I think I lost 2 this week but I'm not sure. Starting: 389 Surg: 329 Today 228 Total Loss: 161 lbs! I swear if I didn't lose any more I would still be thrilled. It has slowed down a lot but that's ok. I can mow the lawn, mulch, haul marble chips, grocery shop and just about anything else I want. My labs are fantastic! My iron and B12 are better than they were pre-surgery. My sugar and my cholesterol are perfect. I love getting my labs back. I can see how easy it would be to slip back into some bad habits so I keep in touch. I have to see my ex this weekend (grandson's graduation) so I am making sure I LOOK GOOD! LOL Been sick for the last 24 hours with a gastroentestinal bug and fever, so that was a hard way to knock off a pound! Hope you all keep doing well. I'll check in when I can.

Hi Fran! I most definitely do feel as though I could fall off track very easily. I have fallen off track and am quickly reminded by my body that it's not good to do that. I do still dump, but not to the extent that I used to. After I do the five day pouch test I dump a bit worse again though. Carbs still get me the worst. I do feel like eating healthy is a part of me now, however. A couple years ago I'd NEVER have passed up the most fattening foods available. Now, I shop for health, I eat for health and I try to think for health. My mind is the toughest though. It's easier to walk past a fattening food and not eat it than it is to not think about foods I shouldn't have. I think often, "geez an ice cream sandwich sounds good." or "Ohhhh, I could sure go for some chips right about now." My mind seems to be overloaded with thoughts of food. I have laid down the law: at work-NO SNACKING, at home- ONLY HEALTHY FOODS ALLOWED IN THE HOUSE. I don't buy junk anymore. I do buy chips for my husband's lunch, but I don't much like the chips he likes. I keep fruit on hand and I drink LOTS of water. When I'm head-hungry I've trained myself to reach for water first. Most often times when I'm done drinking the water the thoughts of the food I wanted have lessened if not subsided totally. It's all going to be a life-long challenge and there are going to be times we "fall off the wagon"......we just need to remember that the wagon is only a foot off the ground when we fall off....if we get right back on, it's nothing. If we stay off the wagon until it's 10 ft off the ground, it's MUCH harder to climb back on. I'm going to post a recipe in my next post. This one has gotten sorta long LOL. I'll post recipes my family and I have tried. God bless!! I love you all! Brenda

Great idea Brenda, We need to focus on more than just weight loss. Health and wellness and how we keep up our new lifestyle is a good idea. I don't want to lose touch with others who are at the same stage as I am because I still have a very big fear of gaining the weight back. I still don't trust myself. I am very easily tempted and have little will power. I am still lucky I have my pouch though....it keeps me from straying too far. I don't really dump but I have eaten a bit of sugary stuff lately and it makes me feel a little "yucky". Do you feel that you could still eat the wrong things quite often or do feel like your new lifestyle is part of you now? Fran

Pre-surg Wt: 290.6 Today's wt: 184.4 total loss: 106.2 Wt. still to lose: 39.4 Loss for the wk: 1.2 Hope everyone has a great week too.

Hi there Fran! I am still here. Seems like everyone has just disappeared. I hope they are all ok. This week my monthy buddy hit, so I am not sure what I weigh lol. Two days ago was 133, today 135. Hopefully, I am just bloaty lol. Highest weight known: 320 Surgery 8-17-07: 282 Today: 135 Loss this week: Dunno yet for sure lol Total Loss: 147 lbs. Goal weight: 132 3 lbs. left to goal... I hope everyone out there is doing well. Have a wonderful week!!!!!!!!