The dumbing down of America!

Today the congress will vote on the worst bill ever in the history of our country.
The Democrats will vote "Yes".
The Republicans will vote "No".
The three fools who think they are doing the right thing will vote against their party lines and the bill will become law.
I listened to Glenn Beck this morning and I think he has the right idea. He quoted George Washington who said that a party system will be the downfall of the country.
He suggested that the individuals in congress should be vote yes or no, but they should at least read the bill before they vote.
Many of the people in congress have not read it or been given time to read it.
Our new President is too naive and new to really know what he is doing yet, so he deferred to two of the most insane members of congress, namely:
Nancy Pelosi
Harry Reed
When history of this time is reviewed in 200 years, I can't imagine what people will think about us.
The bill they pass tonight or tomorrow, will affect my future as a bariatric patient. health care is going to change drastically.
Socialized medicine is on it's way!
I dare you to convince me otherwise.

Pick a diet, any diet!

Richard Simmons had a "Live it" because he said diets were finite. He was correct!
You start a diet, and finish a diet. They work while they are there, and then stop when they are done.
Before I get to my favorite list, here is a short list of things you should do before starting to do any weight loss plan:

1. Talk to your family doctor about getting a sleep test if you snore. If you have sleep apnea from being overweight, you can lower your blood pressure, and actually lose weight by getting it taken care of. Make sure you are getting enough quality sleep. I use a CPAP machine (ask me about it by email) and I love it. I breathe filtered air at night and sleep much better than I ever did before. If your doctor won't go along with the test, find another doctor.
   
2. Get an endoscopy/colonoscopy. Make sure you ask them to check you for Celiac Sprue. If you have it and eliminate all wheat/gluten products from your diet, you will lose weight and feel better. If you follow the guidelines even if you don't have Celiac, you will lose weight. But, be careful that you get enough fiber from other sources or you will get constipated.
3. Get a full round of blood tests to eliminate any other problems. When I went for the colonoscopy/endoscopy, they took 11 tubes of blood and got 20+ test results from them. That gave them an idea of what I needed to work on to improve. The blood tests for the bariatric is even more intense. 15 tubes of blood and a bunch more results.

If you do all of the above, keep notes or records so you have a starting point of reference in the future. If you get discouraged, you can look back and see the improvement/changes. Keep track of your progress.

So, here are some ideas for anyone reading this blog, who doesn't want to go through gastric bypass, or band surgery:

• Eliminate sauces from your diet. Use seasonings instead. They have fewer calories, and less fat overall. Instead of making a fatty gravy, use spices, seasonings, vegetables, or fruits. You would be amazed what an apple or orange can do for chicken.
• Get a pedometer and walk 10,000 steps a day. They cost around $10.00, and work really well. You don't have to buy the expensive fancy ones to get the benefits. Buy a decent pair of walking shoes. If you don't like the cold, go to the mall. Or, buy a down coat, rabbit fur hat, and gloves with liners. One of my diets called for walking 4 miles a day above what you normally walk. It's not easy, but you can increase your activity and not kill yourself, and still lose a few pounds and get into better shape.
• Eat more fiber. There are many fiber rich foods. Fiber One makes some decent cereal. I can't eat it now with my celiac disease, but you can. Fiber One makes yogurt too. I can have that. Metamucil is a high fiber material that is safe to take every day. Add a teaspoon or two to a glass of juice or iced tea, and drink fairly quickly. It gels very fast, so you have to consume it before it does. Quaker Oats weight loss oatmeal is very good, and I can eat it.
  
• Eat more protein. When you sit down to a meal, eat protein first, then your veggies, then any fruit. The protein breaks down into sugar the slowest, so it stays in your stomach longer and keeps you full.
• Don't drink anything with your meal. Drink your liquids 15 minutes before you eat, or one hour afterwards. The liquid tends to wash the nutrients out of your stomach faster, and you don't get the full benefits of a full stomach as long. Nor do you get the extra nutrition.
• Eliminate or cut down on potatoes. Gee, how do you spell it? They are basically empty calories.
• Eliminate sugar. Eat fruit because it has what my dietitian calls "binding" sugar. This sugar binds to other things, making it OK. Use sugar substitutes. I have been using Sweet and Low ever since they told me about the rats getting cancer. I stay away from aspartame, but not completely. Some of the others don't satisfy me. You can get rid of the aftertaste if you stop using all sugars for the first two weeks you are on your "diet". After about two weeks, you won't be able to tell the difference between sugar and sweeteners. Amazing, but true.
• Cook your own meals. Then, you can add what you want, and not include all the additives the processed foods have. If you don't want salt, don't add it! Simple and it works.
• Drink lots of water. I use Crystal Lite powder mixes. Iced tea, red raspberry, all with no calories. I bought a gallon container over at Wal Mart. It has a spigot on the bottom, and a lid on the top. I drop in two powder containers, add water, shake, and put it in the fridge. I bought a case of Fruit 2,O water, and as I finish the bottles, I refill them with the Crystal Lite! Cheaper than the bottled water, and tastes better to me. A good sign you're getting enough water is when you urinate during the day, it should be almost clear. The darker it is, the more you need to drink. Don't drown yourself.
• Take vitamins. Find out what you need according to your doctor's report and take them.
  
• Eat fruit after every meal. This adds fiber, and gives you the sugar you crave, instead of eating a dessert filled with calories.
  

I think that's enough for now. Let me know if you have any ideas to add to the list. I know I have more, but this is a rather long entry.

Diet fads and snake oil

I have been through the mill as far as dieting, exercise, and fads. I have seen many, many, many diets that I know won't work, or will work if you can maintain them over time. Once you reach your "goal" weight and go back to "normal" eating, you lose the fight and gain the weight back.
The only people who lose weight and keep it off for life are imaginary as far as I can tell. I haven't met any of them in real life yet, because, if they lose the weight and keep it off, they have solved their problems.
I haven't solved my problems yet, but I am moving in the right direction.
The gastric bypass gave me the head start.
The Dietitian gave me the tools.
Now, it's time for me to correct a few things that are still wrong in my life, and I should be able to solve my problems for life.
Prayer, diet and exercise are the keys.
Proper eating, having my head in the right place, and no major outside disasters will allow me to win this race. But, there is no end for this race. It will continue until I am dead.
The race will never end until I leave this body behind.

I had a teacher in 7th and 8th grade who told a story of the king who would give away his daughter in marriage to the man who could tell a story that would never end. We heard the story every day for two years, and the story never ended. We kept waiting for it to end, and it went on and on.
This is that story. It will never end.

Now, on to the snake oil:
I have a friend who sent me some chocolate that has ingredients in it to help you lose weight. It is part of a multi-level marketing system that is moving up the ladder rapidly.
I looked up each ingredient, and read about them to see if there was anything harmful in it. There wasn't.
So, the diet chocolate will work? Yes and no.

1. The stuff is expensive as all diet plans are.
2. There is not enough quantity of each ingredient to make any difference in your diet.
3. The diet required you to drink one glass of water with the chocolate before a meal. If you were 100 pounds or more overweight, you had to drink 3 glasses of water!
   
4. The main active ingredient besides dark chocolate was xylitol, which is a natural diuretic. So, you drink the water, and the xylitol makes you pee! Guaranteed weight loss. Xylitol also has benefits as far as your teeth are concerned. If you chew gum with xylitol, it has the effect of neutralizing the acid in your mouth that would cause tooth decay. This is something I learned from a dentist friend of mine. But, the amount of it in this chocolate, plus the fact that you get rid of the chocolate pretty quickly, negates it's benefits.
5. When you stop the diet, you lose the race, as I said before.
6. Some of the other ingredients haven't been tested long term, so their benefits/dangers may not be known. I do know that xylitol loses it's diuretic effects with usage, so it may not work after awhile. Your body gets used to it.
   

I have never met anyone who could lose 100 pounds or more and keep it off for life by eating one little chocolate piece. Or even 3 pieces!
Now, the water is a good idea. But three glasses? No wonder they lost weight. They were bloated with water! 3 glasses could be dangerous too.
If you want to make money with a multi level marketing company, Google "Send out Cards". This is the only company I know that has a legitimate product that will work if you work at it.

Last night's support group meeting

I gave out a pile of cards with my blog on it, in the hopes of growing my contacts with bariatric people.
This is a selfish thing on my part. I want to learn from as many as I can about what they do and how they do it.
I was surprised that many people didn't know what a blog is.
Well, in this world, a blog can be anything you want it to be.
So, back to the meeting.
The team and one other person took a walk around the grounds. I was in the lead for no special reason. I took us up and down the stairs and back and forth about 3 times. The building has 3 floors, and we saw all 3 of them twice.
I helped to move chairs and benches into the meeting room. That gave me a bit of a workout. I wanted to wait until the end of the meeting and help take them back, but I was tired from the snowy week. I shoveled two mornings in a row, and made two full batches of chili, along with everything else I did normally, so I am beat.
I was amused when one of the people mentioned that the meeting would have few people tonight because of the cold weather. I know that us fat and formerly fat people don't give a hoot about the cold weather. I also know how important this meeting is for me, and others. We learn so much, and we get the chance to ask questions that can't be answered anywhere else. It is worth it's weight in gold to be there.
THE PLACE WAS PACKED!
In fact, they had to go get more chairs. There was no room at all for more people and a few even stood in the doorway. One sat on the floor.
Wendy, our team RN and post patient gave a talk on resolutions. Very positive stuff with lots of encouragement for everyone. The Q&A afterwards was good too. Lots of questions.

The groups of people will probably have to be broken down into smaller groups. I will make that suggestion and others when the steering committee gets together later this month.

• Pre Surgery
• Post Surgery
• Pre-Band Surgery
• Post Band Surgery
• Family and friends support

There can be further breakdowns, but these are the main ones. The band people have different problems to deal with, and I would like to learn more about them in a few years, after I finish with my problems.
I was able to get into the post surgery group last night for the first time in 3 meetings. I really enjoy talking with the pre people and answering their questions really helps me to understand myself. But, I missed hearing from the people who are going through the post process.
Boy, did I pick up some tips and tricks! That was the best part of the meeting for me last night.
I managed to buy two bottles of calcium chewables for a song since the person selling them didn't like them and didn't want to take the time to return them. Now I have enough for another month or more.
I also met a few people that I am recognizing. This is good for my memory, since I have trouble remembering names and faces. It's tough at these meeting, though, because these people were heavier when I last saw them. The changes are amazing!
I let my hair grow out a bit because I haven't gotten to the barber in a few weeks, so I looked different as well. People still knew me....a great boost to my ego.
I am hoping people make contact through my email and this blog. It keeps me busy and the support is something I really need. I hope to support them too.

Next steps

Well, now I have to clear my head, and get back on track.
If you think that I am perfect, you had better think again.
I fell off the wagon the past month or so. I stopped eating properly thinking that the stomach surgery would take care of me. Well, it did, but not the way I wanted. I wanted it to do all the work, and I got lazy.
Now, I have to get it right. Fortunately, my "pouch" only allows me to eat so much before it stops me. But, what I put in the pouch is more important than how much.
So, I only lost 10 pounds between my last official weigh in and last week. I should have lost another 12 pounds on top of that.
This time, I know what I did wrong, and I can fix it.
When I lost weight before, I would look at this time as the end of my diet plan, and would have to find another excuse.
Now, I have a team to straighten me out.
I have reviewed my diet sheets, and taken some hard advice from Dr. Brader.
I am walking outside when I can, and working the treadmill and total gym inside when I can't get outside.
It's supposed to snow Monday night into Tuesday, so I will have time to do some things here in the house. That will work well towards my "between the ears" recovery. Getting the house cleaned up and some projects finished always makes me feel good.
At Thursday's meeting, we will hand out little pieces of paper with my name and blog site listed. If you know of anyone who is a Bariatric patient, or someone who could use some tips on how to lose weight the right way, send them my way.
I hope this site helps more people every day.
Now, you know I am not perfect. I am pretty close, but not quite......

Overwhelmed

Every Once in awhile, I have good things happen to me, and sometimes bad things.
I get overwhelmed.
That's where I am right now.
Too much is happening, and I want the good feeling to last, so I shut down.
I have to overcome that feeling and move ahead.
When I do, I will know I've arrived!
I will be posting some new websites to help both you and I to save money, and still get the bariatric stuff we want and need.
Stay tuned......

Next meeting.

The next meeting of the Lancaster General Hospital Bariatric Group is Thursday, February 5, 2009.
7pm. to 8:30pm. at the Health Campus.
I haven't heard what the topic of discussion is going to be, but the support of the fellow Pre and Post people is worth it's weight in gold.
If you are going, feel free to let me know. I will be there about an hour early to walk with anyone who is interested. We walk inside the Health Campus and it's enjoyable. We cover all three floors. Nice and warm with good company.
See you there.

This is me and Lilly now!

January, 2009.
We took Lilly to an indoor playpark. I could never have done this a year ago! I was too fat and out of shape.
Now, I can move around.
I can bend down.
I can smile.
I can stand up again.
I can stay on my feet much longer than I could.

One of the things I wanted to do was to visit Eric and Shona, and Lilly once a month and take Lilly so Eric and Shona could have a few hours of free time.
I can do that now.

What's changed?

Well, that is a tough one because in order for me to answer that, I have to go back and look at the past posts. Because, I am not really concerned with change anymore. Obama can screw that up, I mean, worry about that for me.

• I changed my chili recipe. I use it as a main meal now because I can prepare it in quantity and keep it frozen until needed. If I am lazy that day, or just need to do something else, I can grab it and heat it up in a few minutes without fuss.

My chili recipe doesn't have sausage in it anymore. I had to switch over to turkey or chicken sausage, and I don't really like either one that much. I will buy and eat other sausage in my other meals, but not add it to the chili.
I also don't use two different kinds of beef. I use ground beef now because I like the way it works smoothly into the chili. I still make up a batch with just beef cubes, but I don't mix them.
I don't add spinach to the mix anymore. I will make a stew with spinach, beef cubes, and beans, but it won't be chili.
I do add celery, onion, and carrots now on a regular basis. I also still use Lima beans and corn once in awhile. I can use them in other foods separate from chili now.
Chili was my main meal every day for awhile since it had all of the main food groups in it, and it is easy for me to prepare, but now, I am working towards incorporating other foods into my diet.

• I started to lose weight again. My plateau is now over. This is the first plateau, not the last. I started cutting back on quantity of some meals. I standardize some meals, and change things only once in awhile. This works for me, so I do it.
• I don't bother with the scale as much as I did. Since I started working out, I am not concerned as much with weight as I am with fitness. I want to feel strong and feel good.
  
• I am not too worried about my looks. I have some sagging, and I can see that I will have a lot more to worry about soon, but I am looking so much healthier than I did. I've seen some folks lose weight too fast (non-bariatric people) and they look like death warmed over, even though they are healthy. I am concerned with making sure I lose at a rate that doesn't allow that to happen to me. I will worry about cosmetics in the future. Not my concern now.
• I passed another round of blood tests with flying colors. I am now a fanatic about making sure I stick to my diet, and vitamin/mineral plan in order to be the best that I can be.
• I really am starting to believe that I can finish this successfully. This is the first time I can remember feeling like this. I am sticking to my exercise plan, and not feeling like I'm going to die anytime soon. Yippie!

So, what's next? Well, for now, I will continue to move forward, and not worry about when I'll get there.

15 tubes of blood and a Yo Ho Ho!

That's a new record for me, as I think I said earlier.
Got the results today.
Keep in mind that before I lost the weight, I was taking tons of pills for all kinds of medical conditions, all related to my weight.
I am now taking zero pills! None, Nada, no dope!
My BP was almost normal (just a bit high).
My other tests were all well within the normal range. I have never been normal, so this is a real experience for me.
The only test my family doctor doesn't like, is my cholesterol, which is high. So, he gave me some pills to take for 6 weeks until I can take another cholesterol test. I am hesitant to take them, and will resist if I can justify the risk, versus the rewards.
I hate Statin drugs. They probably were responsible for me gaining weight a few years back. They made my joints ache, and they still do. I will never take them again. Never!
Now according to the reports on this other drug, there is really no way to determine if it is working. That is because the results don't show up on any tests. Also, it came back a few months ago, that they weren't even sure the stuff did anything.
So, now I will begin a search for a new family doctor that is more interested in me, than in supporting the drug companies.
He better not mention chocolate......

Cold ? It's a 3 dog night!

I fell off the wagon for a bit. Things were going so well, and I decided to treat myself, so I had a little more food, and goodies than I should.
I also let my mind wander a bit, and should have stayed focused. Well, that wasn't to be.
So now, I am still at my plateau, and starting to get a little antsy.
I am working out more, so my muscle tone is improving. "Antsy" is good for workouts!
I found an indoor baseball park. I like baseball, so I am going to try my hand at a batting cage in the next few days. It will be part of my exercise plan if I can afford it. Otherwise, I will stay in my basement and work out there until it gets warmer.
Anyone who wants to join me is welcome.
I managed to clean out the dryer vent, since it was totally clogged. I also assembled 6 large, and 2 small boxes so I can do more "reading up". I have an area that is 10' by 5' and about 3 foot high of trash to be brought up from the basement to be stored on the porch until I can afford to have it hauled away. If I really get to it, I will break everything down and just take it down with the trash every week until it's gone.
I need to put up a tarp on the porch to cut down on the breeze. The wind comes through and blows everything all over the place. I have to keep hunting for the trash can.
This past week, we had a snow scare. The weathermen were all wrong and we just got a dusting, so moving everything around on the porch to pull the car up was really not necessary.
I took my scooter (Honda Helix) for it's weekly ride yesterday. It was really cold for that. I covered 30 miles and it took a few minutes to thaw out afterwards. I was dressed in layers and a goose down coat, so I was fairly comfortable for the whole trip. I would like to get a head to toe coverall that is down filled along with some glove liners, and a full face helmet, but that will have to wait. The wind gets into all the little spaces I can't cover up. I have a "buff" and that does well for my neck and head, but I could use a little more.
So now I am on my way to more weight loss, and much better health after a normal "pause" in the routine. All work and no play......

Stop sign ahead!

I thought I had it all figured out.
I was well on my way to losing the weight, getting into shape, and feeling great.
Then, I ran into my first stop sign. Blam!
My weight loss stopped.
I have been feeling great, but all of a sudden, I have to go lay down. I am beat. Blam!
I have been following my diet to the letter with a few cheats, but not calories as much as....well, I love chocolate, get the idea? Dark Chocolate, Yummy. I eat one small square.
I've also eased up just a little on my Celiac diet. I don't eat bread, but I did have a piece of pizza. Just one.
So, I wrote an email to my team at Lancaster General Bariatrics, asking them what was up. Was I having a problem, or is this just normal.
I got an answer. I reached my first plateau. It's a normal part of the weight loss process.
I honestly thought that would occur much later in the process, but it caught me off guard.
It got me!
But, with the help of the team, I am back on track.
I made it to 224, but have been all around that number from 226 down to 222. That's OK, I can live with that.
I have been walking. I took to the rail trail this past week. I covered 4 miles, 2 out, 2 back. I kept moving the whole time. I only stopped long enough to take a few sips of my Crystal Light Red.
It felt funny to walk. My legs felt so stiff without all the fat flopping around. I keep hearing my joints popping and adjusting.
I also have been giving my clothes hanger a workout. You know, the one they call "Total Gym"? I found out it was fun if I play some great music on my DJ outfit. As long as I shake the walls, I can go forever! Same thing with the treadmill. I climb hills and actually jog for a few minutes.
I used to run in my dreams and wake up out of breath. Now, I will be able to do it for real.
Wow. Bring it on! I'm ready for it all!

Happy New Year

I have been reviewing my life up until this point, and I hate writing things like "Happy New Year" for whatever reasons I have.
So, I wrote it many times today, and everytime I did, it made me think of things I hadn't thought of in years.
But in this new year, I will make some of the most important decisions of my life so far.

1. I really, really mind the cold for the first time I can remember. I am tired of the cold, so I will try to move to a warmer climate.
2. I was never a "jock". This year, I will try to become interested in exercise and non intellectual pursuits.
3. I will re-examine every aspect of my life, and try to change some of them.

So to all who are reading this......Happy new Year!

Rotisserie Chicken

While I cook the chicken, I listen to Jazz on the TV set. It's Comcast digital, and sounds great with my surround sound system that was very cheap.
Tools:

• Ron Popiel Rotisserie

• Paint brush. I use a 1" unfinished handle nylon brush. I wash it as soon as I'm finished with it and let it air dry.

• Teacup

Seasonings:

• 1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt
• 1 teaspoon Paprika
• 1 teaspoon Garlic (you may use powder, salt, or fresh)
• 2 tablespoons Olive oil
• 1/2 stick Butter (yes, I still use butter)
• 1/4 cup Vinegar

1. Put butter in teacup and microwave until the butter is melted and warm. About 45 seconds to 1 minute.
2. Add all ingredients to the butter and mix with the brush. Store the cup on top of the rotisserie to keep the butter soupy and warm. You may take it off if it gets too hot.

Use one or two 3.5 pound chickens of your choice, cleaned and rinsed with cold water. You may add stuffing to the chicken, but not if you are a Celiac like me.
Mount the chickens on the rotator and tie the legs so they don't flop.
Mix the liquid and seasonings together and paint the chicken before you mount it. Pay attention to the inside edges so they will brown and not burn too much.

• I set my alarm for every 10 minutes and I paint the chicken with the seasonings. When you run out of seasonings, you may clean up.

The rotisserie works well if you read the instructions. you run it 15 minutes for every pound of chicken. Keeping checking it, and especially around an hour. You should use a meat thermometer to check internal temp to make sure it is cooked inside. It will continue to cook after it is taken out of the oven.

Serve with vegetables of your choice.

Thoughts

I was watching a young women today at the Wal Mart riding in one of those scooters, because she was so heavy that she couldn't walk for long on her own.
I felt like yelling at her at first, that she was stupid for letting her self get that fat. Then, I thought about the fact that I had just spent an hour walking around the Wal Mart, and I was not tired or sore from standing.
Last night, I was able to trim my toenails without contorting myself, or getting out of breath.
If I had not gotten the surgery, I would probably be in a scooter right next to her, or even worse, been on my way to the morgue.
Everyone has to find their own way past the prejudice they accumulate over the years, and the stereo type thoughts that fat people are stupid.
I was really surprised at my reaction. I guess I have a bit more road to travel.

The end of the year.

So, how many others are thinking about this time of year right now?
Every year, I go home to Levittown and remember the "good old days".
I go past all 3 of the homes I lived in, and think about the people I knew. I think about the friends, and the not so friends, and I wonder how they are and where they are.
I miss them.
But this year, as all previous years, is different.
Through the world wide web, I have made contact again with many of them. I have touched base with them, and have actually met new "old" friends that remember me, even though I don't remember them.
The good feelings I get from knowing these people, has helped me through this very difficult time.
It is tough for me for two big reasons, and a variety of smaller reasons.

1. I miss my Parents. My father died this past summer. My Mother died when I was around 23. (55 now)
2. The Christmas holiday has never been my own.
   

• I haven't achieved what I was put here to do.
• One of the smaller reasons is because I miss being young. I wish I could go back and do it all again sometimes. And of course, sometimes, I wouldn't change a thing.
• I haven't found everyone I want to meet up with again. That makes me sad. I have seen a few who haven't lived this long, and that bothers me.
• I would like to correct old mistakes that still affect the way I think and do things. I have corrected many of those mistakes.
  

So, in the next year, I plan to:

• Continue to lose weight and change the way I do things. My mind is the number one obstacle to that goal. My stomach has already been taken care of. The rest of me has to get in line, or it will all be for nothing.
• I need to get out of debt and manage my money so I can do more of the things I want, and less of the things I have to do. Busy work has to be eliminated, although that will be an ongoing goal. Busy work can never be eliminated. It's one of the things released from Pandora's box.
• I need to develop a system that I can keep track of people places and things.
• I want to write my books.
• I want to run a marathon.
• I want to Kayak.
• I want to live in the warm climate year round. I'm tired of the cold temperatures.

I think I'm done writing for now.

So much to learn

My brain memory banks were full until I had this surgery. I didn't think I had anything left to learn that was worthwhile. Now I know I was wrong.
Food, diet, exercise are all new to me again. Vitamins, minerals, are all new to me again.
I am down to 229 or so, and feel good.
I am still sore from the cold temperatures, but I can live with that.
I got on my treadmill today and was swinging my arms so wildly while I was talking into my microphone, that I accidentally pulled the panic cord and reset my program. I had it set for 45 minutes at various speeds, and it reset! I hate that. I was able to start up again, but didn't bother to reprogram it. I just set it and adjusted the speed as I went along.
The microphone is so that I can dictate my book into the recorder. I kill two birds with one stone. I get exercise and write a book at the same time.
Now, I am listening to Jazz playing on my TV and run through the home theater. The music fills the house and I can wash the dishes, make dinner, and run a load of wash while listening. I ran the Dyson this morning, but didn't have the music playing because of the machine noise.
Dinah Washington..... great music!

UGH

My Hard drive crashed on Saturday morning, so I went over to Cyber Warehouse. They offered me one that was twice the size as the one I had, and gave me a good price to reload XP pro since I didn't have the disc.
They told me it would be Thursday or Friday until I got the computer back. I went back home and they called me an hour later to tell me it was finished and I could pick it up! Wow!
The computer is now flying since I found a cable to connect it directly to the DSL line instead of using a wireless connection.
I have been working all weekend to reload the computer so I can restore my files. I use Carbonite, which is an online storage service. It is very reasonable, but I am having some trouble reloading my files and will have to contact them to figure it out.
In the meantime, I have a new "twice as nice" hard drive, and renewed energy in my lappy, so I am happy.

Tools of the trade!

How about the Magic Bullet?
It's a great help when you first start the post surgery diet. It also helps for mixing drinks and other foods.
The book that comes with it really adds to the experience.
The machine is solid and works very well, as advertised.
One thing you can't mix is protein drinks. They tend to blow up into some kind of foam. They expand like crazy and make a real mess.
Veggies, fruit, all mix together nicely.

Baby spoons?
Yup, I use them for yogurt, and soft foods. It allows me to still feel like I'm eating faster than I actually am. I use regular utensils when I'm out eating in a restaurant, but don't fill up the fork or spoon as I used to.

Storage containers?
Well, I found plastic and glass containers with lids that are very small at Wal*Mart. I can fill them up after making a meal that I can spread out over several days. Or, I can take them to work with me. When I travel, I take them along. Saves the hassle and expense of eating out.
I also use lots of larger containers. I can make my killer chili in a very large crock pot over about a 6 hour period. Then, I transfer it to 6 or more equal size containers. I then freeze all but one. I eat one meal of the chili each day. On the second day, I remove another container from the freezer and let it sit in the fridge. If I am in a hurry, then I can pour out what I need into a bowl, and nuke it, saving the rest for another day. Works for me.

Drink containers?
Oh yeah, I buy a case of Fruit 20 (two O). Then one day, I will drink the water in the bottle. Rinse it out, and then refill it from the fridge with Crystal light Tea. I buy the Crystal light at BJs, so I have 3 choices in flavors. Iced tea, Raspberry ice, and lemonade. I don't like the lemonade, so I use the other two a lot. Never get tired of them. I bought two gallon size containers from Wal*Mart. These containers are narrow and rectangular. They have spigots on the ends, so I can fill them up, and pout them out, as I wish.
So, I empty the bottle out, rinse it, and refill it from my fridge. No one has to know the liquid in the bottle cost a fraction of the price of a bottle of flavored water!

I plan to buy a second coffee maker so I can set up one for my wife (high test) and one for me (decaf).

I also bought a shaker bottle, which to me became a waste of time since I prefer to stir my protein, rather than shake it. They are also hard to clean. I have large glasses that are smooth, so i can wash them out easily. Protein powder, no matter how hard you mix it, has a tendency to stick to the container. The smooth glass solves that problem.

Staying the course.

I have been getting ready to record my thoughts so I can write my first book. I gotta tell you, it's really tough for me to think thin.
I am so used to being sore and tired, and worn out all the time.
I'm still sore, but I'm not tired.
So, what's so hard about writing a book?
The itch is in a place I can't reach.
It's in between my ears, and behind my skull!
Ever feel that way?
I do all the time. My weight loss hasn't changed that at all. I don't know why, but I am going to find out.
My basement is a playground for me. But, it's cold down there. I am broke, so no space/supplemental heating for now. Even working out on the treadmill doesn't get me warm. My fingers are so cold and sore!
Now, I'm done complaining. I feel better already!

• I need to schedule my day
• I need to follow that schedule, every day
• I need to keep up with a variety of foods, so I don't get lazy or bored, and cheat

My basement has a large multi purpose bench for workouts with free weights. It has a leg and arm unit attached to it.
I also have a Total Gym. If you can only get one thing, that's the one! It is actually fun, although I still get a bit of motion sickness. I don't have all the attachments for it, but it serves it's purpose.
And, I have a professional treadmill. This unit has everything, but not all of it works. I bought it from a resale dealer. It has extra padding in the tread, and is wide and long so I can move around on it. I usually walk about 3 mph and raise the grade up to 2.5 or 3%. I can jog on it for a short way, but I'll get better. The funny thing is that I almost fall over when I try to walk on the floor afterwards.
My leg muscles are used to carrying 75+ or more pounds than I actually have on me now. So, my legs over-react, and I end up stumbling around until I lose my "sea legs". So now, I stand on the treadmill and hold on after I'm done walking, until I can stand without falling.
On the far wall, I have two amplifiers, my PA system, DJ box, an extra mixer, various pedals, mics and stands, and my two guitars. I will post a picture of that.
When I walked yesterday, I played Steely Dan on my DJ outfit. It's about 1400 watts flat out, but I was about half that. Tonal quality in the basement is very good, and since I'm alone, I can play it loud........and.....I DO!