Hi, It's been so long since I have posted here. I have moved in March and just now gotten to visit here. I noticed though that not much has happend on the boards lately. I hope everyone is doing great and is healthy!!! I am doing good I am still wanting to loose maybe another 40 pounds I still have my bad knees even after being replaced, well the last one was only a year ago and now has alot of scar tissue so another surgery is needed to get rid of it. Enough about me I just wanted to say Hi and hope everyone can keep in touch again. Best wishes Jill

Join us on the 2ND ANNUAL WLS CELEBRATION CRUISE leaving out of Jacksonville, FL -Thursday January 31st on the Carnival Celebration Ship! Please call Carnival Group Vacation Planners at 866-721-3225. Our group booking # is 8S3R21. You will need this when calling Carnival. This is a 4 day cruise leaving on Thursday from Jacksonville, Florida at 4pm EST. You can arrive at the pier and begin boarding at 1:30 EST. Friday we will be arriving in ..... THE BAHAMAS! The ship will dock in Freeport at noon on Friday where we will be able to disembark and explore the beautiful island and area of Freeport. The ship will not leave out until 7pm that evening allowing us plenty of time to enjoy ourselves and have a GREAT TIME. Saturday we will visit Nassau and arriving at 8:00 am. This will be a long day of activities on shore. Many on the last cruise had wished that we would have been able to stay at Cozumel longer in the evening. Well, our wish has been granted as we will be able to stay in Nassau until 10pm on this evening. Sunday is the Fun Day at Sea where we get to enjoy all of the wonderful activities onboard. From contests, casinos, day spa... there is something for everyone. No matter what you want to do, something is available to suit you. While at port in Nassau and Freeport, you can take shore excursions offered through Carnival. Visit Carnival.com to see what shore excursions are available. Monday we will arrive back in Jacksonville at 7 am. Plan on joining us on the 2008 WLS Celebration Cruise and contact Carnival today to reserve your spot. Pricing information is found on my profile page. Please check in to see the great value on this cruise. Here are the bonuses - each cabin will receive a $50 onboard credit. (An onboard credit is money that you can use onboard the ship for drinks, spa services, photographs, etc.) All food, teas, juices and coffees are included in your cruise rate. You can expect to pay for any alcoholic beverages or soft drinks as they are not included in your cruise rate. **Group space is not guaranteed until full deposit is received. So what are you waiting for? E-mail me so that I can get your name on the distribution list! As the organizer and Group planner of this trip, I want to be sure that all of your questions are answered prior to boarding the cruise ship. Please check with Carnival as they are now stating that Passports are required for cruises as of 2008. We are not getting a clear answer as to when the passports will be required- so please prepare accordingly. I am suggesting to everyone to get their passports. Beth Merchant WLS Celebration Cruise Organizer 225.993.6524 [email protected] Everyone is invited. We will celebrate together with our friends, family and fellow wls friends. Join us Jan 31- Feb 4, 2008!

I completely understand! You are SO brave to voice your pain. I lost over 100lbs and have gained over 40lbs....most, if not all of it from drinking. I love wine. I feel like I'm back to where I was before surgery. I feel like a failure. I have joined Weigh****chers with a friend (whom has not had surgery) and she has lost 25lbs...since joining with her I have GAINED 15lbs...that was 18 weeks ago. WTF?! I feel like I'm back at my OLD SELF. Eating crap like fast food, which I didnt like for over a year after surgery. I'm not sure what to do. ya, I need to stop drinking...I have many excuses for not stopping...ie: I;m a functional drunk, not nasty or mean and can carry on a "normal life"--I only drink at night to "relax" when I know I should be doing something else. (I hope I don't regret posting this!) Question: How do I get back on track? Will I EVER feel that great "fullness" again? How do I USE my TOOL? Will it work for me again?> How do I work It? Has anyone gone throught this? Did you succeed? Thanks for listening.

I lost so much weight after having my surgery and thought it was the easiest thing in the world. I did not have the psychological tools to help me through it. After giving up the eating I turned to other things...the main thing is alcohol. I ended up going to rehab before it became chic now to do so. I was clean and sober for 4 months before hitting the bottle again. This was back in Oct 06 and it is now July 07 and I am eating like never before with the whole hunger pains back in tact AND I've been hitting the bottle like never before. I've gained back 80 lbs now and feel completely disgusted with myself. I actually went and bought a cake last night and ate a slice of it being that I cannot drink this week because my partner is home this week. I'm hiding food (and alcohol) again and I hate myself because of this. I am on my way out the door now to head to work and I'm going to stop and get 3 protein shakes to have at work today as well as a bunch of water. Maybe if I detox myself and get to feeling better, get some therapy and overall start working on myself again, I might feel better. Thanks for the ear(s).

Hello Leeanne Honestly, I believe it . . . not necessarily for everyone but for quite a few of us. Initially after the weight started to drop off, I found myself in certain situations that (for example) might extremely stress me out and previously I might have dealt with it by going home, locking myself up & eating until I was sick. But at this time, I couldn't do that anymore . . . so I started smoking again (since quit - thank god!!). . . tried to drink (but was too much of a lightweight) . . . or like you said I started shopping (spending money on crap I didn't need). I have an extremely addictive personality . . . and can admit it. I'm dealing with it all . . . and I haven't joined any 12 step program. I don't know of any good reading, but I think I saw something advertised on tv about it being on that show (big medicine - I think). Anyways, I'm always here though if you want to chat. I'm a terrific listener