Hey Mary, sorry this was so late in getting to you but I just checked this site today after being offline for a while. So what would ya like to know? I do not eat anything fried, I avoid any serving of food that is in excess of 6 grams of sugar (that does not include natural sugars in fruits and in milk). I do not drink soda but have come to ADORE Propel fitness water by Gatorade. I enjoy nibbles of protein throughout the day in the form of; soy nuts, dry roasted peanuts, cashews, pistachios, cheese, high protein chips by atkins or bwell chips(I think thats the name- they are some awesome chips from GNC) any snacky food I may nibble on throughout the day have to be a viable protein option for me or is a no deal situation. I stay away from simple carbs like semolina pasta, rice and bread. I enjoy high protein pasta, black bean rice and complex carb high protein bread. Oh yeah another yummy treat is wasabi peas, they rock. I guess I take in around 1,000 calories a day, give or take. I was able to reintroduce food very smoothly after my surgery very much the way you work it with a new baby. I would try one shrimp in a meal then two the next time and so on while supporting my additional protein needs with other sources until I could work 6 shrimp in for a regular meal, six very small shrimp and bascially not much else LOL! I still eat very little in a sitting, unless its soup LOL! I eat about 6 small meals a day. I just dont know how others are able to eat 3 meals and make it all fit, it would take me 3 hours if I did that I have an amazing support system and would not have succeeded without them all. My family and friends have played a very active role in my recovery and continued good health. This is a life long commitment for me. For my birthday this year I ate an aktins high protein carrot cake with sugar free icing made with splenda! Ah! Splenda! Splenda is my best friend heheh I hear alot from other post ops that they "eat what they want" now just not as much of it, well I know what eatting what I wanted got me before and I wont go back there! Its a thoughtful effort everyday to eat right and make good food decisions but I am worth it. I have come from the darkness of food addiction, through depression, anxiety, stress, physical and emotional pain, prejudice, joint degeneration, and over all poor quality of life, one of the saddest turns to my journey is knowing that I was so far into my own denial that I couldnt even admit how close to the edge I really was, only now that I have taken a step closer to health can I see the hell I was trying to live in that was set to kill me. I will not go quietly into the night, I will stand up and fight, and I did, so now I wake every morning believing that I have a purpose in this life and now am healthy enough to stick around and complete it according to God's plan. I hope you are well and finding good health today. Cherisse

Hi, Cathy..........you're just lovely! What a difference your weight loss has made and I'm sure your attitude has improved, as well. I'm 11 months out on the 28th and have lost 93 pounds. I can't exercise much but do walk in the pool and ride my stationery bike. I'm moving more now than I had for years and years, so the docs and exercise freaks will just have to give in to me.....I'm doing the best I can! So sorry about your job. I got fired once and what a bummer. Don't let it get in the way of your wonderful new life. Someone out there will HAVE to recognize that you're the person their company cannot do without! And just think, job searching will go so much easier emotionally because you feel so much better. Get signed up for whatever assistance you qualify for...that's why we all pay taxes, so there will be help when we need it. Then go take your world by the horns! Hugs and good wishes to you.................Judy

Greetings!!! Could you please take a minute and post some well wishes for my angelette?? Kimmer's surgery is less than a week away and she needs all the support she can get!! THANKS http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/status.phtml?N=K1073655588

Hi Karen, sorry about your fathers kitty, maybe you can get him one for a supprise to brighten his day. Your doing great keep up the good work, Yes, it sure does feel great to be under 200, I am at 197. Enjoying the ride

Hi Marilyn, We had surgery on the same day! I eat between 1,200-1,500 calories per day but get a lot of exercise. Check out my profile and you'll see what the trainer told me. Best wishes, Barb 4/07/03 235/135/130