2-24-10 week 11 pix

Here I am at 11 weeks out. I have lost -57 lbs since surgery, and a total of -106 lbs! It feels so good to be healthy again!

2-24-10 Hit Plateau!!

Good Evening My Dear Dream Team. Life is so busy, but so good and healthy as well! Have you followed my weight loss charts at all? The February Weight Loss Chart is quite interesting! I have now hit a plateau! I think it is around 8 days that I have stayed the same! The scale is just not moving! But.... some have asked if I am getting frustrated or discouraged?? NO... NOT AT ALL!!! In fact... I actually see it as a good thing, my body is just needing to adjust to my new weight! I still have NOT taken a single bite or a single sip of ANYTHING that I am not suppose to have! So... for that reason, I know when my body is ready... it will start to lose again. I had lost these last 57 lbs in 9 weeks... that is a very short time to lose that much! Also... thank you Deanna... I had not even thought of the exercise, with the added muscle and such. I am still exercising. I have added some more moves. I have started feeling some pain in my legs and hips... I know I am using some muscles that I haven't even known existed until now. So, I just am not going to let up, still walking as much as I can. I know I need to just work through this. As I lose more weight, it will be so much easier on my body!

Denise... I had to laugh... yes, I had done something different with my hair too. I had just wound it up in the back and stuck 2 chop sticks in it! Isn't that the way it goes... when we fuss with our hair, it comes out worse than when we just toss it up and call it good! =) Maybe that tells me something... I need to fuss less. Sounds good to me!

Well... hope this is finding each of you doing great! Thanks again for your support!
Love to all... Eydie =)

2-20-10 My New Glasses - Purple!

Here I am in my new glasses. Who would have ever thought I would need new glasses? My eye sight has gotten better now since surgery, so I needed new lenses, then I needed new frames! My other pair were getting too big, and I couldn't get them to stay on, they kept sliding down my nose! These are a smaller pair, and a bit different, they have the wider bows, and of course.... they are purple! Hmmm... again, who woulda thought?!?! =)

Well, I am still feeling wonderful, the weight loss has leveled off a bit now, but I am not discouraged at all, in a way it is probably a good thing for my body to adjust to this. I have lost 106 total, 57 in the 10 weeks since surgery, so I really cannot complain!

I am still exercising. Walking on my treadmill, I am riding my stationary bike. Using our Cardio Glide, and also some leg lifts, arm exercises, etc. If someone knows about fitness, I am wondering, will I increase the minutes, or the speed on my treadmill and bike???

I am getting so much support! I appreciate each bit of encouragement and advice so much! I get so much help on Facebook, and even so many emails along with the great comments here! Thank you everyone for being such a great Dream Team!!!!

Love to all.... Eydie (PurpleMinnesota)

2-16-10 Tuesday

Greetings from Park Rapids! I hope this is finding each one of you doing well, and starting a good week! I am now 10 weeks out of surgery, and I am feeling SOOOO good! I find it quite amazing, that through this all, I can now be feeling so fabulous! It feels SO good to feel healthy again! Each day I am stronger, healthier, and even happier! I am exercising more... walking at the school as I can, walking on my treadmill, riding my stationary bike, and using the cardio glide. I have also started doing some strength training, and some basic leg lifts, and arm stretches. I want my body to get stronger, and to also keep the muscles that I do have strong.

I had a fun experience on Saturday. Benjamin had a big Basketball tournament here in Park Rapids. Neal was scheduled to work in the consession stand at 1:00 pm. But since Neal had worked the night before, and had to work again that night, he was home sleeping. So, I said I would work it, but I really was worried, as I have had trouble with standing and walking for any length of time. But, I did fine, and had alot of fun!!! I was in charge of the "Tacos in a bag". It turned out to be quite a process, but I did fine. I started at my left, cut open the side of a snack size bag of Doritos, then I put in a scoop of hamburger taco meat, then some shredded cheese, then some shredded lettuce, then a plastic fork! These sure were a hot item, so I kept very busy. I was very pleased though.... I was able to do it!!! Yes, I was very tired but it felt great! I had so much fun. The day was great, Benjamin's team placed 5th all around.

I want to say yet again how much I appreciate your support. It is wonderful even here in town, how many people who have seen our article from the newspaper, and have wished me the best. That is part of a small town too! The kids have loved that too... they say we are celebrities! =)

Well, off to bed for now, love ya all... Eydie

2-15-10 week 10 pictures

Burn calories not oil

I had mentioned this sticker in my last entry. So thought I'd include a picture of it! This is me riding my way to Arizona!! From there... the world is the limit! I have such wonderful supporters in California... all the way to New Hampshire... and each state in between practically! I love you all!!!

Love, Eydie (PurpleMinnesota)

2-12-10 Dr. physical

Good evening my circle of Team members!!! I am so enjoying your positive comments, your enthusiasm!!! Thank you so much!!! It is good for me to know that I have such great team members, I have the BEST support system! I am finding that here around Park Rapids... I also have a FABULOUS support system as well. The article came out in our local paper about the Power Up 2010 that we are doing. I am not sure of the link, but it is the local newspaper.... www.parkrapidsenterprise.com It has 2 pictures of us. One is a family photo that they took, and the other one is of Benjamin and Shelby playing hockey in the basement! Would be fun if you were able to read the article. Let me know if you are able to find it.

I am so amazed at how good I am feeling now. I am 9.5 weeks out now, and just feeling completely different! What a great feeling.... feeling like my body is SO much healthier!

I was to the doctor today for a physical. She said I was doing great! My blood pressure was 94/64. Blood sugar was 101. I have lost 55 lbs since surgery. They did a complete set of labs on me, so will be interesting to know what my A1c will be, along with my cholesterol, triglycerides (sp?), and everything else!

Well everyone.... I am off to bed. Dreaming of a bike ride... hmmmm... how about to Arizona??? Maybe one day I will ride across country. Wouldn't that be a huge achievement for me??? I have a sticker that say... "Burn calories, not oil" and there is a picture of a guy on a bicycle! I love to dream... as long as it's not about banana splits or Chinese food!!!

G-nite ..... Love, Eydie =)

2-9-10 week 9 pix

Here we are at Week 9. The time really does seem to be going by quickly! But, I am so thrilled with my progress. Someone mentioned that I hadn't written about my blood sugar numbers for a while. I do check my blood sugar every day still, morning and night. I just want to keep a REALLY close eye on that! My morning numbers are running between 86 to 105. Evening numbers are around the same! Wow.... a few months ago, I would never have believed that it would be possible! I am off of all of my medications! Just taking vitamins now! It is wonderful to be eating good food now for my body!

I am increasing my exercise as well. Adding a few minutes to the treadmill, a few to the bike, using the cardio glide, and some basic leg lifts and arm exercises too! Using weights too... want to keep the muscles I have, and increase as I can! Just trying to be as healthy as I can!

All for tonight my Dream Team! Eydie

2-6-10 YES!!! 100 lbs lost so far!!!

Oh yeah....what an incredible feeling!!!! Is this really possible?? Have I really lost this much?? I do have a ways to go, but already I am feeling SO much happier and healthier! It feels great to be living again... to feel alive! Some people want to put more years into their lives and more life into their years! My years will be healthier ones for sure. Of course... things happen, life happens, but... I am doing ALL I can now to take care of this body of mine, and to help my children to be healthier and to take care of their bodies as well. Even if there isn't a weight problem, like my Benjamin, he is SO active, he runs everything off, he doesn't have a single ounce of fat on his body at all, but I still want him to eat well, and take care to keep himself healthy on the inside! We've gotten into a great routine here. The kids play floor hockey in the open part of the basement, and while they play, I walk on my treadmill, then ride my stationary bike! So far, I walk 10 mintues, then ride 10 minutes, which is 2 miles. Then I also have started doing some arm exercises too. Starting out very slowly, but it really does feel so good to be able to move! I really enjoy this time, I can watch the kids too, and they love having mom down there with them!

This morning the lady from the newspaper came to our home to interview us about the POWER UP 2010 program. This program we are doing, is through the Community Education Office. It stands for:
P = Protein/Produce
O = Optimism
W = Water
E = Exercise
R = Resist grazing

This is to try and get people to eat healthier, drink more water, rather than pop, exercise more, and not to be snacking so much! So it was fun to have her here, and she asked lots of questions, what we are doing, what we are having troubles with, etc. Then she wants to talk to us again in the middle of this, and then again at the end of the program. We each are to set weekly goals for ourselves too. One of my goals has been to get in more protein since I am still behind. Neal set a goal of replacing some of his coffee and pop with more water. Benjamin wanted to get in more fruit, and Shelby is trying to resist grazing. So, a good thing here for the whole family!

Well.... I am just SO excited... can you believe? 100 pounds! That is -51 lost since surgery, and a total of 100. I do remember what I felt like at my highest point, I still have the clothes to show just how big that was.... I feel it when I go up and down our basement steps now too! Shelby made a comment about that yesterday... she said.. "Mom, you go down the steps regular now, not one step at a time!" Yes... I hadn't even realized that! But... before, I took one step at a time! My knees were so bad, I had to be so careful as they hurt so bad! Ha... hadn't even noticed that, but my knees don't hurt anymore! One of those things, you don't notice body parts UNTIL they start to hurt!!!! So... just one more thing that has improved with my weight loss! Oh yeah... this is SOOOO awesome!

Ok... well, I better be off to bed! Thank you everyone for being here for me! You don't realize just how much you are helping me... keeping me jazzed up!!! Thank you! Love ya all ... Eydie =)

2-4-10 Thursday

Hello again my great Dream Team! I am doing great here! Feeling SO much better every day. I am now at -49 lbs lost since surgery. (8.5 weeks) I had lost 49 lbs before surgery as well! Sooooo.... that makes a total of -98 lbs lost so far!!! Can you believe it??? Just 2 lbs from losing 100 pounds!!!! I have been going through my clothes, my closet, and drawers! I am getting rid of ALL of my big clothes! Well.. yes, I am going to keep one of my big dresses, but the rest is going!!! I am boxing them up, and going to sell what I can at our garage sale on Memorial Day Weekend, then the rest will be donated to our local store that helps disabled people. One way or another... they are going to be out the door! Never to return, never to be needed again! Just a little tid-bit here... something I don't usually admit, but... as I was pulling my big dresses out of my closet, taking things off of the hangers, and piling them up on my bed... I just couldn't help but cry! Not because I was sad to be getting rid of special clothes, but.... I have never felt hopeful like this before. Yes, I have lost weight in the past, but I never was so optimistic about it, and never did get rid of clothes, because I knew at some point, I would more than likely gain the weight back, and sure enough... I always did... and then more! But now... I KNOW the weight will NOT come back! I just feel SOOOO positive about it, and so hopeful about the future! I just do not need to keep anything for... some day!!! I sure wish I knew of someone who really could use these clothes, I would love to send them out.. but mostly... I would just LOVE to help another find a happier and healthier future as I am. Someone who is thinking about surgery, or... someone who has had the surgery even, I would just LOVE to be of some encouragement for them. But... I was just almost overwhelmed, is it really possible that I have changed my life, have actually become healthy again? Is it possible that there is a thinner person within me?? Is the old Eydie still in here?? Maybe she is... maybe wiser... more mature?? Ha... now I am reaching! But, anyway, just a little about my emotions there, they were just so strong!

I tried a new product today! It was called Morning Star Chix Patty, Original. It was not chicken, but tasted like a chicken patty. It was actually a "veggie patty". The crazy part... it was high in protein, and it tasted good! Believe it or not! Yes, it was good! I was able to eat half of it, then had the other half for supper. One whole patty is 140 calories, and 8 grams of protein.

I also tried another new product today. This was a drink, called FUZE Slenderize Blueberry Raspberry. This was REALLY good too!!! The 18 oz bottle has only 20 calories. A nice treat!

Well.... hope you are each having a good week! Oh... an exciting thing happened too. A week ago or so, we started a POWER UP 2010 program. Remember they were looking for team names, but they just ended up using personal names. Anyway... they contacted me, and said the Park Rapids Enterprise (our local newspaper here) was wanting to interview someone in the program, so they said they wanted me! So... Saturday morning, a lady from the newspaper is coming to the house to interview us, and take some pictures! The program is about exercise, nutrition, optimism, and so on! So, it should be fun! So my program name is: Eydie Garcelon =) but I've named my team of supporters Eydie's Dream Team! I have such a great team, I just LOVE the notes, emails, phone calls, all the encouragement is SOOO wonderful! Thank you everyone!!!

All for tonight! Love ya all!!! Eydie =)

February 2010 Weight Loss Chart

from January 2010:
-46 from surgery -95 from highest

Feb 1, 2010 __ stayed the same
Week 8
Feb 2, 2010 __ -47 ___ -96
Feb 3, 2010 __ -48 ___ -97
Feb 4, 2010 __ -49 ___ -98
Feb 5, 2010 __ -50 ___ -99
Feb 6, 2010 __ -51 ___ -100 YES!!!! =)
Feb 7, 2010 __ -52 ___ -101
Feb 8, 2010 __ -53 ___ -102
Week 9
Feb 9, 2010 __ stayed the same
Feb 10, 2010 _ -54 ___ -103
Feb 11, 2010 stayed the same
Feb 12, 2010 _ -55 ___ -104
Feb 13, 2010 _ -56 ___ -105
Feb 14, 2010 stayed the same
Feb 15, 2010 stayed the same
Week 10
Feb 16, 2010 __ -57 ___ -106
Feb 17, 2010 stayed the same
Feb 18, 2010 stayed the same
Feb 19, 2010 stayed the same
Feb 20, 2010 stayed the same
Feb 21, 2010 stayed the same
Feb 22, 2010 stayed the same
week 11
Feb 23, 2010 stayed the same
Feb 24, 2010 stayed the same
Feb 25, 2010 stayed the same
Feb 26, 2010 stayed the same
Feb 27, 2010 stayed the same
Feb 28, 2010 stayed the same

2-1-10 Week 8 pix

Here we are at 8 weeks out! I am feeling so good again. Tonight both kids had basketball practice at the school, and I walked! Oh it felt so good to be moving again, and now I have my energy back so was good. I walked 4 laps, which is one and a third miles!!! YaHoo!!! I walked 1 mile, then took a break, and then walked one more lap. I have lost 46 pounds now in these 8 weeks and that gives me a total of 95 from my highest! Wow... that is almost 100 lbs!!! I feel SOOO good now with these gone, it will be amazing with even another 50-100 gone. I really don't know how much I have to lose total, just haven't wanted a huge number hanging over my head! I am just enjoying my improved health... and how I am feeling each pound along the way!!!

Well... all for tonight, hope everyone is starting the week off good! Take care my Team! Love to all... Eydie :-)