Hi Beautiful... So sorry to hear you are going through all that!! Thank God I haven't had the vomiting... although at times I have been VERY nauseous (SP?) ~~ Anyway... I went in for my Cat Scan last Thursday... and it turns out that I have gallstones (about the size of a nickel) and they want to take that out (no problem with this... and they don't think this is what is causing the pain either... this was just a "find" in the cat scan)... they think that I have a hernia and an intestinal kink which is getting aggravated in the hernia... so they are going to do an "exploratory" while they are in there to take the gallbladder out... and if necessary, fix the hernia and the kink in the intestines... AND, in the process of looking at the Cat scan, they also found water around my reproductive organs, which they think might signal that I had/have ovarian cysts that have either ruptured or are infected or "whatever"... so, they are going to do a trans-vaginal ultra sound (doesn't that sound like fun??) tomorrow... my gyno has ordered that "stat"... they think that this might also have been causing the "alien" to attack my abdomen... (just for the record, the "alien" has been asleep for a day or two now... and I've not had an attack... but I'm also not really eating anything, for fear of waking "him" up!! LOL) I do, have gas BIG TIME... which they told me is a good sign, cuz it then means that the intestine isn't kinked (at the time of the gas) and that gas can get through... I haven't had a bowel movement in about a week though... so, I don't know what's going on with that!!! Probably the fact that I'm not eating too much... and really...nothing sounds good, looks good or tastes good at the moment.!! I'm not losing any weight... I'm bloated... AND also in the process of them doing the Cat Scan... they found something else... a spot on my lung!! WHICH HAS ME FREAKED OUT BIG TIME... I mean, I don't even care about the alien anymore... I don't care about the gallbladder... all I can think about is the stupid spot on my lung... The doctor has ordered another FULL CHEST CAT SCAN... and again... it's a "stat" order... and I'll be going in tomorrow morning at 7:00 AM for that... prayers are certainly welcome my friend(s)... I'm a nervous wreck... I smoked for 15 years... and when I quit (10 years ago) I was smoking 4 packs a day!!! So, that is why I'm a little freaked out... (did I say a little... I meant OH MY GOD I'M FREAKING OUT!!!!) So, although I don't think this helps you with figuring out what is going on with you... I will say this... get your skinny little ass to the doctor my beautiful friend!!! I don't want to see anything bad happen to you and I know now, that we HAVE to listen to our bodies and when something like this happens... it means something is not working right in there... and since we don't have a see through window into our bod's... we have to go in... as unpleasant as it is... (and will be tomorrow!!) I hope that your problem is just gas or something like that... One thing that has helped me is I take a gax-x every morning and every night... along with a stool softener (when I take all my vitamins) and that really seems to be helping!! I don't know if you've tried that yet!! It seems that carbs are all I want to eat now... I'm physically craving them... and it seems that that is all that wants to go down too...but then I find myself getting all cramped up too... so, what's the answer??? I don't know... BUT, you are more than welcome to pack yourself up and get your skinny little ass out here... and we can go be in misery together on the beach... and hopefully some cute cabana beach boy will bring us tropical drinks and rub our bodies down with oil!! (Told ya... I've got to think about something besides the spot on the lungs!!) Keep me posted darlin'... I really want to know that you are OK... OK?? Love ya and BIG HUGS!!!!! Lor

Tuesday I got the word from Kaiser that they are going to do my TT. I am so excited I can hardly believe it. My doctor said he'd like me to lose another 5 to 10 pounds before the surgery, the end of Oct. cause I dont have that much extra skin and it's going to be a tight squeeze. Any advice on how I can do that? I've been at this weight 166-168 since March.

Hey sweety .. my prayers are with you on this . As to the jump start .. you know Pixies gotta throw in her Protein spelll .. Get your protein levels back up to 120 .. Water .. Good Food choices ( Get the South Beach Diet Book ) And start exersising again . I bet you it will restart . I eat IceCream .. love it .. but I get the no sugar added Blue Bunny .. limit myself to one cone a week .. OMG it is such a treat . And I have been a chipaholic .. Fritos are my worst vice .. but the more I eat the more I loose .. no joke .. Well .. please stay in touch .. keep us informed on how you are doing . Love ya .. Natalie

Hey there May Babes...and Dudes... Hope this finds you well . Is there anyone that is still loosing ? God knows I am and I am so scared yall .. I am now down 180 pounds .. and a size 5 .. I am starting to look sickly .. it is was not for makeup .. I would look horrible .. LOL. I stay so sick sometimes .. It all feels like it did in the begining .. the nasaua - vomiting .. and just a hard time eating .. I eat maybe once a day .. I know .. bad me .. but if I eat later than 5 I get sick .. I went to the doc and he has me on previcid and phenegran for the vomiting . My NP said I would loose up to 18 months out .. I want it to stop .. and I am thinking about getting some of that Ensure for diabetics so I can put back on some weight .. hoping it will work . O shopping for clothes is a blast .. but I just do not feel good .. am tired all the time... who knows.. But if anyone out there has any suggestions - or is still loosing .. let me know .. I love yall .. and wish one day we could all get together . Hugs , Nat

Hey Ladies - I read the board most days. But don't post that much because quite honestly, I don't have any opinion on wearing hip huggers, plastic surgery, or chocolate. Just kidding, it just seems like most of the posts don't apply to me. I do get a kick out of some of them and confused too. Maybe it's a guy thing? Anywho..... OK, as far as exercise goes there are a couple of things to do that might help you. First, let me distinquish Exercise from exercise. Exercise - is something extra you do - like going to a gym, etc. It's an extra thing you have to add to your day. While "exercise" are things you can add to your everyday routine to increase your calories burned and metabolism. Examples: 1) Park in the far spot of the parking lot and walk to the store instead of circling for a close spot. 2) Take the stairs if you need to go up 2 or less flights. 3) Take the stairs if you need to down down 4 or less flights. 4) Stretch for 2 at least two minutes when you get up every morning. Touch your toes, side bends, trunk twists, etc. 5) Sitting at your desk or while watching TV - extend your toes and lift your heals off the floor - feel your calves tighten. 6) Squeeze your butt a few times during every show or every so often while sitting. All right, now if you want to do "Exercise" find a goal for yourself. Something you can do and that you need to work towards. For me it was a 5K race. How about a 5K walk? Do it in less than 1 hour? That sort of thing. Now how much walking (or jogging) can you do each week to reach your goal? 30 minutes once, twice, three times? Whatever you decide to do - DO IT. No excuses. Don't set yourself up for failure by saying I will walk 3 miles a day everyday when you know you can't fit it in. If you can only do it twice a week - do it twice a week. Once it becomes habituated then you can think about adding more. Don't sabotage yourself my over committing and then being pissed off or disappointed in yourself when you don't live up to your expectations. Set your goals small and obtainable. And remember , success isn't decided by whether you have a setback or not, it is decided about what you do after you have your setback. You will have setbacks. Brush yourself off and get back to it.