Hi Jenn- I am glad you posted this because it made me look at my numbers to see what I have been doing. Here they are: Jun. 6lbs lost Jul. 0lbs lost Aug. 10lbs lost Sep. 12lbs lost Oct. 8lbs lost Nov. 7lbs lost Dec. 7lbs lost Jan. 4lbs lost Feb. 4lbs lost Mar. 6lbs lost so far I thought I had done worse in Nov and Dec. than I actually did. My real problems were Jan and Feb Lately. I seem to be doing better now for this month. I can't believe I didn't lose any in July. Aug and Sept were my best months. I think the real trick to exercise is to constantly do something different. I never do the treadmill on the same speed or incline and sometimes I will turn it way up and run for a minute and then turn it down and then a few minutes later I do it again. Your body gets used to the same routine and tells itself that this is normal and keeps the body the same. I am not sure what to do about a goal weight. My legs look so skinny to me already. I am sure they are not though. I am at 193lbs and am thinking 160lbs and then get all the excess skin taken off to get to 150lbs. Of course my Dad says that is too big for 5'6". Gee thanks Dad way to smack me in the face with saying things that got me fat in the first place. Sheesh! I think you are doing great Jenn! Good lick with the new trainer. DH keeps telling me he is going to take me to the gym and show me what to do but never does. Michelle

P.S. I drink two protein shakes per day.

Ditto. I'm 23 lbs. from my goal. I'm losing very slowly at this point, but I'm not worried about it. As long as I'm doing the right things, I'm okay with my progress.

Some of you may remember that I am being laid-off at the end of May. Well I now have a dilema and I need your advice. They have offered to let me stay one more year until May 2008. There is only ONE reason that I would stay and that is to keep my Kaiser insurance for another year. Let me give you some details below. If I stay I will not only be doing my job but will be doing 2 possibly 3 other peoples jobs too. One of the new jobs would be that persons whole job. The other 2 would only be parts. I have not been offered any incentive to stay. No bonus, no extra pay etc. Just more work at the same pay. I really feel ready to leave and want to just move on. I feel like it might be torture to stay and do all that work for no extra benefit to me. Here is what is holding up my decision. I have Kaiser insurance. They are pretty good about paying for the panni removal when the time is right. If I stop working in May I will have to switch to my DH insurance of Cigna HMO. They might turn me down as I did not have my surgery with them. I called Kaiser and asked about skin removal and was told you need to be at least 1.5 years from surgery, at goal and maintained your weight for a few months. Then they decide if it is medically necessary. 1.5 years will be in December. I would then have until May to get it done. So do I put myself through a year of torture hoping I will get my panni surgery? What if they then say they won't do it and I stayed for no reason? My DH works in a hospital but they do not offer Kaiser. He can look around for one that does offer Kaiser and switch jobs. He would probably be able to accomplish this before the end of the year. I was really looking forward to taking the summer off with my 11yo DS. He is looking forward to it too. If I wait a year he will be going into the 8th grade and maybe not think it is so cool to hang with Mom for the summer. I have always worked and have never been able to be home with my children. I also have a 21yo who will be doing a Summer internship with UCLA which is lots closer than his regular College o****anta Cruz. So I could see him more often for the summer too. Who knows where he will be next summer. After the summer I will either be trying to get into the new career I want of being a Sheriff or getting another office job. I could possibly look for a job that carries Kaiser if DH has not done it for me. I just feel so torn. I have been here 20 years. I am 43 so that is most of my adult life. DH has told me to do what I feel best but is worried about 11yo DS. He takes a very expensive medication that Kaiser gives us at a discount. Cigna would most likely not do that. Thanks in advance for your advice, Michelle

Hi everyone! I have been keeping tabs on all these post and most everyone is doing so awesome! I have been so down lately..lol I know this may be normal..but I just cant kick the feeling.... I started out at 370...and my surgery was on 6/12....Today I am 279..Im right at about 91lbs... (this is on a good day) lol Is this SUPER SLOW? or what, I am trying to keep my chin up. I have a lot of stuff going on in my life to keep me from doing things I know I need to be doing to help myself along..I know that exercise is key...I dont do it ...at all ! I take care of my disabled father, who is bed ridden..and I have a small child. So the only time I get to myself in on the weekends when I do have a little more help. I went to my family doctor yesterday, and she suggested if I am that concerned with my weight loss-that she can prescibe me a diet pill... I dont know what to think about that. I want to, but am having mixed feelings I guess, seeing as I just had the surgery--I shouldnt have to take this to help me along .... But they may since I am not physically able to get out and do the walking like i need to be...I did have a friend who mentioned a walking video called "walk away the pounds" ... she says its awesome...you just walk for thirty minutes with the tape in ur own home..so i ordered that and hope maybe i can find the time to get that in..... I still have a lot of weight to lose. I was stuck at 286ish FOREVER...like 3 months...and the scale is just now moving this week..so maybe thats a good thing Is anyone else in this predicament---real slow losers?! On a positive..I do thank God everyday for the chance to have this surgery..I had tried to have it for 6 years....lol so I am thankful --no matter how much belly achin I do