Hi Barbie, Love your new pix! I would not recognize that it was you if you had not included your old photo in the new one! New jobs and co-workers and situations are always stressful, aren't they? I hope by now you are feeling better and feel in better control. I haven't checked this site for a couple of weeks (my mother is very ill and I have had to move her into a skilled nursing facility due to being unable to work, watch her, care for her, stop her from falling, etc etc), or I would have responded earlier. I bet once you get into a routine with your new co-workers, and have figured out your 'place in the pack' you will feel loads better and in better control of your cravings. I went with some friends to the local Dairy Queen the other night and gave in to a desire to try one of their blizzards! I was surrounded by kids so was able to share my blizzard out with all the kids yet still was satisfied with only a little bit of my size small. And best of all, with all the increased activity I have had, it did not cause a hiccup on the scales or in trying on new clothes that I finally had to break down and buy! Add this to your routine now that you are traveling so much - pack a pair of headphones and DVD or cassette player and some tapes/cd's. While at your extended stay hotel or where ever, hit the fitness center while your new co-workers go to happy hour for a 60 or 90 min workout, or a quick swim, and then meet your co-workers for dinner after, only eat off the appetizer menu or off the kids menu, and promise yourself a smoothie later when tucked up in bed, chances are you will be tired and go to sleep without it! Worth a try anyway! Good luck! I still haven't figured out how to get photos up, but not tried very hard due to time constraints with caring for my Mother. By the way, she is also bi-polar and she is currently having issues with this in addition to her terminal disease. That is what I find is so hard about living with someone with bipolar disorder, you never know what/when the next cycle will be or what will prompt it. And with Mom, it seems like the cycles are more and more frequent and more and more serious and problematic to deal with. She has had to be hospitalized for the last 2 really big cycles, and now with her other medical problems, it seems like everyone is writing off her current symptoms as part of her disease process, and I am jumping up and down saying, you know what, this is what has happened before and this is treatable, lets treat it. I know it won't make a difference in the quantity of her life, but it certainly will in the quality of her life, which is much more important to me now, as she is probably within the last few weeks to months of her life right now. When I figure out the photos I will get some water sking photos up! Take care and hang in there! Sarah

is anyone else worried about the Holiday's? I will be 11 months post-op by Christmas. I am worried that I may eat to much. I find it harder to not eat when people are around and watching you. I still have a hard time when I go out with my family. I mean how many restraunts start you off with that damn bread? I have been good about not eating it because I know I won't be able to eat anything else. However, come Thanksgiving and Christmas it seems the days revolve around food. There will be food around all day long.

Hi Kimberley, I understand that those last pounds are kind of challenging to get rid off, but NOT IMPOSIBLE, so keep on doing the right things and don't let go of your dream! Sending you good thoughts

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Congratulations Catherine! Keep up the good work! Kimberley 248/236/141.5/125 Some day I hope!