Barbara, I feel that this whole surgery process was a "do over" for me. I had the chance to once again make the right choices and start my life over as a new healthier me. Sometime I do need a do over to start a new day. I'm glad we have that opportunity. We have proved that we are not failures. Sometimes we are just human. Thanks for the reminders. Have a great day, Rick

Well, last night I did something I hadn't done since surgery. It was not pretty! I was having a lot of pain and couldn't sleep. So I medicated myself the old me way. I ate. I had TWO, count them...TWO, pieces of pizza at about midnight. Now, was I hungry? Hardly! I had a nice, filling chef salad for dinner and my NSA fudgsicle later. I was frustrated, angry and depressed that I couldn't sleep and didn't feel well. So I ate. Ugh! Not the way to see onederland. Eating also didn't help me sleep or decrease the amount of pain. So I consumed goodness knows how many extra calories and unhealthy calories at that. Sigh. I'm trying to let it go this morning and get back on that motivational train you mentioned. It's done and I can't take it back, so I need to move forward. Chug, chug, chug goes Stephanie! Hugs, Stephanie

Giving up is not an option for me! I don't want to ever, ever give up. Giving up is what led me to 350 pounds. I refuse to go back! My morning has been so crazy that I forgot my morning vitamins and now I am off track. But I'll pop them in now and wait the requisite two hours and take the others. Thanks for the reminder! Hugs, Stephanie

If you want to get somewhere you have to know where you want to go and how to get there. Then never, never, never give up.....Norman Vincent Peale I hope none of us MARCHers have "given up" and think we can't lose any more weight. I hope none of you MARCHers that have gotten to goal think you can stay at goal - maybe you gained a few pounds...maybe those not at goal haven't lost any pounds in quite a while. Either way - we know how to get there and we know where we want to go and we must NEVER, NEVER, NEVER give up. I know this time of year is tough for many reasons...maybe some of us are away from friends, family and loved ones, maybe some of us don't have many friends, family or loved ones, maybe some of us are dealing with the desire to eat all those yummy holiday goodies that seem to be popping up everywhere. BUT...we are all strong - proven by the fact we each and every one had potentially live threatening surgery almost 2 years ago. We had to be strong or we could have never undergone that procedure. So let that strength work for you now. Focus on the goal....either getting to goal weight or maintaining that goal weight. Stop right now and "pop a vitamin" and after you finish drinking water to pop that vitamin, take the long way to the bathroom to get in a bit more exercise...go walk up a flight of stairs (if available) or if no steps and bathroom is close by...hop on one foot!!!! Whatever it takes to get in a bit of movement! On the way back from the "potty" - get some more water and for lunch today...just have protein - no carbs, nothing but just pure protein. I guarantee you will feel better this afternoon and you will be continuing on your successful journey! NEVER, NEVER, NEVER give up! Hugs to all....Barbara

Di, don't give up! The scale can play mean tricks on us. If you haven't changed your diet in the last 3 or 4 weeks, then I predict that the scale will move downward again. I can easily fluctuate five pounds in any given week! Hugs, Stephanie