Victoria’s Read

After delivering the August issue of Victoria’s Read, something very scary happened to me.

My husband and I were invited out to a relative’s house for an evening of socializing. The evening was going very well and I was having a wonderful time when suddenly I felt very strange and my vision got distorted. The next thing I knew, I was on the floor with everyone around me calling my name. I had fainted for the first time in my life.

After a battery of tests ordered by my doctor to rule out the ‘worst case scenarios’, since I did break a tree with my head last winter while out on my very first (and maybe my last) snowmobile ride, it was concluded that “My gas tank had run low”.

During the day of delivering my leaflets, I had failed to watch how, when and what I was eating and we all know how important it is to eat properly, especially after a gastric bypass surgery.

It was a big wake-up call for me. I had been taking good care of myself but admit that I wasn’t paying very close attention to exactly what I was nourishing my body with. Since I eat such little amounts of food in a day, I needed to make more conscious decisions on just what the nutritional value was.

For this reason, a good quality multi-vitamin is extremely important. I can’t stress this point enough. I feel that most of the over-the-counter vitamins just don’t have enough key ingredients in them to measure up to my nutritional needs. Also, I don’t particularly like the idea of filling my body with synthetic fillers like cellulose (wood pulp) or propylene glycol (anti-freeze) .

My wonderfully supportive family and I went researching for the very best multi-vitamin available and found it! So now, I am feeling great again and back on track. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the cost wasn’t outrageously more than the over-the-counter vitamins. Regardless, you get what you pay for, right!

So now, I am at the stage of maintaining my current weight. I have lost 90 pounds and feel that it is enough.  (Thank you to you all for the kind words and advice.) This was difficult in the beginning but with the assistance of my doctor in Rochester, I caught on quickly. It all comes down to eating a lot of protein. (Meat and dairy)

This gem is from the July 1943 issue of Transportation Magazine, written for male supervisors of women during World War II. These were “helpful tips” on supervising women at work.

1. Pick young married women. They usually have more of a sense of responsibility than their unmarried sisters, they’re less likely to be flirtatious, they need the work or they wouldn’t be doing it, they still have the pep and interest to work hard and to deal with the public efficiently.                                                                            

2. When you have to use older women, try to get ones who have worked outside the home at some time in their lives. Older women who have never contacted the public have a hard time adapting themselves and are inclined to be cantankerous and fussy. It’s always well to impress upon older women the importance of friendliness and courtesy.                                           

3. General experience indicates that “husky” girls - those who are just a little on the heavy side - are more even tempered and efficient than their underweight sisters.                                             

4. Retain a physician to give each woman you hire a special physical examination - one covering female conditions. This step not only protects the property against the possibilities of lawsuit, but reveals whether the employee-to-be has any female weaknesses which would make her mentally or physically unfit for the job.                                                                                               

 5. Stress at the outset the importance of time the fact that a minute or two lost here and there makes serious inroads on schedules. Until this point is gotten across, service is likely to be slowed up.                      

6. Give the female employee a definite day-long schedule of duties so that they’ll keep busy without bothering the management for instructions every few minutes. Numerous properties say that women make excellent workers when they have their jobs cut out for them, but that they lack initiative in finding work themselves.                            

 7. Whenever possible, let the inside employee change from one job to another at some time during the day. Women are inclined to be less nervous and happier with change.                                         

8. Give every girl an adequate number of rest periods during the day. You have to make some allowances for feminine psychology. A girl has more confidence and is more efficient if she can keep her hair tidied, apply fresh lipstick and wash her hands several times a day.                                                                                             

 9. Be tactful when issuing instructions or in making criticisms. Women are often sensitive; they can’t shrug off harsh words the way men do. Never ridicule a woman - it breaks her spirit and cuts off her efficiency.                                                                        

10. Be reasonably considerate about using strong language around women. Even though a girl’s husband or father may swear vociferously, she’ll grow to dislike a place of business where she hears too much of this.                                                                        

11. Get enough size variety in operator’s uniforms so that each girl can have a proper fit. This point can’t be stressed too much in keeping women happy.”                             

 Source:classic.feministing.com

There are many fine places to be in the world. Sitting outside on my deck soaking up the afternoon sun and listening to all the wildlife is a very fine place to be. Going for a leisurely afternoon drive in the country and stopping for some ice cream at a roadside country store is another. Looking out over the still waters of the beach on a sunny day could also be my favorite place. Casting out over the side of a boat on a scenic lake could easily be my favorite place too.

The truth is though that my most favorite place to be is lying in my husband’s arms. It is where I feel the most content. A feeling of genuine peace fills my whole being and I know that this is the best place on earth.  It makes me feel protected like absolutely nothing can penetrate his muscular embrace.  When I put my head on his shoulder, I immediately begin to feel all my stresses gently slip away and then he wraps his big strong arms around me and life is good. As I lay there listening to his steady heartbeat, I know without even asking that his heart beats only for me just as mine only beats for him.

He was born weighing only two pounds,  nine ounces and fought hard to survive. I like to think that he lived through those first difficult days because he had to find me and change my life forever. That he did. He introduced me to the simpler way of life. He showed me how to enjoy and appreciate the great outdoors, to sit quietly and listen to the sweet songs of the birds, staring up at the stars on a clear night, to smell the beautiful fragrance of wild roses and the thrill of watching fireflies dancing in the summer night’s air.

We made and raised two fabulous children together who are doing great out on their own. We are fortunate enough to not suffer from the empty nest syndrome because we are a close family and see them regularly. We are very happy for that.  

We will be celebrating our 26th wedding anniversary this month and we are still very much in love. He still makes my heart race when he scoops me up in his arms. I still wait in anticipation to see him walk through the door after a hard day’s work. He still gives me goosebumps when I see him from across the room. I still enjoy being chased around the house, trying to avoid another tickling session and we look forward to growing old together.

I can’t wait to find out what the next 26 years will bring but I do know that  I’ll never ever tire of being in the best place on earth, in my husband’s arms of love.  

You and me baby, forever and ever.

My six month check up went very well. My doctor was very happy with my weight loss results and to see that I was still very healthy. “You look great. Your blood tests results are all good except for your vitamin D levels which could result in achy bones.” She announced.  I had noticed that my bones were a little achy but chaulked it up to them being closer to the surface now. LOL.

Let me give credit where credit is due right here though. After informing my parents about my achy bones, they suggested that I take Calcium Magnesium with vitamin D and just two days after beginning to take them, my bones no longer ached.  So, thanks Mom and Dad. I should have listened to you earlier. I guess some things never change no matter how old you are, like your parents always know best.

The doctor and I talked about what weight I should be at. “I wouldn’t recommend that you get down to any less than 145 pounds.” She stated. She informed me that I could control that through calorie intake. “If you find yourself weighing less than that, you will need to increase your calorie intake and visa versa and don’t forget to take into consideration that the access skin weighs about another ten pounds.”

She told me to start eating small portions of toast and that my intolerance to breads should subside but I know people who had the bypass surgery over a year ago and still cannot tolerate bread but I’m hopeful. So far, it isn’t any better but I’m okay with that.

I will need to eat 5 to 6 small meals a day and take vitamins for the rest of my life. A small price to pay for health right and I didn’t have any complications from the surgery or recovery. I am very fortunate to have met the wonderful women who directed me to the Highland Hospital in Rochester, New York. Thank you, Kim.

I don’t need to be seen again for six months and after that it will be yearly. So, my next step after losing another 25 pounds is to get all my access skin removed. I’ve been looking into getting what they call a “panty hose lift”. It’s where doctors lift all your skin up from your feet to your torso. I’ve been told that the procedure uses 1000 stitches! I don’t have all my facts yet but will be sure to do all my research before making any decisions.

I’m feeling great and loving the new healthier me.

It’s been 5 months since my gastric bypass surgery and I am still feeling wonderful. To date, I have lost 68 pounds. I began this journey weighing 250 pounds and now weigh 182 pounds.

I can eat pretty much anything but can not seem to tolerate breads. It doesn’t really bother me much though. Although, I never realised just how many food items comes on or with bread of some sort.

Although I still enjoy going out for a meal, I find it a complete waste of time and money. At first, I was ordering off of the kiddie meal but that didn’t work because what I wanted was not offered on a kiddie meal so I would settle for something that was. Then, I would just order what I wanted and take the rest home. So, I ended up always eating leftovers and let me tell you, it don’t always taste that great. Trust me on this one! So, I’m still trying to figure that one out.

I have acquired a liking for yogurt but only the Danon Creamy brand and fruit is my new choice of snack food. Oh, don’t get me wrong, I still enjoy potato chips and Smarties but now my portion size has gone from a eating them all to only eating about a quarter of that.

That is all you will want to eat because let me tell you, if you eat more than that you will feel awfully ill and I mean awfully! No joking. It will feel like you have a bad case of the flu with all the symptoms: Diarrhea, nausea, bad stomach pains, chills and sweats. It is not a fun experience and it keeps you from doing it again. Only thing is that this feeling also occurs when you eat something that your body does not want like muffins. Yep, I can’t eat muffins and that sucks but just look at the reward.

I eat so little within the day that I have to pay close attention to what I do eat. I feel that I need to make better food decisions and thanks to all the education that I received at Highland Hospital in Rochester before my surgery, I know how to do just that.

Whenever I see someone I haven’t seen in awhile, my appearance just astounds them, if they recognize me at all! I always seem to forget that I look completely different since I feel the exact same way on the inside as I did before and am a little upset that they just walked me by without saying a word. But as they glance back to decide if they know me, I remember and laugh as I start the conversation.

I remember the first time a man acknowledged me out in the public. I though to myself. “What the heck is HE staring at? Is my fly down? Do I have my shirt on backward?” (Don’t laugh. I’ve done that and I’m pretty sure I am not alone!) That type of attention was foreign to me and I felt embarrassed that another man other than my husband was looking my way. But, after talking to a few of my friends, that has changed now. It just took me awhile to get used to it and now find it flattering. 

Thank you for all your e-mails. I’ll keep you all informed on my progress.

I can’t believe it! Another year has gone by and Victoria’s Read is now FOUR YEARS OLD.
A lot has happened in just one year though both personally and professionally.

Professionally, readership has escalated to greater heights. So much so that I had to print more copies. Victoria’s Read started out the year printing just 1500 copies a month. Now, it is at 1800. Thanks to all of you, my ever so wonderful readers.

Creative Impressions has been my choice of a printer company for the better part of the four years. The staff is very accommodating and professional there. Not to mention that the quality of the leaflet is superb.

Victoria’s Read distribution has grown as well. When the leaflet began, it was just in North Bay. Now, I am in eleven towns and continuing. This growth is mostly due to the support of my gracious distributers. Without them, it would not have happened.

My website is a great success too. To date, Victoria’s Read is already up to over 9000 hits. I met a sweet woman by the name of Christina. She showed me the path to the world wide web!

As you probably noticed, there has been some changes made to the leaflet this past year. Some sections were excluded and replaced, all for the better. Your input was greatly accepted and appreciated.

The advertisers are who make Victoria’s Read possible and are greatly appreciated. Many of the businesses have been with me since the beginning and are devoted to promoting what Victoria’s Read is all about…women.

Personally, as my devoted readers would know, I had a gastric bypass. Everything is going great and to date, I have lost 55 pounds!  I do not have any regrets about getting the surgery but it is not something to be entered into lightly and education is very important since it is a life long commitment. If you are thinking of having gastric bypass surgery, I recommend that you go to http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/hh/services-centers/bariatrics for the best and most thorough information on bariatric surgery.

So, I would like to say thank you to all of my readers. Your warm sentiments and words of encouragement mean so much. You give me the confidence to continue.

I would also like to thank my advertisers. You are the backbone of Victoria’s Read. Because of you, women are getting a little piece of the spotlight.

Thank you to all my distributers. You play a valuable part to the success of Victoria’s Read.

Last but not least, I want to thank Creative Impressions for all their patience with me over the past four years.

Recognize it.
Recognizing fraud is the first step to better protect yourself. There is no typical fraud victim in Canada. In fact, fraud victims are likely to be educated, informed, relatively affluent and involved in their communities. Scam artists are imaginative and well–organized. If they are able to scam you once, they will try to scam you again. Scammers are professional criminals. They know what they’re doing.

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is! Think twice if you get an offer like this. Whether it is for a job or investment opportunity or another type of irresistible offer, always get independent advice first if the offer involves time pressure, providing personal information, or sending money.

If you receive a cheque and are asked to return a portion of the funds by using a money transfer company, beware!

Log directly on Web sites you choose to visit instead of clicking on links in e-mails you receive. Those links might send you to bogus Web sites.

False charities seem to flourish after a major disaster. If you are solicited by canvassers or receive e-mail or telephone solicitations to donate, be cautious. Get information from the canvasser or caller and then cross-check directly through the registered charity. Registered Canadian charities (for income tax purposes) are listed on the Canada Revenue Agency Web site.

If you are told you are a lottery winner, ensure that it is a draw you actually entered. Legitimate lottery and sweepstakes administrators will never ask you for fees to deliver your prize.

Never give details about your bank accounts or credit cards to anyone you do not know or trust over the phone, by e-mail or fax. If a call–back number is provided, you may be dealing with a scammer. Contact the said company or bank directly to validate that number and contact person.

Be aware of “get rich quick” promotions, including work–at–home schemes or multi-level marketing plans that suggest they require little effort or investment.

Again, offers that are too good to be true are almost always scams. If you are unsure of a situation, it is always best to contact The Canadian Anti–Fraud Centre (formerly Phonebusters). www.antifraudcentre.ca 1–888–495–8501

Report it
The information you provide is important. The Canadian Anti–Fraud Centre will gather evidence, identify new trends and alert law enforcement in Canada and abroad. By reporting, you help prevent others from becoming fraud victims.

Credit bureaus can put a fraud alert on your account, which will alert lenders and creditors of potential fraud:
Equifax:1–800–465–7166. TransUnion:1–866–525–0262

Your local police, credit card companies, banks and provincial records offices can help also.

Source:http://competitionbureau.gc.ca

Yee ha.  I’m on regular foods again and all is going well. I’ve lost a total of 42 pounds so far and loving all the changes with my body.  My doctor was pleased with my results and now I don’t need to see her for another four months. Basically, she instructed me to introduce foods slowly, eat 5-6 times daily, chew foods to an applesauce consistency and not to drink with my meals.

My husband and I traveled down to Rochester and made a little holiday out of it. He took a couple of days off work and visited some family members on the way there and back. We took a hotel room while in Rochester since the hospital offers a generous discount at the Ritt Inn and Conference center. It is a very nice hotel, complete with two restaurants, an indoor and an outdoor pool, a hot tub and an exercise room. So, we had a nice time, just relaxing.

I’ve noticed that my taste buds have changed. My favourite cereal used to be Oatmeal Crisp but now I like those little bails of straw called Mini Wheat’s. I never cared for Yogurt but now I find that with a few pieces of fresh fruit tossed in, it’s a nice snack!

I’ve spent most of my adult life near a fan because I was always so hot. The thought of ever wearing a long-sleeved sweater was just plain crazy. Since losing the weight, I’ve bought two sweaters so far because I feel the cold more now.

I’m a bathroom reader but now I can’t sit too long on the toilet without my butt getting sore. LOL.

I had to stop wearing my wedding ring since I came very close to losing it in Value Village many times but my pinky ring takes its place very well!

Value Village is where I’ve been doing all my clothes shopping lately since I’m not fitting in my clothes for very long.

For information on Gastric Bariatric Surgery, visit www.urmc.rochester.edu/hh/services-centers/bariatrics. 

To be continued………

Let me start by stating that I am sick of jell-O and just the thought of eating pureed anything ever again is nauseating. Okay, enough with the whining.

I had tried and failed to lose weight so many times before and fought with the feeling of failing yet again but when my daughter came over for a visit, she took one look at me and said “ Mom, do you go out in those clothes? Look at you. Your clothes are way too big and they make you look….frumpy.”  Well, there’s nothing like the honest words of your youngest child to shock you into reality.

My husband and I went shopping that very night. I tried on a pair of jeans that were one size smaller than what I was wearing. They were way too big! I tried on a size smaller but they were too big as well. I came out of the dressing room informing my husband that we needed to cross the hall into the forbidden zone of NORMAL size clothes, over where the selection was greater and the prices were lower. I held up the jeans, thinking that they will never fit but my husband encouraged me to “Just try them on.” I did and they fit great! Now, there was no denying the fact that I was shrinking.

Our trip down to Rochester on the 22nd for a follow-up was a breeze. It should be after the fifth time! Once again, my parents and I made the trip there and back in one day. It’s never gets boring though. Going over the large spans of water on those high bridges still gives me a fantastic rush.

My doctor informed me that I had lost 30 pounds so far and that I was doing great. “I feel great.” I replied. I am no longer in plus size clothes and had to stop wearing my rings since they just slip off my slendering fingers!

So, now I’m on a soft food diet for a month. This means that I don’t need to puree my food anymore and can add hamburg and some cooked vegetables to my diet. So far so good but I will appreciate the day I can eat whatever I want again. Never the less, Christmas dinner tasted really, really good.

If you are contemplating on of having a gastric bypass surgery, I suggest that you consider the Highland Hospital in Rochester, New York. The website address is www.urmc.rochester.edu/hh/services-centers/bariatrics/. It is a very informative site and should answer any of your questions then you will need to talk to your doctor to start the proceedings with OHIP. It is not a decision to enter into lightly. Your way of life as you know it now will be changed forever. You need to have a lot of self-discipline to be able to stick with the diet plans and the surgery itself was a bit painful. For me though, it was well worth it. I am no longer a diabetic and can get around with greater ease.  

I head back down on the 22nd of January for another follow-up visit. My parents will be in sunny Florida by then so my husband and I will be making the trip. Stay tuned.

I would like to start by thanking you all for your words of encouragement and well wishes.

I was told by many people who had this surgery that there would only be some slight discomfort. HA! I woke up from surgery feeling as though my insides had been ripped open by a savage wolf only to see five very small slits.                

 As I laid in my ever so uncomfortable bed waiting for a room, I wondered if I had done the right thing. My throat was killing me and I needed a drink of water desperately. “I can’t give you any water but I’ll get you a wet swab.” A kind voice stated.

My first night in the hospital was pretty rough. Did I mention that I started menstruating the day before my surgery? The nurses were wonderful and did their very best to reassure me. “Some people have difficulty after the surgery but everything is just fine.”

The next day wasn’t much better. I mostly slept, once the pain killers kicked in, that is. Every single time I opened my eyes, my mother was there, and looking as any good mother would when her child is in pain. She did all that she could for me and was the best nurse.

During one of our many walks around the halls, we found the lounge and a very comfortable chair and this is where I spent pretty much the rest of the evening. By the time I needed to go back to my room, I was beginning to feel much better.

What a difference a day makes. I woke up from a pretty good night’s sleep, took my breakfast which consisted of some yogurt to the lounge and watched a little tv. Today was the day that I was to be discharged from the hospital and head to the hotel for the recovery period. When my mother saw me, she was filled with happiness to see such a dramatic turnaround in my recovery.

I tell you, the hotel room is no place to recover for five days but we made the best of it. My food intake consisted strictly of liquid and protein shakes. It didn’t matter to me though because eating was the last thing on my mind.

The day finely came for my follow up visit with the Dr. I was anxious to know how much weight I had lost so far and was pleasantly surprised to learn that I had lost eighteen pounds. My staples were removed, given post operative instructions and put on a puree diet for one month.

Mom and I then headed back to the hotel to wait for my father to take us home.                               

 So, now I’m home, recuperating. I go back on the 22nd and then will be on a soft diet. Things are going great and all I have now is some slight discomfort.

……………to be continued