Ruth Ann, I am so glad that you got to enjoy your birthday. And a cruise that must have been really awesome. I would like to go to Disneyland for my birthday too, I am happy that you have a great time. Kathleen.

Hi Lizzie, I almost forgot the coffee. Before WLS, I drank so much coffee, I am sure it was running through my veins. After surgery, I completely lost the taste for it to the point that it was months before I could stomach the idea of even a sip. Now I drink it now and then. Tea, I alway drank (my mother is Irish, Dad was Engli****'s just part of our lives.) Now I drink one cup in the morning. Some mornings I add a teaspoon of flaxseed to it, but it's my one cup of caffeine a day. I'm sure the fact that I cut back so drastically has helped me to sleep better, too. I'm glad that you feel the difference in your sleep, too. Take care, Sue

Congratulations! What an amazing accomplishment Lizzie

I sleep much better too. I still wake up once to pee but other than that sleep well. I was a chronic insomniac pre-surgery. I was in alot of pain with my back and I also drank a lot of coffee and caffeinated tea. Now I never drink coffee anymore (except the decaf instant I use to make a mochaccino protein shake) and I only have one cup of caffeinated tea a day. I'm actually going to quit that one cup too (slowly by going to a half cup first so I don't have caffeine withdrawl) because caffeine is a diuretic and not really good for me. Yes I feel much more rested and I love that I sleep better. Lizzie

My boss gave me yesterday off (it was mostly because he is going away for a week and I will be in charge and he wants me to be 'well rested'). At any rate, I had decided at some point to do a practice 6 mile walk just to make sure I could complete the 3 walkathons coming up. I added the March of Dimes walkathon to my schedule in April. So I took the bus to my starting point and walked up to my destination spot. Then proceeded to walk back. It took me about 3 hours. It probably would have taken me a little less except we had a storm on Friday and I had to baby step over some ice and snow in parts. So then I took the bus back (there's a bridge that is too desolate for me to walk over by myself) but got off about a mile from my actual stop. I walked a bit more, stopped for lunch (a vegetable empanada), then went to my favorite local clothing store, got a haircut, hit the drugstore and made my way home. I left home about 8 AM and got home almost at 3. When I tallied up my mileage courtesy of Mapquest, my total for the first walk was 6.98 miles, but the total miles walked was 8.49. Except for my knee being a bit sore (from the snow and ice hopping) and my thighs calling me nasty names, I was really ok. And having slept through the night, I have no aches or pains this morning. So I know I can do the walkathons without any problems. My son and I are going to do another practice in two weeks so we can make sure that he can do it, since we know I can. I didn't tell anyone that I was doing this only because I might have changed my mind, but when I told my mother, she kept telling me how proud she is of me! Anyway, who'd a thunk a year ago that I could have walked that far, when last year at this time, a couple of city blocks would have made my back and feet hurt. Just wanted to share, Enjoy the day, my fellow April-lights. Sue