SHIP OF FOOLS SISTERHOOD - Strong & Healthy in 2005!!!

[jiminyC_fan]

Way to go, Denine! I am proud of you!

Tracy, I do understand what you are saying. WW has become your way of life. I know that you will be able to figure it all out. By the way, the Pilates I am doing is not resistance. Guess I will check it out. I have seen it at the stores. How long did it take you to tone? I don't know your age but I think my age is working against me. I am 51.

 

[gaba2de]

Tracy - Just keep that head up! Just like everything else a solution will come in its own time. I can totally understand why you wouldn't want to stop going to WW at this point. I can't help but think that loosing weight will be easy compared to trying to maintain once you reach your goal.

Denine - Congrats on another 2 pounds! Your story has given me a lot of motivation because of the fact that it took you awhile to loose any weight. You have inspired me because you did not give up!

Sandy - You and Tracy are my heros! The amount of weight that you both have been able to loose is truly jaw-dropping! Keep up the good work!

My motivation to loose weight - I am going to have to ditto everything Denine said! I am tired of having to shop in the "fat lady" stores! I am tired of having to buy the next bigger size because I am getting bigger and bigger. I am tired of having no energy to play with my children. I am tired of being ashamed of my body.

Keep up the good work everybody!

Gabrielle

 

[winotracy]

Way to go, Denine! I am proud of you!

Tracy, I do understand what you are saying. WW has become your way of life. I know that you will be able to figure it all out. By the way, the Pilates I am doing is not resistance. Guess I will check it out. I have seen it at the stores. How long did it take you to tone? I don't know your age but I think my age is working against me. I am 51.

I'm 36. I've been using my gazelle and walking. I was doing other exercising before last summer and will be getting back to it soon.

Tracy

 

[Mom2Belle&PeterPan]

Hello to all and sorry I've been away from our thread. Life has been incredibly busy, and I've had to attend to other priorities - kids, hubby, work. Also, had some fun this weekend too! (DL twice with family and friends, that was fun but it really pooped me out!)

Congrats to all you with successes, and hugs and encouragement to those of you with challenges. I do not think I'm going to make my weight loss goal for the cruise, but I "am" doing better. I cannot yet exercise post-surgery to where I want and need to. So, I'm keeping the walking going and doing easy toning exercises. Cannot wait until I can do weight training exercises with no pain to my post-surgery tummy. Boy, is that area ever a core of muscles you never knew you had! Mine are still healing.

Journaling my food has helped to really see my eating patterns and how much I was overeating! I've really been doing well with portion control and food balancing. I did not, however, do good today... I made a quesadilla for breakfast, then I just ate a veggie personal pan pizza at almost 8 p.m. for dinner. Nothing else in between!!! I sure did not fuel my body properly today. I know better, and I will get back on track tomorrow.

My work is doing a special healthy team 1 and team 2 competition for 3 months. We all weighed in with our school nurse on Monday. The extra motivation will be good!

Our principal wrote two quotes in our faculty bulletin today, so I wrote these down to share with all of you. I hope these make you both think and smile!

Hang in there and best wishes to all!

The two best physicians of them all---

Dr. Laughter

and

Dr. Sleep.

--Gregory Dean, British physician​

Walking is the best possible exercise. Habituate yourself to walk very far.
--Thomas Jefferson

 

[Denine]

Tracy: I understand completely. You still need the meeting like a crutch. I am sure it is scary to maintain after losing 40 pounds. At the meetings, I am sure you inspire others to lose and get inspiration from the instructor. I am sure that in time, you will feel comfortable to go it alone. In the mean time, we are all here!

mom2belle: If you don't mind me asking, what kind of surgery did you have? I know it took me a long time to heal after I had my appendix out. Healing from that was worse than healing from my back surgery! Sounds like you had a fun weekend. Ikeep telling DH he is not eating enough in the morning and that is why he has only lost 4 pounds. He will come home from work with 19 points or so left and then doesn't use them all.

Gabrielle: I am also tired of being ashamed of my body. I have always been hiding something since I was a kid. I was accused of stuffing my bra in the 6th grade, I wasn't. I went from hiding my chest to hiding my tummy.

Need to go walk out some frustrations on the TM soon.

 

[Mom2Belle&PeterPan]

Hi Denine,

Congrats to you, and I hope your dh learns from you to eat breakfast and healthy throughout the day! It really makes a difference as you can see!

Yes, we did have fun this weekend, thanks for asking!

You must feel so proud of yourself with all you are doing to get into shape! I think it is wonderful! There is nothing better than feeling and looking good on the inside and out. You are doing that, HURRAY!

Well, you opened up a can of worms when you asked me about what surgery I had, lol. I need to vent, so I am writing about it below. I was not sure I wanted to share, as the looneyhoods are here sometimes, but what the heck. I really need to vent!

Forgive me sisters for the length of my next post. Just glide by if you need too!

Take care all, and thanks Denine!

Barbara

 

[Mom2Belle&PeterPan]

Hi Denine,

Here is my sad surgery saga... This was my fifth abdominal surgery. When I was 21, I had an appendectomy. Then over the years, I had 3 minor surgeries that were laparoscopies for infertility (exploratory & G.I.F.T.). When I was 31, I had to have fibroid tumors removed. Was in the hospital for 3 days. I recovered very well from all of these; I was up and about after 2 weeks!

This past August 23rd, they thought I might have ovarian cancer, and after many tests/consults, I had to undergo a total abdominal hysterectomy. I expected to be up and about in 2 weeks no problem, then take it easy for the recommended 6 to 8 week recommended recovery period. Well, this surgery really kicked me in the behind. I do not think doctors prepare women for the recovery or how much time it takes. I finally researched the facts and found that it will take a full year for my body to recover. My surgeon did not tell me this, but my wonderful family doctor of many years, said “yes, it is a major surgery and takes a good year to heal. All your muscles come together in your abdomen where your uterus and ovaries are attached.” I also had lots of scar tissue from all the other surgeries and so there was a lot of cutting. My stomach still swells up at the end of a normal day, and it still hurts and feels like my stomach is falling out.

Mind you, I am very thankful that I do not have cancer! I’m just very mad that this is taking me so long to heal. I had no clue that the recovery would be this difficult or long, and I wish I would have known prior. Some women do great, but some of us do poorly with the healing. There is even a website for women called “hystersisters.com” where women share their experiences. My experience does not seem to be too uncommon. You hear some friend say they are getting a hysterectomy and you think, OK, no real big deal. Well, it was terrible for me, and it was the worse thing I went through so far in my life health wise. (I know -waaa, waaa, waaa…!!!)

I’m really a positive person by nature, but I feel that there is a lot we women are expected to put up with that males would never put up with! I think that if the male OB-GYNs had to go through a hysterectomy, they would take off a full year to heal!!! ROFL!!!

Dang surgery also put me into early menopause…thankfully, the hormones I am taking are helping, but weight gain is a side effect (isn’t that just grand…).

OK, thanks for letting me vent!

That’s my story. My stomach was getting flatter, even my dh noticed. Then I added just a basic weight training routine to my exercising, and the swelly belly is back again with all its pain and glory. So, I’m going back to the easy stuff for exercising, and will try weight training again when all subsides.

It’s good for me to hear all your successes Denine, so thanks because it really keeps me motivated!!! Keep up your good work!

Barbara

 

[mississaugamom]

Thank you for sharing your story with everyone, Barbara.

That's really a lot to go through. Another friend from work had the same surgery last March, only hers DID turn out to be Cancer. She had radiation therapy thoughout the summer, and just came back to work part-time last month. While I've never been through any of it (except the laparoscopy/testing part) I certainly sympathize with everything you've gone through. I think you're right that doctors (particularly the male OB/GYN's do not adequately prepare women for surgery.)

Give yourself whatever time your body needs to heal. Everyone is different, and there's no one "timetable" for recovery. Don't push it with weight training, etc. Keep walking and exercising as you have been. Many studies claim walking is one of THE best forms of exercise. If you want to add a little extra, how about carrying some small wrist/ankle weights while you're doing it? (Alhtough I've always wondered about that one - aren't I carrying enough weight already??? Might be good for toning arms and calves, though!) Outer beauty is lovely, but feeling well inside is much more important.

We all know what a lovely person you are; both inside AND out! You are truly inspirational - you've provided wonderful support and motivation for all of us on this thread. (Even some of the lurking "looneyhood" have learned from you!)

Arlene

Arlene

 

[gaba2de]

Wow Barbara! I'm sorry you have had to go through all of that. I agree with Arlene that you need to give yourself time to heal. And thank you so much for your continued support on this thread! You are an inspiration to us all!

Well, weigh in was last night... Another 1.4 pounds lost. Yipee! Maybe I am going to have to get one of those weight loss tickers if I keep this up.

Have a good weekend everyone!

Gabrielle

 

[Denine]

Barbara: First off, I am so glad it turned out not to be cancer! It does take a long time to heal from abdominal surgery. I have also had a laparoscopy to diagnose endometriosis. That was the easiest of my 4 surgeries! Due to the endo, I have begged for a hyster many times, but the early menopause is what holds me back. I do have some small fibroids as well. We also had infertility issues, but it turned out to be Jerry, not me. We adopted our little girl. Now I don't want to get pregnant!

Arlene has some good ideas. I have never walked with small weights, but it is worth a shot.

Funny, I don't feel like an inspiration. I am mad at myself for gaining this much weight in the first place, and then I lost a bunch and gained it all back. I had to start from square one again. I am terrifiied to go on this cruise and gain it all back. I don't know if I will have the self control not to eat. I do better in a controlled environment. I just really want to look good again.

Now, if I can get my feet to stop hurting! I was just diagnosed with plantar fasciitis this week.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Barbara, thanks for sharing your story. Hugs! I had a hysterectomy at the age of 28 due to having twins so I can relate. It was abdominal as well. I DID NOT go through early menopause thankfully. I hate my scar and I hate that my tummy will never be flat. But at the age of 51 will I ever run around in a bikini, NO! On the other hand, a nice slinky dress without the "bulge" would be nice.

Gabrielle, (by the way I love your name), I love being an inspiration. That is such a nice compliment. If I could help anyone, just ask. Way to go on 1.4. You are doing GREAT! Keep up the good work.

A few posts ago Denine asked everyone for their motivation. Mine was everything that Denine said. Plus this trip. I know that this cruise will be an extremely HOT one and I get physically sick with heat. I knew that being obese (I can use that term comfortably now) and the heat combined would make for a miserable trip. I have 10 to 20 more pounds to lose. I would really like to have a cushion of an additional 5 pounds but I doubt very seriously my family would go along with it.

 

[winotracy]

I had my weigh in yesterday. While I was not down to my low point at the beginning of February, I was down to within one pound. I have a new goal that drives me in this battle. I want to lose 3.9% of fat. If all I lose is fat and do not gain any muscle, it translates to about 6 pounds. But if I do it the right way, I will gain muscle so there may not be any difference. I'm less worried about the scale, though still aware of it, and more concerned about the body fat monitor. My hand-held one is pretty accurate, so I'll check that periodically. I'll post in the next few days about the WW notes of the week.



Tracy

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Tracy, you are so correct on that. I wish I had your attitude. The number on the scale means so much to me and it shouldn't. I do know that age, build, muscle, fat all need to be taken into consideration. Hopefully, your attitude will rub off on me! I have never had a fat test and would love one.

 

[winotracy]

Check with a local health club. I got mine done for $10 and the person who did it evaluated my exercise routine. It was well worth the money!

 

[eye R.N.]

For those that need more motiviation and have or are planning to get a pedomter. It is a non profit site so I think I can post it here.

www.americaonthemove.org.

I decided on the Applician trail as my route.

 

[Denine]

Tracy: Yeah, a new goal.

 

[Lisa F]

Just checking in here.. I've had a very good last few days as far as weight loss goes, 3 lbs in 4 days. The bad news is that's because I have shingles! Ugh. It really really really sucks and the anti viral meds make me feel vaguely nauseated for a couple of hours after I take them and the codeine makes me sleep most of the time so between the two I haven't been in the mood to eat. I'll take diet and exercise any day. I can't even stay awake long enough to catch up on the other thread.

I just keep telling myself the good thing is that this happened now and not in august!

 

[winotracy]

Hang in there Lisa! My aunt had shingles and it was very bad for her so I can imagine what you're going through. Just do what the doctor says and you'll be better in no time.

 

[eye R.N.]

My DH experienced the same thing. The antiviral made him sleepy dopey and grumpy. He was so forgetfull he couldn't remember the way home driving back from work. It does get better after a while.

You're right shingles would be really miserable in Aug.

 

[Denine]

Oh Lisa, how awful! Hope you feel better soon.

Weigh-in tomorrow.