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I COMMENTED TO ONE OF MY FRIENDS, EARLIER TODAY THAT YOUR SUPPORT GROUP OF FAMILY AND/OR FRIENDS CANNOT SUSTAIN THE "JOY OF DISCOVERY" ATTITUDE THROUGHOUT THE LONG PROCESS.

THIS SITE IS IMPORTANT TO ME BECAUSE HERE I FIND THE SUPPORT AND UNDERSTANDING AS I CONTINUE ONWARD.

IT IS NOT THAT MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS DON'T CARE OR SUPPORT ME, IT IS JUST THEY ARE NOT LIVING THIS RADICAL CHANGE AND DON'T WANT TO HEAR EVERY "ENLIGHTMENT" LIKE CROSSING MY LEGS FOR THE FIRST TIME, WEARING A SIZE IN SINGLE DIGITS, DISCOVERING I LOOK LIKE DAD'S SIDE OF THE FAMILY AFTER ALL THE YEARS OF THINKING I LOOKED LIKE MOTHER'S SIDE.

IT WAS MUCH THE SAME AFTER LOSING MY HUSBAND.  FAMILY, FRIENDS WERE THERE, SUPPORTIVE, CARING, LOVING.   BUT AFTER ABOUT 3 MONTHS, THEY JUST WANT TO HEAR YOU ARE "MOVING" ON, WHEN IN TRUTH, SEVERAL YEARS LATER YOU CAN FIND YOURSELF IN THE BATHROOM CRYING BECAUSE OF A DATE OR A SONG OR SOMETHING THAT STRIKES A VIVID MEMORY.

ONLY SOMEONE WHO HAS GONE THROUGH THAT PROCESS CAN UNDERSTAND AND THE SAME IS TRUE IN HERE.   EACH DAY OR WEEK OR MONTH OF A DISCOVERY IS A MILESTONE THAT ONLY THOSE WHO HAVE GONE OR ARE GOING THROUGH IT CAN UNDERSTAND.

BLESS ALL THE PEOPLE WHO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS SITE, I AM SO GRATEFUL IT IS HERE.

Ok, I am officially BORED!!!   I have been retired for 9 months.   The first 4 months were active with financial stuff and getting some things done to the house, ie. new furnace/ac, refrigerator, cleaning out closets, etc.

I wanted to travel...retirement from an airline and free airline travel anywhere in the world.  Unfortunately, my sister, my travel companion, is not financially able to go now and I can't afford to pay for both of us.

I've been going to Wal-Mart, just for a cool place to walk...up/down every aisle...or Sam's or shopping mall...inside with a/c.

Now I need something TO DO!   I've looked at volunteer sites, nothing pops out.  I've got decent computer skills and thought about part-time....but hate to commit.   I do love not having to leave the house on rainy, nasty days.   Once a week, I treat myself to a "pajama" day.

There seems to be no "passion" to do one particular thing.   Never been a real crafty-type.  My best friend took up quilting with a passion when she retired.  She hates to give them away, so she has a house filled with quilts.  Seems expensive and kind of foolish because there is no purpose to the quilts, other than doing them.

I do basic knitting and have made hundreds of baby caps and blankets for local charities.  Keeps my hands busy during the Law and Order reruns, but not terribly fullfilling.

Answer to my prayers would be to find someone who can fly free, loves to cruise and doesn't mind a smoker.

Ok, enough pitty-party.

This is a short one. 
Right pinky is in a splint for "trigger finger", but I know it will get better.

My thought for today.   You know you are retired when you have to do laundry because you ran out of night clothes.

Have had a tummy (pouch?) ache for 2 days, fighting it with Malox.  This morning I realized the only change has been taking prescription ibprofen for a "trigger" finger.   I'm stopping the ibprofen today and giving my system a rest.

Today is Father's Day.   I think of my dad and wish with all my heart he could see me this thin.  I spent my whole life thinking I looked like my mom's side of the family.   With the weight loss came the realization that, in fact, I favor my dad's side of the family.  I definitely have his ears...who knew?   I love you, Dad, miss you.

I am thrilled I found this site.  The one area I was disappointed with through this process was the support group at the hospital.  It was more like a sales pitch for various products and services and had little interaction of the attendees.

At 2 years out, I feel like an "oldie" in the midst of all the people who seem to be less than a couple of months out, but their messages have taken me back to the beginning.   I am a little dismayed by how many are hoping for major weight loss in the first couple of weeks.   My surgery was more to relieve health problems and I figured the weight would come off.   I had done some research and it said you could expect to lose maybe 60% of your overweight poundage in a year.   I thought I would weigh about 200 by 6mos out (Christmas), instead I weighed about 170, I was thrilled.  My goal weight was 146, 1 pound less than I had ever weighed in my adult life.   The real shocker was when my doctor said I would probably weigh in the 120's.   Who was he kidding!!!!   But by 1 year out, I was at 128.   Settled at 126 and have maintained that within a 2 pound range for 1 year.

Talk about life altering!!   I am use to the weird face that stares back at me.   I no longer have a huge butt, in fact, no butt at all but I have been fortunate that the extra skin doesn't show under clothes.   Bought my first pair of "real" jeans, not pull on, but actual Lee jeans in a size 6.   That was a red letter day.

Still have trouble with foamies, if I eat too fast or too much or don't chew enough.   But I seem to be able to eat almost anything, except soft bread.    I find I have to chew meat so much that it loses it appeal real fast, especially beef, but once in awhile one just has to taste a steak...two bites, tasted wonderful and I'm done.   There is definitely no longer the need to "clean my plate" (sorry, Mom, you were wrong).   However, being here and discovering a name for my sometimes distress "foamies" has made me relax.   Doctor said it was normal, but I was still worried.  My mind has been relieved, thanks to this site.