Rae, Yesterday I was feeling the exact same way you are. I have a sales rep who brings donuts to my office, I have asked him not too and told him that he knows I am dieting but for some reason he does not listen. Not but later that day I ate a few mini donuts with powder sugar and of course consumed my weakness...chocolate covered pretzels. I thought OMG I am going to die from sugar shock and gain weight. Then I thought more about what I ate later, I did pretty good, I had a bowl of fetticini alfredo with chicken (I do not put over pasta, I use Birds Eye vegitables instead....Excellent), I had one soft shelled taco for lunch, and a bowl of sugar free jello with fruit, and later that day I ate a small bowl of Chicken noodle soup, so these combined are not necessarily all bad choices. I do know that my pre mensus week, I might as well eat the kitchen sink. I too have been eating cookies, but they are made with Splenda or Equal for baking and sugar free peanut butter, so I do not feel that guilty. I know I have been gaining more of an appetite and exercising less, even though I have Christmas shopped until I dropped. I swear I am going to start working out more after the holidays, hopefully rid myself of the last 10 lbs. Hang in there, keep posting, we can all help each other get through this. Lori 258/138

Hi Janice, I think it's really hard to get over that obsession with the number. I look at myself and think I look to thin, especially when I'm shaving and my legs look like chicken legs, but, I still weigh all the time and I'm disappointed if it goes up, even though I think I looked great at 150, my face was fuller, less wrinkly, less skin, etc. It's weird. I'm eating more, trying to gain a few pounds, but mentally its a challenge with my inner self who wants to loose, loose, loose. I remember as a teenager having my jaw broke, weighing 120 and drinking diet soda through a straw. I've always been messed up about my weight. Hang in there. Dianne

Wow, you look Awesome! Dianne

Rae, Well I had my surgery the day after you, if I read correctly. Mine was on 4/20/04. I can't say anything to actually help you with the urges, but I can tell you that I know EXACTLY what you are going through. I've done the same!! You know that when you are eating that sugar cookie how bad you are gonna feel, or maybe you don't think of it at the time, but no matter what you still eat it. I think everybody goes through this at least once. Myself I've done this more times than I care to mention!! I AM ASHAMED!! But something that does help me...put up tons of old pics of yourself, on the fridge, on the microwave, stick some on the mirror in the bathroom, or bedroom ANYWHERE and maybe looking at the old you will help you to stay away from all the BAD THINGS out there. I even have a pic of me about an hour or two after surgery (it's posted on my profile) and believe me it is scary!! I keep it handy so I can look at it and try to remember all the things I had to go through to get where I am now. Sometimes it helps, sometimes it doesn't. But I hope it can help you. Good luck and God Bless

Well my doctor had no magical cure, just to get pleanty of fluids. heck i am going to float away with all this water I am drinking but the water will also help with constipation from the iron pills and the pain pills. I have lost maybe 6 pounds since I got home on Friday so I know it is coming off and my ankles dont look quite as big now. its cold here and I am bundled up anyways, so now one but me will see my ankles Donna R 277/156