AnneLyze

Have you seen them? The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine has decided to enlightened us on the high fat content of cheese by posting two billboards in the capital district. Yes, that’s right cheese. NY State is one of the largest producing states of dairy products in the country. PCRM, headed by Dr Neal Barnard, has also written to the Albany School District about using too much cheese in the school lunches. Obviously not from the area, he doesn't realize that the Albany School District has bigger problems than cutting out cheese. According to the billboards, we are lead to believe that cheese is our biggest culprit in the war against obesity. Not soda, not potato chips, Doritos, Oreos, ice cream, processed foods, and Kool Aid to name a few, but cheese! Okay I totally agree if you are talking about Cheez Wiz, Cheese Doodles and other junk food, but regular farm fresh cheese has some benefit if eaten in moderation such as calcium, Vit D and protein. “The obe...

A week ago, I met with Dr Glorimar Atilles, a surgeon specializing in Bariatric surgery. Prior to seeing her, I had my vital signs taken and my weight checked by one of the office nurses. The scale was huge. I briefly felt good knowing that there were much heavier people then me, but looking down at my weight brought me quickly back down to earth. Deep down I think I felt like I didn't need to do this, but the week since has been an eye opening one for me. Arrogance and self denial are not going to serve me well in this journey. Dr Atilles walked into the room and greeted me. All the weight loss surgeries were explained to me and I felt like the Gastric Sleeve was my best choice. It cuts away most of your stomach leaving a long tube shaped stomach behind, about the size of a banana, and it is done laproscopically so I won’t have huge scars or require a long hospital stay. She then said “Is this the heaviest weight you have ever been?” I indicated yes and she looked me ...

I needed to do something. Every day when I lumbered down the hall into work on pain riddled knees, I thought the same thing. The sign on the door from the office next to us entered into my thoughts on occasion and I would let myself wonder or even ponder it slowly over a day or two until I would discount it as a cop out. Finally one day I spoke the words out loud. And instead of slowly pondering the idea again, it took fruition and the words swirled in my brain like a storm cloud in the sky. Eventually it funneled into a possibility. I researched it and I sought out expert opinions. My comfort level grew and I confided in a few people wanting and needing their support. Today I took the first step and approached their door….. St Peter’s Hospital Bariatric Surgeons. I opened it. “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” Lao-tzu

"When my boss yells, when my boy nags, when my knee starts to ache, when I'm feeling sad........ I simply remember my favorite things, and then I don't feel so bad."  1.  My favorite book(s) this year were The Hunger Trilogy by Suzanne Collins. Yes, I know it was written for teenagers and it’s fantasy, but I loved it and am looking forward to the movie.  Sometimes you find great things when you venture out of your comfort zone. 2. Sons of Anarchy wins for my favorite TV show again. It was the best season yet. Motorcycle gang meets The Godfather, loved it.  All hail, the prince has risen.  In second place, The Walking Dead .  Ben and I watch it every Sunday night.  It's our bonding time. 3. Chicago.  I took a trip to there this fall with my friends Gail and Kim and I loved it.  The pizza at Girodano's and Garretts popcorn was so good.  I loved the Chicago Institute for Art and the Millenium Bean.  And tha...

I miss Christmas. Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoy the holiday, but it’s just not the same. It’s no longer “the best day ever”. As a kid I hated the day after Christmas because it meant we had to wait a whole year for Christmas again. I had loved it so much, that I wanted to experience it over and over again. I miss waking up and checking in with my sister Martha to see if it was too early to wake up Mom and Dad to see what Santa brought. We would whisper and tip toe into their bedroom to check on them, each time hoping for the sign we could get up, instead of the growl to go back to bed. Going downstairs on Christmas morning and seeing all the gifts was so exciting. It took our breath away. The first time I saw “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” was at Aunt Frances’ house and she had a color TV. I’ll never forget how excited I was. Going to Aunt Frances’s house meant getting new mittens. God those mittens were awesome, who even makes mittens anymore? I miss the Christmas dresses ...