Hi Lisa, You are doing great!!! Just keep plugging away. I began to slow down my weight loss at about 4 months. I really got slow in my 5th month and had to really beef up my protein. I have been on a stall for over a month now, that just was broken this morning. I was doing much better when I exercised, and I felt better as well. Though the scale is not moving as fast, I noticed my clothing size changing even during the plateaus. So something was happening that the scale wasn't telling. I haven't had a problem with cheese, in fact it is my best friend. I do very well with cheese and seafood (shrimp, tuna, fish, crab). I never go wrong with those unless I eat too much or too fast. I can eat more seafood than any other food. I also do well with chilli. Great source of protein and doesn't have a problem staying down. As far as salads. Lettuce didn't do me well in the early stages, so I still stay away from it today. I love to eat salad without the lettuce. I cut up tomatoes, cucumbers, mushrooms and add crumbled cheese. I tolerate that very well. I don't tend to return to foods that have bothered me before, i.e, rice, any chineese food. I stay away from bread, pasta and sugar simply because I don't want to get used to eating them again. I am a carb addict. I love saltine crackers though. But I have to watch it. Chicken and turkey are tempormental. (I try to stay away from beef and pork) One day I'll do okay, but the the next day my pouch is not liking it. I don't do well with leftovers at all. I eat lots of cottage cheese and light yogurt for breakfast. Did I say cheese was my friend. I had type 2 diabetes, but I was taken off all meds when I was discharged from the hospital. My blood sugars have been normal ever since. I have to watch that they don't go too low. I was on my way to insulin with fasting sugars of over 200. I was taken off of blood pressure medicine 2 weeks after surgery. I was getting dizzy because my blood pressure was dropping too low. I can't speak on sciatica.

hello julie,, i think you are doing great,,,no one is going to lose just like another,,,one will walk more ,,eat more protine then another,,,,but you are loseing just great ,,,,im loveing each pound i lose,,,never to see it again,,,,good luck with your new skinnyyerrr you!!! sandy

42. To be rid of Diabetes Medicine 43. To get off of high blood pressure medicine 44. To now appear invisible to men 45. To be able to run again 46. To be able to shop at regular size stores 47. To not worry about dying early 48. To rid the concern that my weight was the reason I didn't get the job 49. To feel pretty and sexy 50. To conquer the biggest thing that effected my entire life

37. To finally feel good about myself. To look in a mirror and be proud of who I am again. 38. To have energy to keep up with my two teenage daughters, or at least try to anyway. 39. To NOT have to wake up each week saying to myself. "Today I'm going to start a NEW diet and loose some weight and eat heathy" 40. To make a different New years resolution that doesn't have to do with dieting. 41. To acually quit eating before I'm stuffed and miserable. 42. To not wake up each morning with severe back pain and suffer all day with it.

hope you have a wonderful 2007,,,write me soon tell me how your doing,,,love ya, sandy