Tracy Talks

My kind of day!

After looking at the pictures of my kids and I from last weekend, I realized that I am ghostly white and it looks like you all left me in Winter and forgot to bring me into Summer with you!  I had two goals for this weekend!  One goal was to make sure Dakota had a great weekend (this is my last weekend with him until his surgery) and the other goal was TO GET SOME SUN!!!!!!!!!!!  Today was a fantastic day.

I got up early, did a quick workout and showered, checked the weather and found out it was supposed to be mostly sunny and high of 80 today.  PERFECT day for the pool.  I called Kimberly and invited them to come to the pool and then woke up Dakota.  We packed a cooler full of water, snacks and sandwiches and headed to the pool right around noon.  We were there ALL DAY LONG.  Infact we stayed so long, we ran out of snacks for the kids and it got to be dinner time.  Kimberly and I left the kids at the pool with Marc and we headed to Chipotle and got dinner for everyone and came back to the pool and ate dinner there too!  We finally got home right around 7pm.  The kids had an absolute blast.  There were probably about 8-10 kids playing together the entire day.  We had our lounge chairs set up so we could watch the kids and sit in the sun and soak it all up.  I'm happy to say I now have a LITTLE bit of color!  I no longer look pasty white!  I even have tan lines - how about that?  I even let Marc take a pic of me with his daughter Kelly with my bathing suit on and I dont even hate it! 

I posted new photo albums from this weekend - check them out!

Fourth of July!

Fourth of July - a day to spend with your family and loved ones.  Parades, picnics, festivals and fireworks, right? As I think I mentioned before Dakota and his friends were all ready to be in the New Albany 4th of July parade.  They had Red, White & Blue tye dye tshirts that they made, they decorated their bikes and we had it all planned out.  Then..the rain started.  The radar was completely yellow and the storm was headed our way.  Kimberly, Marc & I made the executive decision that we were not taking the kids to ride bikes in the storm.  Not only was that just not a good idea, but the tye dye shirts had not been washed yet and the wet streamers would just add to the mess.  Instead, Dakota and I went to their house and we jammed out to Guitar Hero Aerosmith for several hours. (Actually, I think Dakota and I monopolized it for a while!) - I love that game - I could seroiusly play Guitar Hero for hours and never get tired of it!  AND the Aerosmith version is even better than the others because it has music I know & like!  We had a great day, although we had a little explaining to do when the storm that was so obviously headed our way never came and it really was only ever a steady mist all day!  Oh well - the best laid plans, right?

Later, Dakota & I went to a place called Buy Back, where they sell previously viewed movies really cheap, we got a few movies to have on hand for after Dakota's surgery and then we went to see Iron Man which we both really liked and I would recommend even if you aren't a Marvel Comics fan!  Then we came home, ate some dinner (Turkey Burger & corn for me!).  Then we headed to the New Albany festival at the High School.  Dakota ran around with his friends and finally about 5 minutes before the fireworks were supposed to start, I called his cell phone to find out if he was coming to sit with me for the fireworks.  He said he would be right over but that he had been busy getting something "just for me"... Now, I was scared! LOL.... He came and sat down and had gotten his face painted... On one cheek a big smiley face, on the other cheek a big red heart with MOM in the middle! What a sweetheart! He loves me afterall!!!  :)

The fireworks finally started and they were actually really good.  We were sitting near some small children (probably age 5 and younger) and instead of the OOOHHS and AHHHHs that we all remember, those phrases have been replaced by WHOOOAAA and WHAAAAAA and mabye WOOOOWWW  I took some video which I will attempt to post for you to see / hear! Its only slightly annoying!!  Overall, we had a great day.

Red White & BOOM!

Tonight was the big fireworks display in Columbus.  If you aren't familiar with it, Columbus has a tradition where it celebrates the 4th of July on the 3rd of July every year.  Its a huge festival with music, parade, street vendors it lasts all day and ends with about a 25 minute fireworks display.  Its called Red, White & Boom and its touted as the greatest fireworks display in the Midwest.  There are about a million or so people who cram into downtown Columbus for this thing and its truly a cluster! 

Tonight is also the start of the last weekend that Dakota will be with me before his surgery, so of course I want to do lots of fun things with him this weekend.  When I asked him what he wanted to do, the only thing he wanted was to go to Red White & Boom!  The last thing I wanted to do was drive downtown and fight the traffic and crowds etc.  I offered to take him to the Clippers game ( AAA baseball) and then we could watch the fireworks from there.  Nope - he didnt want to do that.  So I had to come up with a different plan.  I called my friend Jodi who lives with her fiance in a high rise condo in Grandview which overlooks DT Columbus.  We ended up going to their place for the evening and sat on the porch and watched the fireworks from there.  Would you believe about 5 minutes into the show, Dakota decided he'd rather watch them on TV. (yes, they even televise Red White & Boom here !).   So, I made all these plans, fought the traffic, drove to Grandview (about 20 - 25 minutes from here) all so he could see the fireworks in person and all he wants to do is watch them on TV!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  GO FIGURE!

Tomorrow, we're up and about early in the morning, Dakota and his friends are riding their bikes in the New Albany parade.  They all tye dyed tshirts for it and have their bikes all decorated.  I sure hope it doesnt rain or he's gonna be a red white and blue tye dyed mess! 

Hope you have a great 4th of July!

WHAT A RUSH!

I am in such a good mood tonight absolutely NOTHING could bring me down!  I think I could type a mile a minute and tell you every detail of why I'm in such a good mood and you still wouldn't fully understand  I wont give you ALL the details but I will fill you in!  This is such an incredible day, and an incredible feeling I never could have imagined this.

So, as usual, I was underutilized at work today and in my free time I was thinking of things I could do tonight as Dakota was going to be at his father's house and well, Wednesday nights are usually my drinking nights - especially in the summer, so I had to think of a new "thing to do".  I had a ton of energy and needed a release, so I announced to my friend, Suzie, on the way out of the office that I thought I would go jogging tonight! JOGGING! Yes you read that right... I wanted to go jogging!  Can I just preface this by saying that NEVER in my life - my fat life or my previously thin life - NEVER  have I WANTED to go jogging!  TODAY, I wanted to... so guess what????????????   I DID IT!  I freakin went jogging!  For the first time in my life I took a leisurely jog around the neighborhood.  OK - let me try that again... I walked, I walked faster and I led into a jog, I jogged for a little bit, ran into a neighbor I knew who stopped me to talk, I walked fast again, led back into the jog, walked some more, jogged some more - it wasn't a full fledged run around the neighborhood but there were spurts of joggin in there and THAT COUNTS DAMNIT!  It was so absolutely incredibly exhilarating I cannot even tell you! I cant wait to do it again tomorrow!  I cant decide if the serious rush I got from this is because I've never done it before or if jogging just gets your adrenaline going so much that you really just feel this good after doing it.  Either way - I'll take it - I cant remember feeling like this before.  WHAT A RUSH! I can't believe I did it - I really went joggingg!

If that weren't enough - Anthony called tonight and he got accepted to Ohio State for Fall quarter!  OMG - I'm sooooooooo proud of him.  He has worked really hard to get to this place in his life and it hasn't always been easy for him.  I give him a lot of credit because it wasn't so long ago that his life was a little upside down.  He has really  made a full turnaround and is really working hard to make the most of himself.  He is an amazing kid and I am gushing with pride !!!  Now, I just need one of those cool OSU MOM shirts!  LOL :)

I must of had a sweet tooth!

After work yesterday I had to go to the store and pick up a few things and while I was there I, of course, got a few items that were not on my list.  As I look in my cupboards and my fridge today, I have to say - I must have had a sweet tooth last night when I went to the store!  Which is very weird for me, I've never been a sweet tooth person... give me salt and call me happy, chocolate - I could definitely live without, ice cream or fruit are usually as sweet as I go. We aren't much for desserts here.  Not a candy fan, so for me to come home and have a cupboard full of sweets is weird! 

As I look in the cupboard / fridge today here is what I see...

SF Angel Food Cake

SF Cool Whip (2 containers!)

No Sugar Added Ice Cream Sandwiches

SF Blueberry Muffins

SF Pudding (2 - 6 packs)

Strawberries

Bananas

OH YEAH AND I bought Reduced Sugar cake mix and icing and Dakota made cupcakes last night! 

Now the good news is - its all SF or low sugar, the bad news is - I havent had a bite of any of it yet! (is that bad news? I cant decide... maybe its good news, I dont know!)

Dakota tried the cupcakes and said they were awesome!  I guess I'll have to try one of those tonight! :)

If you have a sweet tooth and you're in the area - I've got what you need !!!!

Now, it's personal.....

Today I went for my 6 month follow up appointment. I know, I know, I will be 7 months post op on Friday, but this was when my appt was scheduled, so I'll take it when I can get it. 

First of all, as I mentioned in a previous post I had planned to meet my Barix buddy, Jenni at my appointment - and I did and it was soooooo great to finally meet her! I could have sat and talked with her for hours.  (Well we sort of did after our appointment, along with our other buddy, Daphney!)  Its so nice to connect with people who understand what you're going through.  Jenni had her surgery just 1 week after I did and she LOOKS FABULOUS!  Daphney had her surgery on my birthday (3/11) and she is also making AMAZING PROGRESS! 

So, I met with a student nurse who took my vitals. My BP was as low as its every been.... 109/69 (WOW!) 

I met with the nutritionist and with Dr Ramos.  Last week I had my blood drawn, so I got the results of my blood work today. I have to be honest I was half afraid to find out what they said because once again, I've sort of slacked off in the vitamin taking department.  Good news - All my labs came back perfect!  So there ya have it... I"M PERFECT... (just in case you forgot!).... LOL...

Actually I had a good chat with Dr Ramos who told me I was doing phenomenal and that I had already surpassed his expectations of my success with this surgery and that anything I lost from here on out was for my own personal success ! (as if it hasnt always been personal)   WOW That was a shock to me.  When he asked me what my personal weight goal was and I told him, he darn near tried to talk me out of it.  He was afraid I would be TOO thin if I lost another 30 lbs.  He told me to be careful not to lose too much and suggested I really not go below 140.  (I gotta tell you I never thought I'd have a Dr telling me to be careful not to lose too much weight!)... Now, thats a problem, I don't think I'll EVER have!!!  Overall he was absolutely ecstatic with how I was doing and said I should come back and visit him in December at my one year anniversary. (do you call it an anniversary? I don't know)...

So Now, Its personal and I AM going to lose 30 more lbs and I REALLY want to do it before I go back in December! 

(I posted the pictures from the Reds game today!)

What a great day!

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, the fam damily went to Cleveland today to go see the Red's beat the Indians!!! It was so nice to spend a day with both my boys!!  (and Mr Mike & Katie too!)  This was actually Mr. Mike's idea and I have to say it was a fabulous one! 

Once we fought through the mind numbingly slow traffic leading up to the stadium and found a parking garage (about 4 or 5 blocks away from the stadium), walked to the park and got there during the 3rd inning!  We had a fantastic time.  Our seats were awesome.  We had box seats on the 3rd base side in the left field foul terriroty area.  It was nice and sunny even a little hot when we first got there, but as is normal when Dakota and I plan something big like this - it rained... it rained a little bit, then it stopped, then it rained some more, then it stopped, then it came down in buckets and eventually stopped.  After the last down pour we decided to go back closer to the field because by this time the stadium was mostly empty.  We watched the ninth inning while we stood in about the 5th row.  We took lots of pictures, had a few laughs and really enjoyed watching the Reds come alive against the Indians! 

I will post pictures as soon as I get some of the ones that Mike took, because he took WAY more than I did and I want to make sure I post the best ones! 

Thanks Mike for a great day! I'm so glad we did that!

Here's a WOW moment for you....

OMG - Even Dakota said this was a WOW moment - as much for him as it was for me.  Tomorrow we are heading to Cleveland with Mr Mike, Anthony & Katie to see the Reds and Indians play.  Our family (if you don't know already) is full of die-hard Reds fans.  My Dad used to be the BIGGEST Reds fan alive... I had never seen anything quite like it, but I'm pretty sure he has been reincarnated in my son, Anthony.  He doesnt miss a game if he can avoid it.  He'll watch the game on TV all the way through the last out of the 9th inning even if we're getting clobbered!  He knows all the stats and all the players and whats going on with who.  My Dad would be really proud of him! (Well Mike & I are proud of him too, but Dad would have gotten such a kick out of the Reds fan he has turned into!)

Anyways, I'm doing some laundry this afternoon and making sure Dakota's Reds Jersey isnt wadded up in a crumpled mess and I held it up and looked at and said "I think this would fit me".... I proceeded to try it on - IT DID!!!! HOLY GUACAMOLE - I fit into my 12 year old's SHIRT!!!! While he was excited for me, he kept telling to take it off and pretty much to shut up because he thought that it was weird I could wear his shirts.  Dakota's not a small kid, infact he is only about an inch shorter than me (I think he grew 2 inches while he was at his Dads this past week).  So, he weighs 113 lbs and is about 5'6" tall and I CAN WEAR HIS SHIRT!!!!!!!!!!!  WOW!

One of those days!

Boy oh boy - I have definitely had one of those days today! You know the kind where nothing anyone says could make it better.  Whenever a certain someone (anyone) talks its like nails on a chalkboard, when you feel like everyone hates you for one reason or the other, when  you feel insignifant and unimportant.  When nothing goes the way you want it to.  When it feels like everyone and their brother is putting road blocks in your way just to see if you can find your way around them. Thats the way I have felt all day.  Grumpy, insignificant, irritated, unimportant and just plain frustrated as hell! Not even about anything weight loss related... I'm happy as all get out with my weight loss, but I have to tell you I had "one of those days" today, the kind that in my previous life I would have called my drinking buddies (yes, I have drinking buddies) and we would have gone to the bar and pretty much bellied up to the bar and drank til I forgot why I was there!  OK maybe not that much... but I would have thrown back a few, just to take the edge off!  (btw, thats just not off the table yet tonight... it could still happen!)

I'm grouchy and tired and just need to be alone... I had plans for tonight that ended up not happening, I think its probably for the better, since I'm in such a pissy mood today!  I sure hope tomorrow is a better day!  I think it will be - Dakota comes home tomorrow after being away for 10 days!!!!

OMG - The freaking dog just threw up!  See - its been one of those days - I'm telling you!

Finally....

Well I finally broke my plateau! I knew the exercise was the key!  I have officially lost FOUR pounds since Sunday.  That leaves a WHOPPING 6 pounds to lose between now and July 11th so I can meet my goal of losing 100 lbs before I go to Nashville with Amie!  OMG - I am SIX pounds away from losing 100 lbs!!!  Thats so exciting I could just cry!  All of you whose phone #s I have, WATCH OUT!  You will all be getting early morning phone calls when that scale finally shows me the magic numbers!  I will be the raving crying lunatic on the other end of the phone going absolutely spastic!  (God, if I'm gonna be that spastic when I hit 100lbs lost wonder what the heck will happen when I hit goal???????).... HOLY CRAP!! I just realized... Only 20 more pounds til I hit goal!  OK - my friends... how many of you have 20 lbs to lose?  Lets lose them together. 

Write me, tell me what you are doing to lose that 20 lbs.. what exercises are you doing, what are you eating, are you keeping a food & exercise journal? Whats your short term motivation? What will be your long term motivation to keep it off? C'mon lets do this together - we can support each other!

OH! I posted new pics in the After folder today. Pretty damned excited, I'm wearing a size 10 skirt from Ann Taylor Loft... holy shit, I shopped at Ann Taylor Loft??? I never even walked in there before the day I bought that skirt... WOW! Very exciting stuff here!