Never! And this year!?!! I had been out of town for several day, and stepped on the scale when I got home this afternoon. I had gone from 164 Monday to 158 this afternoon: 81 pounds gone forever!!! This is my weekend to work, so tried on several pairs of size fourteen slacks, though they were too baggy. Am excited to go to work this weekend wearing size twelve slacks!!! I've been so furtunate, as my appetite and hunger have not returned, so had no problem remaining diligent in following my strict program. All I had during five hours at Christmas day dinner was about 3/4 cup pork loin and a few herbed green beans. This is all so wonderfully unbelievable! Best wishes to all; hugs, Patti

Jan, Im so glad u posted a pic. You are beautiful both inside and out. I started out higher than you did. I was 394 the day after my surgery and today Im about 270. I was up 4 lbs 2 days after Christmas and then the next day I was back down ...so Im not weighing in again for another day or two...that was to emotional for me. I cried for hours the day I gained 4 lbs. That was the first time since surgery and I was a total basket case that day. Im hoping it was jus****er gain from the diet change and from that time of the month. Seems better now. I got a new outfit in the mail today and its a 2x. I cant wait to wear it tonight. Havent been this size in probably 14 yrs. Mariah

1. What types of food did you eat this week? 2. What types of exercise did you do this week? 3. How much weight did you lose? Total loss? 4. What was your biggest challenge? 5. Were there any major struggles about eating/exercising over Christmas? If not, what foods make you gassy??? *Fun bonus question: If you wanted to achieve one mini-goal per month for 2007, what would they be? Happy New Year! Amber

Congratulations Amber! Your Friday five helps keep me on track and going every week! Jan

Karen, My secret is that I started off at 374 lb. so I'm sure I have quite a bit more than you to loose. I'm lucky in the fact that I still have no appetite, and my body doesn't tolerate carbs, they still make me sick, so for me it's easier to avoid them. Also I avoid the 6 white things my DR told me about -- sugar, pasta, rice, potatoes, flour, and popcorn. I don't keep track of calories or protein my DR says just eat protein first at every meal. I eat three meals a day and if I snack it's a banana (which I have to eat one a day because of potassium levels being low) or something high in protein like jerky. I'm addicted to Tea Misto's from Starbucks, but hubby bought me my own milk steamer and Starbucks is no longer getting my $ as often. Tea Misto's are half tea (I use Chai tea) and half steamed nonfat milk. So I'm getting protein drinking those sometimes two a day. When we go to friends I make one up and take it in a thermos to have while everyone is eating dessert. My DR doesn't allow us to drink protein drinks after the first month, they say they are finding it slows your metabolism down, since the body doesn't have to work to break it down. So all my protein comes from food. That's my life in a nutshell. I decided before having the surgery if I was going to do it, I was going to do it right. I follow all the rules, well, I will be honest and say I have a hard time getting the vitamins in! I also carry around a picture of myself, a very unflattering one, that is me at my heaviest, and I show it to everyone as a reminder that I don't ever want to be that way again. I'll post it soon. Jan