Well, maybe not . . . but my question is: How have you dealt with giving up the poor but habitual emotional craving for foods like ice cream, popcorn and other salty snacks, etc.?

Dear Carla: I will try to include all the questions, and statements brought up in your message. I was just going to click off the computer when I heard your response, I have been calling exercise...Exersize...to cut down on my weight along with the RNY surgery. I used a tv channel called FitTV to round up my activity level today. Everytime I entered the living room, I would do the exercise. Not as many repetitions, and nothing on the floor. I suspect I would still be down there now, if I did. We just have a one bedroom apartment with a galley kitchen. So, I can go the long way around and get more mileage in. Or should I say yardage? I was going through my clutter. When I get to cleaning, it is the last thing I like to go through. Oh, some of it is old things that I like to keep. I am constantly reminded how I clutter up my life with things. Yet, some are reminders of people who have passed on. I keep cards and letters. I put all sorts of framed pictures of my grandchildren on my hutch to replace the Christmas decorations. I can just see their faces when they come over! I even have the series from Weigh Down Workshop. I have the Spanish Language tapes and books that I used while trying to get a smattering of knowledge before our missinon trip to Nicaragua in 2000. I have not been back there, and have gone kept up with my studies of Spanish. I keep items from my trips, along with postal cards, and pictures. So, part of the time I have recuperating, I should organize some pictures. I have old albums of when my children were infants that have fallen apart. I have new albums just waiting for pictures. My pictures of England, and Scotland are on CD, and my external hard drive. My former minister leads the trips. He does an excellent job. We went to England in 2004. Just last April and May, we went to Scotland. We did not stay as long as the dollar was devalued. I know that I will take more pictures when I go to Dominica in April. In fact, so many of the pictures that I take I will send copies to the people of Marigot and Wesley. One family has quite a few of my pictures of their children. I met them when their youngest was just two, and so shy that she would hide behind her mom's skirt. I worship in the Sudbury United Methodist Church which is on Route 27 in Sudbury. I grew up in Sudbury. Tell your husband that he could find that many people who worked at Hanscom Air Force Base lived in Sudbury, and went to school with me. Today, is three weeks since the surgery. I am on just pureed foods. I ate cottage cheese mixed with grits this morning, and had canned carrots blended in the Magic Bullet. I put some applesauce in the little bowl so as to have three ounces. I find that if I get up and walk away for a time I can eat slower. It is a discipline I have to do. I will have to start praying that I can eat slower. I am seriously wondering if I am drinking too much from one time to another I can drink. I drank three cups of Herb Ox chicken broth, had a sugar free popsicle, and then drank water from a Polar Springs bottle. I can get protein smoothies, and drinks in fairly easily. I read about a woman who felt she could not drink water. I do gurgle, and sloshing around with the liquids. I used to drink two large Polar Springs bottles or 48 ounces while driving on the Express Mail route. I am glad you mentioned Ginger tea as I was thinking of Dominica just before you sent the email. There is a woman there who wants to get married in June. She has four children and has been with her boyfriend for more than 20 years. She told me that the Methodist Church there will not let her take communion until she marries. I had just pulled out the size 24 mother of the bride dress that I purchased for almost $200. I asked a few people who are talented seamstresses if they thought it could be made into a wedding dress. I was talking with my daughter, Amy, about her seminar in Worcester, and her plans to come and see me on Tuesday. I told her that I had lots of things to give her. I had just talked with Casilda in Dominica, and learned that she wanted to get married. I told her I could not promise anything but if something comes of altering the dress, I would let her know. Amy brought her own wedding gown, and a dress she wore for her wedding rehersal for me to bring to Dominica. Oh, I am going to have some Lipton Herbal Ginger Tea. I am just waiting for it to cool. I better go get it as it has been steeping for so long. Your friend, Linda

Not sure if Sharon has been on this board. Just wanted to let everyone know that she had her surgery and is doing fine. She had it yesterday. She was dizzy and woozy when I was there. They think it is the morphine that is doing it. So she stopped taking that. I met her husband and he is really nice. I will call her tomorrow, hopefully she will go home tomorrow. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers. She is an awesome lady that I met here in Roanoke at group support. Anna

Good luck and keep us updated (your Page) lol.....

I had RNY last Wed so I can't help you about the Lapband. Just wanna wish you good luck and to tell you it does get better.