Hi My Name Is ...

Tenaj,  I'm on Tamoxifen, have been since late Feb. Don't worry about weight gain, both gain and loss are possible side effects, and I vaguely remember that a greater percent of women lose than gain on it, but everyone always worries about gaining, of course.

Snobird aren't you glad we can jump back in and start over:). We roasted hotdogs with the grand kids. I did eat one hotdog on a wheat bun and had some corn curls:) now I'm having a diet soda so I plan on getting back on track Monday. i did gain back 2 pounds but surely I burned some calories today chasing four boys. We had fun but we are tired:). Kathy grandpararenting is awesome! Wears me out with all four but so worth it.

Kathy sounds like you had a good time hiking. A burger n shake yummy the hotdogs we had were turkey hotdogs i had never had one it was pretty good. We had such fun with the kids. At bedtime one of the twins got fussy and was crying. Mommy came home around 8:30 and he woke up crying again. He had told me earlier his ear hurt. She just texted me and said she was going to ER. Most likely ear infection. Glad I did not get them in the pool today. Now I can't sleep worrying about him. He is will be three in October. Hi tenaj. Cookie monster. Blessing. Marcia snobird . And anyone else I may have missed.

I was amazed when I weighed today. Those two pounds are gone again. I am still only at 9 pounds loss but I'm glad at least I have not put 9 back on:). Grandson indeed has ear infection and tube in ear has shifted so follow up with ent soon. He is on antiBiotics and doing somewhat better:)

Kindergarten - Hope you had a great time in Yosemite. Last year we sold our home that was 11 miles outside Yosemite as the crow flies, but an hour away as the truck flies. Now Crystal Cove State Park I know!!! Love the old cottages...did you have a date shake at Rubys?

Snobird - I start back on regular food July 11th.Can't wait to make juices in our VitaMix blender - it pulverizes the fruit so fine that all the fiber remains in the juice.....and I can always use more fiber! Congrats on the 2 pound loss - even after a fabulous pasta dinner!!!!!

tenaj - Congrats on the 11 pound loss, and YAY on your good report from your MO! I will start on Arimidex in the fall after I get off the Optifast. My MO said I could use small amounts of Premarin - just a dab - on the outside.

ATeamNana - Ohhhhhh, roasted hot dogs!!!! Yum! So sorry about your little grandson. Those ear infections are wicked. Hope he is better now. Hooray on your 2 pound loss!

CookieMonster - Hope you are having fun (and getting some good food) while you are away!!!

I read where several of you were having rain....it was 104 here a few days ago! Definitely makes it hard to want to go out and walk or ride bikes.

At Optifast weigh-in last Wednesday night, I'd lost another 1.4 pounds, down to 166. (Almost 40 pounds from my highest weight, but I started losing before my surgery last year.) Sometimes that feels really frustrating, considering I'm only taking in 960 calories a day, and won't have regular meals until July, but I guess a slow steady loss is a good thing in the long run.

I told the nurse I wanted to lose another 35 pounds....to get down to 130. Guess what she told me - that would be too much!!! She said my BMI would be too low, and that they didn't want me to get too skinny. TOO SKINNY!!!!! Now there are two words that have never applied to me in my life!!!!

I wanted to have a little margin, and go a little lower, since I am anticipating that the Arimidex will put on pounds when I start taking it in the fall.

But I also have to be mindful of the fact that I'll be having my exchange surgery and more reconstruction  in September, and I need to be as healthy as possible before spending several hours under general anesthesia. So we'll see. Right now they've set my goal at 140 - 145. I'm 5'5".

What I DO need to do is move more!!! I'm just not getting in the steps on my pedometer, and I haven't been to the gym since I broke my thumb. (Call the waaaaaambulance!!!) So I may even be UP two pounds by next weigh-in. This is not a very forgiving diet. You HAVE to keep moving. With high temps and "Unhealthy" air quality, I can think of a gazillion reasons to not go outside.

I was thinking of getting a Zumba DVD...has anyone tried that?

Congrats to all who are losing and all who are trying. Hope everyone had a great weekend.....

Kindergarten -   Next time we go to Ruby's I'm getting that date shake! I keep saying that every time we pass by there! Thanks for your kind words....

Marcia1111 - In Optifast language, a one-hour workout is equal to walking six miles. Yay for you!!!

I hope you don't mind me jumping in late.

First, a history.  At age 18, when I had my first child I hit 206 lbs.  I never got under 200 again.  By age 45 I was 289 lbs. Despite years of diets and plans, I kept on the lose / gain yo yo, like many women.  I finally gave in. April, 2009 I joined and Options class, which is a pre-bariatric surgery group provided by my HMO as a pre-requisit to having a lap band.  I did not want a lap band.  I decided to take the class so I could learn the good eating habits and exercise and lose the weight without the surgery.  By the end of the class, 10/19/2009, I had lost 37 lbs and decided I would NOT have surgery.  6 months later I had not gained any back, but I surely had stopped losing weight.  So, I caved.  On 6/14/2010 I had a procedure called a Verticle Gastric Sleeve.  It is NOT the roux N Y gastric bypass, it is NOT a lap band. Basically, I had 2/3 of my stomach removed. On the day of surgery I was 252 lbs.  By 6/14/2011 I had lost another 75 or so lbs, weighing in at 175.  I am now floating between 162 - 172.  I am 5' 7" and have gone from a size 24/26 to a size 10/12!  If I never lose another pound, I'll be satisfied.  but HAPPY if Icould lose that last 15. Doc wants me at 159, I want to get a nice cushion and get to 145 or so.

Post surgery, pre BC, I was walking 5 miles 3 days per week, walk/running 5 miles the other 3 days per wk. Plus 30 minutes of core body training with weights and balances.   I intake 800 - 1,000 calories, 75-100 g protein, < 50 g fat, drink 2 oz of water per lbs of body weight per day. I get in plenty of dairy, and try to get in fruits and vegies.  I no longer count carbs.

Post BC diagnosis, during treatment, surgeries and current reconstruction, I am only able to walk for exercise.  I walk 2.5 - 5 miles daily and maintain the food intake noted above.

I am on tamox and worried about weight gain.  For now, I am satisfied to maintain until post exchange, which I hope will be in July. I am soooo looking forward to running and core training again.  I find myself on a one year hiatus.

Happy to join you in your quest.  Consider a weekly weigh in?

Welcome Shechirple always room for more friends here. I think we are a fun cheerful group and we are upbeat and very supportive of each other:). I plan on trying to buckle down and strive to eat better this week and exercise more. New summer hours start at work tomorrow. 7:30 - 4:00. I love summertime:) it has been cooler here so pooltime is not an option right now:(. Everyone is doing great. Any type of exercise or healthier choices are a step in the right direction!!!

Welcome SheChirple, lots of support & good information from this great group of ladies.

Way to go Tenaj! Yeah, bringing your allowed food and drink with you to work keeps us from the junk in the break room. I went down another lb this AM too. Finally the sun is out but it is in the 40's this AM. Brrrrrrr.......

Where is everyone??   It sure is quiet here today.

Hi tenaJ..lucky you for a day off tomorrow  hope you get to do something fun:)  ...two more days this week for me.  I have been taking food to work also...(for snacks)  I am able to go home for lunch so I am able to eat a good lunch.  We are having decent weather here...supposed to rain tonight or tomorrow.   Have a good day tomorrow...