The A2K (virtual) Weight Loss Club !!

material girl--

Addictions, even addictions to good things like exercise, creep up on you.

George--

Such restraint. The pen is mightier than the sword.

J_B--

Portion control does wonders--as does self control.

Ay S--

I love my tape measure--particularly when I'm faithful about exercise but the pounds and ounces are stubborn about detaching themselves from me.

And how are you doing today, miss Noddy?

J_B--

Yesterday and last night were hell. I don't do purging with grace--just untidy thoroughness.

This morning I struggled out of bed and headed off to the doctor's office to be fitted with a 6 pound computer/recorder and a mess of electrodes. Then I swallowed the capsule camera--a miraculous little gadget about the size of the first joint on my thumb.

This camera will transmit two pictures every second for eight hours as it passes through my plumbing. The doctor/technician will scan the entire tape. While the viewing process can be speeded up a bit, finding eight hours of time accounts for no results being available for ten to fourteen days.

Considering the payload the little computer/recorder strapped around my waist isn't all that heavy, but in spite of the supporting shoulder straps I can feel the strain in the small of my back.

I drove home, waited two hours and had some water and some tea and some more tea. Two hours later I had some bread and cheese--the first solid food since Tuesday's dinner. Delicious.

In an hour or so I'll drive back to the doctor's office to return the gadget and then when I get home I'm going to have a bit of spiced sausage, an enormous salad and a vodka and tonic.

My red cell count has improved from 8 to 10--12 is "normal". The new red cells are still pretty puny, but they will grow. Energy is returning....

Thanks for asking. Mr. Noddy, like most men, is a problem solver rather than a problem-listener-to and the family dog isn't up to miracles of modern medicine unless they are her pills wrapped in liverwurst.

I'm imaging tiny little tourists in the capsule.
Welcome to Noddyland!
Please fasten your seat belts and enjoy the view.

Are you going to ...er... recover the capsule as a souvenir?

George--

Love your inner images.

The Nurse Practioner made it very clear that the camera was designed for one use and should be desposited in a watery grave.

...this too shall pass...

Fascinating... I'm glad it's all over except the waiting. Good news on the red cell front as well. People can get along quite nicely with a 10 gm hemoglobin, although it is still a bit low. Enjoy your G&T, you deserve it.

The nice people have their computer back and I've been assured that if anything dire and dreadful shows up on the screen they will call me before the follow-up appointment.

Free at last.

I couldn't find tonic water at any of the three convenience stores on the way home--this is a rural area--but vodka and lemonade is also seasonally symbolic.

Tonight, wild abandon. Tomorrow, exercises.

Good on ya Noddy!
Hope the test results reveal something conclusive and you can move on to feeling well again!

Wild abandon!

Still at 174 today but also still ahead of schedule. The weekend will probably be a big test, but I'm determined to lose another 5 - 6 lbs by the 27th.

I'm going to sneak an hour or so out of my tax prep slog to get some exercise in.

J_B--

You can do it. Count on me as a cheering section.

My dear little digestive system is returning to normal--and I can feel the red cell count rising. By Monday I should be back hiking the Paths of Virtue.

I'd rather hear about that wild abandon.

George--

I put on my second best nightie, announced that the dishes could wait and crawled into a marvelous fat fantasy novel. Tonight I just might read until midnight.

I'm down to 172.5 and feeling really good about my progress. I've been here before, but I think I might have finally found a structure that's going to work for me this year. 4.5 lbs down so far this week and a full workout at the club this morning followed by a day outside digging in the dirt should prevent my usual weekend slothdom from derailing me. Nothing like a big trip coming up and nothing to wear that fits as a motivator.

I'm starting to get jazz fest e-mails and it looks wonderful, so I'm getting excited. Mr B hates crowds and we never go to the city fests downtown, but we're going to New Orleans with two other couples so if he wants to wander around NO and skip the fest during the day and hook up with us at night, that's ok with me.

It's a gorgeous day in Chiland today. I hope it's lovely where you are.

J_B--

The older I get, the more I appreciate a firm temporal frame to my days.

You are going to make your goal, fit in you clothes and have a wonderful time--all of which you will have earned.

Just been away for 3 days late season skiing in Verbier (Switzerland). Despite drinking more than usual ("Lemon Drops" on Friday night were a killer!) I weighed myself this morning to discover I've hit a new low...

94.6kg (208.1 lbs) down from my start point, exactly 3 months ago, of 104.5kg (229.9 lbs).

For the English among you, that takes me under 15 stone (14st12lbs) from 16st6lbs.

Now to get below 90kg - my original target - that's another 10lbs to go!

Personal trainer session tonight - post skiing I hope he doesn't concentrate on the legs! I'll be pleased to tell him my progress, though.

Best dominion-holding to you all (especially Noddy after your internal trials!) from a very happy KP.

J_B & kitchenpete:
Well done!
Sad to say I regressed a pound over the weekend, but it could have been
worse. I am still maintaining my food log and I believe that is helping me
avoid temptation. I'll be meeting a canoeing buddy some day this week
for a paddle. The weather is perfect for it.

Well done pete.

There is a member of staff at the gym who goes up to people including me asking how our tarinings going, as tho he wants to have a converstaion.
Im sure a number of you will understand that while im gasping for air I dont want a conversation so I say, its going fine thatnks and get back to excercising and watching the tv's.

I feel rude virtually ignoring him but does anybody else find it an innapropriate time to chat?

I want arms like Linda Hamilton in Terminator 2 so Im gona have to grab him one day and ask him to show me how to work the weight machines.

WTG, kitchenpete. The last ten pounds might be the toughest, but they are the most rewarding.

Canoeing sounds fun, George.

MG- Mr B is a runner. The only response he gives to a question when he's running is a glare.

I'm at 172.5 again today, but that's terrific coming out of a weekend 1.5 lbs less than going in. Monday through Thursday tends to go pretty well so I'm hoping to drop another 3 lbs this week. That will get me under 170 for the first time since last November.