Congrats, Jan. According to My Yahoo! Weight Tracker I'm down 61% to my goal, even more to my doctor's goal which is 10 pounds more than mine. That's very exciting. I'm trying to remember that instead of the actual numbers so I don't get frustrated. You are doing a great job and keep us posted, you are inspiring us all! Amber

Update*** Thanks for the advice ladies. Well the other day was a little strange, but if all goes well something beautiful will happen. Our bariatric support group was to meet the day after Christmas. She and I acknowledged that we would both attend. Knowing that she was juggling everything with her children and Christmas, I new the chances for spending more than just the meeting time with her was close to none. To make a long story short, I went out and bought some fat free, bariatric friendly crackers and cheese, sugar free milk chocolate, and water, hoping that for at least 5 - 10 min. I could do something special for her. Well the meeting got cancelled, her baby sitter cancelled (she asked her neighbor to help out), and I did not get to put my plan into action. She called me and we discussed the meeting being cancelled. I was frustrated and just had to know how she felt. So I took a leap of faith and asked her - Hey, I have to know, do you want to go on a date with me or not?! I want to take you to dinner and a movie, and if that is to much I have something simpler in mind, heck we can just veg with the children (hers and mine) and watch DVDs. She replied, YES - That all sounds nice, but just not tonight. I have to finish the Christmas craziness. I said, I understand. She said, I will give you a call in a few days. That is where I left it. So I know that there is chemistry there. Now I get the opportunity to show I have faith in her and wait for her to call. If she does not, then that is part of the risk I guess and it was not ment to be. I figure if I focus on the larger picture, and GOD means for us to be together, then this is one of those things that will have helped bring us togher. Sometimes waiting for something you really want is shear agony, but considering I have been searching for someone like Kim my whole life, I would not trade it for the world. THanks for Listening, Mark

Hi, Rebeka... Happy Holidays. Life is grand now for we who have the little tool..hehe I ate a bite of a cookie made by my granddaughters, a lick of some mousse and a dark chocolate covered pretzel over the last 7 days of Christmas parties and get togethers. I weighed myself at the gym yesterday and I too have lost 3 lbs. over the holiday week. That is unbelievable! I ate a small piece of baked ham and mashed sweet potato at Christmas Dinner. Then I had a little spinach dip and a piece of cucumber and some stewed tomatoes with salmon at the EVE DINNER with the inlaws. I felt fine with all the food but the desserts were really a challenge. I made it through so far and have another party on Friday and then New Year's Eve... but I think I pretty much have it under control.... a taste here or there will not hurt me... I go to the gym every day and run on the treadmill and do a 45 min kick-butt workout with a trainer. I actually think the eating a little more carbs actually helped me drop some weight. The body gets confused if we don't eat enough to burn the fat as fuel. Glad you are doing so well. Take care of you. ShelleyAnne

Talk about being bad! I licked the brownie spoon (ok ok so I licked it more than once, I admit it!)... and a few days later had a few slivers of the 1 brownie that I saved for my husband. It promptly went in the trash. I managed to lose a pound! Go figure! I hope I don't get like Pavlov's dog and associate brownies with losing weight Life *is* grand after having WLS!

Aloha Jandell.....I am so happy for you!! You are one of the stories that make me feel like a slow loser, but then I'm just happy that each week a couple more pounds comes off, and I know eventually I'll get there. So far I've only lost 64 pounds in five months, and have about that or a little more yet to lose to get to goal. I am encouraged when I see losses like yours though. Do you have any secrets to share for we slow losers? How many calories a day? Mostly protein? I am eating around 700 to 1000 a day, lots of protein, no sugar, flour or pasta. I try to get in 85 oz. of water a day..usually succeed. Congratulations and keep up the great work! Aloha nui loa, KarenS