Getting fit for DisCon...

[disneycub]

Glad you are OK Gerri. Those falls can be nasty.

I'm really not sure what motivated me to start up again. Maybe it was because I couldn't fit into my clothes any more, and was tired of having to go out and buy new stuff for my ever-expanding waistline. I'm almost to my goal of 155 pounds, and am really going to try to be good during my upcoming trip.

Having everyone here working so hard has helped immensely!

 

[BelleMom]

Gerri: you are really doing a great job!!! At DisCon, it will be hard to follow you !
Steve: Wow!!!! that's all I can say!!!! I think this means that you managed to keep away from plus sized chocolate thunder mountain ... And I guess that by now you are considering changing Bandit's name to Lightining!
Down here I am doing my best to stick to my program. So far, so good. But I will have to visit restaurants this weekend. I will stick to the fish dishes. The hard part will be to try just a spoonful of the dessert... We still have to choose the best dessert of the year.

 

[Robin]

Livia !!

You poor thing. I can't imagine trying to diet under those conditiond. I have spent the last 2 months complaining that my office encourages people to gain weight. We have a fantastic cafeteria in the bldg that serves breakfast, lunch and SNACKS...it's less than 2 minutes to walk there.

 

[perfectmatch300]

The walking seems to be getting easier as I keep doing it, but I haven't lost much weight yet. Next week will be the big test----we leave for Daytona, Orlando, and Tampa in 15 hrs!!!! I'll be doing my walking around Kennedy Space Center, Magic Kingdom (the 1st anniversary of our DL wedding!), Epcot, and Busch Gardens!

See you in about a week!

 

[BelleMom]

Nancy: Allow me to feel a little tiny bit jealous. This is certainly the best kind of exercise. Say hello to MK for me! Have lots of fun and don't forget to post a trip report!

 

[fostrmom2mny]

Thanks for all the encouragement!

Actually, I won't loose any weight, I will just get in better shape to do all the WDW walking. I don't always share this, but in 1999 I weighed 350 pounds. No, that's not a typo. I hit a brick wall when I tried to ride a ride at Six Flags Over Texas and didn't fit. (Long story and VERY EMBARRASSING!) I had tried dieting, exercising and starving myself when I started to research Weightloss Surgery.

Extreme I know, but I was desperate! I was living my life from the sidelines and I had to make some changes. There was so much promise in the WLS and I did loose weight, for the first time since I was a teen. (I took phen phen for four months and only lost 17 pounds. Worked out two hours five days a week and lost only 17 when others around me that didn't even work out lost 40 +)

I had a VBG 12-99. It changed my life, BUT, I didn't loose as much weight as many others that had the surgery due to several late diagnosis of thyroid problems and insulin resistant. So here I am, I self paid for this surgery and only lost 80 pounds. Although that may sound wonderful, to WLS patients, that isn't very successful. I do feel better, and I can walk now where I couldn't before, but I haven't been able to loose a single pound in over a year of being on a plateau and trying now.

So I won't loose any weight, (though that of course would be nice), but I will hopefully be able to vacation without having to rent a wheelchair. Boy, the things we take for granted!

Sorry this was so long, and some of you may be repulsed that a fat women would have surgery, but I've had a life change that has changed many things about myself, including not being ashamed of myself. I have a strong will, commitment and I cheerlead to others when I get a chance.

GO GO GO Steve, and Livia!! Robin, remember that it's a second across the lips and almost forever on the hips (We have a fantastic cafeteria in the bldg that serves breakfast, lunch and SNACKS...it's less than 2 minutes to walk there.)

Have a wonderful day, I'm ready to leave to walk w the kids.
Gerri

 

[disneycub]

Repulsed?? Not a chance, Gerri! Sounds like you're trying to do everything to keep yourself healthy, and that's what counts.

What also counts is that all of us know what a wonderful person you are inside. Your devotion to children shows that you are very special indeed.

So there!

 

[BelleMom]

Dear Gerri,

You are soo wonderful! I am sure you have plenty of good reasons to be in peace with what you see in the mirror. It is not just a matter of looking, but a matter of being. No one in the world should ever feel ashamed for being "fat" or "thin" or long nosed or simply for not being like Barbie! You are so great, so sweet, and at the same time I can also glimpse of this strong willed, committed woman in your posts, who is always surrounded with children and doing so much hard work!

I believe in exercising and eating balanced meals (when I am free of my job, that is) as a means of being healthier. I do have a pretty tough time losing any weight, but the difference in my mood when I do exercise is incredible. This time, I am trying to keep my eyes off the scale and see what happens.

 

[luvdsny]

Good Heavens! What wonderful stories of effort! Great job everyone!

Gerri, wow! Incredible story. I don't think it's anything about how much weight you lose....but how much better you feel inside and out! I've said it all along....as long as we try to eat better and excercise....that's all the matters! And I am NOT replulsed at all....on the contrary....you're a beautiful person to me!

I'm still walking......but I'm still eating a lot and not the right foods. I'll get there...I know that I will.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Gerri, a big{{hug}} for you, a real one in a few months.

 

[Snowwark]

Gerri, what an amazing story. You sound like a very strong, wonderful person.

Another {{{{{{ HUG }}}}}} for you.

*Why do I get the feeling we should all have a {{ HUG}} mini-meet?

Kim

 

[fostrmom2mny]

Gosh guys! Thanks so much. I really appreciate your support.

Still walking. This convention is turning out to be better and better each day.
Gerri

 

[disneycub]

Well, I haven't lost any weight in several days, but it's no big deal. Perhaps it was that CORN DOG that was whispering "eat me" from beyond the freezer door yesterday. I couldn't resist.

 

[Barb]

I'm afraid I will probably be very upset when I jump on the scale in a day or two. I really did try to eat well, but I am weak when it comes to food. I am crossing my fingers that all the walking we did will help. Thank goodness I have all of you for motivation. Now to get back on track.
Gerri, you are a true inspiration. I can tell you are a special person from your posts and no amount of weight can change that. What you are doing now is incredible.
Kim, I love the idea of a hug mini meet! How cool would that be?

 

[Barb]

Just wanted to tell that I'm back on track after my trip to Chicago. I put a few pounds back on while we were there-too much good food and too many neat restaurants. We went to Bubba Gump's (what a great place with great food), Rainforest Cafe (when I close my eyes, I can pretend I'm in WDW), Harry Caray's (which was really, really neat-lots of TV's with lots of football), Morton's Steakhouse, and Gino's East (for a great DIS meet). I probably would have put on tons, if not for all the walking we did while we were there. I've managed to get the extra pounds back off and have to keep going. Anyway, I went to my first "appointment" in the fitness room at the YMCA. She is getting me started on a fitness program using weights. She showed me some upper body work outs during this appointment. I go back tomorrow for the next step. On Friday, I do my first complete run through. I also went to my first Pilates class last night. It was interesting. Here's the description: "Pilates is a mind-body, non-impact workout that combines core stabilization and visual imagery. Mat work calls for a carefully performed sequence of movements, contracting from deep within the abdomen and buttocks. Regular practice aids in flattening the stomach, relieving low back pain, increasing muscle tone, improving posture, and reducing stress." Well, if I did all that last night, that's pretty good. It was very relaxing, but I'm not too limber when it comes to some of the movements. I don't have a lot of upper body strength, so when we do things that need arm support, I find that hard. However, I can see where this would work. I'm going to keep this up for at least this session (8 weeks), if I can. I will evaluate whether or not I want to continue after that. So, I'm a roll here. Now I have to stick to it!!

 

[disneycub]

I have stopped taking Hydroxycut for losing weight. I wasn't having any trouble until Sunday when I took a trip to the emergency room. I couldn't walk upright because it felt like my stomach, kidneys, etc. were going to explode. Diagnosis: severe dehydration caused by Ephedrines (an ingredient in Hydroxycut), not drinking gallons of water each day, and stress caused by the events of last week.

I'll still try to keep to my low-fat routine, but no guarantees. I'd rather have my health than lose another 7 pounds.

 

[lowellsdad]

Steve,

We'd rather have you at the DIS-con with the seven extra pounds than not have you there at all. Take care of yourself.

Frank

PS The low-fat diet should take care of those seven pounds by convention time.

 

[disneycub]

Thanks Frank!

 

[Barb]

Steve! You are really having a terrible time, lately. What you descibe sounds awful. I'm glad you're alright. I hope you're feeling better. I've heard a lot of bad things about that Ephydrine. Didn't some gov. agency just ban it? I'm glad you're not taking that stuff anymore. Who knows what damage it could have done. Please, take care of yourself. We need you at DIS-Con, and as Frank said, we'd rather have you there with those 7 pounds, than not at all.

 

[fostrmom2mny]

Goodness Steve! You are so right! 7 pounds is NOTHING compared to your health!

Take it from the Queen of every diet known to man, some of them make you feel sick, some of them make you sick, and some of them can even kill you. Just eat healthy and exersize. Even if you don't loose weight, you'll feel healthier.
BTW, as you know, I had WeightLoss Surgery. One of the keys to being successful is drinking 96oz. PLUS an additional 20 for every 20 pounds overweight. That was the hardest post op perscription for me. I've known people who just upped their water intake and lost weight without even dieting. Of course I'm not one of those people but drinking more water everyday does make a difference.
Gerri