I am always tempted by sweets. of course I eat much less but still the temptation is there and I have to fight harder now.. I have gained some weight and I keep telling myself that I didn't go threw this surgery just to put the weight back on. I try not to deprive my family of foods that are tempting to me so I just put them out of site.. that seems to work for me, cause if I don't see it I don't want it... Eating out is sometimes my biggest problem cause my family likes to go to buffets and everything looks and smells so good. It is a struggle everyday and the farther out I have become it has been more of a struggle not to go back to my old eating habits. God Bless..

Oh Dianne, I have been away from the boards for a while. I am sorry that you are feeling bad. You have always been such a positive role model for me. I need to come around more often so I can pick my friends up when they need it. You have done amazingly well, and remind yourself of that. Sometimes that is all the motivation we need. I think when winter rolls around we want to go into hibernation mode. The funny thing is that exercise actually makes us feel better. So get back out there and do what makes us feel good. Or get that big teddy bear hubby of yours to take you out for a brisk walk so you can look at all of the pretty fall colors. I kknow i am just a hopeless romantic at heart. Hugs. Otherwise i am fine. I had my gallbladder removed last week. The good news is that i haven't had much of an appetite so maybe I'll lose a few lbs.

hi jenn i kind of know what you are talking about, although i'm a lot older than you (about 5 weeks from turning 50), so my options of where to fit in are different than yours. it is definitely a tough adjustment. i find that my years of obese hibernation have really taken a toll on my social skills. i've always had a job and interacted with co-workers, but avoided all social situations like the plague. now i actually feel like going out and doing things, but social skills like just making meaningless conversation with strangers at a party or something - i just don't seem to know how to do! i've never been married, never had kids, actually never even been in a relationship. i'm just taking it slow...just feeling my way along. i hope you can find your way. if you think i can help in any way, feel free to email me anytime. deb -273

hi pat thanks for the post. i stop by this board regularly, but not much is ever going on. i think you're right...everyone's moved on. i started out weighing so much more than most of the other posters here, that i didn't feel the connection with them after the first few months. i moved over to the BMI over 50 board. i think you may have mis-read my post -- i'm not in a size 9, i'm in a 12. i'm 5'10" and started out at 463 lbs. currently i'm down to 190. i had an open rny, for which i was self-pay. i'd really love to reach the normal range on the bmi chart, which means at least 17 more lbs. having lost 273 lbs, i have yards and yards of skin hanging everywhere, but no way to pay for having it removed. the skin is bad, but i knew it was going to happen, and i can live with it. i'm SO much happier even with it, than i was before! i do have a hard time making the adjustment of what i look like now. i definitely don't seem to see the same thing when i look in the mirror that others see when they look at me. people actually have told me i'm too thin...how can someone who weighs 190 lbs possibly be TOO THIN?? i think their perception is skewed because of where i started...and mine is skewed too! anyhow, nice talking with you! glad things are going well for you, and hope you have wonderful holidays! deb

Congratulations Deb!!!! That's awesome!!!!!!!!! Tracy B