Serial Starters

Good morning Ladies
Happy Friday!
Remember...happy hour tonight (where is Liz? Liz! Happy Hour at 5!)

Cardio appointment went well. It's part of the dealio to prep and clear for the breast surgery. I need to have a stress echo done this coming Tuesday.

QUESTION:
What healthy food items will you be enjoying this weekend?

AOTD: scallops, grilled zucchini

On the road to NC soon for long weekend.

*tossing bag and towel onto favorite lounge chair*

Lana

Calny - Hope you don't mind a little history lesson. The Vietnam war started in the late 1950s when the Draft was still in effect. Before he was elected President Lyndon Johnson's wife had a family arms business and made money hand over fist during the war with government contracts. The company made the first untested AK-47s that went to the US soldiers in the war; some exploded in their hands and killed a few. His Presidency was basically a platform to keep the war going.

Unfortunately, this led to the arms company also making a chemical sprayed in the jungles, to clear the fields of brush, called Agent Orange. Thousands of soldiers were exposed and many south Vietnamese (the people we were trying to help), including my dad, who had been Special Forces and spent 2 tours in the jungle (4 years).

People wanted the war to end, and Johnson wasn't re-elected. US withdrew the troops and the war finally ended around 1975.

10 years later they discovered the horrifying effects of being exposed to it. Cancer, liver damage, pulmonary and heart diseases, defects to reproductive capacity and skin and nervous disorders. Their children and grandchildren have severe physical deformities, mental and physical disabilities, diseases and shortened life spans.

My father came from a family where they lived well into their 80s and 90s with no diabetes, heart problems, or cancer. My dad passed away at 63 from stroke, complicated by type 2 diabetes and heart failure.

I am the only one of 4 kids that didn't have a learning disability, I just got the physical problems. Fun part is that Veterans Affairs are just starting to learn all the repercussions of the chemical effects, so they haven't cleared through congress half the medical problems and costs that the next generation need compensation for.

OR truthfully, the US really, epically, *kitten* up and can't afford to compensate all the soldiers, their children, and grandchildren. So, they have created enough red tape to make sure we are dead before they can prove they need to pay us for medical costs.

And that is my tale of woe.

Hello All-

Went to meeting. Down 2lbs (this was the 2 I gained last week TOM) - so at least its even. I then met a friend for lunch (Cheesecake Factory type of place) tried to eat "ok" - now heading out to dinner for a friends birthday. Diet or no diet I dont like eating out for so many meals in one day.

Dragonfish- thanks for the info/history. I knew of agent orange but did not realize how it passed on to other generations. I worry about what will happen to these babies being born now from guys/girls in Iraq/Afghanastan. I am sure there is probably stuff going on we don't know about that may be effecting them. Makes me sad.

Sara- stay cool. It's a nice day here. Nice weather. I might get that spiralizer but need to pay off some credit card bills.

Speaking of bills. New challenge for me. Where I work has lunch service for free for employees. When I used to work here it was soup to nuts and sometimes the meals were very heavy. I've been told that they have lightened up the food and even have a light-fare choice. Since I am trying to save money, I am hoping to make my lunch my main meal and then dinner something light - grilled veggies or something. Hope this works because I really could use a break on the finances but need to keep it OP.

Meeting was good. A woman lost 37lbs and she said how she noticed it when she was walking down the hallway and someone was coming towards her. She used to move aside thinking there was not enough room for the both of them. She did it and then realized there was enough room. I was thinking of how I have not noticed my increase and size and sometimes walk through a doorway at the same time as someone thinking we will pass each other and then they have to move over. I also noticed when I was back in my home I grew up in, Id make a turn around into the doorway and hit it with my arm/shoulder. I realized it was because I take up more space. These are things that really bother me. Stuff like not being able to unhook my bra by reaching around. It's all the little things. The other big thing was we got these chairs in our office that look like bouncy rope and when you lean against it you sink in and make a chair. I did not want to sit in it because I thought the elasticity would go down to the floor. So when nobody was around I tried it. That afternoon my coworker said that our coworker ( a big guy) must have sat in this because its not as springy. She didnt know I sat in it. I was mortified (to myself). I noticed today getting into a friends SUV that when I got in my side (climbing up on the ledge) the car noticeably went down. My sister inlaw is teaching yoga and she said when I come back she wants to do it with me. She is doing arial yoga. She said oh there is a woman at the gym she has to be at least 200 lbs and she can do it (little does she know thats my goal right now). Anyway... the woman at WW just got me thinking and I came away from the meeting maybe more discouraged or maybe it jsut made me have a reality check or something.

Ok- enough of that.

Lana- hope your are enjoying NC if that is where you are.

Have a good one-
Jen

HI everyone, I am new , again, and looking for support

Saturday night. DH and I had a fun date last night. Dinner, shopping, drinks at the bar watching the Michael Phelps race, then more shopping, then a movie. Too much to eat and drink, but a nice break without kids. Intended to be better today but too many treats around this house. Meals were okay and I'm still soda-free! Just finished 2 miles on the treadmill. Took DS shopping for more necessities for his college dorm. Feeling a bit emotional about him moving on the 25th.

Committing to being really back on track tomorrow. DH picked up groceries today, so good plan in place.

Enjoy your evening!

Hi! I love this thread! I am starting over tomorrow, recently had another disappointing run with WW, 10 will gratefully take all the love and support I can possibly get here! My name is Cheryl, not sure if I've done this correctly or not.

Hey there All~~

Wishing everyone a good night; have a good Monday tomorrow.
Monday: DH and I will be driving to NYC from early morning till late late evening.
Tuesday: Non-stop doctors/medical appointments.

I may not be back until Wednesday.
Hugs to all~~

Eat your fruit!!! Chill everything, even the bananas!

Lana

Jen - forgot to congratulate you on your great weigh in!!!

Morning All-

Ugh- Mondays.

Annie- Thanks! I now need to get moving with exercise. I find now as I get older TOM knocks me out energy wise. I kow how you feel about being so tired. Hope your Dad is doing ok. Scary when you are far away. I was 3000 miles away and I think the stress of my mom being sick and so far away (helpless feeling) made me indulge and eat more.

Sara- 105?! That is hot!! I just saw some fires down south I think. You are north though, right? Stay cool

AOTW: Water Water Water and Sleep earlier. I just bought a glass 20oz water bottle for work. I hope to get in 40oz at work and whatever I can at home. I am getting better with the sleep than the last weeks (I was up till 3am and then had to wake up by 6). I'm falling asleep around midnight and sleeping solid till 6am. I need more than 6 hours though. I also am trying to break the habit of sleeping in till 10 on weekends since that throws me off. This week I am going to aim for 11pm-6am and hopefully get to 10-6. I'd be happy with a solid 7 hours though.

Lana- will be thinking of you. Hope you have a good drive home and visits ok at MSK

Jen