Lisa, I'm glad you like Naperville. I'll be in touch with you soon about getting together. Maybe we could try a road trip to Chicago sometime or even just go to the movies. Where is your work located?

Lisa, This is a long over due congratulations to you. I am so proud of you reaching goal. I know it must have been very challenging with your move from CA to IL also.

I should have contacted you much sooner. To be honest this summer started off real S#!++Y for me. My primary care physician went south on me. He must of had a real big ego and was actually rude to me for being so successful with my weight loss. He made really rude comments to me and about my WLS surgeon. I had to start all over from scratch and find a new primary care physician, because I fired his A@@.  It took 3 months to get settled in with a new doctor, but things are much better now.

I'm also a single, divorced mom of a college sophomore daughter. She transferred from our local community college to Western Illinois University. She was accepted mid summer and I had a lot of arrangements to make for her too. I'm a full time college student too and just started my final semester and my first internship at a hospital in Joliet, IL. I'm settled in, my daughter's settled in. Maybe we could have lunch or coffee sometime soon, before the snow flies. I'm about 45 minutes away from Naperville. I hope you like Naperville. How is it going?

I got the scale moving again by pushing water.

First thing in the morning I had to drink a bottle of water (16 or 20oz) before I could eat anything.  Kept my meals/snacks to 100-200 calories.  Waited 30 mins after eating before doing another bottle of water.  I wouldn't allow myself to eat until I had finished the water.  If I didn't feel hungry 30 mins after eating, I'd wait until I started to feel hungry before drinking the water.  I learned even on my pre-op diet that drinking after eating pushed the food through quicker and made me hungry sooner.  I don't wait 30 minutes after drinking to eat--I figure the water passes through my stoma quick enough and it also makes me feel more satiated on a 100-200 calorie meal/snack.

I also try to stick to foods that have at least 1g of protein for every 10cals.  This leaves a lot less room for the calories to come from fat or carbs.  I'm working on making a list of the foods that fit this ratio to share with everyone.

But to be honest, drinking the water like that dropped the weight even with my eating poorly.  I did it for about 2 weeks before my last surgeon appointment and I was surpised to weigh in there at my lowest weight ever.  It is water weight for sure, though, because I can bounce up 10lbs in a single day depending on when I weigh myself!

  Thanks girl.... - I'm waiting... where's your photos?

Hugs and kisses,
Brandi

Thanks Kristie.. But I could nto have done it without you and everyones support and encouraging words.. take care
I saw on your page you had to have surgery how you doing, we'll I have to have my gallbladder removed too!! I will keep you posted.