It's not the end of the road. As for exercise, I really think there IS something out there for everyone. Your profile doesn't tell much about your life in general, but I saw that you have a teenage son, so maybe he'd like to show you how to lift weights? Weight-lifting build muscle mass, which in turn burns calories for you (in fact, it's ONLY muscle tissue that burns calories, fat and other tissue just sits around doin nuffin), even when you're at rest. Two sessions a week can be enough to build and maintain muscle mass that can allow you more calories or help you burn off those last few pounds. Another great thing about lifting is that it helps prevent osteoporosis. One of the best benefits is the entertainment value. The guys in any weight room are just soooooo nice to look at. They're so busy preening and checking themselves out they hardly notice lil ole me. Weight training won't help with your cardio health, which it also vital, but if getting into an exercise groove is hard for you, take it one step at a time. The most important thing for me getting into exercise was finding an exercise buddy. Plain and simple. I have a terrible time getting away from my family for some "me time", but I had no problem getting out to exercise, and that time was spent gabbing and talking with another grown-up. It was hugely rewarding, and made the then-humiliation of getting sweaty and jiggling my chub painless and easy. Be careful with the 1200 calories. After so many months of watching, it is sometimes the case that we make errors calculating portions or other things. Go back to the beginning of weighing and measuring things, just to be sure that it really does all add up to 1200. If it does, I think you can safely assume you won't gain weight, especially with the malabsorption factor. Your metabolism depends entirely on the amount of muscle tissue you have, which you will naturally have lost when you lost weight. Age attacks muscle mass, but as long as you fight back, you can win the metabolism war. "Normal" can be defined in so many ways. The "average American woman" is 20 lbs overweight, so if you define normal as "average", then you are actually right at or below normal. Huggers, Susan

Dear Donna, Are you still getting in your required grams of protein and all of your water? I have noticed for me that when I don't get in the protein and water my weight goes up and down like yours. I also am a non-exerciser, just never could get into it, so I know what you mean. But as long as I make sure I get in the protein and water, I usually see a loss on the scale. Hope this helps!! Laura Lap RNY 5/18/04 329/193/160ish?

Im here. I know I havent beena round much. I decided to put Anthony in more things this summer to keep him busy, and it is really taking a toll on my attacks, with out my meds. We are doing swim team, basketball camp, bible school, and family trips this summer. I am doing good, but I think a little depressed. I can eat anything, I dont seem to have any will power, and I feel like I am on the road back to my old ways no matter how hard I try to stay on track. I have gained 5 lbs so far, and hopes it slows till my 3rd trimester. Over all though, the baby and I are healthy as can be.- Melissa

Hay Natalie, I know what you mean about those new halter tops cool eh! I have also noticed a decrease of activity on the boards in general I think people must be at the beach on vacation showing off those skinny bods(healthy)in swimsuit Competion LOL as for me I went to a family reunion of kids I baby sat years and I mean yrs 36 to be exact and it was OMG OMG OMG about how I Looked who wouldv't thunk at almost 55(isnt that a speed limit somewhere LOL) I think if i'd always been thin no one would have noticed ME. anyway it was a KICK and a great weekend, Marcia

Congrats Angie, you are doing so well!!! What I did was this, I was losing weight too rapidly to keep clothes shopping, it does get very expensive. So I bought clothes from the clearance stuff at Kohls and Walmart, and mostly shopped at thrift stores for many months. Still do. I went to the one place by my house, and was getting clothes for like $1-5.00, depending what it was. It helped me out alot by not spending as much money. Some times I wore clothes for 2 months, and sometimes they fit ok for about 2 weeks and then were falling off again. It isn't worth spending money, more than you have to at least. Tricia