Hi Catherine, I know EXACTLY how you feel. I also have been on the same plateau. I don't know if I should just keep doing what I have been doing and wait it out or try something drastic. Afterall what we have been doing has worked very well so far and our bodies do need a chance to catch up. The other side of that is that I do not want to waste the time that we have to loose the extra weight. I am actually very happy where I am right now. The scale says 181(or 183 or...) but I really am big boned. I am easily wearing a size 10 and sometimes an 8. I would just like to loose a bit more of my belly. Unfortunately the only way that may happen is through surgery and I may not qualify for that. Still thinking about it and still deciding. Any input is helpful. Good Luck Char

Barbie- You have come a long way! Keep your chin up and a smile on your face! I am 7 months post-opt and pretty much eat what I want, in moderation. I have not really had to deal with food issues. A couple of times I thought "boy would I love to bite into a big juicy cheese burger loaded with pickles!" I can't eat bread or hamburger! I eat lots of protein and stay away from carbs as much as possible! The support group I attend is wonderful! I encourage you try and find one. I have been instructed by a dietien to stay away from pasta, rice, and potatoes for at least a year. I have had potatoes, but no pasta or rice. Find something new to do with your hands that will keep your mind off of food! I haven't found anything new to do (with the exception of excerise class & yoga), but I just think to myself 248 lbs! how did I let myself get there, not again! I am sooooo much healthier and happier with myself and life! Just think we've probably added at least 15 -20 years to our lives! What more can we ask for? We all get depressed and have to deal with the food issues. For heavens sake food was my soal mate! I ate when I was happy, sad, depressed, and even when I wasn't hungry! I ate all the time! What a life! I do go out to eat! As a matter-of-fact I went out last night and had a cup of bean soup, 2 pieces of bacon, and one scrambled egg. I ate the soup, the bacon, and about 1/2 the egg. And I was satisfied. Keep smiling! Best of luck to you on the rest of your WLS journey! Kimberley 248/236/142.5/125 Some day I hope!

I'm so upset with myself. Ok, not really myself, but I am grieving my food loss now. I have been really good with this aspect up until now. How naieve of me to think that I wouldn't have to deal with this in my journey. Let me tell you what is happening... If you'll remember, I just started a new traveling Human Resources job and began my life on the road early last week. So get this - it has only been one week, right? Well - I am pretty stressed, I miss my home, I miss my cats - which I had to give away because of this job and I miss my friends at my last job and I miss my own bed. I was a director at my last job and here, even though I am making considerably more money, I am the new kid and just one of many. In feeling this depressed, I have to be careful - I am also bipolar. I barely got out of my last cycle before I started my new job - what the hell was I thinking! I need my comfort food! If I could just have a pint of chocolate chip cookie dough Haagen Daz or half a bag of Keebler's Fudge Elfin cookies with milk, or a cheese pizza, OH! I know - McDonalds supersized topped off with an Arby's jamocha shake! How I wish for just one day that I could have these things back! I have heard that nothing tastes as good as being thin feels - yeah? well - I'm not thin yet - and I don't know about you - but I didn't eat for the taste of food! I've been around my new coworkers all week who don't know about my surgery or my bipolar or my issues. There are cookies, chocolate, cakes; they go out for happy hour, they go out to eat every night! All things that I CAN'T DO! My old coworkers didn't go out, we rarely had food around & after my surgery they REALLY didn't have bad food around. I don't have my safety net out here on the road. Now please, I did think through all of this before I took this new opportunity. And I still am ready to move forward with it - I just am miserable right at this moment and need to find other things to deal with my emotions other than food. I'm afraid I haven't done that up to this point because there was no need - I wasn't tempted enough. I'm sorry to dump on all of you like this - I know you all have your own lives and issues going on. Just hoping to vent a little, that's all. Any comments please leave here or it might be awhile before I can get back to you. My new company has blocked all outside email from their systems due to high security. Get this - I can visit aol, but I can't get to e-mail there. strange, huh? Anyway - thanks for listening! Barbie 281/196/170ish

Congrats! I can't wait to join the club! Barbie 281/196/170ish

I am in the same boat. I want to try the buster thing, but I have to wait to get paid. My pay dates suck the fifth and the 20th! Anyway, this weekend I will start. I will let you all know how it goes. Tracy Lap 1/30/04 Dr. Potts