6 MONTHS OUT AND SCARED

Reenie, Your honesty is SOOOO greatly appreciated. I will be officially six months out on Thursday. I went to the doctor last Friday (09/03) and was down 70 pounds then. I, too, had a set back. I ended up gaining 6 pounds back in July. I believe I was to blame because I was on the go a lot, and consequently was eating out more than I should have. I had been taking aquatics at the Y, but went about 5 weeks without doing anything. Needless to say, when I discovered I had gained that 6 pounds, it was already August 13 and I knew my doctor's appointment was fast approaching. After I cried the blues for about twenty minutes, a close friend of mine politely put the party favors away for the pity party I was having. He was also nice enough to put the boxing gloves away I was using to beat myself up with. I ended up with a 25 minute routine inclusive of about 18 minutes of jogging in place (broken up into 4.5 minute intervals) along with light weight lifting and about 70 squats and 50 grapevines. 25 minutes each morning and guess what???? I not only lost that 6 pounds I gained, but I also lost 21 more pounds! Do the math...27 pounds in 3 weeks!! I was too scared to go into the doctor's office and had not done all I could do. I, too, do not really dump (unless I make myself which is almost never) and I can eat anything from fried foods to fast foods to sugary foods. I have made a conscience decision that if I mess up, to mess up in moderation. I load up on good snacks (because I am a grazer and that is someone who nibbles all day long, not to mention I have a desk job so that REALLY helps {:o}). Some of the good snacks I keep around the house are reduced fat crackers (and you have to read the labels). I also keep Carbwell bars for convenience sake. I drink a lot of kool-aid (which I just by the $.25 packs and add Splenda to taste). I eat lots of yogurt (up to three a day). Walmart has a great no sugar added, 98% fat free icecream sandwich. I snack on WOW sour cream and cheddar potato chips, which are by Lays. They are very good but can have a laxative effect if you eat too many. I also drink one can of the strawberry low-carb slimfast everyday. I have a 4 year old daughter and am single so we do a lot out of convenience. I know I have said a lot but I'm just trying to give you as many suggestions as possible. Another thing I do is when I find myself stress-eating, I try to nip it as soon as I realize it (which does not ALWAYS work, but can work). I just am determined that I did not go through nearly dying (read my profile) to allow food to control me again. Yes, it is still fairly early in the process, but I have also found out that exercising helps me work off some tension. I also relieve tension by sale-shopping. Whenever I find myself down, I go buy something for myself. It makes me feel better for numerous reasons. (1) I found something else that looks good on me and for a cheap price (2) It reminds me that even with all I go through in life, the surgery has been worth it. Last but certainly not least, PRAY, PRAY, PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!!!! God is always willing to listen to you no matter what time of day or night. You are sooner or later going to come across a stress-filled night where you have no one to call on. God is there! Believe it or not, once you pour your heart out to Him and begin to make this a regular practice, you will find everything in your world getting better. Oh, one last thing, if I have a chocolate craving, I eat Nature Made Calcium chews. I need them anyway and they taste very much like Tootsie Rolls. Good luck in all you are trying to do. Remember, "Look to the hill from which cometh your help. Your help comes from the Lord." Be encouraged!!! :o>

I like your new pic!!! Honey dont feel bad. I'm actually going thru the same. Have you considered therapy/couseling? I have. I've gone to 1 session and I have another coming up next week.