Thanks for the compliments Lori! I kinda forgot about the thong on my pic on my profile, had to read your first couple of lines twice to get it. Then I busted out laughing in the middle of the office at work. Oopps! hehehe You are soooooooo right - and I'm so glad you pointed out what I failed to realize on my own. "Normal" is what I've craved for years, to not be the fat one, or the one people gawked at. To not be described as "the fat blonde girl" ever again. UGH! And I'm NOT! I'm actually mistaken by many of our elderly patients for my supervisor, who is a size 4! I'm far from a 4, but it really is cool that someone might confuse me for someone that is! How much more normal can you get?? I'm determined to pull it together and get back on track. I've done well today, and all we can do is take it one day at a time right? So, that's what I'm gonna do. That's cool about the Tracker - we've actually thought about given it to my son when he turns 16 in a couple years! I love driving it, it's a fun little truck! Thank you for your help Lori, I'm so glad I came and posted. I already feel 100 times better!! Hugs ~ Connie

Hi Girls How's the exercise today. I haven't gotten out there yet, but am hoping to when I'm done with work. 17 hrs of overtime this week is really getting me tired. just can really use the extra money in the summer.... July 1 189 July 2 189.5 July 3 189.5 July 4 188.5 July 5 186.5 (2.5lbs from 100lbs since surgery) July 6 186.5 July 7 187 Have a wonderful weekend everyone Tammy

I've been kinda inconsistent lately & really not chosing the best foods, so I'll keep a watch on this post. Lately, though it's been the following: Usually always have my morning trip to the coffe shop for my Raspberry/Hazelnut Coffee B Small piece of quiche or a scrambled egg w/ cheese or yogurt w/ grape nuts or achievOne protein drink(sometimes, no breakfast at all but not very often) L been having alot of low carb wrap sandwiches lately. depending on what kind ie: turkey or turkey salad, sometimes I can eat the whole thing, other times no. When i don't have the wrap, I have a lean cuisine/smart ones/or stouffers meal (the small ones) i can't eat the bigger sized meals D Whatever the family is having or another lean cuisine Snacks: lately it has been fruit. we scooped out a watermelon & mixed watermelon, grapes, peaches, blueberries & strawberries together. it's been so good Sometimes I have 100 calorie bag of popcorn and, yes, on occasion grab a few chips. shoot for the sun chips most of the time, but try to avoid the crunchy stuff. not quite sure on my total calories as i usually just try to chose from higher protein counts. i do get at least 64 oz of liquids in & my vitamins & calcium Great question Tammy

Breakfast is a 24oz nonfat, sugarfree hazelnut latte Snack is either yogurt with flax cereal mixed in or just a banana or other piece of fruit Lunch is usually always a Lean Cuisine meal, or sometimes a salad with chicken Snack ( I don't always have a snack after lunch) is 2 string cheese, or another piece of fruit Dinner is some kind of protein and veggies Snack is usually sugarfree kettle corn, not every night but alot of them or I will have some kind of fruit, we have been on a cantaloupe and watermelon kick lately! And of course I try and get in water in between my meals. Lori

Hi- First of all - Chin Up! never look down upon yourself. The time for feeling sorry and being self indulgent is over. #2 -Your new motto: Motivation determines what you do - Attitude determines how well you do it. Type this and place it where you can see it several times a day. (When I lose focus- I come back to this time & again.) #3- Stop feeling sorry for yourself - giving into your emotions is what prompts you to begin your old behavior. Its self sabotage and will cause you continued failure. Acknowledge how you feel and change your focus when you feel that way. See my posting from 6/30 and then see my 7/6 response. #4- I understand why you didnt like exercise at 301. I was 325 and exercising @ Bally's.I even had a personal trainer and lost 25lbs. When I stopped the PT I gained it back- all before surgery- getting me to 325 preop. But I continued going to the gym occasionally. Post surgery- I have gone from 30mins to 90mins treadmill & stairmaster and do weight training afterwards. I know you dont want to hear about it. But I wll tell you this straight out- you will continue to lose your focus and regain your weight loss- without exercise or any aerobic activity. So its up to you whether you want to throw away this last year or not. back to #2- HOW motivated are you? That determines your focus and level of committment. What is your Level of Commitment? It should be 6 or more- but saying something and taking action are two different things. #5 - Activity changes your metabolism. Using weights changes your metabolism. Why increase it? because it slows down as you age and you BURN FAT LONGER when it is higher. And you BURN IT LONGER than your workout or your walk. You burn MORE CALORIES while walking or sleeping, simply by pumping up your metabolism. SO Now do I have your attention? How do you do that? Exercise+ weights + protein. You dont realize it- but your body is UNDERmuscled. Increase your muscle weight and you burn MORE Fat. Thats like doing one thing & the bonus is- your body continues to burn it off- long after you stopped. Exercise alone or diet alone- will only give you a smaller version of yourself. Lifting weights- and not talking anything big here- but handweights, or leg weights- used 3-4x a week- will help change your metabolism. Here is the key: your muscles are mini metabolic furnaces. Don't you want to fire them up and keep them burning? Well this is whats called " AFTERBURN". You do some aerobic activity, then do bicep curls. You will be burning fat and building your muscle- long after you stop- maybe as long as 48hrs. THOSE COMBINED will keep you losing and the weight off and within a week I bet your scale will jump. #6- Boost your protein to 80gms daily. Drink as much fluids- 64z or more. I drink 20oz of liquid ISOPURE daily- that counts twice: 40gms of protein & 20gms of fluid, NICE!! #7 - Consistency is important. Doing something because you "have to" sucks. Doing something because you "want to" greatly changes how and when you reach your destination. So I could tell you- you HAVE to do this- but that wont improve your reason for doing it. It comes back to how motivated you are , your level of committment and knowing why you are making the effort. ( which is 1-7) #8- THE BENEFITS: you feel great about yourself. you feel happy and confident. You carry this over to other areas. I Know- I suffered from depression a lot. Exercise- when you reach a certain point and consistency- releases "endorphins" This is also known as the "runner's high" . Endorpins are the body's natural " feel good" chemicals released by the brain. The MORE you do it- the more are released and the better you feel. NO KIDDING. Its why people become addicted to their workouts. I KNOW- when I stop working out- I miss how GOOD I feel and feeling good will get me to the gym- especially after a bad day at work- or any day. I even got my butt to the gym on Juy4th because I committed. Perspective is everything in life. So- I offer all this to you- and all the Post Ops *****ad this. Maybe it will give you a shot in the arm to keep going. We all need it . I wish you all the best. Hugs Donna 325/212/150