Good Morning Everyone, Thank you so much to each of you who sent me prayers and good thoughts. I am just kind of marking time until I see my cardiologist on the 28th. I am not doing much other than sewing--that is very calming for me. It breaks my heart not to be able to pick up my granddaughter when she reaches her arms up to me. I sit down and have someone put her in my lap. I have gained 5 pounds since Wednesday--they gave me a lot of fluids IV at the ER--because my heart is not firing correctly. That is worrisome to me. So I have to take extra diuretics. Again, thanks to all of you for your wonderful thoughts. Monna

Sweet Monna, I am so sorry to hear about your ordeal. Please take care of yourself. I will be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers. Mary

Congratulations Teah! You foxy momma! I'm too thrilled for you. It's proof positive that the weight will come off with preserverance. I need to bask in your success for a moment and the reality that we can do this. I'm in sort of a funk today. I overslept (probably on purpose). I'm off work today and didn't feel like getting up at 4:30 am to head for the pool. I'm in a funk because my gala is 10 days away and the scale isn't moving. It's not the scale's fault but mine. I have not been 100% compliant and I'm questioning whether I have it in me to be compliant. I'm tired. I'm in a BRATTY GIRL mood. I want to throw a tantrum. Stomp my feet and yell, WHY CAN'T I BE LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE!! Lean without working so hard!!! I know, this is unrealistic. I will climb out of my funk, but for now I feel like standing in the pity box. I promise, I won't stay long, because I know what I have to do to get under 200. I've just got to mentally get myself there. My friend, Mary, thinks I can do it. (Thanks Mary!)... Now I've got to convince myself I can too. I have great regrets about not taking more advantage of the first 6 months of this journey. That's water under the bridge and I need to stop looking back. I'll get there. Thanks for listening to me whine for a minute. I probably won't be on line this weekend. I'll be back in full force on Monday. Happy Easter... Denise

I've had abdominal discomfort and soreness. Not sure if I've had it as long. If you'd had IBS diagnosed in the past, it could very well be that, or diverticulosis, which many women have. I've also had it from ovulation. Took a little while to figure out *that* one. Of course, I'm not a doctor or even a nurse, so you're doing the right thing by mentioning it to your doctor. I'd also like to put your mind at ease just in case - i'm sure it's NOT related to surgery like we've seen ppl with internal hernias and kinked bowels and such. That causes *intense*, severe abdominal pain. Let me know what the doctor says! Irene

Woo-hoo, Teah - way to go!!! I weighed in again this morning and was 165!! That's 7 lbs. since Sunday!! I have to admit I haven't been feeling that well and haven't really had an appetite, so I'm sure that helps. I'm going to stick with what I've been doing, a protein shake for breakfast and lunch, and a high protein dinner - probably some fish and shrimp tonight. I've been getting in about 750 calories and 80 - 100 grams of protein. I don't know if I'll get out for my walk before it rains today, if not, I'll do a WATP video. Happy Friday!! Hugs, Nancy 280/165/155 ~ mini-goal: 162 by 5/1