I do seem to be on a roll again! I love it! I was getting a bit worried there when I couldn't drop that pesky 5 lbs and keep it off! Thank goodness for this surgery! I know that without it, I probably would have been done! Hugs to you too! Lori

I hit the gym this morning and ran 1 mile on treadmill, weight lifted and worked on my arms, then did 10 minutes on the eliptical machine. Tonight I will start to swim laps in my pool. On memorial day I complete my 5k that I have been training for never stopped running the entire time. Diana

Michell, Tamela, Diana! Thank you All for your positive comments and support hugs, Rita

Hi Toni.... I agree with Lori....documenting this journey is so very important. Did you compare your recent pics with the ones that were taken pre-op? Sometimes, if I don't put them side by side, I can't really see the difference. But once they are side by side...WOW..... I'm sure you look amazing. How do you feel? Sometimes I think that friends, that do not understand this process, tend to become envyous of us (especially, if they have a weight problem themselves)... I also feel that our thinner friends start to see the inner us. The person that no longer wants to be taken advantage of just to be accepted....& they don't know how to react to that. The surgery changes every aspect of us & our lives in a HUGE way.... We really have to embrace these changes as physically, we know the changes are for the better. Mentally, our minds hold on to all that negativity towards ourselves that we have built up over the years & it's really hard to convince ourselves that DAMMIT WE LOOK GREAT.... If your friends won't take the pictures, your support group friends will.... Take advantage of that. Remember how far you've come.... Celebrate Your Success thus far in your journey... You deserve to be proud of yourself. ((((HUGS)))) Tammy

Clarissa, I think, at this stage of our journey, everyone is going to start getting the urge to snack, binge or eat the wrong things. I know that I've had urges to snack on something when I'm not hungry....THOSE EVIL OLD HABITS ....... But, that's when it's really important to stop & ask yourself if you are truly hungry or is it because you're stressed, bored, happy...etc etc... (all those emotions that make us eat).... You may want to write things down, or when you get the urges to try to see if there's a trend. Another good tool is to tell yourself to wait 15-30 minutes before you grab something and during that time have a protein drink or water or something like that. If after that time, you still feel like munching, try some cheese or fruit or something. Make that snack count. I know it's hard...I've fallen to temptation...believe me....I know where you're at. Thanks for posting this. It's so important that we all try to stay accountable to each other.... ((((HUGS)))) Tammy 291/284/189.5/145