Oh Diana, take a deap breath and remember life is good! The joys of the season are upon us! Does it really matter if you can eat any of the cookies, I don't think so. Personally I just love baking them and filling the house with all the good smells. Last year I baked 29 dozen and gave them all as gifts, I might have eaten one or two, but I find when I'm busy I don't eat. Since surgery I only use Splenda when baking, and I don't even tell the family ... no one notices the difference. At Thanksgiving I baked fat free, sugar free pumpkin pies, and topped the slices with SF cool whip, I was able to eat a sliver, all except the crust. I say since your doing the cooking fix things you can eat, change old habits and help the entire family to become healthier along with you. To add stress to this already busy month we have 13 birthdays in our family, all in December! I try to be organized and get all the shopping done early. I still haven't wrapped anything though, so your a step ahead of me! Best Wishes! Jan

Hi Katrina - I am 5 months out on December 19th. So busy with the Christmas season, my birthday is Wednesday, our wedding anniversary is the 19th and all the other stuff that I neglect the PC lately. I do think about all of you July babies though. I have past all my expectations for 5 months out on Tuesday. I am wearing a size 6-8 again and really feel wonderful. I have lost 75 lbs. I love to run now and have a personal trainer, 3 times a week, for a 30 minute session each day. I feel motivated and happy. I do not have a huge variety of foods yet but it is getting easier. I eat simply and in small portions, of course. I find fish, shellfish, chicken, eggs are tolerated easily for protein. I drink IsoPure RTD and the Whey Protein liquid viles when I need to boost the protein intake a bit. I still make my great energy smoothie after the gym as my breakfast and love it!! I eat Pure Protein or Power Crunch bars as a snack at a movie or in a pinch at the mall or other crazy times. I always carry some sugarless gum or lifesavers, too. I drink enough water to sink a battleship. I believe our journey is filled with challenges but that little "tool" in my belly is a real godsent to me. I know what makes it cranky and I avoid being compulsive about what I put in my body. I am so happy to share with all of you, too. It has helped me through so many trying times to read your posts. Thank you all and happy holidays to everyone. ShelleyAnne

Congrats, KEEP SMILIN' - YOU DESERVE THE BEST OF LIFE - and NOW YOU ARE IT!! ShelleyAnne

WHHHOOOHHHHUUUUUU!!! Isn't it great to hit a goal? I just love it too. Congratulations. ~Diana~

Well, I set a goal after surgery that I would be down 75 lbs by Christmas and I hit that few weeks early. On my 5 mos. anniversary I was down 75.5 lbs and feeling just fine. I also lost more inches last month than I did the first month--couldn't believe it. It's finally coming off my hips too. Of course the left over flub is quite unsightly but I'll deal with it for now. Fun fun fun...that's the only way to describe this journey!