BACK FROM NYC

Welcome back Maureen! I'm glad you had a good trip. As for the cravings, I've been doing a lot of thinking about them lately. I don't know about you and the rest of the gang, but the reason that I got as huge as I did was lack of control over "THE BAD FOODS"! This surgery we all had is supposed to be a "Tool"... not a miracle cure-all for all of our shortcomings. I, for one don't believe for a minute that I am suddenly able to resist the cravings for "THE BAD FOODS". I have decided that I am not going to totally resist them. What I am doing with some success is using this "Tool" to help me only eat a small amount of "THE BAD FOODS". For example, a few nights ago my daughter brought home a large slab of a beautiful mocha-chocolate layer cake of which I promptly begged a sample. I took a forkful, savored it, totally loved it, and walked away. For me, that was a victory of epic proportions! I think that if I can do this most of the time, I will win the battle in the long run. Take care and be well. Mike

Mike, I know exactly what you mean by your victory and I think you are right on target with your new strategy for dealing with food these days. I tried to keep it to 1 cookie, but it led to several. I tried to figure it out, understand why and I think I've got an idea (has something to do with not feeling worthy of success). Anyway, I'm back on track and each slip is a learning experience as far as I'm concerned. Like you, I have ALWAYS been an all or nothing kind of dieter. I was ALWAYS either 100% PERFECT with my eating plan, or if I slipped a tiny little bit, that would be enough for me to just give it up...and start the cycle of rediculous overeating again and again...this is what I have to change, this has to be my biggest life change in order for me to not only get the rest of this weight off, but to keep it off for the rest of my life. HOPE TO SEE YOU TOMORROW NIGHT AT SUPPORT GROUP! Maureen

I'll be there.....Looking forward to seeing you!! Mike

Hiya Maureen! Glad to have you back I bet you had a blast seeing your friends again! I was excited for you I REALLY hear you about the cookies. I had a cookie exchange party on saturday and of course I sampled the cookies. I baked and sampled before the party and ate cookies the following day after the party!!! eeegads! See I eat one and then it leads to another one but I have NO excuse other than I LOVE the way it tastes!!! I wish I could pin it on my feelings of not feeling worthy of the weight loss..(you are so worth it by the way!!!) But my reasoning is just lack of self control and wanting to taste more because it tastes so good to me. BUT I should remember that nothing tastes as good as thin feels. Unfortunately I am not tasting THIN yet ... I am tasting thinnner.. but when I am in that... oooo this tastes so good mood its soooo hard for me to have self control. I am learning though Its going to be a long road before I really get it under control but I have my tool to help me and the drive to really want to succeed. The thought of I didnt get this surgery for nothing and this was the big change that I needed to be able to do this! Its such a struggle still. I am stuck at 227 now for almost 2 months!!! I am in shock and just scared to death I will not start loosing again. I know thats just fear talking and its soooo hard with these holidays (thanksgiving and christmas) those are the worst holidays to try to loose weight. As long as I dont gain anymore (since I gained 2 pounds) I will be satisfied till after the holidays. I want to try to drop a pound before the end of this week at least. But I'm not going to stress over it since its christmas time and I still have Christmas dinner and such to go. Welp I've rambled on enough glad to hear you had a wonderful time. Best Wishes!!! Elizabeth M

Thanks, Elizabeth. I think we're all struggling and some days are more difficult than others....which also means that some days are much BETTER than others! Those are the days we have to really look at and embrace as the key to our continued success. And by the way you are soooooo pretty -- look at you! You and Jennifer knock me out! Looking at the both of you I really feel compelled to keep going, and to keep getting strong. I am so glad we all have each other! Now, let's make a pact, you and I -- if we need a cookie, let's go out and buy ourselves something that is a healthier choice, or let's back something that won't be too bad but will taste good -- perhaps a Splenda cookie recipe??? Whadya think??? Stay happy, sweetie! Maureen

The nurse at my surgeon's office, Lori, lost 150 lbs after the surgery. She looks great. She told me that you can pretty much eat anything, only in small amounts. As you may have read from my other posts, I have an abnormal fear of sugar and high carb foods. I can't even eat anything with sugar alcohol (sugar free) stuff because it gives me the plop plops. The six cookies would have been a toughie for me (and my sugar hang up) but a couple of bites of a KFC meal, I feel, is fine. It satisified a craving without going overboard. There was a time I probably could have eaten a bucket of KFC, so a few bites is an accomplishment! I'm telling you, you guys are great...it is great that we have each other to fall back on.