tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39889552508831697332024-03-04T23:21:00.648-08:00The Incredible Shrinking ManMy Life After Gastric Bypass SurgeryAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12040626459361698264noreply@blogger.comBlogger99125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3988955250883169733.post-9546499672833201582014-08-13T10:06:00.001-07:002014-08-13T10:17:35.235-07:00What will we leave behind?<div class="p0" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white; line-height: 20.790000915527344px;"><i>This morning, I am running a temperature and not feeling all that good. Kind of achy and sick to my stomach. I wanted to go swimming, but there are several older folks there who have many serious illnesses and I do not want to give them a bug so I am staying home today and feeling sorry for myself, which I have no right to do as I have been blessed beyond measure in my life.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.790000915527344px;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.790000915527344px;"><i>As I was laying in bed trying to feel better, Jackie was playing music from Pandora on the stereo. Many of the artist she was listening too, have passed but I realized that no matter what their personal life was like, no matter the health problems they may have had, now that they are gone, still millions of people can enjoy and appreciate their music, movies, or books. Whatever they left for humanity will stay with us for years and years. The recent tragic passing of Robin Williams is an example. He struggled from depression apparently for years and finally gave in to the temptation to get out of his pain by taking his own life. But still he will be remembered and loved by many people for a long time.</i></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.790000915527344px;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.790000915527344px;"><i>I have to ask myself, what will I leave for future generations? I know I have a family who will remember me for a generation or two, but did I contribute to society in any meaningful way? I had a lot bigger plan for my life. I wanted to be a doctor and help people. I gave up on that dream. I was talented in music but let that go and can no longer play worth a hoot, so that is gone. I built a data center for law enforcement and a communications network, but that too is long gone and the work I did for 30 years in in the dust bin. So it is easy to get depressed on my current condition in life. </i></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.790000915527344px;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.790000915527344px;"><i>I will never be famous most assuredly. I doubt I will invent anything that will have an impact on society. I for sure will not leave songs or movies for future generations. So what can I or anyone else, who would be considered a normal person do for future generations? In my case I think it boils down to just a few things. Live as good a moral life as you can. Try to be kind to everyone. But most importantly for me, I believe I and you have a responsibility to tell and leave your stories. That is, document what you and other family members have done with their lives. </i></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20.790000915527344px;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 20.790000915527344px;"><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"></span></i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white; line-height: 20.790000915527344px;"><i>I am involved in the hobby of genealogy and have traced my family back many many generations. In doing so, I have found stories and events that these people have experienced. The sacrifices they have made to make our lives better. Someone needs to carry this on in the future. I will leave my records and stories on-line and in hard copy form and pass it along to someone in my family. Maybe in this way a little immortality can be be achieved and something worthwhile passed on to other people to enjoy. At least I hope so. </i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: white; line-height: 20.790000915527344px;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.790000915527344px;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12040626459361698264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3988955250883169733.post-12613304207005984022014-05-30T05:22:00.001-07:002014-05-30T05:22:05.639-07:00Two Year Out, Checkup<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: white;">I had my two year
checkup yesterday with my surgical team. All tests came back very good. The dizziness
I have been having sometimes they feel was because I was a little dehydrated. I
am still within 6 pounds of my lowest weight and that is fine and to be
expected. They weighed me dressed of course and even with all my cloths on I
was just a fraction over my desired BMI. But I normally weigh on each Tuesday
in my underwear and then I am within normal on the BMI scale. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: white;">I have been taking a
medication for cholesterol. Because my tests came back and my cholesterol was
so low they felt I should not take that medication anymore. So other than the
meds I take for heartburn, I have no prescription medications at all. What a
change from the days of taking a tray of meds and insulin shots 3 times a day. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: white;">The past two years
have gone by very fast and the changes in my life and corresponding health have
been amazing. I just hope it all continues and feel good about the prospects. </span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12040626459361698264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3988955250883169733.post-4959048172026630102014-05-16T05:33:00.008-07:002014-05-26T07:07:59.290-07:00WLS and How Long You Will Live<div class="p0" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-style: italic;">There have been many benefits I have had because of my weight loss surgery. I have talked about many of them on this blog before. Other than the heartburn problems which I am working with my doctors to find a cause and cure, things have been pretty uneventful for me. </span><span style="font-style: italic;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-style: italic;">I really believe that by now without the surgery there would be a good chance that I would not have been living, or at least living a greatly diminished life . The weight was causing heart failure and the diabetes was getting way out of control. Yes I was dieting and losing some weight and felt I was on the right path when I found out about WLS, but if history is any teacher, I probably would have regained the little weight I had lost and added more. That had been my pattern for most of my life. </span><span style="font-style: italic;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Now two years out, when I tell people what I used to weigh they can not believe it. I never thought I would be one, who does not want to tell people about my past weight loss. I used to scoff at those who got upset when relatives or friends tell other about their weight loss. But now I can see that we want to be looked at as just normal weight persons and don</span><span style="font-style: italic;">’t want to concentrate on past problems. That my be sticking my head in the sand, and maybe I am over confident about my ability now to stay at my weight, but after 2 years of not gaining much back I am feeling much more confident about it. </span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="font-style: italic;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: white;">In thinking about my mortality, I always felt I would live a long life as many of my ancestors lived to be very elderly. My mother for instance seen here on this page is going to be 96 this summer. My grandfather also seen here, was 98 when he passed. And as a genealogist I can tell you that I have had many relatives in the past live to close to 100 years old. So I always thought I would live long. But I never really thought about the fact that most of those who lived long lives including my mother and grandfather were slim people and did not have things like diabetes. I liked to ignore those facts when considering how long I might live. But being more realistic I can see that my chances were not that good unless I lost the weight and taken care of my other health issues.</span> </span><span style="font-style: italic;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbXpt9YU1mzg3oUi6HxX5K520VN78k7odUj7o311vDrLq2vG9RZpMiNWQGYxQUjDM07-xs3K9nGZDQaBmN2z59_eDmYUAQFb4l3NdMNI_SBqNH4jRAxsFZKEaz7sgrkFlLi-MRvvAo-iMl/s1600/georgemartus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbXpt9YU1mzg3oUi6HxX5K520VN78k7odUj7o311vDrLq2vG9RZpMiNWQGYxQUjDM07-xs3K9nGZDQaBmN2z59_eDmYUAQFb4l3NdMNI_SBqNH4jRAxsFZKEaz7sgrkFlLi-MRvvAo-iMl/s1600/georgemartus.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">My grandfather</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">he looked pretty much like this</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">when he was in his 90s</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj26l5t9NE8X8A-gqWjidVme6RiOwHk3H389ls9ZTeQMbSO2C3fDkg8IT5f520LV4B-ZWCO3EHLMloEjIzzimtqMZoiyQ0I7O8y2SuSzlKGg2n47_lurjAE4NbKrNTFI7wiV-1zDwBlccm1/s1600/momforgrave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj26l5t9NE8X8A-gqWjidVme6RiOwHk3H389ls9ZTeQMbSO2C3fDkg8IT5f520LV4B-ZWCO3EHLMloEjIzzimtqMZoiyQ0I7O8y2SuSzlKGg2n47_lurjAE4NbKrNTFI7wiV-1zDwBlccm1/s1600/momforgrave.jpg" height="200" width="145" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">My mother as she was in her 70s</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: white;">Of course non of us can predict what the future holds for us. Just this week two neighbors were on vacation in Hawaii and were killed in a car crash. Unforeseen circumstances can change for us almost over night, but considering that if you are living with excess weight and the other health issues associated with it, your chances of living a long productive life are greatly diminished. Do not fool yourself into thinking as I did that family history will take care of you, because it wont. </span></span><span style="color: white; font-style: italic;"></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12040626459361698264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3988955250883169733.post-1181726836176785052014-04-24T07:52:00.001-07:002014-04-24T07:57:55.799-07:00Making Progress<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: white;">Well it has been over
a month from the time I posted to this blog. It is not that I have stopped
having interest in what my life is like after bypass surgery, it is just that
because of the surgery I can do so many other things that I was just unable to do
before. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: white;">As I have noted
before, we are remodeling our home. Just now the kitchen is the main part we
are doing. When I say we, I mean my wife Jackie and me. I do not have the money
to pay someone else to do the work. As it is now we have about $6,000 invested
in the things we had to get so far to bring our home up to modern standards.
Can you imagine how much it would have cost if I could not have done the work.
So not only has the surgery improved my life, it is saving me money. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj10jI_PRIuUc_zl2CdQ4itLEbolnMhT1e1aEOVz_BkK_8PWIAqqIlPPlDjfu7xYD73SoPAjoOovCx0WigJV8nq1QHHZZBfpiNVNbPUYUulNCDqma2YEnKhgY4xuwg9TM6bOsAlNnELGV2X/s1600/DSCF2853.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj10jI_PRIuUc_zl2CdQ4itLEbolnMhT1e1aEOVz_BkK_8PWIAqqIlPPlDjfu7xYD73SoPAjoOovCx0WigJV8nq1QHHZZBfpiNVNbPUYUulNCDqma2YEnKhgY4xuwg9TM6bOsAlNnELGV2X/s1600/DSCF2853.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Working on the kitchen. What a mess</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i><span style="color: white;">We are living in a
construction mess right now. If you know my wife, you can appreciate how hard
it is on her to have the house a mess. She is the kind of housekeeper who will vacuum
the same floor more than once in a day if she feels it is messy. </span><o:p></o:p></i><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3q5WC9BfS1gpUYHl6CvlsnwzDcqNYLSE-Mok-mtHsOsin2JMwDH3KaQBv-TzRkDm7MpewBwzJJM2joywwTHGu6uP29XYUiRCf4k1b3kchdPyQAPmVhfmJZaTQuxRcianb1IwfS4vnpis8/s1600/DSCF2855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3q5WC9BfS1gpUYHl6CvlsnwzDcqNYLSE-Mok-mtHsOsin2JMwDH3KaQBv-TzRkDm7MpewBwzJJM2joywwTHGu6uP29XYUiRCf4k1b3kchdPyQAPmVhfmJZaTQuxRcianb1IwfS4vnpis8/s1600/DSCF2855.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old tile gone waiting to put hard flooring down. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i><span style="color: white;">The old tile floor and
underlayment has been removed from the kitchen and dinning room and just
yesterday we got the new hardwood flooring to put down. We have to let it get
accustomed to the environment for 3 days before I start to nail it down. I have
never done that before but have the tools and have watched many U-Tube videos
showing others doing it and I feel confident that I can do it as well.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: white;">Before surgery I would
not have had the energy to do these tasks and would have collapsed in a pool of
perspiration on the floor if I tried. If you are like I was way over weight and
sick and can find any way of having the surgery, please do what you can, to get
it done. You will not regret it. That is of course if you use the great gift of
the surgery to modify your life and change you habits. Without doing that the
surgery is a waste of time and effort. It is not magic, but if you follow the
rules and do as you are directed to do, you too will be able to do things like
I have talked about here without worry about killing yourself. </span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12040626459361698264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3988955250883169733.post-27180265075646664782014-03-26T05:54:00.004-07:002014-03-27T06:48:36.101-07:00Not a Freak Anymore<div class="p0" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: white;"><i>I am not a young man, but I still think of myself as young and think I look younger than my 72 years.</i><i> Because of my weight loss surgery, I feel I am in better heath than I have been in many years. I still have the normal aches and pains one would expect when I do something physical hard to do. I have </i><i>also lost some muscle mass while losing the weight. I can no longer depend on my ability to use my </i><i>muscles to do as much as I used to a few years ago. Even with the weight I had I was always very </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><span style="color: white;">strong and could just about move mountains. </span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: white;"><i>I graduated from Puyallup High School in 1960 and then went on to college and started a family. </i><i>I did not see most of my high school classmates until our 10th year reunion. Looking at the group </i><i>then we had survived petty well, still a good looking group. We had not lost many to death and did </i><i>not know of any of our boys who were lost to the war that was going on at the time in the far East. </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: white;"><i>In 2010 of course we had our 50th class reunion and as expected we were looking a lot older. I could hardly recognize many who were there and I am sure they could not recognize me either and I had to reintroduce myself to them many times. Of course the thin athletic boy that had lots of hair was now </i><i>fat and bald so I do not blame them at all. I had tried to lose a little weight before the reunion, and </i><i>had been able to get a size 48 pants on. They were tight but on. I thought I looked pretty good but of course I was fooling myself. But I was not the only one who had gained a lot of weight and lost their </i><i>hair. We had also lost a few classmates to death as would be expected but really just a few. </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: white;"><i>I had not heard from most of the classmates again from the time except for a few who were my</i><i>“friends” on Facebook. I found out from one of those friends that a group of people were still </i><i>meeting once a month at a Puyallup restaurant and kind of having a monthly reunion of sorts. With </i><i>the prompting of one of these friends, I attended the meetings this past week at Charlies Restaurant </i><i>in Puyallup. </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: white;"><i>After loosing about 150 pounds I had to reintroduce myself again but this time I was one of the </i><i>thinnest ones there. I did not have to feel embarrassed about my appearance anymore and that was </i><i>great. I would just sit back and enjoy the company of my classmates without feeling like a freak </i><i>Actually I think Jackie who went with me and I were the best looking couple there. Probably </i><i>predigest with that statement but I did enjoy the attention. I over heard one of the guys say how good I looked now to another classmate. I don’t think he knew I could hear his comments. He told the </i><i>other guy he looks great now but he used to be huge, and that was a true statement but he did not </i><i>know how huge I had been as he never saw me at my hugest </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><span style="color: white;">Anyway I am so thankful for the surgery and now I feel I can live a normal life and interface with old friends and family without feeling I am the biggest elephant in the room. </span></i></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12040626459361698264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3988955250883169733.post-51640244561870914912014-03-16T09:56:00.003-07:002014-03-16T09:58:14.627-07:00Thankful<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: white;">I am so happy with how I feel most of
the time these days. I have so much energy and actually look for
things to do around here all the time. Jackie is amazed at how much
better I am in getting things done.
</span></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: white;"><br />
</span></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: white;">But I do have a few problems that I
have talked about before. I am continually having acid reflex. I have
talked to my surgery team about it, and they gave me some medicines
for it, but so far I still have an occasional problem. It normally
happens while I am sleeping, I upchuck acid into my mouth and
esophagus. It hurts like hell and most of the time I have to get out
of bed to clear it. I will eat a couple of soda crackers or drink
something and it seems to calm it down a little but I lose sleep over
it and feel kind of weak the next day. I am going to be a little
more aggressive with my doctors and see if I can find what is causing
this problem.</span></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: white;"><br />
</span></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: white;">Many of our friends, who are about our
age, are having more health problems than either Jackie or I are
having. Some very major problems and I sometimes feel guilty about
complaining about my little problems when I have been lucky enough to
not suffer any big ones myself.
</span></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: white;"><br />
</span></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: white;">Of course almost everyone these days
will develop some problem they are going to work on before they
finally die of something. I guess it comes down to quality of life
and each day we are given to enjoy the things we do. Our health
systems are good enough these days that people even with major
problems are able to go on for years and still have a pretty good
quality life.
</span></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: white;"><br />
</span></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: white;">Years ago many things people are living
with would have meant almost immediate death of at least a pretty
miserable life until they eventually died. But today medicine is
advanced enough to extend our lives in better ways. And for that and
the surgery I had, I am most grateful.
</span></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12040626459361698264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3988955250883169733.post-46801131153184439522014-03-03T19:40:00.006-08:002014-03-03T19:48:50.441-08:00Phase one is done!!!!!<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: white;">Boy am I tired but happy. I got the first part of our home remodel project completed and I am proud of how it turned out. We only spent about $1200 on the job and paid as we went so no credit cards were used. This is only about a third of the total project. Next is the kitchen and it is going to be a lot more money to say the least. Some new cabinets, new appliances, new floors, new paint and trim. So I am going to have to put away as much money as I can for the next few months so that I can afford the project. Jackie is still trying to decide on exactly what she wants for flooring and counter tops. That will go a long way in determining how much it is going to cost. Stay tuned.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: white;">I lost the little weight I gained over the holidays and am under my goal weight again which was 168 lbs. I had to cut my calories down quite a bit to lose the weight but now I am back on my normal schedule. If I should go up a little from time to time I intend on cutting back for a week or so to control it. The key is to weigh and measure everything very closely and to take actions if needed by cutting back for a time.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: white;">With Spring coming on I will also have to do a lot of work in my yard and home on the outside. So that coupled with my swimming that I still do 3 times a week will increase my exercise activities and burn a few more calories so my weight will probably stabilize more.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: white;">It is hard to believe but the anniversary of my RNY surgery for two years is coming up soon. Two years ago this time I weighed over 325lbs and thought I was doing good, as that was down form what I had weighed a few months before. What a difference in my life the surgery has made possible. </span></i></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12040626459361698264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3988955250883169733.post-69887208875608761012014-01-24T04:57:00.004-08:002014-01-24T05:07:39.495-08:00Doing things I wanted to do for a long time. <div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglqK8DySJsTOdKZ0bsg29lEDzdKH0Jtnpitf52uHSdt7BEeckLSRHZ4O9TH-s0NhO1nrC-lqWCaszcRFCzI9oSoealvnO5HC4C0F76aTr10Aveuz3_muIDDxSPjeKQWTGCyop_61FAmnbm/s1600/handyman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglqK8DySJsTOdKZ0bsg29lEDzdKH0Jtnpitf52uHSdt7BEeckLSRHZ4O9TH-s0NhO1nrC-lqWCaszcRFCzI9oSoealvnO5HC4C0F76aTr10Aveuz3_muIDDxSPjeKQWTGCyop_61FAmnbm/s1600/handyman.jpg" height="200" width="158" /></a><i><span style="color: white;">I have been quite busy lately and that is one reason I have
not updated this blog for a time. I have also been sick. Seems like I have been
sick from just before Christmas until now and I am still a little under the weather
in some respects. In fact I am a little discouraged because I was under the
impression that after losing about 147lbs my health would be much better. In
most respects it is, no more diabetes and high blood pressure for instance, but
this past couple of months I have been sicker than I have been for years even
when I was over 300 lbs.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: white;">Anyway lately Jackie and I have started the refurbishing of our home. We are going to paint most rooms and put new flooring in as well. We
are starting in our laundry room and back bathroom as the floor in those rooms
is very bad. We have not painted the walls for over 20 years at least. Well as
of this date the rooms have been painted and the flooring is mostly in. We have
elected to use vinyl tile called Ultra for the floors. It looks like wood but
is resistant to water and other things you would expect to be on the floor in a
laundry room. So far it looks very good, but a little harder to install than
was advertised. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: white;">As many of you may know I am a Ham radio operator and that
is my main hobby. I got a new radio for Christmas from Jackie. It was in a kit
form and I had to build it. It turned out wonderful and I am enjoying using it.
I was able to put it together without any problems and my old eyes and hands
were able to get the job done.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></i></div>
<span style="color: white;"><i><br /></i>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: white;">My weight has stayed stable over the holidays. I was up
about 4 to 5 pounds but I am on the way of losing that now. I am happy with my
weight and even with a few pounds back from the normal regain you have in my
kind of surgery, I am stabilizing and people are telling me I don’t look sick.
I guess when I was still loosing and my face was very hollow I kind of looked
like I had some terrible illness and now I look much better. I can tell you one
thing and that is that if I had not lost the weight I did there would be no way
I could do the work around here that I am doing. The surgery and all that goes
with it is still one of the best things that I have done in my life for myself.
I would for sure do it again. </span></i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12040626459361698264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3988955250883169733.post-26031828345802245322014-01-07T11:07:00.001-08:002014-01-07T11:07:06.069-08:00Happy Thin New Year<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: white;">Well I made it through Christmas and New Years without
gaining much weight. I think I am up about 4 pounds but will be taking that off
soon. This year I could eat much more than last year, but still not what I used
to eat like. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: white;">Because of the surgery, my stomach (now called pouch) is
much smaller than most peoples stomachs, and last year I will still recovering
from surgery so it was hard to eat more than a small amount of food at one
time. This year I could eat more but was satisfied much sooner. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: white;">But I did not deprive myself of any of the holiday things
that make life fun. We even baked a few cookies but have most of them to the
grandkids an folks we had for our Christmas eve dinner we have each year. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: white;">Normally New Years is a time we would get bags of potato
chips and pig out that day. We did not have one chip this year and in fact the
only treat we had was a piece of cheesecake we had left over from the Christmas
dinner. Even that was too much and I tossed half of the piece I had away. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: white;">We are just now starting on our big project for the year and
that is to remodel the house. At least we are going to redo the laundry room,
small bathroom off the laundry room, my ham shack, the family room and the
kitchen. Mostly all we plan on doing is painting and putting in new flooring.
We will be modifying the kitchen cabinets and getting some new appliances but basically
like the other rooms it will be painting the walls and putting down new
flooring. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: white;">We are going to use venial flooring in the laundry room
because of having so many wet things in there we were afraid that wood would
warp so we went with venial flooring. We are also thinking about replacing the ceramic
tile in the kitchen with the same kind of flooring we plan on using in the
laundry. The family room will probably have hardwood.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: white;">I have a lot of work to do and I hope I have the energy to
do it all and get the house back in shape for another 40 years. </span></i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12040626459361698264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3988955250883169733.post-6826772141681361072013-12-23T06:25:00.001-08:002013-12-23T06:31:44.454-08:00Christmas Past<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAmvRIcyacxwuYCEBxT62omwc_gswLv4itdZbEFstf4qSsNlmyFgLcc_0_Lj1allwZCmE_Dhk0-KmLORTBPwwIkQe19fyrgDODZ7ycMMnwyRX2HZS1Ke-61gbKTpgcXgqtcq8fzyZ3bFDs/s1600/bealee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAmvRIcyacxwuYCEBxT62omwc_gswLv4itdZbEFstf4qSsNlmyFgLcc_0_Lj1allwZCmE_Dhk0-KmLORTBPwwIkQe19fyrgDODZ7ycMMnwyRX2HZS1Ke-61gbKTpgcXgqtcq8fzyZ3bFDs/s1600/bealee.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grandma Bea</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i><span style="color: white;">When I was a kid, I
was very lucky in that I had wonderful loving parents and grandparents They all
lived in the same town and in fact one set of grandparents lived just a few
doors down on old <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">4<sup>th</sup> Avenue</st1:address></st1:street>.
<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: white;">Christmas time was
always special and the family loved to gather together for all kinds of
celebrations of the time. It was a magical time for us kids as our parents and
grandparents did everything possible to make the holiday special for us. The
family and extended family all got along very well and there was none of that
kind of behavior where you could not invite some parts of the family as they
did not like other parts etc. We all loved each other and that was very obvious.
<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: white;">Our Grandmothers and
mom went out of their way to make things us boys loved for Christmas. We are
talking about eatable things here like pie, cake, cookies etc you get the idea.
Boys have a bottomless pit when in comes to things like that, and our grandma’s
could bake like nobodies business. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: white;">My grandma Bea lived
just down the street from our house. She was a lot like a second mom to us. She
always made a special apple spice cake with creamy frosting each Christmas. Her
house was filled with the smell of this wonderful creation each year and we
looked forward to gorging ourselves on it. We had it every year. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: white;">One year however,
grandma Bea was very sick and confined to bed during the Christmas season. No
cake this year that was for sure. I was attending college and did not know my
grandmother was that sick. We visited with her during Christmas as she could
not make or come to any of the other dinners. We did all we could to make her
Christmas as good as we could under the circumstances. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: white;">After Christmas as I
was getting ready to go back to college on the train, my dad just before we
left for the station suggested that I go say goodbye to Grandma Bea. When I got
to her house she was in bed, but asked me to go to the kitchen to get a package
for me. When I got there sure enough she had managed to get out of bed long
enough to make me that wonderful apple spice cake. She had wrapped it all up in
an old pillow case and it was still warm to the touch and of course the smell
was heavenly. I thanked her and of course said, she should not have gotten out
of bed just to do that but that I appreciated what she did and would enjoy the
cake on my train trip back to college.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: white;">My mother had prepared
a thermos of chocolate milk for me to have with the cake and off I went on the
train. The train pulled away from the station and I could see my mom and dad
waving goodbye to me as we chugged down the tracks. Somewhere along the way, I
smelled that wonderful cake and took a little taste. That is when I had an epiphany.
I really realized how loved I was. Unrestrained, unrestricted, unabashed
love. I knew for sure that my parents and grandparents loved me. I knew for
sure that I would never do anything in my life that would cause pain to my
grandma’s or parents. How could I ever betray the love and sacrifice they had
shown to me? <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: white;">Those feelings and reassurance
of that apple spice cake day have stayed with me for the rest of my life. It is
not the big expensive gifts that we remember, it is the seemingly small gestures
like this one that mean so much more as time goes by. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: white;">By the way grandma Bea
did recover and lived many more years and helped raise my oldest daughter. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: white;">May we all remember
and have much love for each other this Christmas season is my prayer for you
all. </span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12040626459361698264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3988955250883169733.post-27942241765049088172013-12-14T09:55:00.005-08:002013-12-14T10:01:34.498-08:00Getting ready for Christmas<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFVqkVqn9fsDtLNOp_DOIphAczUKeMxAjv5ixDhEDazcAZKH_sP70zlRJHIVk0baYS9w99La3vuFVuEefo0TikHmsJy4EeUXG1dbG6OX6JwfAlLbzBFb6gKm5L2kfbG9Es87PYgH_bDZ3R/s1600/christmas-pictures.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFVqkVqn9fsDtLNOp_DOIphAczUKeMxAjv5ixDhEDazcAZKH_sP70zlRJHIVk0baYS9w99La3vuFVuEefo0TikHmsJy4EeUXG1dbG6OX6JwfAlLbzBFb6gKm5L2kfbG9Es87PYgH_bDZ3R/s1600/christmas-pictures.jpg" /></a><i><span style="color: white;">Well the Thanksgiving holiday is over now on to Christmas.
Everything went real well at our dinner here at our home, at least nobody
complained. I was able to eat a little more this year than I did last year, but
still not what anyone would call a normal meal for a person. Very small
portions and no seconds on anything. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: white;">I did not gain any weight but I did not lose either and that
is my goal. I am at the weight I want to stay at. Between 161 and 164. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: white;">We have some of the food bought for the Christmas dinner but
not all of it. We figured out what the food and other things cost for
Thanksgiving and it was about $250.00. Kind of hit on the old budget but it was
worth it to us to have our family here with the exception of those who live too
far away. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: white;">Christmas shopping and such is taking a lot of our time
these days. I am buying most of Jackie’s presents on line. I can not tell you
what I got her here because she reads this blog and I do not want to spoil it
for her. I know what she got me, and I will talk about it after Christmas. It
was something technical and she could not have ordered it without my help. So
it is here but Santa will not let me open the box until after Christmas. Most
of Jackie’s presents are here but one and I am having a dickens of a time
getting that one. The first place I ordered it on line I think was a scam. They
were supposed to send me a update when it was shipped but nothing has been
forwarded to me about the status. All they will say is that it will take 10 to
14 work days before it shows up. Next Thursday will be 14 days and if I don’t
have it I am going to see if I can get the charges back from my credit card
company and PayPal. In all the years of getting stuff on line I have never had
the problem I am having now. If I don’t get it I will tell you the name of the online
company so you can avoid it in the future. Just in case I ordered the same product
from a more reputable company and it is scheduled to be here this coming Monday
so Jackie will get what I ordered and I may have to send one back. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: white;">That is about it from here, except I am sick. Like a very bad
cold or flu. Hope I feel better soon. </span></i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12040626459361698264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3988955250883169733.post-74539470485713752852013-11-24T06:34:00.004-08:002013-11-24T06:38:47.851-08:00Another Thanksgiving after WLS<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzinc3oJyLolx4Y5GS4aTfzYXlDeXK7qKKNvyOKDXp7t0UBHA4LMAyxwTVMPDx3qu-fMfM5s_AXAMr3SD5dfB4ahK6Ijv-TlcNDr5sc4JhIjnIYEbLmzeWd-BIPdLEZThl70rmlcvADrdl/s1600/Thanksgiving.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzinc3oJyLolx4Y5GS4aTfzYXlDeXK7qKKNvyOKDXp7t0UBHA4LMAyxwTVMPDx3qu-fMfM5s_AXAMr3SD5dfB4ahK6Ijv-TlcNDr5sc4JhIjnIYEbLmzeWd-BIPdLEZThl70rmlcvADrdl/s1600/Thanksgiving.jpg" /></a><i><span style="color: white;">Jackie will again be working her little tail off getting
things in the house ready. She will be scrubbing and polishing everything to
make it look nice in the house for our guests. She is always so concerned that
there may be a piece of lint or something out of place. She will vacuum the
floors at least 10 times before everyone get here. Well maybe that is an exaggeration,
just 5 times. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: white;">I am more concerned about the food and making sure it is
ready and cooked correctly. Jackie and I will work together as we always to get
it all done. As we get older it is harder and harder to set up and prepare a
big shindig like this each holiday season. We will be doing it again on
Christmas and probably New Years as well. Buy we love having the family around
and will hold the festivals here as long as we can. One year as I remember when
the girls were all in school and nobody else was coming to our home for
Thanksgiving, we went to a restaurant and had a buffet. It was good, but it was
just not the same with the family all around laughing and having a good time,
so we would just as soon continue with what we do for as long as we can.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: white;">This will be my second Thanksgiving after my WLS. I plan on
having a little more this year than I did last year as far as volume of food. I
can tolerate a little more these days but still will have a hard time eating
more than would be on a small salad plate. But I am going to have more than a
square inch of pie like I did last year. However I know what will happen if I
over eat and I have to make sure I have nothing after about 7:30 in the evening
or I will suffer with heartburn all night and I definitely do not want that. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: white;">Everyone have a great holiday and please remember those
family members and friends who are not with us physically anymore and be
thankful for the family and friends you will enjoy being with this year. </span></i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12040626459361698264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3988955250883169733.post-5283695415727445772013-11-12T07:03:00.000-08:002013-11-12T07:03:38.812-08:00Had Another Birthday<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;">Well yesterday was my 72<sup>nd</sup> birthday. I had a
wonderful day and enjoyed best wishes from many friends and family. I am still
very amazed that I have lived this long and I am looking forward to many more
years.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;">It really was quite an achievement in that my mom was told
that I would be very lucky to live to the age of about 35 years as I had very
bad asthma as a child. Two different times my heart stopped when I was in the
hospital and had to have it started again while I was there. In those days they
didn’t have those paddles that they shocked you back to life again, they had to
take a long needle and inject adrenaline into your heart through my chest
cavity. But thankfully, asthma has pretty much left me as I got older and other
than a small spell when I eat something I know I am allergic too. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;">Anyway my life now is much better after WLS even though it
was just 2 yeas ago before the surgery. I can eat most anything I want but
still not much more than about a cup of solid food, and I am full. But I could
eat that amount several times a day and of course I would gain weight again. So
I still must be very careful not let my addiction to food overcome me and I
know it has the ability to do that if I give it a chance and don’t weigh and
measure everything I put in my mouth. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;">Yesterday my mom, who is 95 took me to dinner. Because it
was Veterans’ Day many of the restaurants were very full. I did not want to
spend a lot of time waiting for a table, and my mom has a lot of problems with
her legs and hips so I did not want her to have to spend a lot of time getting
something to eat. So we went to an Asian buffet here in my town that is quite
large and can serve many people very quickly. Well that was a mistake. I was
told never to try something in a place like a restaurant that you have not
eaten before. Well I did not follow that advice and had some things that I had
not had before and I got very sick. I thought I was going to through up but did
not want to do it in the bathroom at the restaurant so I was just sick and it seemed
like hours before everyone else to finish eating and go home. We did finally go
home and I was able to start feeling better. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;">But all and all, I had a good day and I am looking forward
to many more years now that I have a body that can do just about anything I
really want to do. I am going to be getting ready to do a lot of remodeling of
our home just after the holidays and really looking forward to it as I know now
I can do what just two years ago without the WLS would have been impossible. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12040626459361698264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3988955250883169733.post-57937704809384432972013-11-07T12:22:00.003-08:002013-11-08T07:01:09.810-08:00Bored<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl5OiFQ_AXe5ewWcR2dMyiHASHudQo4f9MWmEkfuMY1TPXAI-Ad7svD3pNd6H08pn3X-VnHXjlmygtdLExjkrHLgpkVfTmJ-xpN7vlmkVWCHciXY-eF8oL5vpQnt51FM1xxr5Vhg6JFqX6/s1600/ambientws.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl5OiFQ_AXe5ewWcR2dMyiHASHudQo4f9MWmEkfuMY1TPXAI-Ad7svD3pNd6H08pn3X-VnHXjlmygtdLExjkrHLgpkVfTmJ-xpN7vlmkVWCHciXY-eF8oL5vpQnt51FM1xxr5Vhg6JFqX6/s200/ambientws.gif" width="200" /></a><i><span style="color: white;">Well one thing I am learning is that if you want to keep
your weight off, it is much easier to do if you can keep yourself busy. When
the weather around here was good, I could always find something to do around
the yard. But now the normal weather for this time of year is in full force and
it is too cold and wet to be outside much. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: white;">Now because I am somewhat bored, I find myself thinking of
eating something all the time. I have been pretty successful as there are not
many things in the house that would be that bad for me to eat unless of course
I ate a lot of them. We now have herbal tea each day at about 2 PM and will usually
have a shortbread cookie with the tea. I of course count the calories in my
daily menu plan and record it on MFP, but still it would be easy to eat many of
them during the day and that would lead to problems.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: white;">There are only so many things I want to look up or access on
my computer. Only so much time I want to spend on my other hobby amateur radio.
After that I find myself looking for something to do around the house to keep
my mind off of eating something because I am bored. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: white;">It is my birthday in a couple of days and Jackie got me a
home weather station. It is fun to set it up and play with it a little and it
did take me away from boredom for a time, but now I have to look for more
things to do. I put the weather station on my computer so I can see the display
better and it gives me more details than the regular control panel can have on
it. I also registered and put my station on the Weather Underground and you can
find it on the internet by searching for stations in Lacey, Washington. The
name of my station is Slum of Lacey.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: white;">Of course we have the Thanksgiving holiday coming up soon
and then Christmas so I will be kind of busy during those times, but they
involve food so I also got to be extra careful that I do not over indulge with
all that great stuff we have around. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: white;">After the first of the year, I will start putting in new
floors in the house, painting, and remodeling the kitchen a little so for
quite a few months until Spring, I will be very busy doing those tasks so I
will not have much time to be bored and will probably wish I could actually be
bored again. </span></i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12040626459361698264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3988955250883169733.post-80312151566167185522013-10-18T05:56:00.003-07:002013-10-18T06:04:36.446-07:00Fatso Run, Fatso Run?<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8BdCzpCt4fwbs58z2Yehlhkho9C9BmxOTUC37-5OjrRhNdVRwX8thoIVmZi2iclc6DtEKmA2eJ85iHuYhz4VlHTD_qD31_NtCyCwYa1aKsBBu7QJm4TFhNoCxHb4K3l92EN9z-sbUMYUs/s1600/doctor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8BdCzpCt4fwbs58z2Yehlhkho9C9BmxOTUC37-5OjrRhNdVRwX8thoIVmZi2iclc6DtEKmA2eJ85iHuYhz4VlHTD_qD31_NtCyCwYa1aKsBBu7QJm4TFhNoCxHb4K3l92EN9z-sbUMYUs/s200/doctor.jpg" width="173" /></a><span style="color: white;">I think many of us who have ventured into the world of
weight loss over the years have heard of the “ Domino Effect”. To illustrate
what I mean by this is something you do in life, had an effect on something
else you are doing or trying to do. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;">I have friends, and I have done this too, who are struggling
trying to lose weight. Many are like me in the past way overweight, not just
pleasingly plump, so to speak. In my case way over 300 pounds. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;">Everyone preaches that you got to exercise to get the weight
off. I have no problem with that statement. But here is the kicker. What is
exercise? If you are way overweight, and decide on going on an aggressive
exercise program at your present weight some bad things happen, at least they
always happened in my life. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;">You may lose weight at first, in some cases quite rapidly. This
fact may even motivate you to even up what you are doing. But eventually what
happens is that your stress your already over burdened body and it breaks down
somewhere. Most of the time in my life that meant my legs. Torn muscles, or
tendons are common. Feet also take a beating if the exercise program includes
running or fast walking. The damage you do will not only effect you right away,
the damage will linger into your later life. I have had both knees repaired and
my back still suffers from my routine of running at least 6 miles every other
day that I did. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;">Eventually because of the pain and injury, you stop the
routine or in your mind only suspend it. But slowly the weight that you lost in
this effort comes right back on and maybe even more and you go into what I call
the “ Oh Well What the Hell Mode”. This is where you tell yourself I don’t need
to be skinny, life is short, may as well eat and do what I want. Does this
sound familiar? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;">The problem is the Domino Effect. Body breaks down, so
weight comes back on. I know it is discouraging and everyone says you got to
exercise to lose weight. And I agree with that……. BUT.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;">But you must, in my opinion, diet your way down with very
moderate exercise first. You have to find the caloric level of eating that will
allow for fairly fast weight loss and only do light exercise until you have
reduced your body mass down quite a bit. In my case I lost from over 300 pounds
down to about 225 before I felt that when I exercised that I was not stressing
my body anymore. I could workout without having my heart beating very fast, and
my legs and feet were not feeling an excessive amount of pain and what pain I had
only lasted for a short time. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;">I am not a doctor so I can not advise you of what weight you
should be before you can do strenuous exercise, so best to get the opinion form
a professional. Once your body mass is low enough you will be able to workout
without doing long term damage. You can continue to diet and work out but now
you will be able to accelerate your weight loss with the exercise and not hurt
yourself and slump back into not being able to do physical things, which will
defeat your weight loss efforts. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;">It is a balancing act, cause and effect. Just don’t go to
far on eater leg. Not too much exercise without dieting first. And then and
only then can you up your activity. Not the other way around.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;">This has been my experience over the last 50 years or so of
weight problems for me. I hope it helps you. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12040626459361698264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3988955250883169733.post-55431989660720474222013-10-10T07:26:00.001-07:002013-10-10T07:41:09.381-07:00New Weight Loss Help<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIfjTvv7AkmZVuEEWme8H8LJceknGzuqtm1GwWNu-2uRDoxZHafVaZEx_VTehCkv9sYY-ZD8GqaEO2z9asqKvn_gMgcrj_1-nEp2oMpeS4L-u8hl9Ig51JM2Yia3YjOYBspBrIxJWs9gKI/s1600/sharper+Image+super+wave+oven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIfjTvv7AkmZVuEEWme8H8LJceknGzuqtm1GwWNu-2uRDoxZHafVaZEx_VTehCkv9sYY-ZD8GqaEO2z9asqKvn_gMgcrj_1-nEp2oMpeS4L-u8hl9Ig51JM2Yia3YjOYBspBrIxJWs9gKI/s1600/sharper+Image+super+wave+oven.jpg" /></a><i><span style="color: white;">Jackie and I recently got a new device to cook our food. We are always looking at improving how and what we eat. Especially now that I have had WLS it is important that I have very little fat. We have always cooked our meat on an open rack in the oven letting the drippings fall into another pan under the rack and getting as little as possible retained in the meat.</span></i><br />
<span style="color: white;"><i><br /></i>
<i>There is just the two of us in the house and when we cook meat in such a small amount. It is not very cost and time effective to use the big oven to cook just 4 ounces of food for each of us. We were looking at a way of being more effective and to be honest our oven is very old and Jackie does not like having to clean it so often. </i></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><i><br /></i>
<i>A friend of mine had tried several of these cooking devices like the ones you see on late night TV. He actually bought most of the popular brands and used them for some time. After doing an evaluation he decided that the best device he used was the cooker manufactured by Sharper Image. </i></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><i><br /></i>
<i>Jackie and I got one and we agree that it is very good. It cooks the food very quickly and has a rack so that the excess fat falls to the bottom of the big glass bowel. You can cook the meat or what ever you want even frozen. It takes only a very short time and the energy use and clean up is just great. The meat is browned and crispy if you want it that way. We even do fries in it and they are crispy on the outside and soft and tender on the inside. </i></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><i><br /></i>
<i>In our mind this is a very good device if you want something that cooks things very fast and well. It makes life a lot simpler and costs less in energy and cleanup is much faster. The Sharper Image has a large glass bowel that is kind of heavy, but it will last longer than some that have some kind of plastic bowels. It is large enough that you could cook a complete meal in it and it would work for a larger family if you need that. </i></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><i><br /></i>
<i>For Jackie and me, it fit’s the bill very well, and we love it. </i></span><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12040626459361698264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3988955250883169733.post-47769759883808795122013-10-05T20:53:00.000-07:002013-11-08T07:02:47.570-08:00Burp!!!!<span style="color: white;">Things around here are pretty much returning to normal. My weight is stabilizing, I weigh every other week on Tuesdays. I bounce up or down a pound of two but for the most part I am still under my goal weight but not losing to a dangerous area any more. I am still having big time problems with heart burn or over active stomach acid problems. They are better than they were when I was on vacation. Seems like they come on when I am hungry or it has been awhile from the time I had something to eat and my stomach is empty. </span><br />
<div>
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: white;">The Doctor is sending me for some tests next Tuesday. The kind of tests where you drink some yucky stuff and they take pictures of it going through your system. He for some reason thinks I am having a blockage or something like that. I don’t think so as I have no problem eating anything these days. In fact I am worried that I am eating too much. I do weigh and measure everything and log it into MY Fitness Pall software on the internet, but still I worry that the weight will start to creep up on me. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: white;">We paid off all our vacation bills I think. We did charge some things while we were in England, got the bill and paid it, but there still may be a few linger changes still out there. It cost us a lot more than we had planned, but we had a wonderful time and the memories will last us for the rest of our lives. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: white;">Now on to working on the house. Going to put new floors in most of the rooms and paint. We are still not sure what we are going to put in the kitchen but one thing for sure is that Jackie wants a new stove so I will be working on the cabinets to make room for a slide in gas oven and stove top. We will be working on that just after the first of the year. First we have to get though the holidays and have them paid for, then we can buy the supplies needed and get to work. I hope to have it all done by April. Wish me luck. </span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12040626459361698264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3988955250883169733.post-82984862382737440402013-09-22T20:08:00.001-07:002013-09-22T20:09:04.613-07:00Sometimes Computers Stink<span style="color: white;">I have not posted much lately because some @#$%@#%#%$ hacked my web site and I have had to rebuild it completely. Looks like they came in via a script entry. I am not sure but the only way I could get it all out was to delete the site and start rebuilding it.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: white;">It was kind of a blessing in disguise as I had a lot of hanging orphaned files out there that needed to be cleaned up and I wanted to do a re-design anyway so now was a good time.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: white;">I am taking steps to make sure this does not happen again, however if hackers can break into the Pentagon, I am sure they can hack me if they want to. But why would anyone want to spend the time hacking a personal family web site. I have no “hot topic” things on it that I can think of that would make anyone mad, but who knows these days with so many nuts out there.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: white;">Anyway that is why I have been kind of skinny on this blog. I hope to get back to normal again.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: white;">And my progress on my WLS is going fine, except after my vacation in London, I gained a pound, but now this last week I lost a pound and a half, so I am back in the hole again. I am almost 10 pounds under my goal.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: white;">I am trying to eat more and have an additional snack, but I am still very afraid of eating a lot because I start to feel I am grazing when I have 3 meals and 2 snacks during a day. But the scale is not telling me I am gaining so I guess I should just stop worrying about it.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: white;">Back to working on the web page. Go here to see my progress.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: white;">http://www.w3oz.com</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: white;">Thanks</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12040626459361698264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3988955250883169733.post-57742468703842123322013-09-01T16:16:00.002-07:002013-09-04T07:22:22.355-07:00Our Trip to London England<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhODeHPj5Zuuv-hM3o3_iCvMv_hrSGlkHi-OsBgVJbarvqcTwBzMd0QkiblAixw8i6bPxdEire7gOUzu1Gk1_rMOGNjp-bwLy_GyuvdGL6amm8xp99a-mUa71NGebyeenHK1Vr9svt_9McO/s1600/London+Aug+2013+351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhODeHPj5Zuuv-hM3o3_iCvMv_hrSGlkHi-OsBgVJbarvqcTwBzMd0QkiblAixw8i6bPxdEire7gOUzu1Gk1_rMOGNjp-bwLy_GyuvdGL6amm8xp99a-mUa71NGebyeenHK1Vr9svt_9McO/s200/London+Aug+2013+351.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jackie and me in London</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: white;">Well, well, well, what a month of August it was for us….Jackie and I. As I posted in July we had a party for our 50th anniversary. As part of our celebration, we had planned for over a year to go someplace we have always wanted to go and that was England.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
Both my genealogy and Jackie’s have many roots in England. We had heard of all these famous places like Stonehenge, Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London for example. Well we saw them and much more. What a wonderful time we had during our time there which was only 8 days but that was plenty and we saw everything we had planned on seeing.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
We had a formal tour ran by a wonderful company called Globus. The tour guides were more like college history professors. I think I learned more about England than I had ever expected to know. They were just wonderful and the accommodations were top notch.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
The only thing we did not like was the English cooking. Someone has to introduce them to some of the spices of the world. To be blunt, it was as bland as could be and some of the food was just not eatable.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
A funny story happened while we were there. We had both wanted a good English meal of Fish and Chips. Well our first day there we went to a pub and ordered F&C. What came was pretty good chips, but the fish, well let me say was like an old thin piece of road kill, very flat with the skin still on it. It was as hard as shoe leather. The batter on the fish was not even done and very bad tasting. I could not eat mine and just had a few chips.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
Well along our tour we ran across another place and again ordered F&Cs. But we did not pay enough attention and did not notice that the fish was going to be fish patties, not what we had expected. Again the coating on the fish was hard and burned, but the actual fish or what ever it was kind of ran off the plate. It was awful and we again ate some of the chips but left the rest.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
Well we were getting the feeling we were not going to find any good F&C in England after all. We got to a city by the name of Salisbury, They have a very old and big cathedral there that we visited. It was very impressive. As I was leaving one of the people who worked there as a greeter asked me how our tour was going. Now I know this man had know idea who I was other than I was an American tourist. I said great we just loved what we were seeing, except we were disappointed that we were unable to find a good F&C dinner. He said well I can tell you were you can find the best F&C in the world. I expected him to say some restaurant there in England. But no he said, the best I have ever had was at Ivor’s in Seattle Washington. He said I have been there many times and believe me they are the best. I could not believe what he said. I told him I have had that dinner many times and expected to find some better in England. He said to his knowledge there is non better in England.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
But on our next to last day there we did find a good F&C dinner at a restaurant in the Hilton hotel we were staying in. Kind of expensive, $100 counting the tip but at least it was good. Actually more than I could eat. I did my best to stay on my program and I have not weighed myself yet, I plan on doing that next Tuesday as that is my normal day to weigh, but I don’t think I have gained anything. Jackie put on about 3 pounds but it is already coming off.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
I am just so happy that I had the WLS so I could walk and enjoy the tour. A little over a year ago I would have never been able to take this tour without skipping many of the tours because I would have been too heavy and my legs and feet would not have been able to carry me along. This time, I had absolutely now health problems, and I was not tired or sick at all.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br />
But we want to stay home for awhile now and work on our home and get it in shape. We plan on taking another tour in a few years but for now we just love looking at the 529 photos I took and the hours of video so we can remember the great time we had.</span><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12040626459361698264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3988955250883169733.post-52284159832655051352013-07-30T13:10:00.001-07:002013-07-30T13:15:41.942-07:00Our Big Party<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtOXl2P-eMF-0wVxt_DeGbHxy7B_rNnHXbDytIQHOxq7MvnwyBpIHsRZanYFcTxr50Vxywqs6Gz0vANJwZRYvfVdLDjXCLdtdkVrJujDSvywaoPMhWt_YSjQDpOxTxck81PTNTpXdmaQwz/s1600/50th.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtOXl2P-eMF-0wVxt_DeGbHxy7B_rNnHXbDytIQHOxq7MvnwyBpIHsRZanYFcTxr50Vxywqs6Gz0vANJwZRYvfVdLDjXCLdtdkVrJujDSvywaoPMhWt_YSjQDpOxTxck81PTNTpXdmaQwz/s200/50th.jpg" width="200" /></a><i><span style="color: white;">Well we had our big 50th wedding Anniversary party here at our home that was put on by our daughters. They did just a wonderful job and I am so proud of them. A father could not expect a better bunch of daughters. They are all different in personalities, and talent. But deep down inside they are, to sum it up just nice, compassionate and caring people. </span></i><br />
<span style="color: white;"><i><br /></i>
<i>What they did for us was just wonderful. We had some old friends over and many of our family. There were other events going on that day that some of our close friends had to attend because their kids were in them, but all and all our best friends showed up and we had a great time. </i></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><i><br /></i>
<i>The girls surprised us with many great gifts other than the food and other things they had arranged. They gave us photo albums, and pictures of Jackie and I over the years. They gave us a very beautiful picture album cover in silver to hold our pictures we are going to take on our anniversary trip to England. But one of the nicest things they gave us was one that did not cost much. They gave us a poster board with comments on it about things they remembered as young gals that meant a lot to them. Some of them I could hardly remember and was so shocked that they would remember these things. Some of them were so touching that they made me cry. I love them so much. </i></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><i><br /></i>
<i>We went to a photographer shop and had photos taken of our little family just like the one we have hanging on the wall for our 25 anniversary. This time we are just a little older. Our great grandson came here with his mom and we got my mom, the little ones great great grandma and all the rest of us in a 5 generation photo. Not many people can show a photo of them and their gg grandma. She is now 95 and in good physical shape but her mind is starting to drift out a little, but lets hope she is around at least to 100. </i></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><i><br /></i>
<i>Our new goal is to reach our 75th anniversary. Don’t laugh we are in pretty good shape and now the my WLS and think I have a real chance. </i></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><i><br /></i>
<i>Will post to you when we get back from England.</i></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><i><br /></i>
<i>But thanks again girls for a wonderful party that we will remember for the rest of our lives. </i></span><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12040626459361698264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3988955250883169733.post-61726827594095976652013-07-11T08:57:00.004-07:002013-07-12T07:33:55.394-07:00Just call me Mr. Fix it. <div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNiI2Ns_7UW6J9rW5rmDHrGYz5971TRz-QyZEWTYV6L50xcxj3ga4MpOK39kW13Q2Zw8MdZJLlyIrqBhjPhA-FfKKpftaQ4-l3py4HBiwBkUpnISw2xkdKBJA4Vj77Fb-N3skksWb4FsM/s1600/Workers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNiI2Ns_7UW6J9rW5rmDHrGYz5971TRz-QyZEWTYV6L50xcxj3ga4MpOK39kW13Q2Zw8MdZJLlyIrqBhjPhA-FfKKpftaQ4-l3py4HBiwBkUpnISw2xkdKBJA4Vj77Fb-N3skksWb4FsM/s1600/Workers.jpg" /></a><i><span style="color: white;">I have been at goal now for a few months and I am very
encouraged in that I have been able to stop the weight loss by eating more
calories per day. I am still doing the same exercise as before with the same
amount of intensity but my bike riding has had to take a little back seat in
that I have so many things to do around the house that just can’t put off any
longer.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: white;">This is one of the best things about losing the weight. For
the past few years I have noticed things around the house that needed to be
done, but I ignored them because with the amount I weighted I just could not work
that hard without the feeling I was going to die, and who knows if I had tried
that hard maybe I would have.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: white;">Now I have the energy and physical ability to do these
things. But even if my mind tells me I can do them and while I am doing these
tasks I feel just fine, I do not sweat like I used to and my heart doesn't race and I do not feel sick like I did, but after I am done working my body does
tell me, “hey your brain my think you are 50 years old, but your body knows you
are 71”. For the next day or two I am stiff and sore, but I have a big smile on
my face because I am getting things done around here. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: white;">Now the only limitations I have is the money to pay for
supplies to fix things and the time, so I don't over stress myself. I have a
list and hope that over the next few years I will be able to get the old place
fixed up the way I want it. Before WLS there would have been no way and my only
hope would be that I passed away before the house fell down around me. </span></i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12040626459361698264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3988955250883169733.post-23981138452225865872013-06-27T05:55:00.003-07:002013-06-27T06:07:10.250-07:00Comments from old saggy butt<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;">As far as my life after weight loss surgery (WLS), goes
things are going along quite well. I have been at goal now for almost 2 months
and feeling great. I have more energy and can work around the house so much
better than I could before WLS. But, because I feel so great, it is easy to
over do a lot of things and the old bones and muscles start to hurt and the day
after doing some great big task I am reminded that even if I look younger and
feel younger my body knows my age and I feel it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;">I am still swimming 3 times a week and I would love to be
riding my bike more but when the weather is good enough it seems like there is
something in my life that MUST be done and I do not get to go, It also seems
like on days that I have nothing better to do, it rains and I end up not going.
Today is a day like that. It may clear up but right now it looks pretty bad.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;">The weight was going down and I am currently 6 pounds under
my goal. My goal was to be at a normal BMI and for me that was 168 pounds. I am
currently 162 in my shorts and at the last doctors visit I was 167 with my
shoes on and dressed. I go up a pound or so some days and then lose it again in
the week. I weigh officially once a week and so far there has been no real
change each week. I was up .7 pounds a couple of week ago, but this past two
weeks I was exactly the same. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;">Many people have commented on how I look TOO thin and sickly.
That does not make me feel good, but others have told me that is normal in that
people were more used to seeing me heavy and it is strange for them to see me
now and they think I am sick, which I guess is a normal reaction. Also I am
told by some old timers that my baggy skin will tighten up a LITTLE over the years
and I hope so, as my butt looks like the craters of the moon now. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;">That is it for now from old saggy butt.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12040626459361698264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3988955250883169733.post-38881751614206484592013-06-16T13:49:00.002-07:002013-06-16T13:52:27.565-07:00A Tribute To My Dad<span style="color: white;"><i>Dad really never had much of a chance in life to be really successful financially. He was the oldest son in a hard working farming family in North Dakota. Times were hard then and it was difficult for a family to educate children then as they were needed to help on the farm.</i></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-CrDysn1uja6G-kThucjyWLg5O_tjDbHIpd8QoHw7MU0QBf2pBAYbr69MCs0lWwxUr3kcKyeJphaKNEPQKiOzSp_gnbABnvF2qWISClApVZrEvtiyng5L3L0cB24bm5ajtEJijCBl3apY/s1600/dadgrave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-CrDysn1uja6G-kThucjyWLg5O_tjDbHIpd8QoHw7MU0QBf2pBAYbr69MCs0lWwxUr3kcKyeJphaKNEPQKiOzSp_gnbABnvF2qWISClApVZrEvtiyng5L3L0cB24bm5ajtEJijCBl3apY/s320/dadgrave.jpg" width="139" /></a><i><span style="color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: white;">My Grandfather was injured in an accident and was not able to work to his full capacity so my dad being just a teenager took over much of the farming hard tasks. He never had the opportunity to go past the 8th grade in school. This hampered him all his life. He was not a stupid man just educated via the school of hard knocks. I was watching him.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: white;">He worked hard all his life. He tried many things to make a living. He loved farming and tried to work a construction job and run a farm he rented at the same time. I learned the value of hard work as he had me beside him all the time. I was watching him.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: white;">He loved my mom with all his heart. He never told off color jokes or did I ever hear him say a bad word about mom or my grandmothers. He never cheated. I was watching him.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: white;">He went to church when he could and prayed to God for help. Shortly before he died he was taking a bible study course and enjoying it very much. I was watching him.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: white;">My Dad was born with a defect in his heart and he had an attack when he was only 41. He smoked and should have quite. But he didn’t and he had another heart attack when he was 51. He never wanted me to smoke and even though I did for a short time, I learned form him what could happen. I was watching him.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: white;">The evening before he died in the hospital I was influenced by something to go to the hospital and shave him. We talked about the future and what we wanted to do together. I hugged him and told him I loved him and he said I love you too Larry and I am proud to be your dad. I was so proud to be his son. Because all my life I was watching him and I knew how to be a man because of him.</span></i><br />
<span style="color: white;"><i>God Bless you dad and I hope you finally can rest and find peace now. You deserve it so much. And I know now for sure….YOU are watching ME.</i></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12040626459361698264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3988955250883169733.post-40133845239608940352013-06-03T06:58:00.001-07:002013-06-03T07:03:18.189-07:00Time Marches On<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_lC6KE-jliZmzjF4jRlGcA_utQyumT8hPFhKUKca9dnsVv30p1qa9IEzrmnk9gWuMqzQ0u_clMovGhK7nVyWqCiFmyUP4VXJyn6VbNd7DHOp-Wfv4UdpB7dGYjxKLzaK3MED-d-xCgK2j/s1600/checkup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_lC6KE-jliZmzjF4jRlGcA_utQyumT8hPFhKUKca9dnsVv30p1qa9IEzrmnk9gWuMqzQ0u_clMovGhK7nVyWqCiFmyUP4VXJyn6VbNd7DHOp-Wfv4UdpB7dGYjxKLzaK3MED-d-xCgK2j/s200/checkup.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="color: white;">Well I have not posted for awhile, like a lot of others who
blog, I am using the excuse that I have been very busy with other things. Well
it is true. Now that I am able to do work around the house without feeling like
I am about to die, I can get some of the things around the house and yard that
have been slipping over the past couple of years. So that and other family
stuff have kept me busy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;">My yearly checkup with my surgeon went well and I am now formally
graduated to the status of post surgery and do not have to go back for a
checkup for a year. All lab tests are great and they don’t feel I need to make
any changes in anything. They did say I should up my calories and to do my best
not to lose any more weight. I have upped my calories per day and hope that
does it. I never in my life thought I would have any doctor tell me to eat
more. What a change.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;">As many may know, we are celebrating our 50<sup>th</sup> wedding
anniversary this month on the 21<sup>st</sup>. We plan on going to <st1:country-region w:st="on">England</st1:country-region>
sometime this summer to mark that great event for us and to have fun in a place
we both have always wanted to go. To get ready we need to get a few things for
the trip especially a few new things to wear over there. I needed a new pair of
jeans. The size 34 are kind of baggy in the butt area so as a lark I tried on a
pair of 32 and could you believe it, the fit just great. 32s for crying out
laud, I have not been that small from the time I was in high school even Jr.
high. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;">The only thing that I am going to have to work on besides
not losing anymore weight is that lately I have been upchucking acid when I am
sleeping and almost chocking on it. I have started taking antacid pills before
I go to bed, but I am going to check with my doctor to see if I need to do
anything else. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;">That is it for now, I am going back to catching up on all
the things I still need to do around the house. What a good feeling to know I
have the energy to actually work and get things done. I love my WLS.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12040626459361698264noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3988955250883169733.post-16519561202092435432013-05-19T13:43:00.004-07:002013-05-19T13:51:14.108-07:00Yearly Exam<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuTQUHlTBBn-WUVUEObeNphVKTjsvhtgIbha9M6zHv3PrY1tkSqubI8HbCC1fKwQ5mlTTyKZiLMPd1HO2OEfXp-H-wbmelmwozuaVhn1nkNB4UKbgCcrhWsqZSp_X3mdoOERAuFvUZevF4/s1600/working+man.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuTQUHlTBBn-WUVUEObeNphVKTjsvhtgIbha9M6zHv3PrY1tkSqubI8HbCC1fKwQ5mlTTyKZiLMPd1HO2OEfXp-H-wbmelmwozuaVhn1nkNB4UKbgCcrhWsqZSp_X3mdoOERAuFvUZevF4/s1600/working+man.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;">Well next week I have to have my yearly blood tests and go
see my WLS surgery team. Hard to believe it has been a year now. I am feeling
very good about it all. I am still losing weight, but I think I have it under
control. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;">Yesterday Jackie had a big shin dig at church and I helped
her and the others get thing set up and cleaned up afterwards. The work was
Friday night and Saturday most of the day. Today, I didn't even go to church as
my body was just to tired to sit there during the serves so I stayed home and
recovered.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;">However I was able to work both days and kept up with other
men 10 to 15 years younger than me and out worked many who were much younger.
While I was working I felt strong, not like it would have been a year ago. Then
I would have had to stop and take a break ever 10 minutes or so and I would
have been sick a week after the event. That is so great to me to know I can do
things like this and not kill myself. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;">Some people there who had not seen me for awhile came up to
me and said. Larry I am sorry I had to ask someone who that was, I did not recognize you after
all these years. You are looking fantastic. Comments like that make me feel
great of course, but really I just hope everyone just forgets about the old fat
Larry and gets to know me now as I intend to be for the rest of my life.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white;">Jackie says I look, walk and act like my grandfather George.
Well that would not be bad as he was almost 100 when he died and he was
sickness free for the most part of his life and enjoyed doing all kinds of
activities until just be for he died. It would be nice to walk down the path
with Jackie for a lot longer time. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12040626459361698264noreply@blogger.com0