hi 6 monthers!

hi, i've been off the boards for about 2 weeks and tried to catch up. everyone's doing so awesome. 6 months ago most of us weren't thinking about exercising. this is such a supportive board. we were in florida - my first time - leaving the boston winter and being in the warm weather was great. i had to shop to get a few things that fit for the warm weather and when i was putting stuff away today it was weird to think that i wouldn't be able to wear them again when it gets to be summer here because i'll be in a different size. i bought bathing suits there that were in a smaller size but i was able to wear one of them already. i'm down over 100 pounds from my heaviest (336) - i'm 232 today, wearing a size 20 pant and xl tops. i am not going to buy from lane bryant, avenue, etc anymore!!! on a rainy florida day we went to an outlet mall and i was totally HIGH! walking into liz clairborne, geoffrey beane, etc and being able to get xl tops. i only bought a couple of things because i don't want to buy for the future but i have NEVER windowshopped because nothing would ever fit so i would never even buy accesories from those type of stores. and being able to go into tj maxx or marshalls or the florida discount stores and just have tons of pants to try on just regular misses size tops and everything fit and not buying anything but just having all these choices. my household is going thru lots of medical stuff but we know now that nothing is life-threatening so we're hanging in there. my partner starts 6 weeks of daily radiation next week for her breast cancer and in april i'll have a wide excision in my vulva 'cause my melanoma returned after 4 years but it was removed in the biopsies. my son will be 2 on saturday and we're having an elmo party. i got asked several times in florida if i was his grandmother (i'll be 50 in july) - oh well. i know that i'm shrinking, i have wrinkles now! life is good. love, susan ohhh - i started drinking a cup of caffeine coffee in the morning to help with my daily you-know-what and that is working well (the last couple of months i was only going every 3 or 4 days - ouch).

HI SUSAN! Sorry to hear the melanoma has payed you another visit, thank goodness it's out though and I'll say some prayers for your wide margin excision and your partner's cancer treatment to go well. I'm happy to hear that none of this is considered life threatening! Between the baby, the trip to florida and the SHOPPING, it sounds like you have some good stress management going on and are handling everything wonderfully, I'm so glad Welcome back, we missed ya! I'm gonna go fill out your poll now... love, Sue