BYOC and Montezuma's Revenge

1. This comes from my post yesterday about me bragging that I can still wear the same earrings I wore in high school….got me to wondering…how many piercings do you have? (the ones you can tell us about anyway – *wink wink)

I have two holes in each ear. I wanted two in one and one in the other but my mother insisted if I was going to have a second ear piercing that I have symmetry. The funny thing is that I rarely wear earrings or any jewelry really now. My ears are usually bald :)...


2. I'm asking this one because I'm getting another tattoo soon…and even have plans to get one of a lizard – my little Draz – because this blog and you all have become a major part of my life. Anywhoozle – how many tattoos do you have? If you have none and wanted to get one – what would it be?

I have one tattoo but i have had two tattoo sessions (added to the canvas). The first was to celebrate my Ph.D. I got a lamp (Latin symbol for learning/education). I got that one in 2006. I was never completely happy with it and this Spring when My dad, brother, sister and I became registered members of the Cherokee nation and I hit 100 pounds loss right around the same time I did some fixing and addition to the art- The lamp now has some color (still don't love that part) and I have added In Cherokee across the bottom of the lamp the words 'everyone is important' and then floating in a cloud above the lamp is a tribal turtle that symbolizes wisdom and my weightloss ticker symbol.

I have plans for another tattoo on my thigh. When I can ride my bike for 50 miles I will get half a bike cog and when/if I ever do 100 I will get the rest of it done.

My husband has an aversion to tattoos....but all of my daughters (except the 8 year old) have tattoos on their fee like I do. It has kind of become a family tradition.


3. If you've ever suffered from a weight-loss plateau, what's your best advice to get past it?

I have a few times-When I hit a plateau I try to really pay attention to what I am doing or not doing. I really reflect on what I have been eating, how much, how much activity or lack of it that I have been doing. During each of my plateaus it has been a combination of both-fat loss around my band and another of the incremental changes in my habits that needed to happen.

1. Fill-are you hungry and snacking more?
2. Are you eating ice cream or too many sweets that slip through?
3. Are you exercising or sitting on your butt?
4. Are you eating enough/the right foods at meal times?
5. Are you getting enough protein?
6. Are you drinking enough water?

I go down the lists and it is at least 3 issues every time. Getting a fill and altering habits at the same time has usually got things moving again.

4. This is a repeat. I liked last week's challenge for BYOC and I saw a lot of people this week follow through on the promise they made last week. You pick one thing for just one day next week that you want to do….and mentally doing it for the one day can totally jump start more successes. And I feel like I can do anything for just one day.
What will you do for just one day in your quest towards health?

Get back on my bike and ride the Banks Vernonia trail (17 miles)

5. Repeat *make someone a Superstar* question – what's your favorite blog or comment of the week?

Linda's discussion about slow food. I go back and forth between eating slowly and too fast. I have mostly gotten the chewing part down now but it is amazing to watch other people in public eat now. I watched a guy inhale a hotdog at Costco the other day in 3 bites. I know I have come a long way because i used to do that same thing. But---I can still knock back food way to fast sometimes.

So...Mexico has given me the gift that keeps on giving. My bathroom has had to go through some major cleaning and my husband had to come home from work with a stop off at the store for some Peptobismol. The good news is that you can get a lot of cleaning done in your bathroom when you need to stay in close proximity to the toilet.