Those are some really happy returns!!! Congrats!!!  You are doing fantastic and I know you will look fabulous in Florida!!!

Hi Misty...just want you to know that you are not alone!  I also have gotten on the scale only to see a gain.  At times I get really depressed about it.  I really fell off the wagon around Halloween...chocolate should be illegal!!!  But I  got through it and started losing again.  Only to have it slow down again. 

So my body just goes in cycles and I've had to accept it.  When the time of the month comes along, my weight loss just shuts down for about a week or two, sometimes even three,  then kicks in again eventually.   It's totally frustrating!

Thankfully my body kicked in again right before Christmas and I've lost 10 lbs in a week!  But the time of the month is right around the corner so I know it's gonna put on the brakes again soon.  But I'm gonna take that weight loss and try to be happy.  I wish my body didn't work this way, but it's the pattern that I have figured out.

I am not a big exerciser.  I'd rather sit at my computer all day long.  But I bought myself a bicycle and have been riding and absolutely LOVE it!  I don't go overboard right now because I just want to get used to it, but I'll ride 2-3 miles at a time and I think that fabulous when I look at where I was a year ago.

Best wishes to you, hon.  I think you are doing great!  Look where you were a year ago and look at where you are today.  Amazing, isn't it?

Ok so my surgery was July 21st and I've lost just over 100lbs -- since surgery 80+lbs -- but the last month I've only lost FIVE pounds and the last week I actually weighted once at 227 just now I weighted 232 -- Grrr.  I know the difference in the time of day, the fact that I normally weigh undressed and the fact that I am probably starting to hold some water because of the time of month for me, but still .... 
I have done great on my diet and exercise up till about two weeks ago and with the holidays that all seemed to go out the window.  I noticed myself snacking and eating things I shouldn't eat ever at all.  Holday stress, foods not normally in the home due to holidays and baking and all the goodies the Aunts send each Christmas...  I'm not sure.  I should be thrilled to be 100 + lbs lighter than I was a year ago, but instead I feel like it's not even close to enough, and I feel absolutely paniced that I'm going to start gaining back. 

Right now I am just feeling super down on myself because I know I have been bending if not entirely breaking the rules.  I've barely made it to the gym since the kids have been out for Christmas break.  I feel like I've ruined everything!  Just want to throw away all the junk food in the house and force the family to spend the rest of vacation eating MY FOODS.  That's terribly selfish of me to want to remove their foods because I am having trouble with will power. 

I really need to find a weight loss support group locally to help with the psychological part of all this!

Hopefully in one week I'll feel entirely differently and I'll be back on the right track, living healthy, feeling healthy, and losing weight.

That's great Julie... like the other poster said... I gained the 3 you lost.  I over did it to the max last week.  I drank wine, ate rice crispy teats, candy, pretzels etc.  Grazed all day on christmas - had a large slice of ham with stuffing and gravy.  I sure as hell didn't miss out on anything.  Back to the gym I went yesterday and this morning and will be going tomorrow and on Sat. 

You're doing amazing... looking forward to reading your "Onederland" post soon!

Happy New Year!

Hi Sarah...

Welcome to the July board.... we are a very friendly group and hope that you will continue to drop in!!  The way I post photos - I go to the photo that I want to show - I select it and then right mouse click on copy and then come over to the forum message area and I paste it into the message.   That should do it....

Can't wait to see your photos!  You've lost a ton of weight thus far..... keep up the great work!!!

Hugs...