Hi Linda - yes, I am having fun shopping for my special person - and she is fun to buy for!! Hope you are having a good day!! love donna

Hi all - I am having fun fun fun doing my shopping for my secret Santa -- well I guess I'm the secret Santa, but for the person I am SS to. It is fun!! Actually I am having more fun getting things for her than for my family, which is always hard (grandkids that I don't really know what they want - gift cards, hello!!) Anyway, just wanted to post this and let you all know this SS is fun!! love donna

Hi Barb, that's so funny that you said that, because I am the opposite! I am one that does only eat 3 tablespoons of food!! And my husband worries so much about that. I take an average of 800-900 calories a day. My doctor doesn't like that either. But I went last week for my year check up (a little late) and all my labs are fine (still waiting for liver) and protein high, and everything is good. I told the doctor that if I eat more I physically get sick, throw up! He said that I just have not stretched out my pouch for this length of time, and it will probably happen. But until then, I plug away with my little bits here and there!! I have gotten to as low as 149, but hoover around 150-152. I wouldn't mind tapering off at 155 like you. I don't look any different than I do at 149, but I think psychologically I feel better. Isn't that weird. But I have said this before, I worry for my age I will get too frail looking, and I definitely don't want that. I want to be a strong woman!! love donna

I hope that everyone doesn't think I am bragging because I am not, this has actually got me kind of upset. Anyway we went for our Holiday picture last weekend. I was actually looking forward to getting it taken this year. No more hiding in the back to cover my big butt. I wore a really pretty red v- cut shirt with a black tank top underneath it. Needless to say I made them put me in the back after the first three picturesbecause I look absolutely horrible. I guess I never really noticed it before but I look sick. You can see all my bones in my chest and collar bone. I really don't want to complain about being too thin, but it is kind of scary. I will have to post a picture soon. I just feel like I have gone from one extreme to the next. I am not really watching what I eat anymore and I haven't gained any weight. ANyone have some suggestions? Chris

Barb, Do I feel deprived? No way, but probably because I don't really deprive myself from something I want to eat. I eat what I want but only in much smaller quantities. I really believe that is the only way the I can live, because I know that I will not always have the will power that I had 6 months ago. My mother in law was actually talking to someone about me the other day, what a shock, and I overheard her say that she would not have this surgery because of all the horrible problems I have had. Not quite sure where she has been the last year and 3 months but I would not change a thing. This will probably sound silly but the thing I miss most is my fat protecting me from all my insecurities. I never really had to face them because I just used my fat as an excuse. Example: I have no friends because people don't like to hang out with fat people, but actually I believe that I am an introvert and am not very outgoing- it really had nothing to do with me being fat. I also miss being able to pig out and ignor my husband(or anyone *****ally ****** me off) instead of having actually express my feelings. I never expected to lose as much weight as I have and I am so thankful that I have been given this oppurtunity. I know that I still have a lot of work besides losing this weight to be the person that I want to be, but I am willing to try.