goes on in those tapes. There's maybe 4sq ft of floor space in front of the TV. But then, I guess moving furniture around is aerobic activity in it's own right!

I do own a 3-tier step bench and step video, but it's too hard on my knees. Too high impact.

As to asking my doctor for help, he's a great guy, and I'm very happy with him. But he is a candy man. And I don't want to take drugs if I can help it. I am prone to most every side effect listed with most drugs, and they are often a bigger problem than what I'm trying to fix.

I've never been much of a tea or coffee drinker. Might have to try that. Sounds nice when the weather's cold. Tomorrow's grocery day; got any suggestions of your favorites? Brand names, please.

I have always loved the library. (Worked at a Borders Books for 7 years. Best perk was free loans of any book on the shelves!) :D I don't read nearly as much as I used to. Reading seems like a 'before' thing to me these days. You know: Curl up with a good book, a blanket across my knees, a cat in my lap and a big fresh bag of Ruffles and a glass of wine! Spending many hours/days completely immobile, totally immersed in other people's lives and experiences, like watching TV, was a trigger to gnosh, and I mostly gave it up and decided to get out and create my own life and experiences. But I do miss reading, and will certainly return to its comforts while I am recuperating this Dec. But, hey! I did write a novel. Can't get it published, but it's done. Unlike reading, I never eat at the keyboard.

Indy has some great museums, but the admission can be pretty high (most are around $12.) I do enjoy them, but it's an infrequent treat, usually to entertain out of town visitors when the weather's sour. Going out indoors for me is more likely to mean trolling antique malls, flea markets and mall malls. Oh yeah! Recreational shopping! I'm in big trouble now! Must avoid them like Burker King. Antique malls are like Krispy Kreme to my wallet, but it doesn't get fatter with the indulgence. Nope! It gets as deflated as my ego after an ice cream binge. Wow. That's one messed up metaphor, isn't it? :laugh:

Volunteering? Nah. If I am going to work a second job, I'm going to get paid for it. But my off time is too important to me and I don't want to be locked into a tight schedule like that. Maybe, if my finacial circumstance gets too tight, I'll consider a second job for a time. But not now.

So, today, I went to Brown County IN. It's a densley forested hilly region (part of the Hoosire Nat'l Forest, actually,) and had Indiana's largest state park. But I was seeking remoteness, not crowds on this perfect fall Saturday. So I went south of the park about 8 miles, to a place called Mt Nebo. No mountain, but lots of hill and great trails. I did 4 miles on rugged trails, found 2 geocaches, saw 3 deer and a troop of wild turkeys, and not another living human. It was excellent. Temps in the mid 60's, bright skies, fall color exploding all around me. Soothed my soul. (here, I inserted a photo that the DT nixed because I'm too new. Perhaps I'll try it this way and see if I get away with it as text. Copy paste it to your address bar:

Nope, didn't fly. Had to delete it. Sorry. I take great pics!

Breakfast: a banana and water, because I knew I'd have an early lunch.
Lunch: an Arby's SW chicken wrap, no sauce, and a diet Coke. I know, it's a tad over the budget, at about 425cal without the sauce, but I wanted the sodium for the distance hiking, to help me stay hydrated. Arby's is loaded with sodium! Plus I knew I'd work it all off hiking.
Dinner: A brown bag lunch I brought with me, on a picnic table at an overlook. Turkey breast sandwich on lite wheat, with 2% pepper jack cheese and salsa instead of mayo. 300cal. Lite yogurt 85cal.
Hiking snack: an apple.
Late night snack: SF pudding cup. 60cal and an Orville corn cake 60cal.
Since fresh fruit and veggies are free on my doctor's diet, up to 5 servings a day, even though I ate fast food, I'm OK at under 1000.

My knees are surly about today's hills, but they need to shut up and behave, because I'm going out again tomorrow! :D

Thanks again, group.

So, last night, I was dreaming about my nice hike in the woods yesterday. But then in my dream, I got all tangled up in a briar patch, because that trail was an old fire trail that was being re-claimed by the forest, and the opportunistic briars were invading the trail. In real life, I didn't have too much trouble with those briars; just stepped on them and went on through, instead of trying to push them aside, which I know can be a mistake. But anyway, in my dream, old Brer Rabbit, from the old Uncle Remus folk tales, popped out from behind a bush and started to laugh at me, all hopelessly tangled in that briar patch. He laughed alot. I told him, 'You said this was a laughing place, and I ain't laughing.' And he said, 'I didn't say it was YOUR laughing place! I said it was MY laughing place!' and he laughed a whole lot more, so I told him, 'Don't get me started on that whole tar baby thing.'

Now, if any of you grew up as I did with the Uncle Remus tales, you know that this is a conglomeration of pieces from 3 separate stories. If you are unfamiliar and curious, you can Google them. They are: Brer Rabbit and the Briar Patch, Brer Rabbit and the Tar Baby, and Brer Rabbit's Laughing Place. You might also be familiar with Disney's Song of the South, which was based on the Uncle Remus tales. Don't know that that one has ever been released on video or DVD. I could be wrong, but I know it was villified as being hopelessly un-politically correct, not to mention racially offensive. Which race was being offended is open to some debate, but I won't get into all that here. You can find those debates elsewhere on the web if you are interested.

I guess my point today is: Go out today and seek your laughing place, but watch out for the briar patches, and ignore that sniggling, laughing rabbit behind the bushes.

Grins, 2q

Today was good. 8 geocaches in 3.5 miles. Most of them were short jaunts in urban parks, but 3 of them were in a lovely nature preserve, which accounted for 2 miles of my day's total. Beautiful woods on a perfect fall day. Scared up a pair of grouse (grouses? grice? :laugh: ) that were nesting underfoot in a tight little clearing under an enormous tulip poplar tree. Didn't even know they were there until they exploded from beneath my feet, less than 3 feet from where I was standing. Amazing to me that they can hold onto their terror at thier home being invaded by a giant gullumphing around in hiking boots, that they can wait and hope I won't notice them, trying to protect their nest until the last possible second when they must make the choice to flee or die (If I were a cat, or hunting hound instead of a human, that is. OK, plenty of humans would cheerfully do them in, I'm sure.) Just thought that was cool.

I guess there's a diet-based corollary there somewhere, but I'm too tired to come up with it. Theories?

B: two slices of FF SF lite wheat bread with a smidgeon of SF strawberry jam. 130ca, H2O
L: Chicken breast sandwhich, same bread, 2% pepperjack cheese, very little lite Miracle Whip 320cal, lite yogurt, 85c, diet coke, a fresh peach. I know, more bread, but I needed it to be a portable picnic lunch.
D: 10oz chicken and rice crockpot leftover from the freezer 240cal, lite yogurt, 85c, H2O
Hiking snack: an apple, H2O
late night snack: 2 Orville corn cakes 120cal. H2O
Total: 980c, but too much carbage.

Tomorrow, it's supposed to rain, but I'm hoping I have time for some yardwork before that happens. Need to clear up for the season, mow one more time, pull out the remains of the veggie garden, trim hedges, kill wild newborn catalpa saplings and trim back the ugliest bush/tree from hell, the nemesis of my yard. Thing is, the hedge trimmer and chainsaw are electric, so if it rains, even if it stops raining, I can't use them on wet grass. Think the neighbors will mind if I fire up the chainsaw at 7am? :D

OK - I have to ask lol what is a geocaches :shrug:

Gee, Beth. Thanks for asking! Geocaching is a game. People hide caches (boxes of stuff) all over the place. There are 1600 of them in central IN alone. There are hundreds of thousands of them all over the world, in something like 112 countries. Check it out at geocaching.com. Put in your zipcode, and you will be surprised at what you will find near you. So, anyway: people hide these boxes of stuff, go online and post cache descriptions and GPS coordinates. Then players take a handheld GPS receiver and go out and find the boxes. Most contain toys for the kids, small tools, outdoors items. Trinkets, really. And after a time, the good stuff does get gone. You're supposed to take an item and leave an equal item, but equal is in the eye of the beholder. Sometimes there's not even a box, just a tiny container with a logsheet to sign. There's always a logbook, so you can prove you were there. But it's not really about the stuff, exept maybe for your kids. It's about the journey. It's about discovering all the public green spaces you never knew were there. It's about your local history and zoology and botany and community. Then, after the find, you go back to the computer cache desciption page and log your visit there. Tell the cache hider about your game. Or just say you found it and get a smiley.

gawd, I love caching. I have met the greatest people doing this. We have meetNgreets, usually a picnic in a park, and attendace gets bigger every time we meet. My first picnic, maybe 50 people showed up. At this year's annual fall picnic, amost 200 people came. Yowza! Too bad I had to miss it, because Katrina took my weekends for awhile there.

It gives a purpose to the boring tedious walking: there's a box to find here somewhere, and I'm not leaving til I found it! Oh, here it is! On to the next one, and the next and the next! My top # in one day's games was 22. 5-7 is par, though, for me. Depends. Sometimes, it's only one long 4 mile round trip remote woods hike for a single cache: my favorite kind of cache! Sometimes, it's a series of urban micros .10mi apart. Micro caches are itty bitty things hidden in very public spaces; usually tiny containers like a film canister, a Listerine strip package, even a crack vial; anything big enough to hold a strip of paper. These are great, because they lead you to places like art installations, tiny gardens, historical markers, great architecture. But they can be very hard to find!

If you are curious and would like to play a game just to see what it's like, you can create a free user name and log onto the local chatroom in the forums. I'm sure someone would be happy to take you out for a walk in the park. But watch out! One find and you just might be hooked! :laugh: :laugh:

While you are there, look up my profile. I use the same user name there. You can visit my photo gallery and read my logs if you like.

Aren't you glad you asked?

Hi. :wave:

Just so you know, to wipe out your #6 reason (until Dec 12th when your surgery is scheduled), there are bras for you. I know this because it's for me, too.. it's called the enell ( www.enell.com ) they ROCK!! I went from wearing two bras to one. People say I look like I have lost weight and I think it's because the girls are controlled.

I jump around a lot so I need more control than running and they just rock.. :x

Anyway, welcome to DT.. I can't fathom eating 1000 calories per day.

Corinna

Halloween; sigh. It's not just having the candy in the house; it's that fabulous wafting smell of lovely chocolate emminating from the bowl everytime you answer the doorbell! I gave in to the temptation demon, but I hope it won't cost me too dearly. This morning, I stepped on the scale to a 2 lb loss (after 5 days on 1000c/day.) Acceptable. But the 350c in chocolate that I scarfed tonight might well set me back a tad. Maybe not, tho, because I worked like a plow horse in the yard today: 7 hours of chainsawing, hedge trimming, garden pulling, green bagging, lawn mowing, leaf raking, ugly tree whacking fun.

B: SF strawberry jam on SF FF wheat, 2 slices 130c, h2o
L: pulled pork BBQ (Lloyds), same bread, 2% pepperjack cheese, no condiment, lite yougurt, SF jello w/fruit: 440c, diet Coke and h2o
D: SW chicken and rice, mixed veggies, lite yogurt 335c, h2o
snacks: afformentioned chocolate bites: asst. mini candy bars

ow ow ow owww, my shoulders and neck are surly, and my arms are lasagna noodles (wavier than spaghetti, because they are actually quaking with fatigue.) Ibuprofen is my friend. That and a double bourbon and diet coke (Seagrams VO 80 proof) 130c.

Total for the day: 1385c. Sigh. Not terrible, but over budget for sure.

Gotta take that leftover candy to work for the volunteers. Only problem is I'm off tomorrow (last day of my lovely 4day weekend; double sigh.)
--goodnight all.

Thanks Corrina, but you must have missed Reason #1. $56.00 for a single bra!! Yikes!! But I guess it's cheaper than surgery that insurance doesn't cover. Too bad I hadn't seen that a long time ago; I certainly would've sprung for the dough (OK, the plastic) for a few of those. But I can't see spending that much on a garment that I can only wear for a few more weeks, so I'll pass. I'm sure others here can use that information, though!

I'm taking the day slow. After yesterday's yard work, my arms, shoulders and neck are screaming at me. Amy arms weigh a ton and the muscles are just quaking. Chainsaws will do that to you. I used muscles I haven't much used, for tasks I do maybe twice a year, and am paying hugely this morning.

So I'm taking the day off for excercise (or maybe just a walk this evening.)

Ow! whimper...simper... OW!

Congrats on the two pound loss! Hope your muscles calm down from all that lifting and mowing - just think of those aches as a reward for good, honest hard work. :)

If you haven't the floor space to do much exercise, how about adding more miles to your 2 mile park circuit for cardio? You can still do strengthening exercises in your confined living room space - I used to call it the hotel room workout. :) Crunches, pushups, tricep dips (off the edge of a sofa), lunges/squats/plies (maybe not for your knees though), arm exercises with cans instead of weights, etc. Things like Pilates don't take much floor space. You can do a dancer's barre workout with just a straight-back chair... lots of options. :)

Re: herb teas, try the Celestial Seasonings Fruit Teas variety pack. And Stash makes a nice licorice tea, that's also really good for sore winter throats, btw. And when all else fails, I treat myself to Crystal Light. I don't have it very often as I count it as junk food (artificial crap), but sometimes it hits the spot.

Hope those suggestions help! Hang in there, and have a terrific day.

P.S. Geocaching sounds fun. :)

hello,2qwerqE!
Nice to meet you!
hope you don't mind that I stumbled upon your journal. The title caught me and I just had to!

Your reasons, although understandably frustrating, were put in such an entertaining way, I just had to giggle!

One thing that works for me (don't know if it would work for you but may be worth a try) is I turn the menu backwards when weight loss seems to be at a standstill. Meaning, I make Breakfast the big meal and dinner the small meal. I figure if I eat big when I'm most likely to be active, I'll burn it off better. Seems to work well for me. I also go heavy on the veggies. That gets me kick started again.

I, too have a very small work out space to exercise to videos. So instead, I put on my favorite music and exercise in the other room where I have a bit more space. I actually get a better work out that way. I just take the best moves from the videos and make my own routine.

And I also am really hating the new end of Daylight Savings Time! I walk every other night with my 4 year old and it has not been much fun this week. I'm more worried about keeping an eye on where he is in the dark than on my workout. No fun!

I wish you he best and look forward to watching you progress on this journey! If you need a shoulder, feel free! You've got a lot of friends here just waiting to cheer you on.

Reason #14: (I gotta a million of em! OK, maybe just another dozen or two...)

I'm 49!!

You young ladies think you've got hormonal imbalances? Hah! I challenge you to a **tch-off. I already win, you hoity prancing high-chested tight-chinned firm-butted Barbie! Yeah, you know who you are! Oh, oh! You think because you're a tad on the well-rounded side that I can't possibly mean you? I got news for you! That chin of yours might be double, but at least you can still find your razor-- er, I mean toothbrush when you drop it. So you think that if you've got saddlebags you can't be the Barbie prototype? Ha! At least when you run in the park, it doesn't look like your six pack of gerbils fell off their wheels in there! Yeah, you with your lovely taut arms. What do you know about anything? I tried to raise my visor in the car yesterday and nearly slapped myself silly. I'll have to remember that one next time I get stopped for speeding. Hey, officer, look over there! Smack! Wait, no, it's over there now! Smack! By the time he picks himslef up off the pavement, I'll be in the next county sipping a latte and trying to convince Jean Pierre at Starbux that the cleavage packed into Detroit's finest chrome plated boostier is still worth ogling; just don't look ten inches to the north or he might think he found the luggage that ATA lost when he was on vacation last weekend with another freaking Bambi von Jiggleshorts like you.

Oh, this is too hard to keep going; I simply can't do this topic justice on a clean family-oriented site like DT. But the very next time I hear one of you complain about your 28 day turnaround, you better hope I'm not on the long side of a 21 day salute to Auntie Rosebud, because I just might have to paint the town r&* &&(^$$#(* (&&#$@#%^*&*$#$ *(*&^%!!

Oh, I am ever so sorry about that last tirade! and here you all have been so kind to me in here. But I've caught my breath, downed 4 ibuprophens and a shot of something warm and brown. I'm much better now. Honest.

Anne, thanks for the exercise suggestions. You're right; I don't do much in the way of upperbody. It's all that slappy slappy. I just really have trouble dealing with that; but not for much longer! I've never tried pilates; don't even really know what that is, but I'll have to check that out. I did buy some tea. I had already done the grocery run before I got your reply, so I guessed and got some Bigalow. It's a sixpack of mixed flavors. And it's OK. Maybe I'll like it better with a little 1% milk. I guess it's an acquired taste. I'm not saying I hate it. it'll just take some getting used to. But since all else I ever drink is water and diet Coke, something hot is nice on a cold morning, no doubt about it.

BB, Thanks so much for dropping in. All are welcome! All are welcome in the light... oh, sorry. I do digress. Actually, since I work a sedentary job, the AM meal needs to be small, and lunch too. I do flip it on the weekends, especially if I am hiking, so that I am stoked for the hike. Then I pack a light trail lunch and try to behave for dinner. After 4-6 miles, though, I must admit it can be hard to get that beast to sit down and shutup in the atrium. It just wants to stuff it! OK, it usually wins. But not by too much.

Thanks, group!

That chin of yours might be double, but at least you can still find your razor-- er, I mean toothbrush when you drop it. So you think that if you've got saddlebags you can't be the Barbie prototype? Ha! At least when you run in the park, it doesn't look like your six pack of gerbils fell off their wheels in there!

AWESOME! :rofl:

Reason #15: I don't want to have to replace my entire wardrobe again. (see Reason #1.) Don't get me wrong here: nothing's more fun than shopping in stores I could never use before for sizes I only bought for my sister's birthday and xmas presents. Fun fun FUN! Until the credit cards start crying, because I hate wet pockets; it makes my $1 bills stick together...:laugh:

Thrift Stores! I adore them!
Everybody comments on the "NEW" clothes I'm buying.
Ha! my $6 wardrobes! I just know how to put it all together!

Also, I will be 42 in December so I understand the issues you have with the monthly cycle. I had hoped losing weight would help it some. And it has to some extent. But Unpredictable is the word of choice. I never know where, I never know when, except for the fact that I change into an Axe Murderer the week before. That's my only clue! Isn't Mother Nature a Beaut?

Hi there

Wanted to stop in and read your journal. You're a hoot, really. And that geocaching sounds pretty interesting.

I have an amazing tea to suggest for you - it's Bigelow, Vanilla Caramel flavored. It is SO good.

As for exercise, have you considered a light version of yoga? I think you can find tapes or books, maybe at the library, about yoga for injuries?

I have enjoyed reading your journal and think everyone has given very good advise. You have done so well with your weight loss and when you have your surgery you will be losing more. :) Maybe after surgery you will find that you are happier with your body and feel better.

Good luck

Carol

OK, this ceases to be fun, engaging or interesting when I go 3 days at 1000 calories/day and gain a pound.X-( Fer crying out loud! What's a girl gotta do, anyway? Makes me just want to take a freeking cleaver and chop a pound or 3 off my hips just so the scale is going in the right direction. This is so contrary to fair! If the contrary keepers of the scale decide that starving yourself puts on the weight, then gorging yourself must logically work the other way.
(stomp,simper, pout) :c(

I'll show them! (don't ask me who 'them' is, because you know darn well as I do who!) I'm going out to Golden Corral tonight and pig out massively. and it's rib nite at GC! They'll see whose boss around here! If contrariness works, then this gorge fest tonight should take off 3 pounds over night. Yeah, that'll show em. I'll show them all! Steak, pizza, ribs slathered in sweet BBQ sauce, fried chicken, mac n cheese, 6 kinds of potatoes, 18 different deserts, real soda, just keep it coming. I don't care if it takes a sumo wrestler to pull me off and a wheel barrow to get me to the car. whatever it takes to lose weight: that's what I'll do. I've told you all I'm commited, and I totally mean it. :caf: :caf:

But no worries: I'll see if that sumo wrestler has a brother for you! :D

OK, this ceases to be fun, engaging or interesting when I go 3 days at 1000 calories/day and gain a pound.X-( Fer crying out loud! What's a girl gotta do, anyway?

Oh my!!!!!! Please don't pull the pork around to that buffet just YET! From my years having to consult a dietitician in my anorexic fervor, I can tell you what is happening....
Your body is starving and hanging on to every sliver of a calorie it can suck down and hold onto. I know this from experience. At my smallest (size 2), I had to scarf a now legendary (among my family) few pieces of fruit in order just to maintain and not gain back any of those hard lost ounces.
Yes, I gained about 10 pounds in the 2 weeks I was in the hospital, but I felt so much better that I couldn't deny they were on to something.
So, before you get up close and personal with that sumo wrestler (they sweat a LOT, ya know) or down that pound of fried rice, remember that we are not all fortunate enough to have a speedy metabolism or fat cells that eat each other. Every day would be like Christmas if that were the case, but then we'd all be broke, now, wouldn't we?
If you MUST go and have some dumplings, then just remember "moderation" because that's what's going to save us once we're all in maintenance (are those angels singing in the background?).
Eat the healthiest stuff first - all those places have fruit galore! - and drink a couple glasses of water, then when you get down to the nitty gritty - your reason for going - you won't be able to overeat. Don't give yourself the option - trust me here.
I have 3 doughnuts on my belly right now that feel like that sumo wrestler is staging a comeback:mus:

BURRRPPPP!


I did it, and I'm not sorry in the least. I regret nothing! OK, I didn't go to Golden Corral. But I did stop by Popeyes for two pieces dark with mashed&gravy. (I didn't eat the buscuit.) 840c and enough sodium to salt the Great Lakes, but oh, man I luv that chicken from Popeyes!

Still, my total for the day is only 1350, so as I said, I regret nothing. Tomorrow I hike hilly Brown Cty Indiana again. Anyont want to join me for 5 miles or so?

OK, now that the beast is calm and quiet with something substantial to chew on besides the lining of my stomach, I can think clearly enough to answer your thoughtful and helpful posts.

BB, Yes I do use thrift shops. In fact, I'm sitting here at my computer in a very unfashionable $1.50 sweat shirt from Value Village. But since the thrift shops in my area do not have fitting rooms (really! not one does!) then I don't buy pants from them, because I am a tough fit for pants: 2 inches too tall for petites, but the rise on most pants, especially jeans and chinos, is so high on me that they come all the way up to my sisters, or I roll the waist band over twice. Now that's a snappy look! Erkle, anyone?

Unpredictability for TOM is one thing. Duration of the event is all together something I wasn't warned about or prepared for. I may get to wait 3 months for it to get here, but then when it does, like a visit from a bad uncle: it won't ever leave again until I utterly demoralized and thoroughly disgusted. 3 weeks! I never ever signed up for that!

Rabbit, I will look for that vanilla Bigalow, but it may be awhile til I work my way through the fresh box I just bought. Thanks for the suggestion. I'll look at the library for yoga and pilates both. Something new this way comes...

Carol, you are right: everyone here is so kind and helpful. Yourself included. Thanks for visiting.

Leggy, Thanks for weighing in, but I do hope you know I was only half kidding! :D Your suggestions for surviving a buffet are great advice. I mostly try just to avoid those places, but there is an event (a geocaching get together) soon, and it's going to involve a buffet restaurant. I'll have to remember your sage advice. Of course (see Reason #14) my old memory isn't what it used to be. It's a 70's thing...

LOL! 2Q, one advantage to living alone is you don't have to hear your husband say "Again? Jees! You just had it!!" I could just smack him straight in the middle of his forehead when he says that. Like I enjoy mother nature's little gifts! Paleeeeeze!

Oooooo, Popeyes. I love the smell of those places. I'm vegetarian, but I looove the smell of fried chicken. And biscuits! Mmmmm. Glad you treated yourself, and enjoyed it. :)

I'll join you for 5 hilly miles. Just let me get on my jet-pack and fly on over there...

Hiked the Charles C Deam Wilderness today, a 13,000 acre tract if the Hoosier Nat'l Forest. To say that it was sweet would do it no justice. Amazing old growth hardwoods gave over to lofty towering pine forest about halfway around the 6 1/2 mile loop. I love the pine forest best. So much to see and appreciate. Found an amazing Fly Amanita mushroom bigger than my open hand. Also, 2 species of russula, blood red and milk white; and some very common honeys and beefsteak polypores. Here's a pic for you:

Pines, fall color and blue sky (http://img.groundspeak.com/cache/log/2ae41a82-7042-4665-bd8b-cdd6c92e6c4e.jpg)


OK, one more, of a me with a couple of cuties I met on the trail. They turned out to be geocachers too, so we played a couple of games together.

2qwerqE and new friends (http://img.groundspeak.com/cache/log/5782d45b-cae6-4888-8887-b24287fcd1ba.jpg)

Did the entire 6 1/2 mi loop trail, but I took my time and enjoyed the day. Spent about 5 hours, and did it on 385calories for a picnic lunch (turkey breast sandwhich on lite whole wheat, 240c, lite yogurt, 85c, SF pudding 60c.) I even behaved for dinner, despite being very tired, and VERY hungry. Total for the day 1060. Good thing it's bedtime, because I'm hungry again! But I never eat at bedtime. One more pic for you:

Common honey mushrooms, upshot (http://img.groundspeak.com/cache/log/be7caac5-6609-4b51-be73-be34f79e0a78.jpg)

HEY, good job on picking up those cuties. And two of them, all to yourself! Way to find a hobby with benefits. I salute you. :laugh:

Sounds like you had a fabulous time. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Alas, Anne,if only... but I had the distinct impression that they were much closer friends than most guy friendships, if you get my dirft. And no, I didn't get that impression because they didn't make a pass at me!

Finally, here's that overlook pic that I couldn't post last week because I was too new:

Brown Cty State Park overlook (http://img.groundspeak.com/cache/log/bc2d0577-1542-4bd7-9388-eb2f74946e7e.jpg)

Ah, catching geocachers - nothing wrong with that!!! Even if they were bosom brothers, that's okay too because I've never had ANYONE do my hair and nails better than my lovely Ben&Ben (or Ben Squared as I prefer to call them). B2 wouldn't go outside if their collective collection of hot pants were being held hostage by Smokey the Bear himself8-|
I think it's SUPER that you've found an activity that you adore and can even make new friends at! Plus, it sounds like your discipline is not yet down for the count and that's fantastic. Makes that not eating at bedtime rule a lot easier to follow, I'm sure.
If you go slowly on the trail, are you still sore the next day? Or is it just old hat for ya?

Hi there,

My family used to go to Brown County State Park for camping trips when I was a kid. Have lots of fond memories of that area, including all of the artisans' shops in Nashville (is that stuff still there?). I have not been down there in probably 20 years... I love nature and hiking and you've planted seeds in my mind of going back. I know of 2 other geocachers here at DT. Definitely sounds cool to me!

As far as your dieting issues... you have done great so far! I can completely relate on getting stuck. I was stuck at 140-145 for about 2 years. I am now convinced that the way to break through and get beyond the block (whether it be mental, physical, or otherwise) is to radically shake up your plan.

For the first 4 years+ of my effort, I did calorie counting and low-fat eating. I do not eat many vegetables, and I hated exercise. I got into walking, and gradually worked up to Curves and some other things. After 2-1/2 years of Curves, 1-1/2 years of being stuck, I did some hard thinking and hired a personal trainer (you don't have to do this, I know it's a big expense). She made suggestions to me that at first I thought I could NEVER do. Things I would not have thought to try myself in a zillion years. She put me on a high-protein, low-carb diet, more or less Body-for-Life. I LOVE crunchy, salty carbs, and my staples were pretzels, multi-grain breads, light popcorn, etc. I had given up so many things, I did not think I could give those up too... AND she made me eat lettuce. I actually have found some lettuces I LIKE (!), and this stuff is making a humongous difference.

The trainer also has me doing very intense circuit workouts with weights, which are nothing like Curves, and sometimes make me sore for days. I can only afford to meet with her once a week, but these changes have made a huge difference. I'd gained 10 pounds after starting a new job. Now I've lost that 10 plus am 4 more down from my previous low...

A big change seems to shock your system into realizing what you want of it. As I said, these are things I *never* would have tried on my own, but it is working for me, so I've been able to stick with it, and it hasn't been hard. It took courage and overcoming some fear to dive in, but I don't regret it... You might have to think long & hard about how much you want to have to change to get what you want. It's not gonna be easy, but I don't think it's impossible, even for a woman with a million reasons! :)

Welcome to DT!

Lisrey :flower:

HI!

Enjoyed reading your journal. That is interesting, that game where you have to have GPS units to find things. How cool!!

On the photography pages, did you take all those pics yourself? They're great! You should send some of those into some magazines and see if you can get reimbursed for that.

I relate with the money situation. Hubby and I are barely surviving and have decent paying jobs, so HOPEFULLY, GOD WILLING AND PRAYERS BEING ANSWERED, we will get where we need to in due time. No worries. Great things happen to good people and if this is the worst of times, then I think I can handle anything....as my quote says.

Nice to meet you!

Thanks for visiting, all. I appreciate the feedback and ideas I am getting here!

Leggy, I got home last night, after the 75 minute drive back to Indy, and when I stepped out of the car, every muscle let me know its opinions about the day's play. It was a hilly trail. My feet were so swollen, it's a good thing I changed my hiking boots for my cross trainers when I returned to the trailhead, because it would not have been fun to try and extricate them from my boots after an hour+ time to rebel and swell. 6+ miles is rare for me. 3-4 is more par, and that is usually broken into smaller segments by driving from park to park, or trailhead to trailhead after each cache is found, and I move on to the next. But this was one long trail for 3 geocaches. Had to ice my right knee before bedtime, and ibuprophen helped me sleep. But surprisingly enough, I woke up OK. Ravenous, and a little muscle sore in the calves and thighs, but my knee seems fine. I was greatly relieved not to have been awakened in the night by leg cramps, as I used to be, so I know I'm stronger than ever.

Still, I took it easy today, and just raked the yard, mowed and did weekend tasks (grocery, laundry, housework, etc.)

So, does anyone have any suggestions about how to open a geode? Found a creekbed that had many geodes and a small one magically hitch-hiked home in my day pack. Damn heavy rock too, but I figured hey, if I used to carry around 70 lbs more on this back, what harm can this be? :D

Welcome Lisrey! I love Brown Cty! Park Cty is great too (Turkey Run and Shade Parks, ) and then there's that whole Ohio River Valley region, Clifty Falls, and Charletown State Park. Yep, Nashville IN is still the Branson/Gatlinburg of Indiana. More so than ever, it seems. It's a fun diversion, but I avoid it for 2 reasons: the BK wallet flattening effect and I'd much rather be in the woods than in the crowds of people any day.

I tried the low carb, high protein thing back when it was huge, but it gave me intestinal problems. I'd get so bound up you'd think that diet was S&M for the descending colon. Not for me, thanks. My carb intake is closely controlled for the diabetes and hypoglycemia anyway. My doctor's diet balances carb intake against fats, protiens and sodium. I do need potasium supplements when I get below 1200c/day, tho. But yeah, I am seriously stuck. Can I do better? Absolutely! I'm no saint. But I have real trouble manitaining 1000c/day for more than a few weeks. Still, it should be long enough to get rid of the 8 pounds I put on from the hurricane relief efforts at work. (then last night, tornados tore a swath through southern IN, and northern KY. One freeky disaster agter another...) I'm pretty motivated, in anticipation of the breast reduction in Dec.

You're absolutely right that I am an excercise slacker. Too much pain, no gain. I love the woods and am never happier than when I spend all day out there. But staying in front of a video, aimlessly flailing away at imaginary windmills... sigh. Or should I say 'tilt'... and pay Don Quixote the next day or two, the whole time dreading the next windmill session. Oh, I am such a whiner! 2% cheese please! But hold the crackers! Ah, well. As I said, I am motivated. So I will stop at the library after work tomorrow and see what they have on their workout shelves. I can do drudgery when it's too dark to go to the park. It's just too bad I am unlikely to run into any little Dutch boys in my living room. But I refuse to wear those freeky wooden shoes to workout in.

Side note: did you know the root word for 'sabatage' is 'sabo,' the Dutch word for wooden shoes. Because at one time in Dutch history, workers revolted against their brutal working conditions and threw their shoes into the factory machinery, thus sabotaging the plant. so My long stretching Quixote windmill metaphor is more apt for diet sabotage than you probably thought.

Melinda, yes, all those photos are mine. Thanks for your kind words. I'd love to make money on my photography, but that feels more of a lottery gamble than even the book publishing deal, now that anyone with a computer and digital camera can indulge their own creative impulses and shoot millions of pics, and write tons of books more easily than ever before, and the software make it all effortless, editting is a breeze (hmm, 2 t's or one in 'editing?' See, without spellchecker, I am challenged on the simplest of things!) and photo manipulation is really easy and very kewl. If you take digital photos, check out a free photo editing download at picasa.com. I use it alot. It does the best job at sharpening a fuzzy image of any software I've used.

No offense to the Mother Teresa quote, but I have seen plenty of people with way more on thier plate than anyone should have to handle in the wake of this year's hurricane season. Faith on that level is a real stretch for me. But I won't open that can here except to say that I'm very happy for you that faith is a comfort for you.

Thanks again, group.

Oh, and staying home today was not good on my willpower. But since I don't have illegal foods in the house, it wasn't as bad as it might have been. I stretched the limits of legal things, though and gnoshed my way though an extra 360 calories, 60c at a time, 60 for fruit jello. 60 for SF pudding cups. 60 for Orville corn cakes; 60 in a Nestle's treasure chocolate (yes, leftover Halloween, but I only permit myself 2 a day.)
Even when it's legal, it ain't good... Total today: 1390. Yikes! And I was lazy to boot! I suck!X-( X-(

I did not mean to suggest you should do the same plan I am... You hadn't said what plans you'd tried. My point is only this -- investigate some new things. The forums here have lots to share. Take your time thinking about where/how to plunge, but go for the big shake-up. Something radically different (modified for your health needs, if need be, of course) might shake you loose from your stuck point. I merely gave my own situation as an example. (If you knew me, you'd know how radical this plan is for me!)

I agree with a couple of earlier posts, too -- you probably aren't eating enough. Every body is different, but I've heard many testimonials here on how finding the right amount more calories helped get off a plateau. What does your doctor say about this?

Good luck!

Lisrey :*

Lisrey, I haven't been to see my doctor in a long time,except for an ear infection several months ago, because I am healthy. Funny how that works. Haven't asked him about it. But the very next time I'm sick enough to visit him I'll ask! :laugh:

I wasn't arguing with you. sorry if it came across that way. I can be a contentious ol frt at times!

I appreciate your suggestions and will consider what changes I might make. But eating more is what got me into this 8 lb gain, and at 1200-1400/ a day, I just maintain. At 1500, I gain. Every single time. If I don't keep it near 1000, I won't lose a pound.

Hey, at first I read that as 60 corn cakes, not 60 calories FOR a corn cake, and I was all WHOA, 60 corn cakes?!?!?!? :laugh:

Hope you find a video at the library. Thanks for the sabotage etymology - I love that stuff. OH! Btw, I forgot to comment on your Brer Rabbit reference a few pages back (yeah, I'm slow). I have an amateur interest in African folklore and its manifestations/adaptations in the Americas and Caribbean. The Brer Rabbit stories are interesting in that light. So yeah, I could appreciate your analogy. :)

Yeah, I ate 60 corn cakes; you want to make something of it? And then I wonder why I'm a big fat slob! Thanks for the laugh. Hadn't been to my laughing place today, til then.

Nope, I didn't take it as arguing! :) It's just hard sometimes to get things across the right way online, and I wanted to make sure I clarified. I would NEVER try to push a specific plan on anybody. We all have to choose for ourselves and find what works for us as individuals.

Something that strikes me about your posts is that you have a quick answer for every suggestion. I gained my weight over a 10 year period when I commuted an hour each way to work. Lots of fast food, lots of sedentary time, no time for exercise, and when I did have free time, too tired to do anything with it. I finally quit the job I loved (moving was not an option) and took another job closer to home so I could focus on my health. A year and a half later, having lost absolutely nothing, I had a revelation: I had been making excuses all along!

Sometimes these things just take time to absorb. The ideas need to sink into our brains and get well digested before we can act on them. I totally respect that, but don't just say "no," say "probably not," "not now," or "not yet." :) Your attitude and mental approach can have as much to do with weight loss as all the rest of it put together.

Lisrey :flower:

Yup. Quick answers come from having tried and then found out why some things don't work for me. I've had time to try alot of things in the 2 years I've been stuck. And as I said in my first paragraph of this journal, 'I am nothing if not realistic about my excuses, transferences and denials.' I know I make excuses, and I know I could do better. But I also know that I have come a very long way from 244 lbs, have learned alot along the way, and can stand to learn more from the fine people on this site.

As to the attitude, people who know me will tell you that I am one of the happiest people they know. I love what my life has become in recent years, have great hobbies that keep me busy and connected to new friends, have a geographically distant family that I am as close to as is possible over long miles, love my job and I attack new challenges with a spirit that borders on obsession. When I got scared enough to attack the weight loss demons, the quest for better health turned into a hobby for me, and I absolutley obsess over my hobbies. For example, in the 2+ years I've been geocaching, I have 570 finds in 5 states, an average of 5 finds/week. Not shabby if I do say so myself. So believe me when I tell you that my quest has been well researched and well executed, up to a point. Because as I've also said, I am not a saint. A martyr sometimes, sure. But not a saint. :laugh:

Q: How many of my mom does it take to change a lightbulb?
A: None. You just don't worry about me. <<<<SSIIIIGGGHHHH!!>>>> I'll just sit here in the dark. :laugh: :D :laugh:

Sorry; I just couldn't resist; it's an old family joke.

Hi there

You have my interest peaked in this geocaching - and some people in my office I have told about it. My husband has a handheld GPS - I sense a little adventure sometime in my future.

Your photos are indeed great - very enjoyable, thanks.

Dieting sux. Or, ahem, changing your lifestyle can suck. We just have to take it day by day and see how we go. I have a question for you though...at 177, like your stats say, could that be the weight you are "meant" to be? How tall are you? I only ask because on me 177 would look and feel great because I'm about 5'8". Maybe you aren't meant to lose much more? Just a thought.

Keep on 'caching and stuff!

Thanks, Rabbit, for your kind words. By all means: go caching! One day trip and you will be hooked.

I'm only 5'3". I'm definately still fat! Another 30 pounds would make me very cheery! My doctor did say that since I waited til after 40 to lose the weight, that I'll always have drapes of excess skin. Youth is elastic. Middle age, not so much. So he says I'll be carrying 10-15 lbs of excess skin, so not to set my goals too low for that reason.

Take note, our young dietters! Another reason to do it now! Your skin may adjust, much like it does after a pregnancy. But if you wait til your late 30's, you're going to have to live with all that sagging empty skin after you lose alot of weight.

2Q, I too get very obsessed with new things, and it has REALLY helped me a lot where weight loss is concerned. I cannot believe I am on week 16 and am still at it! I thought I'd have lost interest long ago. Something just really clicked this time (Diet Talk, perhaps???). I'm just glad it has.

And aches and pains? Yup. Got 'em. Have had 'em for years. I figure I may as well push through the pain of the hips and lower back and keep on exercising and moving.

I do find that I take a LOT LESS Ibuprophin these days than before I lost the weight, which is a bonus! I had noticed I was consuming an alarming amount of it prior to the diet - 1 vial a month. Not cool! Now I've got nearly a full bottle lasting 5 months so far. So things DO get better as we make progress. Never perfect, but at least better. Yay!

Keep smiling, lady! I love the stuff you're made of!

I love your pictures. It made me want to fly right up to Indiana and hike with you.

Carol

Come on ahead Carol. I'd love to meet you! I have a spare bedroom, and will run your tootie off. Hmmm. where to start? Certainly Brown Cty. But no, I'd have to say Cataract Falls, and the nearby Exotic Feline Rescue Ctr first. Just say the word.

I lived in Texas for ten years (Dallas and Houston areas) and don't envy you your geographic location. Too freeky hot! But I did cache a day there in the spring while visiting family. The woods are very different from Indiana woods, as the trees must be able to survive long dry hot spells with little root systems, since much of Houston is at or below sea level. You get lots of ponderosa pines, manzanita, and hickory. I just found the woods there interesting, and quite beautiful for very different reasons than IN woods.

Just say the word and you are welcome.

My husband's family on both sides are from Indiana. He was born in Indianapolis. His family were from the Noblesville and Lapell area.

I have been there once but it was one of those freaky times when it was hotter and more humid than Texas. I live on the Mexican border. It is hot here in the summer but not as bad as other places between here and Indiana. We are 60 miles from the Gulf of Mexico and usually have a good sea breeze all summer. If you can stay out of the sun you will usually be comfortable.

I would love to come up and see you.

Carol

I love your journal, just read it all through!

As to the calories, I agree that it may be that you're in "starvation mode." I've heard that you should never ever ever go below 1200 calories per day. Maybe you should try a week or so at 1200 calories, or even 1400, and see how it goes. Maybe you'll gain one but then lose three. The body acts in mysterious ways.

I'm envious of all your exercise! I just wish I had the motivation to do that much. Maybe another reason you're not losing is because you've maxed out on cardio and need more muscle to burn fat. Do they still sell those strap-on arm and ankle weights? That seems like an easy way to do some resistance training while you do your hiking, and I don't think they're that expensive.

OK, I've been trying out excercise videos from the library. They had a grand total of 5 on the shelf. I took home 3 of them, and left the advanced yoga (I've nver tried the beginner stuff yet! Would have if they had any,) The first one I tried is someone I never heard of, Minna, and it's called Emergency Workout. considering my job, my first thought was wow, a workout video for hurricane, flood and fire victims:laugh: I did OK. It's a half hour cardio dance, and a half hour resistance, toning. I got through about 20 minutes of the cardio and finished the toning part. It wasn't pretty! There's a reason I don't dance: things get broken; people get hurt. Stand back and give me room, because once that booty starts shaking, like ripples in a pond, there's no stopping it until it's a full fledged flab tsunami. Of course, I don't HAVE room in front of my TV. So much of it was seriously modified to allow for the space (or lack of it) and to allow for my surly knees. No jumping jacks and bunny hops for me! Forget pushups, or anything else on my knees. (sorry guys! :o ) My cats were amused to sit on the coffee table and watch the action.

The toning segment was much easier, low impact and good stretched with handweights (mine are 3.5lb dumbells.) Not sore at all the next day, other than a pleasant burn in my biceps and thighs. So I did the same one the next day, and finished the whole hour because I switched the order and did the toning first, and did the cardio second. Tonight I'll try a different tape. maybe David Carradine's beginning Tai Chi. I forget what the 3rd video is.

Welcome to my journal, ika. Actually I do normally stay at the 1200-1400c zone. It's my maintanance level, and I don't lose or gain at that level. I can't amintain the 1000c for very long, and keep gravitating back to the 1200-1400, perhaps from habit. Perhaps from caving in. Perhaps just because I suk at the starvation thing. I'm so weak! I do also have the aforementioned dumbbells, and it's true that I had to wipe dustbunnies and cobwebs off them for the last two nights video workouts. I don't have the strap-on type weights. Perhaps I'll try that idea. But it seemed like I'm carrying enough extra weight around on my body for natural resistance! But I also realize that the more weight I lost, the more resistance I also lost. Which is the same problem with the calorie thing. It takes more calories to run a bigger body, and the older you get the fewer calories you need (so I;m told) especially once you enter the dreaded menopause zone (and beleive me, I have.) My smaller, older, pausing self doesn't need or want more than that 1400, and anything more is excess bound for adhesion to the hips. Still, when I hike, I do carry a big fanny pack, which, along with water bottles, digital camer with long zoom and the GPSr, among other caching needs, is usually around 8-10 pounds. Add a geode or two, and you have real weight there. I know, It's not the same as having the weight at the ankles (for calves and thighs) and wrists (for biceps and triceps.) So I'll have to try your strap on weight idea.

sigh. I took the weight off in part so I could feel more comforatble walking, and now I'm planning on putting back on artificially. That's just wrong! what a contrary, twisted hyra-headed beastie this weightloss monster is! Perhaps we should just tie the weights around its neck and drown the sucker in the next frog pond I come across.

Glad you had some success with the workout videos!
I feel like a total dork when I do them. I've got rhythm, but some of their music choices are just not meant to be danced to!!!
HOWEVER... it doesn't matter if one can keep up and do them perfectly like the gals in the videos. What matters is trying, and getting the heart rate up, working up a sweat. That's what counts. So give yourself a gold star two days in a row!!! YOU ARE A SUCCESS, 2Q!!!!

I totally relate to not having enough room in front of the TV to do exercise videos. To top it off, my Sweetie monopolizes the TV at the "prime times" I would want to be doing exercise! (I guess a man's gotta have his sports.) :o

As far as the offerings at your library (I'm a librarian!), my guess is that they own a lot more than what you saw, but a good portion are checked out. Next time you're there, perhaps you'll see a whole different selection. Good luck & let us know how the other ones go!

Lisrey :)

Lisrey, my library does allow you to put holds on anything in the system (except reference materials), and when it gets returned, they send it to the branch you specify and hold it for you to pickup. Nice FREE service that is very well handled by the library staff. That it works, and works well, is always a great joy to me when something I've been waiting for comes in.

So, dear DTers, what are your favorite low impact workout tapes? I'll ask for them and see if they are available.

Just speaking generally, pilates, tai chi and yoga are usually low-impact. If they have a dancer's workout, like New York City Ballet Workout, I think that's low impact.

I don't know if they'd have it, but Jane Fonda had low-impact exercise videos back in the '80s.

People love her or hate her, but the one thing I like about Kathy Smith is that she emphasizes correct form and safety, and gives clear cues on how to achieve that. Most of her videos are low-impact, and all include low-impact modifiers. If you can find it, check out her Ultimate Stomach & Thighs video. It has one of the best exlanations of proper abs technique I've seen on a video. Fat Burning for Dummies is a decent low impact workout, and it's good for getting you familiar with basic aerobics moves (if you're new to it). A lot of people love the Leslie Sansone series, too. Also, check out the sticky in the Exercise forum for people's favorite videos. Good luck!

I have a Kathy Smith video. Have a VERY hard time keeping up with her. But she does have some really good exercises that I borrow to do to my own music.

I also have Sweatin' To The Oldies III. Richard Simmons leads you through a warm up session first and then jumps in to the harder stuff. I can actually follow that video without feeling like a DORK!

I have Pilates, but have not tried it in a while. Maybe now I ought to dig it out and see what I can do. I just know the last time I tried it, I felt so ROUND! No balance, I just rolled out of position!

I just picked up the Jane Fonda work out tape at a thrift store. But I see I will need weights to do the exercises. For the last month I've been using cans of veggies as weights as I exercise because I have no idea where I packed away my hand weight to! I know they're in a good safe place...?? So you might say I'm on the Del Monte Exercise program!:laugh: But it really is working! I've dropped an inch off everywhere on my body in the past month!

So I recommend you try the Richard Simmons - check them all out. He has many. They seem to be the best I've seen so far. Low impact and no freakin' jumping around! I hate when they do that! We just cannot jump in our living rooms! Don't wanna shake the knick knacks!

Thanks much for all the video suggestions. I'll be checking them out over a period of time. The David Carradine beginning tai chi was a real snooze, until it wasn't. Meaning, I have no coordination and zero grace and even less balance. By the time they got into all those twisting swooping combinations, they had left me humiliated in the dust. Now I remember the OTHER reason I don't want to work out in front of other people at a gym ($ being the other.) Plus, I was really creeped out by the way Carradine kept looking out at me from that screen, all bored and prying, sleepy and intense all at the same time, if that makes any sense at all. I wanted to put a bag on his head! :laugh:

The other video I have, Covert Baileys' Total Body Power' turned out not to be an exercise video at all. It was a basic primer of how the body metabolizes what we eat, and how the muscles use carbs and fats. That guy is way too weird. He thinks he's funny, but he's just sad and obnoxious. Wow, am I being judgemental? Yeah, but give me break! It's just a video after all. If I were him, I'd hire a hunky dude to teach his lesson! :D Still, it was good information, even if it was dumbed down. Don't know that I learned anything new, but it was a decent basic refresher course on the topic.

So, I'm returning those two, and will still use the Minna dance/toning video for a time, while I wait for some of my hold requests to come in at the library.

It's been a busy 3 day weekend for me. Fri was spent Xmas shopping. I started to go caching, but as I drove past the mall, I realized I had a rare opportunity to shop while most people were still in school or at work, and knew I had to take advantage of it or shop amongst the maddening crowds in future weeks. Since I will be out of commission following surgery in mid-Dec through year's end, I knew I had to do this now. Well, I didn't get done, but I got started. I spent a ten hour day trolling malls and giant boxes and strip centers, so it was lots of walking.

Yesterday, I went caching with friends. Found 17 out of 20 caches we looked for, including a meetNgreet event that was held at a Ryan's Steakhouse. OK, I was a naughty girl (OK, I was an 8-headed hyda beastie, and every one of those heads got their share!) for dinner, but at least I went into it with only 500 calories on board from breakfast and lunch combined, and had a good 3 miles of caching to my credit. I can't guess the calorie count from dinner. Couldn't ballpark it if I tried. But I did stop before I was stuffed. And yes, I hit the desert bar, but only had a tiny sliver of the German chocolate cake, and a dollop of cheery pie filling. After dinner, there were 15 event caches to seek. Spent at least another mile and a half at those games, with flashlights after dark, (only found 6 before I pooped out; it had been a long fun day.) and it was so much fun to meet so many new cachers!

Today, I was looking forward to the rainy day, so I could stay home without guilt or sunshine temptation and see to domestic chores. Worked this morning, but now the sun's out and calling me. If I didn't have to wait for the laundry to get done, I'd be out there already. So At least I did find tome to write here today.

Just went to check on the laundry. The dryer buzzed after 2 hours, and the stuff is cold and wet. Crap! The dryer's out again. X-( X-( Not for the first time, and probably for the last. I'm tired of sinking money into repairing this surly cheap thing. It came with the house, and has been destroying socks and pulling off zippers long enough. (the drum seal has pulled away from the drum, leaving a sliver of space that snags towel corners, zipper pulls and socks and mangles them.) Now that the elements are shot (again), it's the last straw. The washer's still OK. but I guess it's time to bite the bullet, chomp the credit card, and go buy something I can depend on.

Guess I could just do what my neighbors do: string the clothing out along the back chainlink fence to dance in the breeze and entertain their doggy who loved to chew things up. Nah. I only have 5 shirts I can wear to work, and can't have him eating them!

Guess I'll see if my other neighbors will spare their van to help me bring home a new dyer, and save me the $50 delivery fee.

OK, the new dryer is here, and it was very great to start the laundry at 5 and be done and dry by 6:20! I took 2 1/2 hours to dry a single load in that old clunker. So: happy dryer dance of joy...at least until the bill comes in!

Bad news on the breast reduction surgery: I called to try and get them to solidify the date. They had told me it would be Dec 12, 13 0r 14, and they would call to let me know the firm date. They didn't. So I called, because my sister will come stay with me for a few days after, and she needs to finalize her work and travel schedule and flights from Dallas. The surgeon's office dropped the ball, and didn't get the dates firmed up, because they were wiaiting for a document from my GP doctor's office to submit with the insurance request, so they never submitted the paperwork. Doesn't matter much. I'm pretty sure insurance will deny it; they did last year. I told the surgeon last Oct, when the scheduling was done, that I intend to get it done anyway, and am prepared to pay for it myself (my Dallas sister is helping me with this), and so schedule it anyway. They said they'd hold that 3 day window for me. They didn't. Now they say Dec is full, and it's too late for me. <big freeky SIGH!!!!>

Dec matters because it's the slowest month of the year for us at work, and being gone a chunk will not terribly back me up. Plus I could tack on those sweet holidays to stretch the paid time off into 3 weeks, and only actually spend 10 PTO days to do it. and it's good timing for my sister too. January, on the other hand, is one of the busiest months for my department at work, and there are no holidays to buttress the time with.

Well, I'm not taking this lying down. I intend to push them to make good on their promises from my Oct visit. It's open-ended still, but I don't think it'll go my way. Gawd, I just want and need this done!

Hooray for the new dryer!!!!!
I know what that is like!
We just got a new circuit breaker in our house. Prior to that I could wash or dry but not both at the same time. Now I have caught up on that mountain of laundry! Towels no longer take all night to do! It's heaven!

Bummer about the doctor's office! Raise some heck! They will bow to you if you do!

I had a mammagram scheduled that got re-scheduled. And because of that, they gave me a Chamber of Commerce gift certificate for my inconvenience. So I believe if you are firm with them, they will get you in.

Wow, I was disappointed today because my dr's office called to tell me their flu shot clinic has been cancelled because of low supply, and therefore my appointment is cancelled, too. I was bummed, but you must be REALLY bummed. I'm so sorry. I understand all about that scheduling in with the holidays thing. Good luck trying to work something out...

Lisrey :console:

Had a great hike today, in the same area of Hoosier Nat'l Forest that I had visited a couple of weekends ago. Spent 4.5 hours and did almost 7 miles on moderate trails through some of Indiana's most beautiful forestland, all for only one cache find and one DNF (Did Not Find). It happens. Sometimes you can't find the cache. Might be gone; might just be I didn't find it. It's all part of the game, but I DNF less that 6% these days so I'm OK with that. Saw a few wild turkeys, running from me. Too fast for my camera.

More cute guys in the woods: I met a couple of guys who were dressed in authentic costumes as 18th century long hunters . They like to go camping, and experience it the way the pioneers did. They told me they had nothing with them that wouldn't have been available to hunters of that period. They belong to a group of recreationists, who enjoy studying history in the first person. Sometimes they speak at schools, and often they get together and recreate historical events with everyone in costume. I enjoyed spending some time with them, and in exchange for answering my many questions, I told them about geocaching. Here's their pic:

17thC long hunters (http://img.groundspeak.com/cache/log/814f95c6-120d-4362-97ae-9923d4007db2.jpg)

Fun day! Did the hike on about 550 calories, but was toooo hungry on the way home and broke the bank for dinner. It didn't help that I got stuck in IU footlball traffic, coming and going, and spent more than 3 hours of my day just trying to get through and around Bloomington. Gawd, I hate that town! Nothing but tiny choked two lane streets with no traffic control, other than gridlock. By the time I finally got to eat, all my hiking happy glow was well and gone to the traffic frustration monster from hell. I'm too embarrassed to even tell you what I did for dinner, but at least it was well-earned.

Tomorrow's another day.

Happy happy dance of joy! The surgeon's office called, and the date dilemma has been sorted out-- in my favor no less! Dec 14.

I was seriously bumming, but I'm much better now! :cheer: :dn :jn :dc :hop:

That's great! You didn't even have to throw a fit. All of the hiking you do sounds like fun--I'm going to have to go back through your posts and read up on the caching a little more. I have to admit I'm pretty ignorant about the whole thing but it sounds as if you really love it and you always have some great pics for us all to view.

Have a great Monday--
Amanda

catching does sound fun.. as does meeting cute boys.

Hooray for the Doc seeing it your way!!!!!
Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!
Just think! This time next year the big ones will be on the Turkey!!!:laugh:

Just think! This time next year the big ones will be on the Turkey!!!:laugh:

:laugh: :laugh: omigwd, BB! I about spewed Diet Coke all over the monitor screen! :laugh: :laugh:
Thanks to all who visited. Xgiving was fun today. My family couldn't come til Saturday, so I spent today with Mike, a friend of mine. No, not that kind of friend. We once worked together as mgt for Sound Warehouse (later Blockbuster Music, and even later, Warehouse Music. Same thing, different parent companies.) One day, my distric manager came and asked me to move to Detroit to open a new store; I declined (why would anyone voluntarily move to Detroit?! :D ) But I offered him Mike, which was still very generous on my part, I felt, since Mike was my right hand. He went to Detroit for several years, but did eventually move back to Indy. The amazing part of this story is that he's still my friend, even though I sent him to Detroit. (OK, he didn't have to say yes, but I had years of guilt and angst for all that he went through while living there!) So, anyway, Mike's a pretty good cook, so I went and let him feed me turkey dinner. I wasn't too naughty, except perhaps the sliver of pecan pie. which wasn't really too bad. OK, perhaps it was the 2nd sliver of pecan pie and the turkey sandwich for the road. whatever. I don't really care, OK? And what's it to ya? Huh? You wanna make something of it?

ooops. Sorry. sugar crash, I guess. Mike wanted to show off his amazing new home theater with surround sound and flat screeen HDTV. We watched War of the Worlds (the Tom Cruise version) and Xmas with the Cranks. That sound system had War of the Worlds coming in through the walls. I swear it was raining plaster from the ceiling! The whole house was vibrating and my fillings were trembling in my teeth. It was grand! In between, we watched some Xmas concert tapes from Mannheim Stemroller, a Celtic women's Xmas, and finally, he put on Sarah Brightman' Vegas Harem concert. He had me right up until she started in on the opera. Later Mike; I gotta go work out! I have a pretty open mind about all kinds of music. I worked in music retail mgt for 13 years, after all. But I draw the line at soprano opera and rap. I have tried (not rap; don't even wanna) but I have tried to develope my opera muscles. I'm convinced I'm alergic to it. A soprano is a knife in the base of my skull turning, twisting, wrapping my tonsils around the hilt and then yanking it straight down my back and out my-- Oh! nevermind! Anyway: I hate sopranos. And since Mike and I worked in music together, I'm amazed he didn't remember that. He was blissed out on Sarah Brightman, tho, and I didn't want to harsh his bliss, so I came on home and worked out.

Saturday, I'm cooking Xgiving again, for my sister and her two grown kids. Can't wait! It's been too long since I've seen them, what with her new job and all my work craziness over recent months. So yes, It's true: I'm eating Xgiving dinner twice in 3 days. You can tell me the truth. You're only jealous, I can tell.:D After, weather permitting, we are driving 2 hours north of Indy, to take in the sandhill crane migration at Jasper Pulaski State Fish and Wildlife Area. There are an estimated 15,000 cranes there now. Ought to be some good photo ops. Here's the website for the park if you are curious:

Sandhill crane migration (http://www.wbu.com/chipperwoods/photos/sandhill.htm)

Sounds like you had a great day!
Glad I could give you the giggle!

Pecan pie sounds heavenly! I need to get our Pumpkin pie out of the house! made the low cal Pumpkin Mousse as well. Need to head for that instead.

Have a great weekend!

I hope you're having a fabulous Thanksgiving #2 today with your family. I was just thinking about you and the breast reduction surgery--that's right around the corner, are you getting excited? When did you decide to have the surgery done? You've lost so much weight and you're doing so well--have you wanted to have any skin nipped or tucked? I think about this stuff all the time for some reason--sorry I'm being nosy I was just interested in your take on it since you're getting the reduction done. I have a long way to go before I would get to that point and I think I'd have to keep the weight off for a good long while and work on toning first but if the saggy skin wouldn't go away I don't know what I would do in the end. Just wondered what your opinion was--

Amanda

Hi, Avalliant. No, I don't mind the questions. Yes, I've very excited and a bit terrified. And I'm afraid of what the first 3 weeks will be like afterward. The closer it gets, the more I start to think about backing out, but I know I won't do that. I have been considering the reduction since I hit 60lbs on the weight loss, because the more weight I lost, the worse my backaches got, becasue I was losing the infrastructure that used to support them. They used to sit on the gut, which sat on the big gut bucket, which sat on my hips, which sat on a chair all day. But with all the support getting gone, and very little appreciable change in breast size, I found that when I hit 175, and tried to get lower, the backaches were constant and unremitting. And the more I was excercising, the more I wanted to do, but all that top-heavy bounce and jounce made advanced cardio painful, and made running an impossible dream. My doctor was the first to suggest the breast reduction. I absorbed the suggestion and let it gestate for a time, and the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to get it done. Then I learnd that a co-worker had had it done, and she was so very happy with the results, and had nothing but glad news over having it done, that I decided I'd do it. That was over a year ago. I went to see the surgeon, and then my insurance denied the coverage. So I took another year to put together some money, and one of my sisters came through with the lion's share to make it possible. (I love my sister!)

Have I considered more plastic surgery? No, not at this point. It was more about easing the back problems and advancing my workouts than anything to do with vanity. I've always been fat and ugly. The concept of conceit and body image, and the idea of doing things to try to improve my appearance (not that there's anything wrong with that) always felt like gilding the sow's ear. Quite the foreign concept for me. I do feel much better about my personal image these days, but will always have too much loose skin now. I see that as the price I pay for my former gluttony, and a daily reminder in my mirror of why I fight the good fight every day.

But hey: Aren't you young? I thought you are a young college student. Youth is elastic, and until you hit your mid 30's, your body should be able to repair much of the sagging skin issues with diet and lots of toning exercises. Like young women after pregnancy, it's not a lost cause to you. Yet. There are problem areas that exercise can't help though: breast and chin especially. All the more reason to take it off now, while your body can still repair itself.

If it's important to you, and you can afford it, and you are brave enough, you should do what feels right to you.

We had such a great time at the sandhill crane migration site! The sound of the birds trumpeting their arrival, coming in on the wing high overhead was unique and soul stirring. I was interesting to watch the interaction between the birds, more than 15,000 of them, performing ritual dances for one another, preening and singing. And interspersed among the cranes were dozens of deer. In one photo, we counted more than 60 deer among hundreds of birds. My nephew Ben postualtes that the deer hang out with the cranes because the cranes are protected and cannot be shot at. Makes sense.

Here's a pic to pique your interest:
Incoming: cranes on the wing (http://img.groundspeak.com/cache/log/652bf168-d24f-4d6f-b887-854b03467b8a.jpg)

Visit my log on the geocache webpage to see the pics. You can enlarge any pic by clicking on it. All of the crane pics were by my sister, since she has a 10mp camera with 400 zoom lens. Here's the link:
geocache log page (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/log.aspx?IID=b9f54f59-3abd-4c01-9515-c1ca9a0e2ca5&LID=11611441)

My sister and the kids went home a few hours ago. Sure is quiet here now! One of my cats just came out from hiding under the bed; the other cat is always sad when they leave, as she loves visitors and attention. I know how she feels!

Don't want to talk about my diet for the last few days. I'll make it up in the coming week, tho.

OK, this is just plain bizarre. After the 4 day weekend of visitors, eating out and Xgiving x2, I stepped fearfully on the scale this morning and discovered I have lost 2 pounds! This is just too weird. I think I'll eat Xgiving dinner everday for the next 2 weeks and see where it takes me. OK, I know where I'll go: to the poor house. Still...

Hey there - CONGRATS on the two pounds! :cheer: You should market that Thanksgiving diet of yours... "eat stuffing and lose weight" - you'd make millions! :laugh:

I thought the cranes always end up where the deer are because they have the same travel agent?

Man, I wish my thanksgiving diet had worked out half as well as yours since I seem to have found the 2 lb you lost!! Oh well--I'm back on track today and I'll be losing that 2 plus more just as quickly as I can!!! Thanks for being so forthright about the breast reduction and your opinions about surgery. You're right--I'm only 27 and in school, medical school actually, so I sometimes think I'm more focused on all the surgical issues because I spend all day every day talking and learning about that kind of thing. I don't know if I would ever have anything done but I've yo-yoed for so long I'm hoping I don't have serious issues with my skin elasticity. This is all way in the future anyway, as I need to not only get all the weight off but KEEP it off for a good long time before I would consider surgery for purely cosmetic reasons.

I am so happy for you to be able to get this surgery done and you have a great sister! And for what it's worth, you're pretty darn cute :) and I love to look at your before and after pics when I need a little motivation. You are quite the inspiration!

Glad you had a great holiday--

Amanda

It's been a little while since I dropped in. Not much to tell, I guess. The weather is keeping me in, and I am already so cabin fevered I just want to go screaming down the street. But no, there's 9 inches of fresh snow on that street. Sigh. I do enjoy snow hikes, and wil get a few in this weekend, but it's the too dark, too early thing on weekdays. And the roads are so bad, driving to remote wooded parks is not possible. So I stay in, plod on the eliptical and walk miles in a circle through the living room, the attached bathroom, the hallway, the kitchen and back through the living room, in an endless sircle, wearing a groove in the carpet. Sigh again.

Workout videos do provide a little variety, but I am so freeking bored with the whole thing. And I don't lose weight anyway.

So, you see: I haven't visited and written because I am so crabby I can't stand it. I need woods. I need hills.

Today is my last day at work in advance of the surgery next Wed. So I have a nice 4 day weekend before I must park it for weeks.

Is it spring yet?

Not yet, but hopefully it will be soon:) Good luck with your surgery next week! I'm sure you'll be up and at 'em in no time.

Amanda

Good luck with your surgery, I will be thinking of you.

2Q, I wish you the best on your Surgery!
Take it easy and give yourself time to heal properly.
Surgery is Surgery and it will take a lot of energy from you. Just take care.
And give your sister a hug for us for taking such good care of you!

Hope you've got plenty of crosswords and such to keep entertained.
When my husband was in the hospital he was totally wishing for a Lap Top computer. He's never been a Big TV watcher.

I wish you the best!!!

Surgery went well. You should see my new cute titties! Yes, I am very sore, and will be for some time, I'm sure. My sister Anne is a Godsend. I don't know what I would have done without her help! I have learned a few thing: Don't over sleep your next appoitntment with the candyman. Yikes, that was bad! I over slept past te drug dose by more than an hour and was knocked flat by the pain when I woke up. Horrible. So now we set an alarm clock, so I get up every 4 hours to dose the beastly beast.

But the payoff is immediate and amazing. Don't know how much weight they took off my chest yet, because I am vert bloated from the meds, and actually weigh more that I did before the surgery. But I am assured that's temporary. But they are so cute and little, even if they are swelled up! Anne says wow, those are reaslly swollen. I said Hah! Not half as huge as they were before. So if this is swollen, bring on the real things. Can't wait to see how they turn out. I can say already that it is wholey worth all the pain and money. Best investment in myself I have ever made.

Thanks much for your warm wishes and prayers. If I get to where I can stay awake for more than 30 minutes ata time, I'll write more. I'll post pics when the swelling goes down some.

Popped on this morning to see who's posted what and saw that you've logged in with a progress report!
Very happy to hear that the surgery went well and that they didn't alter your sense of humor in the process!
Keep those pain meds flowing and stay positive. I wish you a speedy recovery!

And please make sure you are dressed in the photos!:laugh:

Take care, 2Q!!!

Glad to hear the surgery went well and you're recovering nicely. Sounds like you're spirits are good and I'm so glad you're pleased with the results. Take good care of yourself and we'll be excited to hear updates.

Amanda

Wow. 10 days already, mostly spent in a fog of pain and meds. It's all worth it though. I'd do it again, no question, but would have fought harder to do it much sooner if I had only known. Weight today:170. Still have another 2-3 pounds of bloat to lose, but I'm told that will stay with me as long as I'm on the pain meds, maybe another week or so.

I'll post a pic in another week or so. I took a few, but I look hunched over and uncomfortable, so will wait a bit longer to unveil the new me.

Things I have learned:
-- When I sit at the table, I can sit AT the table, not leaning in from a foot away. And if I drop crumbs or dribble, it actually hits the napkin in my lap, not my shelf.
-- My arms have grown at least 5 inches. I can reach the bottom of my washing machine now, without having to use an unbent coat hanger to snag the socks in the bottom. I feel taller, just because my reach is longer, even though I am still unable to stretch the full reach of my arms for another week or two.
-- I can no longer ask my shelf to hold things for me. Used to be able to rest things on the shelf, and they would still be there when I was ready for them. I asked my new little bitty sisters to hold my icepack, and had to pick it up off the floor. :laugh:
-- I will no longer have to sew my button-front shirts together to keep them from gapping and gaping between the buttons. Several shirts and even a sweet leather jacket that were too 'stressed' across the front now fit nicely.

Now for the best news of all: Yesterday, I visited my doctor for a followup visit, and was told all is healing textbook perfect. But that's not the best part: The insurance company had just called them. They will be paying for the surgery after all! My GP doctor finally got around to sending the letter we'd been begging him for since early Oct. The same one he promised to send last year when insurance denied my first attempt, and never did. It detailed my history of back complaints, and weight loss, and the insurance company said OK. Previously, they had said they only covered reconstructive and accidental disfigurement for breast reduction. But they consider it to be reconstructive after a big weightloss, especailly if the back ailments are exacerbated by increased attempts at weightloss.

Whatever! I'm just so overwhelmed and verklempt at the thought that all that my sister and I had to pay inadvance for the surgery will all (almost all) come back to us!

So Merry Christmas and all that jazz! :party: :gift: :flower: :snow: :tree: Everything's going my way!

2Q that is a Wonderful Christmas Surprise!!!
I am so happy for you!!!!
I wish you continued good health during your recovery and hope your holiday season is equally as wonderful!!!

Hey 2qwerqE, sorry I haven't been around to follow all your GREAT NEWS about the surgery, but here's a belated cheer: :cheer: :jn :dc

I'm so happy to hear the insurance company will come through for you, but mostly I'm happy that you've found a new lease on life, and a whole new body to go with it. What a wonderful present for Xmas, and what a terrific way to begin the New Year!

:deer: MERRYCHRISTMAS! :santa:

So, yesterday I called my sweet sister, and told her the insurance company will be reimbursing us for about 80% of the surgery bills, or a tad over $6000. Fully expecting to return her full portion to her, I asked her what she and her husband would like me to do with the money, and assured her I'll do anything she says. She replied today: Merry Christmas! She and her husband gave me the money as an Xmas present, and will hear no more about it (except perhaps what I choose to spend it on.) I started to protest, but she was adamant, and I wasn't really all that sad about it!:laugh:

So, my youngest sister and I have been talking about seeing the Grand Canyon together for years. Something always got in the way: I lost my job, she lost hers, plans fell through, life intervened. And we always said OK, maybe next year. Well, '06 is it! I'm taking a nice portion of this gift to inviting all 3 of my sisters (and maybe a brother or 3) to come to the Grand Canyon and play together. Now, if life will just sit down and open up and let us stop long enough to make this happen, how sweet it will be!

Oh, I am already very jazzed about this idea. The last time we all get together, in fact the last 2 times, were family funerals. (My Mom in 7/02 and my sister in-law last year.) The idea of getting together to play with no cloud of grief overhead is too appealing to pass up. Hope we can make it fly!

WOW--talk about rocking cool sisters--you've definitely got one! I think your idea of getting all the siblings together is a great one. What better way to show your appreciation to your sister than doing something the whole family can enjoy and remember? Great thinking...hope your recovery is still going well and this trip idea comes together.

Amanda

Hi :wave: I have been catching up and getting to know you better by reading your whole journal :)

I am happy to hear surgery went well and your arms have grown longer lol :laugh:

My daughter had this surgery done pre babies and now 4 babies later needs it done again - but what do I know when I told her to wait lol :shrug:

Love viewing your pictures :D

Though my Xmas needed to be low-key, it was actually busier and better attended than most holidays in my not so distant past. That's because I used to work retail mgt. Eight days/week, 32 hours/day, or so it seemed. It was rude and brutal, and by the time Xmas actually arrived and we finally got to lock the doors against the onslought, all I wanted to do was crawl whimpering under the bed and hide from the ravening crowds. Only to get up and start all over again on 'Boxing Day,' which, in retail, really just means everyone comes back to the store to throw thier boxes at you of all the gifts they got but don't want, even if they did eat half of them and are still wearing the other half. Gift certificates. Exchanges. Massive sales of crap no one wanted before, and why would they want it now?

My family was (and still is) scattered across the continent from Indianapolis to St Louis to Houston, to California to Oregon and many points in between. So when you only get one day off work for the entire month, you can't even visit even one sister without a 10 hour round trip driving. So I spent Xmases alone, cowering in a fetal position, for many years. Hell, decades. Sopmetimes, I would plan a 3 day weekend with my St Louis sister in late January, but more often than not it would be snowed out.

But I'm much better now! Working for the Red Cross has it's benefits, not the least of which is a huge PTO (paid time off) bank, and 9 paid holidays. I've actually gotten over my fear and loathing of all things Xmas related, and even decorated my home a little this year. (very little. I don't have any Xmas decorations to speak of, but I do have a few things people have gifted me with, so I put out the stuffed moose Santa, and the stuffed bear Santa, and the stuffed Santa Santa. They shared a huddle on the pass-through countertop between the kitchen and the living room. That's as close to decorating as I've ever come, so I feel it counts. And I had not one, but two sisters, (my Dallas sister went home on 12/18) and a niece, visit! My St Louis sister and niece did get caught in a dense fog driving in, and spent hours sleeping in their van, waiting for the fog to clear. They made it safe and sound at 2:30am Xmas morning. We stayed in under a persistant all day rain, which turned to snow and actually got pretty in the late afternoon. Watched March of the Penguins and 4 episodes of Lost, the first season, on DVD. Oh, and a Flintstones DVD boxset got some spin time too. My sister made interesting holiday meals. Lunch was an Xmas ham with Cajun jambalaya. Dinner was stuffed crabs, and more ham, with Cajun gumbo. It was all very different, and very good! Ate alot, and I don't care! Monday morning, they went back home and I watched the original Star Wars Trilogy on video.

Yesterday, one of my brothers sent a check for a late Xmas gift, and so I went and bought a few new bras. Was surprised to find I am not a C, but a small B. That's so great!! Little bitty pretty ones!

So, in a nutshell: My best Xmas ever, bar none!

It's great that you didn't have to spend Christmas alone this year! I'm glad you had a wonderful holiday!

Aww, that sounds like a wonderful Christmas. I am so glad your surgery went well and that you are so happy with the results. I like that your arms got longer, that is cute.:)

WOOHOOO! Grand Canyon, here you come! May I suggest you plan the trip when school is in session, so you don't get stuck with the clamoring hordes? I went in November and there were still hordes, but nothing like high season when you can't see the canyon for all the cameras. Also, pack a rocket launcher to aim at the annoying helicopters. :D I had something like a spiritual awakening at the GC (well, as spiritual as I ever get). I think you'll love it there.

Sorry to hear about your sister and niece getting stuck in the fog (!!!), but other than that your Xmas sounded FAB! I'm jealous of the jambalaya - can I join your family? Mine never wants to experiment with groovy Xmas meals. I once suggested a Scandinavian theme and I thought they were going to kill me. SACRILEGE. 8-|

Anyway, what I really want to say (despite my babbling) is how happy I am for your surgery success. A pair of B's! Wow! Have you noticed a big difference yet in how your back and shoulders feel with that strain taken off? Did they do a lift when they did the reduction? I've been considering a chest job for years now, so I'm following your story with great interest...

Congrats on having your BEST XMAS EVER! :cheers:

Glad to hear your Christmas was fab! Jambalaya and gumbo sounds like a great holiday treat--maybe I can talk my family into branching out a little next year!

As far as posting pics embedded in the journal, I had to mess with them a little to get that to work. They have to be 400 x 400 pixels, and all of my pics were more like 1200 x 1000 and the windows program I use to store them would not resize. What I did was open the picture stored on my computer as a jpeg with Microsoft Office Picture Manager, a program that installs itself with the Office set of normal stuff (Word, Powerpoint, Excel, etc.) that I didn't even know was there. That program allowed me to resize (click on the picture tab, then choose the resize option) the pic to 400 x 300 and then I could attach and upload the file directly to my journal entry. Sounds like a pain in the butt, but once you do it once it's easy. Hope this works for you, as I'd love to see some more pics!!

B cup--whoda thunk it??? I bet you were excited to do that shopping, even with the after Christmas hordes swarming. Glad to hear you are doing so well, and that you had such a great holiday.

Cheers--Amanda

A pair of B's! Wow! Have you noticed a big difference yet in how your back and shoulders feel with that strain taken off? Did they do a lift when they did the reduction? I've been considering a chest job for years now, so I'm following your story with great interest...

The difference was immediate and dramatic, but I was also on lots of pain meds! What a load off! Imagine having two 2-liter bottles of soda strapped to your chest day and night, and finally cutting those straps and dropping those freeking bottles. Inhale>>>deep breath<<<Exhale AAAaaahhhhhh!

A lift is a separate procedure from a reduction, and involves work with muscles and ligaments. Much more painfull and protracted recovery, so they tell me. A reduction only involves soft tissue and fat. Still, the sisters are high and quite separated. The doctor said because my chest wall muscles were quite strong, they made the new 'framework' stronger and more youthful. So no, technically, I didn't get a lift. But they sure look, as the Eagles song says, 'Way up firm and high.' :laugh: Now I need to work on my posture, as carrying the old girls around for so long has left a decided stoop to my shoulders that I never noticed til the meat was gone. Hope it's not too late to repair that!

I'll try to imbed it here. If it doesn't work simply click on it below, in my signature link. Same pic. Bad hair day, I know, but I doubt that's what you're looking at anyway!!

http://img.groundspeak.com/user/84009788-986e-4ec2-b003-17ada9597db4.jpg

WTG!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You look beautiful, congrats!!!!!!!

Wow, you really look awesome.

What an amazing transition. The pics are great--and you got them to inbed!! I can see now why you were so eager to be rid of them, and what a big difference it will make. Just think how much of a difference that will make when you're exercising, not having to drag those babies around!:laugh: Great way to start the new year.

Amanda

Wow, what a transformation! And I must say, you look happier in the last picture than in either of the first two.

I'm feeling better and stronger everyday, but early this morning I had a little episode that scared me a little. First, some detail: My doctor didn't use sutures or stri-strips. she used only glue to close the incisions. She said it makes it unnecessary for me to return to her office to have stitches removed. She also said its a faster and less painfull recovery time with the glue. There were 5 'ring stitches,' little loops of what looked like fishing wire, that she snipped off on my one week post-op visit. My next visit is not until the 6 wk point , 1/23.

But in recent days, the glue is starting to break down. It's supposed to do that, as the incisions heal, then my body rejects the foreign substance. Plus the glue cracks and breaks down when water gets under it, and so it begins to crack and fall off. It's a good thing, and it's what is supposed to happen. But the glue is becoming little hard rocks, like gravel in the incision lines, as it starts to break down. Most uncomfortable, especially since I am supposed to wear the bras she gave me 24/7, and the gravelly glue rocks are right unner the bra strap, imbedded in the raw incisions. Makes the bra very uncomfortable, and since Dr said the 24/7 was for the first 2 weeks, I took it off as soon as I could, let me tell you! I still wear it, and only take it off for a few hours in the evening, and a few after my morning shower. But in the last 2 days, those glue rocks are worse, bigger, more of them. I can't pick them out. They come to the surface and fall out when they are ready. Picking at them is a BAD idea!

At 6am, I woke up in pain, the meds having worn off as I slept, and the glue rocks digging in under the bra. Got up, went to the bathroom, took a pain pill, turned on the light and took off the bra. One glue rock in particular was hurting. I got a little hand mirror to take a better look, and it is nestled at the T corner where the horizontal 'underwire' incision meets the vertical incision that goes up to my nipple. The skin there is very black. Not big, about the size of half a dime. I touched the rock to see if I could coax it out, and was hit with a wave of pain so surprising I actually swooned. I felt the heat rise up my face as the blood rushed to my brain, my knees buckled and a momonet later, I was sitting on the bathroom floor, hot all over, very near to passing out. I waited a few minutes and it mostly passed off, so I carefully got up, had a drink of water and went back to bed, but I couldn't bring myself to put the bra back on.

As I lay there, trying to go back to sleep, my brain started chewing on the whole thing, as you might imagine. I let myself think about that black skin. There's still a good amount of bruising along the incision and much of that bruising is dark purple, black and blue. But of course, before long, my brain turned it into flesh-eating bacteria, and I started to scare myself. So I got up and took soem photos of the T incision, so I'd be able to tell later if the blackness is growing or abating. Then I let the pain meds take me back to bed.

Probably nothing. Still, I left a message on my doctor's answering machine, with little confidence that it will be checked before Monday or Tues, after the holiday weekend. I'll watch that blackness, and let me tell you, if it gets even an iota bigger, me and my new pretty little ones are going to the emergency room!

Hate hate HATE these glue rocks!

Hi :)

You were kind enough to post in my very new journal. I will admit I haven't read all of yours yet, but I wanted to stop in and say a couple things.

1. Hello :)

2. Feel free to live vicariously through me...in Colorado on the hobby farm. (I am from Indiana, among other places, lol)

3. You already have me really interested in this whole Geocache thing...I'm going to have to look into it. I need purpose to get things done. I mean, I can build a house...lift lumber all day, but lift weights? WHY?? So this might increase my desire to take longer walks - thank you!

Well, happy new year, and I hope we keep in touch a bit! I've got some big hobby farm type stuff in store for this new year!

-Catinhat

Hi, Catinhat. I would LOVE to geocache Colorado. Haven't been since 1997. In fact, I am still using a walking stick that I made fom an aspen sapling that I found on that last visit. Strong, lightweight, with a crook in the wood that fits my hand perfectly. Probably won't make Colorado this year, but a girl can dream. I have the Grnd Canyon on myscope for this year though.

Yup. Give caching a try. You'll be hooked after one day trip. But let me warn you: once you are hooked, it can put a serious dent in all things domestic when all you want to do is go play in the woods and mountains.:D

Had a rough night. I decided yesterday that it was time to quit the heavy duty pain meds, mostly because I'd like to go to the can at least once this week, and those meds (Norco, a cousin of Vicadin) really have me seriously bloated and blocked. So that last dose at 6am yesterday was it. By dinner time, at least the first need was achieved. Sigh! But by bedtime, I was in withdrawal. Not too hideous, but unquestionable. Low fever, chills, bed sweats, naseau, insomnia, as much because I had to get up every hour to offload bloat and blockage. Pain was not too bad. Maybe a 2 or 3 on the 10 scale, but I could not bring myself to wear a bra at all, all day.

Near dawn, I decided to take some ibuprophen in an effort to balance my body climate. That helped. At least, it helped me sleep uninterupted til 10 am. Ibuporphen was a no-no on my doctor's order for the 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after surgery, because it is a blood thinner. Even still, I know I can't use much of it, since my blood volume is still low, and so is my blood pressure. My Dr says I didn't lose enough to warrant a transfusion, but it will be 6-8 weeks before my blood volume recovers to normal.

Lovely images, I know. But since a few of you, my gentle readers, have expressed a personal interest in possibly pursuing a reduction, I thought you might want the whole picture, and I pretty much glossed over the early recovery days.

This morning, I'm clear-headed and 3 pounds less (169) than I weighed yesterday morning. Still off-loading. Pain is mangeable without meds, unless I try to be active. I'll be hitting the ibuprophen on an as-needed basis. I will not return to the Norco. I am able to wear a bra again, but the rocks are still there. Fewer, but there. Tuesday, I go back to work.

I still feel that having this reduction done was totally worth all that I've been through to accomplish it. This too shall pass, but I will have pretty little sisters for the rest of my life.

It's a lovely day out. High 55*. In January. In Indiana! No way I can ignore that. So I will take a walk on a level short trail and retrieve one of my geocaches that got archived while I was laid up. The park it's in decided to restrict cache placements, and archived all of them, more than 20, within park boundaries. They aren't saying we can't have caches there. They just want us to register them and have them approved with park mgt. I will, but later. For now, 2 of mine need to be picked up. I won't get them both today. But I'll get one of them, quick before the rain arrives to wash out the rest of the day.

I'll be glad for you when all this 'recovery' is a distant memory. It certainly doesn't sound fun..yet you sound happy for the changes! Good for you.

I joined the geocaching site...I don't have a GPS unit (yet), but I have a sneaking suspicion that will be this year's piece of 'exercise equipment', lol. This sounds VERY fun...mostly, because it's something I can do with my daughter. She's tiny now - she'll be 11 weeks Tuesday, but as she grows up, we can gather some of her 'treasures' and go out looking for caches to leave them in. Also, hubby and I are licensed for Foster Care - this would be a VERY COOL thing to do with those kids too! The idea that people are leaving treasures everywhere is just....how can you not smile??

So, again, I thank you for making this known to me. I'll keep you posted on the whole process.

Oh, and I wanted to tell you that when we moved to Colorado, we'd lived in Aurora, IL. We had just finished remodeling our house there, and so we came out on a long weekend to kind of celebrate finally being done. We fell in love with it...went home and put a for sale sign in the yard. We moved here 'cold'...no job leads, didn't know a soul...lived in a hotel for 3 days with 4 cats and a dog...found a trailer to rent in the country...I found a job teaching Head Start a few days later...hubby found something after that...we found our 5 acres of mess 3 months later. We spent a few years cleaning it up, paying it off...then got the $$ to build our house there (we bought it with an old trailer on it - my old home is now my jewelrymaking and woodworking studio) Anyroo, I wanted you to know that there are still crazy people in the world, and that if you ever really do want to just move here...well, it's been done :)

Take care, and have a wonderful day :)

-Catinhat

Better and better. Ahh. Approaching normal in the body functions department. No fever, chills. etc. Hungry again. Ate a very light breakfast. Pain's about a 2, and am using Tylonol now, because its on the very short approved list, and my body climate is normal again, so I don't feel I need the ibuprophen. I have some mundane errands to run on this, my last day off, and will make the rounds between hair cut, bank, post office, grocery, library, video store, etc. Weather is threatening major thunderstorms and scattered tornadoes this afternoon (high of 58*!) but it hasn't stated raining yet.

My friend Mike woke me up this morning to invite me over for a steak dinner tonight. Surprisingly, that doesn't sound like a very good idea to me, since I've been so off-balance physically lately. But my Dr said protein, specifically red meat, a few times a week will help rebuild my blood volume. Who knows? Maybe by the time I get there and smell the grill, I'll be more kindly disposed to the idea. So I told Mike OK, but to get me a very small cut of steak. No more than 6 oz, and none of those lovely greasy fried potatos he makes. At least if I decide against it, it won't be more than he can finish!

catinhat, you and your hubby are true adventurists! In my younger days, I used to move cold all over the country, but I was always chasing job transfers, so at least I had work. OK then, luke warm. Always loved the new city honeymoon period. Colorado was on my scope even then, but somehow, my jobs never wanted to transfer me there. Nope. They wanted to send me to Houston, Dallas, Detroit, Louisville, Indy. Never Colorado or Florida or Hawaii. Sigh. I wish you and your a beautiful fulfilling deliriously happy new year on your pretty mess of a farm.

Thunder becons on the horizon, and I should get moving.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2QWERQE!!! I enjoy reading your journal updates, and I'm quite interested in the recovery process from a medical standpoint so I appreciate the candor. Just wanted to pop by and let you know how excited I am to walk this road with you in 2006--it's going to be a great one for the both of us I think! I can't wait until you're all recovered. Enjoy your last day of freedom, I'm doing the same!!

Amanda

Er...did you say Hawaii? Hubby is from there, born and raised...I moved there lukewarm (already met him on the mainland, so I was moving for love) and I lived there (with him) for about 3 years.

You don't hate me, do you? ;)

-Catinhat

Mike's steak dinner was amazing. Even sitting on the patio on the weird warm (it hit 65*!! In January! In Indiana!), smelling the grill cooking, I still didn't have an appetite, least of all for fat and grease and red meat. But that first bite! Omigawd! My body woke up, sat up and begged like a schnauzer. More of that! Feed me more!! I ate the whole freeking 12 oz T-bone. A dollop of his lovely greasy fried potatoes. corn on the cob. Nirvana. An hour later, my legs were begging for a walk, and Mike was snoring sweetly on the coach in front of a football game. I'm not a TV sports fan, and couldn't figure out which of his 5 remote controls changed the channel, so I snuck out the back and left him to sleep. The storms had passed while we ate dinner, and it was raining softly. Still unnaturally warm, but very breezy. Went home, walk a slow umbrella mile and went to bed early.

Yesterday was my first day back to work, and it was sweet. I feel the love! But by 3pm, I was exhausted and getting verklempt. Just wanted to cry for no reason at all, and no, I don't think I'm PMSing, but hey, I'm 49, so no telling. I finished the day, went home, ate a humble dinner and went to bed. Had a nice hour nap, and woke up refreshed and feeling much better. At least most of the glue rocks are gone now. Thank God for that.

I'm at work again now, and really should qiut writing to you. It's not like I don't have plenty of backlog to clear!

Amanda, thanks for keeping tabs on my progress. Happy new year to you and yours.

Cat, Colorado and Hawaii. Yup. You suck! But I guess you paid your dues living in Illinois. I'm only green with jealousy.

How are you doing, 2Qwerk? I hope you're still feeling better each day. I know you've returned to work, and are probably exhausted. I just wanted to pop in and say that I hope you're doing well, and that you're soon feeling fantastical!!

Stop in and let us know how you're doing when you find a moment - take care!

-Catinhat

Thanks, Cat. It's been a very difficult week at work. The workload is normal, my co-workers are wonderful, attentive, helpful and sweet. But I have no stamina, get tired easily. I tried hard to stay away from the Norco pain med, but finally had to give in and revisit it. Even sedentary deskwork is lots of arm action, I only have 2 comfortable bras. (the 2 my surgeon gave me are pretty good. I went and bought new bras, but they are not comfy enough at this point, (too restrictive, especially accross the rib incision line) so I have to do laundry every other day. Getting home from work exhausted made that not happen, so I wore some of the new bras, and had to keep taking them off and going 'commando.' In the end, I capitualted, and took the Norco again. Hate the side effects. I'm afraid of having to do the withdrawal thing again. But I had to admit I needed it. So I decided only 2 half doses a day, at work only, boosted with Tylenol, should meet the need and keep me from the dreaded withdrawal.

Well, you asked! :laugh:

It's Friday. The weekend weather looks amazing for this time of year, and I sorely need to get out, so I will try a few local, easy caching games this weekend, and take it easy. Doing Golden Corral for ribs tonight. Gotta eat that red meat, and they are cheap! I'll behave myself, and do ribs and veggies. OK, maybe half a baked potato. I'm afraid I'll start to gain weight in my recovery if I have to eat like 'normal' people, esecially since my exercise is very subpar, but I need to feel better more than I need to worry about my weight right now. Heal now. Lose it later.

I am SOOOOOoooo looking forward to stepping up my excercise routine without those twin huge encumbrances! Can't wait to eliptical with no bounce and flubber! Turn my walks into runs, if my knees will let me. Dare I say jumping jacks? No way!! Me?! HAHAHAHAHAhahaha!!:D :laugh: :rofl: :caf: Chhheeeeez I can't wait!

Take it slow, Lady! That's why you are getting emotional. It's your body's way of saying "go home and take a nap!"
Hope the weekend brings you lots of rest and recooperation and next week gets easier.

I understand the bra thing. I have a devil of a time buying comfortable ones. They look comfy at the store, but wear them for a day and ouch!!! And I don't have boo boos on mine! Just take it slow. You'll get there. The older we are the longer our bodies take to heal. It sucks, I know, but a fact of life.

I wish you the best!!

I got the link to 'link' - thank you so much! I hope you had a good day. Take it easy as much as you can, OK? Your body has a lot of healing to do, so it's going to take your 'regular' energy for that, and leave you feeling pretty tired.

I'm sure you're taking care. Hope you feel better soon!

-Catinhat

Hang in there! You have such a great attitude I know that will speed up the healing process, but you still have to give your body time to recover from the loss of the ta-tas. I hope you have a great weekend and next week at work the bras will be feeling a little better!! Have fun with the caching--

Amanda

My first geocaching day since the surgery. I simply couldn't ignore this pretty 55* january day. We even got some sun! How bizarre! There are several minor games that have popped up near home lately, very simple urban hides, so I decided they'd be perfect for me today. With one exception, they were easy 'park and grabs,' no challenge, just a reason to be out. The exception was sweet. It led me to a small tract of Eagle Creek Nature Preserve that is cut off from the main by roads. Only about 7 miles from home, yet I never knew it was here. I was a level, easy walk in the woods, maybe 1/2 mile round trip, and a very nice diversion. And for all it's simple beauty, it did me in. I was tired when I got back to the car, and so I grabbed an early dinner on the way home. Nice day.

Here's the cache log page, if you want to see my pics. That Coke can is the cache container. Very inventive, and fun.

cache log link (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/log.aspx?IID=0692dc47-306f-4a44-a62a-57c9f301ceca&LID=12288220)

First of all Hi! Secondly.. I can't thank you enough for posting your story and pics, I have been considering a reduction for a long time. I am a 38E. I weighed them on a postal scale (one at a time) and they were respectively 8.5 and 8 pounds. I have constant headaches and neck and shoulder pain. I hope to lose at least 50 pounds. If they don't get any smaller I think that I will go through with the surgery.

GeoCaching sounds like a lot of fun!:)

Sounds like you had a fabulous day! I'm glad you were able to get out and about and you weren't having too much pain. You'll sleep like a baby tonight, I bet!! The caching is really intriguing to me--it must have taken a long time to fashion that coke can cache. Thanks for posting the pics! Have a good evening and a great start to your week. I hope this week brings you a little closer to pain free, with no bra mishaps!

Amanda

Thanks, Amanda. Much better today. I found a neat item at a Kohls department store that is saving my life today: bra extenders. I never knew about these before, and they are great. They simply give me more room in the ribcage, right along the incision line where I needed it the most. Now I can wear my pretty new little bras comfortably.

Pudgygirl, Hi, and welcome to my journal! Here's a useful thing to know if you think you might pursue a reduction in the future: Everytime you visit your doctor, be sure to mention the back and shoulder aches. Let him write you a scrip for it, even if you don't use it. Here's why: Insurance companies have requirements you must meet before they will approve this surgery. The first time they denied my surgery, it was for 2 reasons: They said I lacked a history for trying other 'more traditional' treaments for the pain, such as meds, physical therapy, special bras. The other was because they said they only approved reductions if they are reconstructive after accidents or disfigurements. So I spent a year with my DR, trying other things to satisfy the insurance company, and in the end, since I had lost 70 pounds, they determined that it was reconstructive after big weightloss, and finally they agreed to cover it.

Ya know, I stopped in here just to say hi, and once again, you've got me wanting to do this geocache thing! Let me ask...how hard would it be to do with a baby, say, in a carrier? I figure I can make certain choices about where and when to make that do-able....and I'll probably just pick warm, nice days to start.

OK, that's not the only reason I stopped in...I also stopped in to thank you for 'talking' to me in my journal - it's been so wonderful to have a message from you now and then....and I also wanted to say I hope you're feeling better - I'm happy to hear you found the bra extenders - sounds like they are just what you need right now!

I hope you have a superfantastic day, and that all is well in your world. Take care!

-Catinhat

Hi, Cat. Thanks for asking about caching. It's my passion, and I am sooo cabin fevered after this last month, even writing about it is better than not doing it at all. I usually spend alot of time outdoors in all kinds of weather, and now I feel like such an old fuddy duddy, sitting around watching tv, waiting for the world to go by until I am fit again, all the while letting my strength and stamina petrify. Sigh.

As for caching with little ones, many people bring kids and dogs along. I've never had any kids, though, so I'd be speaking from conjecture to say that I guess hauling a baby in a carrier would be no worse than hauling her around a grocery store. Maybe you could get one of those baby backpack things and strap her on your back so she can sleep if she likes and your hands are free for the GPSr, water bottle, walking stick, whatever. If you read the cache descriptions, you will see a star rating system that will tell you what the cache is like. The lower the stars, the easier the terrain/difficulty level. A 1 star hide is wheelchair accessible; a 5 star hide needs a boat or rapelling gear or other special equiment. Just choose the easier ones with the baby along. You'll find boxes in the woods or little micro containers in the city. Save the higher stars for days with the hubby or a friend along, and the baby with a sitter. If you start a game that makes you think, 'uh uh, no way,' then just stop and don't do it. I draw the line at climbing trees (very rare,) or exceedingly steep slopes. It's a fun game, but it's not worth getting hurt over. Even if I go out and decide no way, I've still found a new public green space, a new park to explore, a historical marker or maybe some great art installation or architecture I never noticed before. The trip is almost always worth it. You'll be amazed how much you'll learn about your own town.

Don't be discouraged if you seek but do not find a cache. DNFs are part of the game, and even after almost 600 finds, I still DNF on occasion. In fact, out of 6 games last Sunday, 2 were DNFs. One because it was too high for me to reach (I still don;t have my full range of motion for my arms yet) and the other because it was too crowded, too many people in a shopping center, to seek it without compromising the cache. I'll go and try them again, I'm sure. Again, even if you DNF, at least you'll find something about the area to enjoy that makes the game worth the try.

Play. You'll like it.

Hi 2qwerq:) I've really enjoyed reading your journal. The cacheing sounds like lots of fun. I may look in to it.

Hope you are continuing to feel better each day.

Yay for bra extenders!! Isn't it nice that people manufacture all these helpful little things for everyday life? I was attending a rheumatology clinic last week and one of the focus points was about informing patients of all the little "everyday" things that can make their lives easier (jar openers, rubber tongs with big grips, etc). Little things can make a huge difference! Sorry, tangent....

I know it's hard for you to have to be sidelined for a while without your full mobility, but you'll be back at it in no time and without the cumbersome weight in the front!!:)

Hang in there and keep getting a little closer to 100% every day!

Amanda

4th week post-op. It's been a tough week. Even as most everything is healing well, better incrementally every day, there was one sore spot that refused to get better. Yup, it's the same area that was black and worrisome 2 weeks ago. Using Neosporin helped the blackness heal at least, but the sore was getting worse, and now I could feel a thin thread , very small, pushing out. Called the dr, and went in to learn that I had extruded sutures. My body was rejecting this fishing-line monofilament internal suture. It was supposed to dissolve on it's own, but instead my system chose to evict it, pushing it up and out like the glue rocks 2 weeks ago. The problem was, at the end of the string, there was a knot that was inbedded and becoming ingrown in the new hard ridge of scar tissue, and so try as it might, my body could not force it out. My dr pulled it out ('Little tug here,') and then she says 'Oh. Um one more tug.' And then another, with no anesthetic, not even a local. Because the line was longer than she thought, with 3 knots and almost 3 inches of suture line. YIKES!

2 days later, though, and the area was healing quickly, catching up with the rest of things, and felt so much better I decided I could now try again to leave the pain med behind. Spent a 2nd withdrawal, a nasty 2 days of fever, chills, insomnia and intestinal liquifaction, to put it delicately. after trying to cope at work between bathroom runs, I stayed home sick from work the second day.

Finally, today, I'm feeling normal. No meds on board, not even Tylenol. Pain is a low hum of background noise, a tightness beneath my breasts that is constant but not too unpleasant. I can deal with this, especially if it means I can be myself again, drug free. My pretty new little sisters feel softer now, more like breasts now that the swelling and water retention is going away, and they have some motion when I walk.

Today, there is a geocaching Trail Mix event that I'd like to go to, but I know I am not ready for that and would not be able to keep up. A Trail Mix is a fast fun group event where cachers tackle a long trail, or a series of trails to bag several caches along a single route. It's different from a normal meetNgreet, because there's no shelter to sit and visit, everyone is out trail trotting together. (It's too cold and windy today to sit around anyway.) Lots of fun, but I'll have to catch the next one. Today, I guess I'll go recreational shopping just to get out and walk. The weather is pretty bitter. Tomorrow looks better, so maybe I'll do a few easy local games then. And Monday looks even more promising, and I am off work again for the last holiday of the season.

Thanks for your visits and kind words, Amanda, cat and niki. It means alot to me. Hope your new year is treating you well.

Haha! A geocacher! I found one! Do I get to log this? :D

I finally geocached with a friend who's got a GPS last weekend. 5 caches in two days. It was the most fun I had all year!

The sad part is, I think we may have exhausted all the local caches. The game just hasn't taken off here as much as it has elsewhere. Can't figure out why. This is a college town afterall with plenty of nice public green space to hide things. I'm trying to convince DH that the solution is to become cache-ers instead of cache-ees and start hiding them ourselves. First, we'll need to purchase a GPS and that's a decision in and of itself. Who knew there were so many choices?
What's your brand/model, if you don't mind my asking?

:wave:

Welcome to my journal, Jess! (May I call you Jess?) I just love meeting cachers. I started with a basic Garmin yellow Etrex, bottom of the line, and it was great. I did more than 400 caches with that 'Ole Yeller.' Then my sister gifted me with a high-end Garmin VistaC, so I gave Ole Yeller yo my brother-in-law. It's still working fine as far as I know. The VistaC is sweet, with lots of memory space for complete maps. It even has funny GPSr games on it. The main advantages to it over the yellow is it's ability to show you nearby restaurants, freeway exits, gas stations, etc. It doesn't know every business on the street, but it knows alot of them. All you do is choose the business you want from the tree, and it will immediately show the 'go to' screen and show you how to get there. Very cool. You can even buy more maps for trails. It won't see the game trails that deer create, but it will see the main trails that parks publish. You can get topographic maps that will show you if there's a river or high ridge between you and where you wan to be, and then it will show you the best way to get around it, if it's in the software.

The basic yellow doesn't have maps, or enough memory to support the software for them. But if you just follow that yellow black arrow, it'll get you to the cache.

The point is, you can spend a little and get where you are going just fine, perhaps with just a tad more adventure when you encounter those unknown obstacles in your path. But hey, thats all part of the game. Or you can spend alot, get where you are going, gas up the car and find lunch in an unfamiliar area, and then play a game of Bop a Mole after.

I have cached with alot of different cachers using different GPSr's. Many swear by Megellans, but Garmin is used by most of my friends, and is the best in my opinion. Avoid Lowrance and Cobras at all costs. They're cheap, but they can't get a signal lock in an open field on a clear day, let alone under deep canopy and overcast.

As you noted, once you exhaust the local caches, you start having to go farther afield to find more. Day trips are the order of the day then, and you will be in remote areas, on gravel and dirt roads that aren't on your maps anyway. It's all fun!

Go to www.geocaching.com, and click on the forums link. You will find a forum that talks about GPSr's and you can learn more that way. You'll also find beginner's and general topics forums. I learned alot there when I first started.

Cache on!

Oh, yeah: Jess, the answer to getting more local caches is to introduce caching to more people. You said it's a college town. Do you go to that school? Know someone who does? Perhaps you could get an article published in the college paper, or even the local town's paper. That's always effective.

And by all means, go hide your own. I love getting the log entries from visitors to my caches.

2q, your story about having the suture line taken out made my stomach knot up! I hope you were on the pain meds at that time...OUCH!!!

Glad to hear that things are progressing so well otherwise. Looks like it's almost back to normal for you. Yay!

Oh! I'm with Ica!!! Youcheewowzers on the suture removal! I was going "Oooh! Oooh! Owww!" as I read it!

The body is an amazing thing. Ya just never know what it's gonna do. No two people are the same. I think that's why they call it "Practicing Medicine".

Glad it's healing up now. Man! What a road you've been walking!!! Glad you are able to hold on to your wonderful attitude through it all!!!

Thanks, BB and Ika. There are 3 more extruded sutures now, in 3 different areas. I can feel the tiny thread poking out, but they are not raw and sore like the other one, so I may just watch and see. If they don't get any worse, I'll wait for an appointment I have next week and have them looked at.

Wonderful attitude, huh, BB? Oh, I'm a good fake then. Especially lately. In the early days, especially in the drug induced haze, I was very upbeat; so happy to have that huge weight lifted from me that I didn't care what it took to get through it. It was all worth it. But now, with the mellow weather enjoining me to come and play, I am increasingly impatient with my body's low tolerance for play. A half mile hike does me in. Last weekend, it was 55*, sunny and sweet, so I went for a walk around a lake in a nature preserve adjacent to the Indianapolis Museum of Art. One of my favorite places to walk, as it's quite close to home. I park at the museum, walk the formal art gardens and then head over to walk the nature preserve, a lovely wooded trail that loops around the lake and the White River. Flat. Easy. Just a stroll. But it's a mile and a half, and by the time I got back to the gardens, I stood at the bottom of a small ravine, looking up, knowing I was out of gas but I had to climb it since the car was up there. And I just wanted to cry. OK, I did cry.

The next day, feeling all better, even nicer weather pulled me out to geocache. I started with 8 games on my tripsheet, in nearby Brownsburg IN. Did one easy game in a park woodland, a half mile round trip, and was spent. Sat on a bench, watching a gaggle of kids playing on the swings, bumming seriously. Feeling sorry for myself, all pouty and whiney.:c( I am so tired of feeling like crap all the time. I just want my health and stamina back. X-( I know: it takes time. Rest. Give my body a chance to recover. yadayada... Yeah, yeah. But I don't have to like it!

So there you have it: my wonderful attitude. Aren't you glad you brought it up?:laugh: It would help if the weather would just shut up and BE January like it's supposed to! No wonder December wasn't too hard for me. The weather sucked!

So, anybody want to go geocaching with me this weekend?:D

Hang in there, 2Q!
Heck! I haven't undergone recent surgery, and I tire out easily (or much more easily than I would like!). I thought slimming down would improve that, and it has to a point. I guess I just can't seem to admit that I have a 42 year old body that can't go as fast and as far as a 32 year old body could.

Take your time. You are still recovering. And getting out in that sunshine will also help the healing process.

Months from now it will be a faded memory.

It's gotta be frustrating to feel like you're all cooped up and wonder when you'll be able to get back to your baseline activity level! I don't blame you for any pouting or whining you want to do! Try and think ahead to May and June, when you're really recovered and out geocaching without having to haul the "girls" around!! How much fun will THAT be? You'll get there, I just know it. I hope everything goes OK with your sutures. Keep us posted--

Amanda

More fun and games. At 6 weeks post-op, I expected to be all better. But no: More extruded sutures. So I went to the dr to get them removed. She starts again without any pain prevention, just expecting a quick pluck. Finds several segments of suture line and says the tissue there (same sore spot) is all new epithelial (sp?) very very thin. She said she feared that digging around to pull the knots through would shred the new tissue, and said the only thing to do was to cut me anew to prevent the tissue from shredding. So she used a local, cut a 2 inch incision and cleaned it all up. She pulled 9 segments of suture from there, and 3 from elsewhere. The other 3 were not painful or sore. Just an easy pluck, like pulling a splinter from your thumb. She closed the new incision with steri-tapes, and so I am back on pain meds for a few days. My exercise and weight-lifting restrictions have been extended another 3 weeks. :c(

The funnest part is that she said there will likely be more extrusions. But at least not from that area that wouldn't heal, because she got them all. She said this is not unusual; that almost half of her patients have this type of problem. So I gotta ask: If these sutures don't dissolve internally like they are designed to do, and fully half of the patient's bodies reject them as foreign matter, why use them at all? You'd think there's be something better. X-( (end rant.)

Other than that: spent a quiet weekend, behaving. Am taking nightly walks again, keeping them to a slow mile, but it's better than nothing.

Got a nibble from an agent interested in my novel, so that's interesting. But I'm not getting too excited. Her website is quite bare bones, with no personal information, no list of published books, not even her education or related work background. She does list a handful of authors she represents, so I checked them on Amazon. None have any books published with a real house. Two have self-published books available, but you don't use an agent for that. Perhaps this agent is new, has signed these authors, but hasn't sold anything yet. Still, if she'll shop it around, that's more than my book is getting now, so maybe I'll let her play. We'll see.

Good news on the book! Although I'd be a little wary of the agent. I know there are articles on the internet about how to choose a literary agent; maybe you could look those up? Just a suggestion...

I agree with you about the sutures. If half of her patients reject that type of suture thread, there's a problem with it. That would have made me angry, too. And more ouches, although this time at least you got a local (woohoo!!).

Thanks, Ica. But you don't so much as choose an agent, as hope and pray one will choose you. Those 'slush piles' on their desks are enormous, and it takes an act of God or congress to get noticed if you are nobody. I have a stack of rejection slips from 50 agents or so. Polite little refusals, most saying they don't accept new unknowns. Not a one of them had anything negative to say about what I presented. Likely most didn't even look at it. Believe me, I've been all over the net and books on how to get published, and belong to several chat groups on the topic. I finished my book over a year ago and this is the first nibble of interest I've gotten. Perhaps it'll have to do.

At this point, it's nice just to get a nod and a few encouraging words. She said my storyline is intriguing, she likes my 'breezy voice' and the story seems to flow easily. She also said it lags a bit in the 2nd chapter (true: scene setting and background gets in the way a bit; I'll work on it) but is better by chapter 3. She asked for more chapters, including the end. So I obliged. If she contacts me again and wants to go further, I'll have some pointed questions for her.

Feeling much better! Did my normal 2 mile walk last night, in normal time and did it without thinking about pain and what to do about pain and how to avoid pain. And when I was done, I wasn't trashed-out tired. YAY!!

I get my stitches out today from last week's repair, and then I really think this whole thing is behind me. Still don't have full extent of my reach, and am still restricted for aerobic exercise and lifting for another 2 weeks. Still a little tightness under the sisters, and some areas are still a bit hyper sensitive, but it's clearly better every day.

Last Saturday I did a geocaching event meetNgreet. Logged 17 caches in about 4 hours caching time (meeting and greeting not included.) I even made it to round 2 of the euchre tournament. Not bad, considering I'd only played once before, on Fri night when my friends tought me how to play.

The Grand Canyon trip planning is coming along. Last night I even dreamed about caving in the canyon. I am so jazzed!

Glad to hear your recovery is moving along at a faster pace! It sounds like you're about back to baseline, or will be soon at least. That's great! When are you going to the Grand Canyon? That sounds like a fun trip, especially for an outdoors loving gal like you. I hope everything goes well with the final suture removal (ouch!) and things continue to progress for you.

Amanda

Any new news on the novel? I'm intrigued! One of my close friends is trying to publish one right now and I know it can be a long, frustrating road. Good luck!

Thanks, Amanda. Nothing yet from the agent. But it took her more than 2 months to read the first chapters I snet, so I don't look to hear anything real soon.

The Grand Canyon trip will be the 2nd week of June. Heard 2nd hand that my Dallas sister, who previously said she couldn't come, might be able to make it after all. That'd be so great, because it would mean all 7 siblings are planning on coming, plus a few spouses and nieces and nephews. The last (and only) time we have all been under the same roof in the last 30+ years was in 1995 for my Mom's 75th birthday (one brother didn't make her funeral in 03). Such a rare opportunity.

2Q, I am jealous!
I've tried my hand at writing, but even with knowing the rules and structure issues, mine just come out a bit juvenile. I get a personal kick out of reading them, but I doubt they are marketable. Haven't shared them with anyone in years. Maybe I should. Get some feedback. I wrote a romance novel once and hubby read it. He said they guy in the story was a total butt-wipe and didn't deserve to get the girl. LOL! I didn't see him that way at all. Oh well!:o

I hope you get somewhere with yours!

Glad the mending prcess is still progressing. Chin up! You'll get there one day at a time.

BB, I'll show you mine if you show me yours! :laugh:

Another weekend, another walk in the woods. This time, I woke to find a new geocache listed very close to home, in a park I have visited only once before. No one has found this cache yet, and it says there is a first finders prize to be had, so I scurried out to find it. I walked the sweet wooded trail, a one mile loop around a drowned trail (it's been very rainy here lately, but my Merrell hiking boots don't mind water at all so long as they are not topped.) A wet soft snowfall decorated my coat and hat, and I was rewarded with a portable CD player, complete with A/C adapter, headphones and dead rechargeable batteries. A nice prize by any standard! Especially since my Cd Walkman died a couple of months ago, and I hadn't yet replaced it. Now all I need to do is find these odd 'gumstick' batteries somewhere. Never saw any like these before, but there is actually a store nearby that sells nothing but batteries, so I am optimistic.

Gotta love geocaching.

Hey 2qwerqE, I remember you mentioned writing and shopping your novel around, and I saved this for you in case you hadn't seen it before, because I though you might appreciate the humor... and I just realized I never posted it for you:

Dear Jane Agent,

I have carefully reviewed your rejection letter, and I regret to inform you that I cannot accept it at this time. Other writers may feel differently, of course, so I wish you the best of luck with submitting it elsewhere.

Sincerely,
Angry Writer

:laugh:


Hope it works out with this agent! And what a lovely geocaching day you had. Glad the Merrills held up. :)

ROTFLMAO, Anne. Phunny stuff, Thanks. Oh my: I just realized I am remiss in visiting your journal and will have to drop in. Seeya there.

Ooh, good prize! Don't know where I heard (or saw) this, but I seem to recall seeing (reading?) something on Geocaching and the prizes were very small, like decorated pencils or something. Is that usually how it is?

Yes, Ica, that's right. Usually, you find small McToys for the kids, or tools and camping things like handwarmers or maybe a little compass. Often, there's nothing of any value. In fact I seldom trade at all anymore. I just sign the logbook and leave the trades for the kids.

BUT: sometimes (not always) when a cacher places a new cache, they will include an FTF (First to Find) prize. These are often worth the trip and are the reason many cachers like to race to a new listing for the prize. Best prizes I've found in addition to the CD player: a pocket knife embossed with an eagle and flag, in a presentation box. A complete tool kit with more than 160 pieces in it's own preform carrying case box with a spot for everything. A delicate polished top seashell edged in 14c gold (love it and wear it often.) A $20 bill. An onyx owl fetish.

And of the things the woods gave me that I treasure: 2 geodes and a primitive stone (not flint or obsidian) spearhead.

Truthfully, if I was only there for the booty, I'd be sorely disappointed and disillusioned after a few junk caches. But it's not about the prize. It's about the adventure and the hike and the game. Most of the time. :D

Just thought I'd post a couple of pics from last Saturday's cache game.

inviting, isn't it? (http://img.groundspeak.com/cache/log/c51980ac-8b50-4274-90ba-b024520eb9fb.jpg)

Me, decorated like a cake (http://img.groundspeak.com/cache/log/c8b4247a-1543-4251-a451-fc0caf9a6902.jpg)

Hi there!

I love the pics--it looks so pretty out there (but cold, for sure) and you look adorable, all bundled up with your prize. The caching sounds way cool. I'm so glad you've been feeling well enough to get back out and about, as I know it was making you crazy for a while when you couldn't get out and hike. Spring is right around the corner...bet you're pretty excited. I hope you hear back soon about the agent--I would love to see one of your works in print!

Amanda

Hi!

I was just browsing journals and I have to say that I think this whole geocaching thing sounds awesome! I may just try it sometime, since I love the woods, hiking, exploring, and all of that...What a cool idea.

Wow, It has been ages since I have been in here. I am so glad you are feeling better. I went through that wanting to be better NOW stage after my gall bladder surgery in January. Nowhere near as invasive as your reduction, but same feelings about recovery I expect. I am finally feeling back to normal, and it sounds like you are too. Love the FTF prize, and just when you needed it. How cool is that?

Have a great day.

before I read your long first post, if it's not too personal a question, are you male, female or neutral?

rD

Hi, r-D: Female, 49, never been married (not gay, just fed up and self-protective,) no kids, 2 cats.

A new B&A pic for you.The before was 1995, a family reunion, with one of my sisters, a niece and two nephews. This was me at my biggest, something like 244lbs (not that I much weighed myself in those days, but that's the highest number on my doctor's chart for me.) The after was this week.

New B&A (http://img.groundspeak.com/user/e4092866-8812-48bc-b8f5-1d744df6da3a.jpg)

Holy hot tamale!!!:cheer: You look amazing in that after pic! The hair is pristine, that color is gorgeous on you, and you are grinning and your eyes show! That's my new goal--when grinning like a drunk lunatic in celebratory pictures I'd love, just once, for my eyes to be visible in the final photo. Way to go!!! You stand up a lot straighter without the sisters in the way also.

Thanks for the PM, by the way. On my to-do list for post exam time is to find that.

Have a great weekend! Any caching planned?

Amanda

Wow, what a difference! Good job. You also look like you lost about 10 years in your face!

WOWSA, you look fabulous.

Sunday was loads of fun, until it wasn't. I met my St Louis sister in central Illinois for a fun meet-in-the-middle day of play. She had learned of a small town (Olney, IL) that has hundreds of white squirrels running wild around the area so we set out to photograph some white squirrels. We didn't see any, but it could be because it was 25* and snowing. The snow cover was very light, but perhaps it was enough to camoflage any white squirrels that were out. I think they simply had more sense than we did and chose to stay in. We did find 2 grey squirrels, one of whom was calm enough to let us shoot him. I'll post a pic later. So since we didn't find any white ones, we went geocaching instead, figuring that perhaps we'd get lucky and find some in the town's other parks. This town is very nice to it's squirrels, and gives them lots of boxes in tall old trees, and many well-stocked feeding stations in the main park. If you are curious, simply google Olney white squirrels for more info. We will definately come back in the spring and try again.

After caching the day away, we went back to Effingham for dinner after dark and hit the road home about 7 pm. About 50 miles west of Indy, I ran into a standstill on the freeway. For 2 1/2 hours, we sat, traffic backed up for at least 20 miles behind a wreck. It was a full hour before I saw the first ambulance go by, followed by another, and a LifeFlight helicopter, a hazmat van, 2 salt trucks (to keep the water the hazmat guys were hosing the wreck down with from freezing on the road) 4 tow trucks, and I lost count of the cops. I sat and watched while my half tank of gas dwindled to omigawd, and once traffic stopped creeping, I turned my engine off and parked where I sat. The guy behind gets out and taps on my window and says, 'Please tell me you didn't just run out of gas.' And I said, 'Nope Not yet, but you'll be the first to know!' :laugh: Good thing I was still wearing my longjohns from playing in the snow all day! By the time I finally passed the wreck, all that was left was one semi truck laying on it's side, and another that they were off-loading his cargo into. The hazmat guys were still spraying and the salt guys were still salting, the cops were still copping, but the rest of the vehicles and victims were gone. I'm sure they all had a MUCH worse night than I did sitting and sitting. But I didn't get home til midnight, and had to get up for work at 6am. I-)

Hey there!

Sounds like quite the interesting Sunday you had there--I'm so glad you didn't run out of gas. I guess if you're going to run out of gas on the highway, you'd want to do it where there are a bunch of cops and hot firemen though...damsel in distress can be a fun game.

Have a great V-Day, and I hope you've caught up on the sleep at this point.

Amanda

Hi 2Q!
LOVE the before and after pics! You are really doing fabulous!!
You look so much healthier. I'll bet you FEEL that twofold!!!

Keep up the great work! That is so cool that your sister also enjoys wandering through the woods! What a treat!!

Thanks to my faithful visitors. I appreciate your words and thoughts.

Last night, I decided it was time to start running. It was sad and pathetic, but it's a start and I gotta start somewhere. Of my normal 2 mile walk, I ran/walk/ran/walked maybe 1/2 mile of it trotting. My knees were fine with it, but the sisters did get a tad surly at the end of the 3rd trot, so I walked the rest of it. Had to quit and walk repeatedly, not because of fatigue at all, but because I simply couldn't catch my breath. (no, I'm not a smoker and never have been.) I'm guessing it'll get easier, since the runners I see don't appear to be huffing and puffing their way painfully around the track. so it must get better at some point, huh? I've had enough pain for a while, so I'll just take it slow and ease my way into it. It may be jogging, but it's not a race.

Felt great after, and I feel very good this morning. My office mate says that means I'm not doing it right. :laugh:

I'll go again tonight. It'll be almost 60* today!

Oh man, glad you didn't run out of gas, although I agree, damsel in distress thing could have been fun.:laugh:

I know what you mean about the jogging, I do it sometimes with my 2 1/2 year old and get winded. It is getting better though. I have never been a fan of jogging, but who knows, I am learn to like it someday.

have a great day.

[QUOTE=RayeViking]Oh man, glad you didn't run out of gas, although I agree, damsel in distress thing could have been fun.:laugh:

Well, since there were a number of vehicles bogged down in the median from trying to cross over and failing patheticly, I'm glad I wasn't added to the list of rescues in waiting. Some SUVs made it (albeit with lots of damage to the turf), but small cars simply got stuck in the muck. Was entertained to watch a pair of knights in a pickup truck trying to pull a Geo out, but they slid into the ditch too, and then I watched them exchange insurance info! :laugh: The truck got out, and left the Geo there.

Oooohhh...you are a brave one with the running. I am a wimp, and I hate running, and I've always hated it. I think that may be because I've always been heavy, and running is hard on the bod when you're overweight. For now I'm holding off, but eventually I'd like to be small enough that I can take up running. My dad ran marathons for years and I always thought he was the coolest thing that ever lived (still do). Let me know how it's going--you'll get there!!!

Any caching plans for the weekend?

Amanda

Hi, Amanda. Thanks for dropping in. No waaayyyy; too freeky cold this weekend. I draw the line at about 20*, and we are about there, with a brisk north wind, so no way. I did a little recreational shopping instead. bought a pretty shirt I didn't need with money I don't have, just to be walking somewhere & doing something. A $37 baby blue moleskin shirt for $13 clearance. Nice.

Tonight, I did the step bench and eliptical, double-timed it as much and as long as I could, like sprinting between a more normal pace. Not the same as running at all, but I can't afford a treadmill, so it'll have to do. I have resumed the ab-swing too, and hope to put a dent in my round middle. I am also stepping up the resistance on the eliptical trainer. Anthing above a 4 feels like stairmaster to me, and get the thigh muscles burning and the heart apumping. My weight has settled in at 172 for the last few weeks and is not budging at 1200-1400c/day. Hoping the added push on exercise will break it, tho. I keep trying, even if the scale won't move.

I am LOVING being able to move freely without those huge flapping sisters. Everyday, I am amazed at how much more compact and controlled my movements feel with my new little titties, and I can't wait to get home and exercise every day now. What a novelty to pump on the eliptical, dance to a video, even do a few jumping jacks, and not slap myself silly in the process.

Add into the bargain that I am sleeping so much better now. May apnea is gone, and I no longer wake myself up snoring. Since I live alone, I can't truthfully say whether I still snore at all or not. Probably. But if I do, it's much less now. My acid reflux is also greatly improved and I no longer take antacids before bed every night. The persistant, omni-present backaches are a thing of the past as well. No more ibuprophen 5x a day. I even forget to use the back massager chair. Just don't need it like I used to. The new sisters still feel a tad tight. Still swell some when I over do it, especially if I fail to contain them like a know I should. (sports bra and big ace wrap, but sometimes I blow off the wrap, and can pay the price for that still.) But they are better and better. I am so hugely happy to have had them done!

That skirt sounds like a GREAT deal! Moleskin is one of my favorite fabrics--I used to have a moleskin blazer that I loved, and now I wish I wouldn't have gotten rid of it. Good shopping adventure, I think!

Sounds like you're really working hard on that elliptical! That thing makes my thighs scream for help!! You are just doing so well, and without the sisters in the way you are unstoppable!

Hope the weather holds out for you this weekend and blesses you with some great caching opportunities. It's supposed to warm up nicely here (Kansas) and I can't wait!

Keep up the good work!

Amanda

2Q, hearing you count your blessings is awesome! So many problems resolved for you in one surgery. That is wonderful!!! I know it has not been an easy journey, but the benefits look like they totally outweigh the problems and pain incurred.

Totally off topic, but: 2 fun new things happening:

I've been invited to present a geocaching educational 'class' at our largest local park in the spring. Sounds like it'll be very fun. I've never done anything like this before, or even heard of one being done, so I need to weigh in on the gc.com forums and see what worked for others who have done this. The park offers lots of different class opportunities though the year, and geocaching has just recently come onto their radar scope. I've put the issue to some of my caching friends, but this is all very new, and nothing's really cooking yet.

2nd, I've found a POD (Print on Demand) publishing outfit (www.lulu.com) that allows you to self-publish your stuff for free. Other PODs cost money and plenty of it. This same level of service would cost anywhere from $1000-1800 at the most used sites like AuthorHouse and IUniverse. The lulu.com setup is completely and totally free. You do need to pay $35 to be listed on Amazon and Books in Print. (completely worth it, of course.) Other than that, your first cost incurred is to buy a copy of your own book. So I am going to publish my novel, and it will be ready very soon.

Back on topic: Not much to say. I trot/run most every night, weather permitting, and eliptical when I can't. I stay at 1200-1400c/day. The pounds don't budge. Sigh. Perhaps as my stamina and strength improve the pounds will begin to drop. Or, maybe when pigs fly and buffalo sing.

WOW! You've got all kinds of big news here! That is really cool that the novel will be published. I want a link to the site whenever you get that set up so I can purchase a copy myself! That is so exciting--you sound so calm about it. Are you really peeing your pants? I would be.

The geocaching class sounds pretty cool too, and it's nice that they chose you to do it. You're so passionate about it I know you'll be a great teacher, and I bet the interest in it will really ramp up once you start the class.

Keep chugging away on that elliptical--you're one determined woman and those pounds can only resist so long!

Hi, r-D: Female, 49, never been married (not gay, just fed up and self-protective,) no kids, 2 cats.

I walk at least 2 miles at least 3 workdays a week,

I assume that's on top of an active day and surely not just a pedometer reading that includes your getting around the house and workplace.

- o.k., I get that you have physical limitations and certainly want to avoid 'impact' exercises, but, how about adding a modest backpack (while gradually getting used to up to 15% maximum of your body weight) so that your weekday walking routines get you more into your 'aerobic zone'? A backpack made all the difference in my own walking routines.

While it's great to really go at it on weekends, what really gets to the heart of the matter (pardon the pun), is our ongoing activity (more upright time versus to put it politely, time we spend reclining), while also logging in a daily (better than every 2nd day) aerobic workout (25-40 minutes of being in your 'aerobic zone', or at least, the lower end of your range).

Your hypoglycemic problems will hopefully resolve themselves after a few more years of careful living, in the meantime, as you've surely learnt by now, focussing on high fiber foods while avoiding richer foods (high in fats, proteins beyond your minimal daily requirements) will help keep sugar spiking manageable.

rD

????? Um...I'm really confused about this whole quoting from the opening post thing. Maybe I'm off base here, but it seems that a lot has changed since then. Didn't your LAST post mention the daily trotting or elliptical??? I personally don't care if you're male/female/android/gay/transexual/straight/professional gymnast/stockbroker, etc. You are rockin' the weight loss!!! Keep up the good work!

PS--Just ordered a book I'm very excited about reading over spring break!

Thanks, Amanda! You took the words right off my keyboard in response to kind visitor r-D's post. Much has changed since Sept!

r-D, thanks for taking the time to visit and share your suggestions. Notes: 'at least 3 WORKDAYS/wk,' plus Sat and Sunday = at least 5days/wk of excercise, not 'every other day.' In Sept part of the problem was the short time before dusk after work. That's getting better now, daily, of course. Yes, the daily miles are above normal activity, not just a pedometer of hall walking. I walk a paved track at my local park when I can't get out to hike in the woods. Lately, I have taken up walk/jog/walking, working on building stamina and wind. My knees are mostly OK with it so far. But I'm not doing more than about 1/4 mi jog, then a 1/4 walk, alternating for 3 miles a night now, every night that weather and time permits. Still more walk than jog, but I'm working on it. When the weather or errands get in the way, I use my elliptical trainer at home later in the evening.

The backpack idea is a good one. I am working on getting stronger for a trip to the Grand Canyon I have planned in June. To that end, I am turning up the resisitance on the eliptical, which is more like hill-climbing. Progress is slow, but I am patient and persistant and commited to the game.

Amanda, I finished my preparing new book on the publishing website, and I ordered a copy. If I am happy with the way it looks, I will activate it for public access. Hopefully, another week-10 days and you can have at it! It will be available from Amazon.com, or on lulu.com. Hope you enjoy 'Search of a Lifetime.' Thanks for your interest!

ooommmpphhhh. Uggghhhhh. I feel so very fat! Yesterday was FAT Tuesday, and I did it justice, I must admit. We had a Mardi Gras pitch-in at work for lunch. I made my Cajun chicken gumbo. There was also jambalaya, red beans and rice, home made rolls, lovely taco dip with Tostitos, a hideously fabulous chocolate fudge cake, sugar crem pie, assorted mini eclairs, peanut butter fudge and on and on and on. An amazing spread, especially when you consider there are only 9 people in our department. And you know you can't offend anyone. Must try everything! some of it twice, just to be sure.

I did 3 miles of walk/run/walk instead of dinner in the early evening. But I still feel guilty, and know I must punish myself with more excerice tonight. OK, I know: it's OK, don't beat myself up about it, move forward, excercise is not punishment (unless you do it right) yada yada yada...

Still have guilt. But it's a good thing we aren't doing that again today, or I'd be just as out of control! :laugh:

Yup! You're not going to shun pot lucks for the rest of your life. No need to feel guilty for one day's overindulgence. What matters is you did do that 3 miles afterward and today you are back on track.

Besides, Pot Lucks are always so much fun! Home made stuff everywhere!

You are still on track. That's what matters.

Today, I went to hike the Hoosier Nat'l Forest again, about 20 miles south of Bloomington IN at a place called the Deam Wilderness. I've been here a couple of times before, and have fallen in love with this place. Should be an R in that name: the Dream Wilderness.

Bright blue day, 45* with no wind at all. Tromping down the gravel trail, I felt loud as a motocross race, all crunching gravel and swishing clothing and breathy uphills and pounding pulse. Then I found the cache, and I stopped. Soooo quietttt. No breeze to disturb the trees. No bugs to buzz my face. No drone of distant traffic bleeding through. Not even a bird to scold me for my noisy approach. High overhead, through the bare tree branches, I saw a broad white jet contrail, the only evidence of the 21st Century, but it was too far off. I didn't hear the jet. So quiet. Utterly and completely still. So I sat for a time and steeped in the silence, absorbing it into my frazzled 21st Century soul like an embrace, and I let it have it's way with me. Finally I stood and resumed my trek and it was only then that I realized how badly I had needed this walk, this place, this cathedral of trees and sun and blue sky. I am the better for this cache hunt.

So: just under 6 miles for 2 caches and one DNF, because at the end of a long trail, only 300 ft from the cache, I could not find my way around a sheer drop off to get to the valley floor. This cache is really supposed to be done by canoe or boat. But the description said it could be done by a hike and a bushwack, so I tried it. I scrambled down a steep ravine from the trail ridge, an elevation drop of about 300 ft in less than .15mi. Then I faced that sheer dropoff, and decided I didn't want it badly enough to work and seek a way down. I was tired and still had 2 more miles to go back to the car. OK, I admit it. I whimped out. But I'll try again, on another day when I don't already have 4 miles on me by the time I hit that drop off.

I have that peaceful easy post-caching buzz going. Sweet!

Man, that sounds like a good weekend! I love your descriptions of the caching--makes me want to run outside and take a deep breath!

I can't wait to get the book in the mail--it should be here by Monday although I won't have time to start reading until after exams. I've set aside some time during spring break...free time...can't wait.

Glad you're doing so well. Any caching tomorrow? If not, 6 miles today isn't exactly childs' play!

Wow! 6 miles!!! Awesome!!!
I was trying to explain Geocaching to a friend of mine. I must not explain it well enough because he didn't quite get it. Would rather wander about with a metal detector. To each his own.

You do make it sound like a lot of fun. I'm sure when you give your presentation that your audience will feel that in you and enjoy it! You're gonna do super!

Keep up the great work!!!

BB

'Beneath the Big Muddy' is a caving adventure novel that I wrote with my sister. It's now available at

www.lulu.com

Search by the title, and you will see 2 listings: paperback and hardcover. It's also available for download. The first 3 chapters are there for your perusal as a sample. It'll also be listed on Amazon.com in another week or so.

That is amazing! I am so excited to get my little hands on that one as well. I think "Search of a Lifetime" should be delivered to me today, and I can't wait to read it.

Way to go!!

Okay, I am going to have to look up your book. I will do that in a minute. But what is Search of a Lifetime? Is this a book I should be reading? Details, details, please.

congratulations on getting your book published. Sorry I haven't been in here in a while. Also, I can't wait to hear how the plans for that teaching gig are coming along. It sounds like a lot of fun.

Have a great day.

Thanks, all for dropping by in my absence. Sorry about the long blank spell, but things have been hectic and very very busy in recent weeks. A deadline project at work came due, which brought hundreds of last minute CPR instructors to my desk and phone. Nights have been spent working on a marketing push for my book. It's a direct mail campaign that will hit all the bookstores and libraries in the area where the story takes place, and in my own city, plus many other retailers, park visitors centers, caving grottos and more.

I created a new website for my new novel. You can read more at www.beneaththebigmuddy.com (http://www.beneaththebigmuddy.com) Raye, click on the 'About the Authors link and you will find a link at the bottom for 'Search of a Lifetime' that will answer all your curiousities. 'Search' was my sister and my first book that we wrote together. It's the true story of her search for her adult daughter that she gave up for adoption as an infant.

Yesterday, I attended a geocaching event we call a Trail Mix. Unlike most gc events, there was no park shelter house, no BBQ, no restaurant. Trail Mixes are about hiking serious trails for serious miles finding lots of caches while catching up with friends and meeting plenty of new ones. We had a good turnout, 27 people, including an intrepid 5 year old who never once whined, never asked to be carried and kept up with all of us across 5 miles of rugged horse trails in steep southern Indiana hills. I was so very impressed with this kid. He did this difficult hike like a pro and loved every minute of it. I don't know of many 5 yr-olds who can or would do what he did. Elevation change of 1000ft, which for this flatlander was a true challenge. A series of hills followed a high horseshoe ridge with great views on the valley below. In the south of IN (Clark Nat'l Forest near Sellersburg (it's called Lake Shaw, and I'm assured there is a lake here, though I never saw it,) spring is just beginning to make an appearance. We saw daffodils, a few wildflowers, and lots of budding trees on a beautiful bright clear day, about 45* with a light breeze. Perfect day and I had a great time. Pics are here if you are curious. In the group pic, I am in the front row with a white aspen walking stick.

My log, with pics (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/log.aspx?LUID=a5fe3dd0-1d05-413e-a3a0-3cebb450ce86)

Today, my legs know they worked yesterday, and I feel those hills in my thighs and calves. But it's another perfect day out there, and I doubt that I'll manage to stay in all day, even though I have tons of work to do and my body wants a rest.

I'll try and get by to visit some journals soon. Just not enough time in the days lately.

Hey there! Just wanted to pop by and tell you I'm about halfway through "Search" and I'm really enjoying it! I like the way Wiley's tales are interspersed between the technical searching stuff, and you both tell a good story. I'm going to have to go looking for this new book next. Hope you're having fun with this publishing process--sounds like a lot of work, but in a good way.

Talk to ya later--

Thanks, Amanda. Glad you are enjoying the book. Let me know what you think of 'Muddy.' Today, 'Beneath the Big Muddy' turned up on Google and Yahoo search engines for the first time. Still waiting for the Amazon listing to pop up. But I went ahead and sent off a huge direct mail press release to over 150 prime targets today anyway. Now I'll just sit back and watch and wait. And prepare another mail campaign.

So, last Sunday, I was right. I didn't stay in. I got a surprise email from a cacher I had met at an event a couple of months ago, and he invited me to geocache with him. We did 8 or 9 caches, most of which were fast parkNgrabs, but a couple were in nice woods. His name is Rob, and we are going to play in the Morgan Monroe State forest tomorrow morning. I just love meeting new caching friends!

As for diet news, no news is well, no news. Nothing lost. Nothing gained. And if serious hiking some rugged 7 miles in 2 days, (total 15 miles this week total, including my nightly walks) doesn't make a dent, I don't know what ever will. So, I'll do it again tomorrow. Maybe get a little snowed on.

Can't wait! I live all week for these trips!

Another excellent day on deep woods trails in the Morgan Monroe State forest with my new caching friend Rob. 4 1/2mi, mostly bushwhacking through old growth woods with no trail in sight. It was rugged and hilly and brambly and much more work than hiking a clear trail. and very worth it. Of course, once we got where we were going, we found the trail that led us back out again, to a parking area less than a tenth of a mile from where we parked. Go figure. :laugh:

Found a beautiful rose-colored geode, a little bigger than my open hand. Haven't cracked it yet. Might not; it's too pretty to bash!

So, help me fellow dieters, for I have sinned. It's been a few weeks since my last confession. I am so heartily sorry that I was too tired on the way home; didn't want to make dinner, so I stopped at the evil Popeyes and got me some spicy chicken and mashed potatoes. For my penance, I plan to work and clean up my yard today instead of heading back out to the woods.

Hi there!

Just popping by to see how you're doing over here. I'm guessing with spring in the air you're probably out and about caching all over the place. I finished "Search" over spring break and I was really impressed with it! You and your sister both did a great job at telling the story, from different angles, and it really held my interest. I think it would also be a really valuable reference to someone searching for any member of the "triad". My next project is to get your new book and start working on that! It may have to wait for a few weeks, since school is back in full swing, but I do have a 27 hour flight coming up in May!

Anyhoo--hope things are going well for you!

Hi, Amanda! You sweet thing! Thanks so much for your kind words about the book.

Yes, I have been remiss on this board lately, but at least it's not because I am getting fat again! I am still maintaining, still hiking every chance I get, still working out when weather keeps me in. Things have been very busy at work lately, and since that is usually where I play on the Net in the slow periods, I haven't had time to check in here much at all. Things will still jump for the next 4-6 weeks as we work towards the end of the school year (since I work in the education dept, much of my job deals with schools all over the 9 county area and when they are busy, I am busy.) There's also a book update now that happens once every 5 years, and it greatly increases my ebb and flow in the bookstore.

I'm sure I could just login at home and check the board, but I'll be honest about this: after plugging data entry all day at work the absolute last thing I want to do when I get home is play on the computer. I need out! Must escape! So I do. Regrets that doing so puts me behind on everyone's news here, and on several other boards I play on. But its seasonal, and it happens to be that season. I'll be around more in the summer.

Meanwhile, here is my favorite photo from last weekend's long caching day in the Morgan/Monroe State Forest. And a handsome guy he is too!

Bug-eyed (http://img.groundspeak.com/cache/log/f26f470e-e99a-4e7f-8991-14233746f9c8.jpg)

Yep, he's a real dreamboat in a clawed-creature kind of way! I figured either work was ramping up or you were just outside enjoying Mother Nature with your free time rather than posting, which is perfectly fine. I love to see your updates, but I know we all have things going on in our "real" lives too. I tend to disappear for several days before exams for much the same reasons. Besides--tis the season for the nature lover to be out hiking trails and basking in the beauty of the outdoors!!

Glad to hear everything is going well for you. I can't wait to hear about some more caching adventures!

Just checking in...I hope things are going well for you! I'm sure you're enjoying the great outdoors this summer and don't have much time for inside online madness. Just wanted you to know I was thinking about you!