Help!!!!

I need some advice! First of all is it possible for your pouch to stretch? If so, how do tell or know? I had surgery January 21, 2004 and the last 3 months I seem to eat a lot more and I crave sweets (especially chocolate and cookies). I did not eat chocolate before surgery. I started @ 248 and now am at 132! I was down to 124 in May and was happy with that weight. I broke my right foot in September and was in a cast for four weeks, so couldn't excerise. I have just started training for my two 1/2 marathons this spring. After my hernia surgery in June I got down to 121. I feel fat! I want to have a tummy tuck in the worst possible way, but I don't think my insurance will pay for it and I don't want to be off work for any length of time. On the brighter side of things. I now have a man in my life! He is sooo sweet. We just started dating December 31. What a way to start the New Year. Hope everyone else is doing great! Kimberley 248/132

We can eat alittle more the futher we get out. The holidays make us want to eat. All you have to do hun is get back on track. You will be just fine!

Hi Kimberly..to answer your question yes the pouch can stretch but you just need to get back to basics. Measure what you are eating to remind yourself of portion control. As for the few pounds you have gained, perhaps your body is just settling into a better weight for you. We get so caught up in the number on the scale and our head feels and sees fat but our bodies are far from it. You also said you are training. Remember muscle weighs more than fat so you may just be adding more muscle. Also for marathins the nutritional needs as far as I know tend to be more carbs and yet we need less, it is a challenge. Take care of yourself, get back to basics and enjoy your new man. Robin 1/12/2004

Kimberley, WHAT CAN I SAY but I feel the SAME WAY!!! I lost down to 147 and that was as low as I got. ALL I DO IS CRAVE SWEETS AND COOKIES! OH LORD! I feel fat too! I don't ever want to be that way again! I am freaking out! I want a tummy tuck so bad but my budget of single mom hood will NOT allow me to get one and I don't think Tricare will cover it AT ALL... Then now I have a man in my life as well...will be a year in March and I know that he wants children so should I have the TT before or after...I say after... SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO for now I am so miserable feeling fat! I am with ya! Wendy in GA 247/148

Wendy you are right the TT is after theh kids. The rational is that the stretching of the abdomen will undo all the muscles again and stretch your flat new tummy, you are right to wait. It will be a great reward. Take care, Robin

Hello, I read your e-mail and I agree w/ you 100%. I started at 252 got down to 135 not at 147. I can't stop eating junk food, cookies is my down fall. I don't understand what the problem is. I was in a size 2 now a 6, I don't think my body wants me to be thin?? I started back to the gym for the winter, I hope that will help get rid of the 10 extra pounds. Take care and congrats on the new man... Melissa 252/135/149

I have the same problem with the carb cravings. I do a 3 day protein fast every month. I think of it as a maintenance check, like an oil change with the car. It kills the carb craving for a week or so then it creeps back and gets full blown till the end of the next month. Sweets just go down so easy. I started at 297, lowest was 116, which was too low, didn't feel healthy, now between 125-130 and hope to maintain there. Sure wish I had better luck with the Man thing! Good luck to all! Terry