Patti, Congrats on your Oscar! I had surgery on April 1, 2003. What WLS did you have? I had lap band surgery and have lost 62lbs. Good luck in your journey.

I had my surgery on 4-27-03 and as of today I am down 78 pounds. This was the best thing I have ever done for myself. I wish everyone a great new adventure in life.

I wanted to record this day because I am on the outskirts literally for the century club. This maybe just as important a****ting this club. We sometimes don't relish what we have accomplished by the forerunner of our experiences, but this is a time to reflect on what has occurred in the past few months. THIS DAY SHOULD BE HIGHLIGHTED AS THE DAY WE ARE JUST ABOUT TO REALIZE A REALITY IN OUR LIFE. This day 99 pounds ago, I wasn't able to tie my shoe without being a contortiounist, I couldn't walk 20 feet without needing oxygen, I couldn't get into a booth at an eatery without half of me squished and the other half being halfway across the table, I couldn't use my seatbelt without it cutting me in half and locking tight, I couldn't sit a a normal sized desk at school, I couldn't even buy clothes at Wal-mart (all clothes bought online), I had a breasts but they weren't the reason I couldn't see my feet, I couldn't use the bathroom and have it not be an adventure, I couldn't play with my grandkids, I couldn't do yard work, I couldn't go to the gym without being embarrassed, and my main quirk was that NOONE EVER saw me on the scales. What a difference 99 pounds makes. These are just a few of the embarrassing positions that 99 pounds made on my demeanor. Now for alittle of the do's. Now I can sit at a table like a normal sized person, buy clothes anywhere (almost), have my boobs in the way instead of you know what, sit at a student sized desk, play with my grandkids, do yard work and love it, BE excited about shopping for clothes, I could list on and on but the one thing that suprises everyone is that I am the first one on the scales. Wow what a difference 99 pounds makes. When the century club finally becomes reality I will rejoice but I don't think that I will be as excited as I am now in reflecting on the difference that 99 pounds has made in my life. Talk Later, Patti

Hi Rich, It's hard, isn't it?? At work, it's not so hard for me because I bring some snacks every day to have on hand that are "ok." (Like beef jerky, cheese, an apple, that sort of thing.) I have 2 snacks a day, usually, along with 3 meals. When I'm not snacking but want to, I try to drink lots of water and then fit in my millions (LOL) of vitamins. I take 5 calcium citrates, 2 flinstone's and 1 B12 per day, so I usually chew on those (well, 'cept for the B12) when I shouldn't be snacking. Does that help at all? Not very fun answers, but that's what I do. Also, remember that dehydration can mimick hunger, so make sure you're getting in all the water that you can! Good luck.

How do you keep yourself from snacking? I seem to want to constantly? Rich