Its a total struggle. It seems like the past 6 months or so I have been on a rollercoaster. For weeks, I eat really bad, then get back on track, lose what I have gained....then go back to eating badly. I crave sweets now terribly! I am ashamed to say there are some days I eat nothing but sugary carbs....snack cakes, donuts, candy bars. I don't weigh myself very often anymore....so wehn I do, I usually see a gain, then go back to "basics". I have also been struggling with reactive hypoglycemia lately, which got so bad that I really had to take a look at my diet. I was afraid to go out in public for fear of having an episode (low-blood sugar symptoms, sweating, shaking, nausea, weakness, severe hunger) I would get these several times a day, and usually grab something sweet because that is what I was craving at the time, and it DID help get the symptoms to go away. But after doing some research, I now know that that was probably causing it. I have been eating a mix of protein/carbs every couple of hours and I have it totally under control now. I remember thinking I would just lose the weight and not be ABLE to eat badly to gain it back.....what a la-la land I was in. I think its just going to be up and down with these 5 - 10 pounds for the rest of my life. I still have never hit my goal of 145....the closest I came was 146 and now I am at 153. I was at 159 last week, so in just one week I am down 6 pounds. What a difference it makes when I WAKE up and pay attention to what I am putting in my mouth. You are NOT alone! We used to do a daily menu - for accountability - on this board. Is anyone interested in starting that up again? It not only makes you see what you are eating, but you can get some good ideas for something different. I know when I get bored with food, I tend to eat junk. Jenn

I'm lucky I still get sick if I eat too much. Still can't eat more than a 1/4 piece of bread. I eat 1/2 cup total of solid food or up to 1 cup liquid per meal. I eat sliced deli meats, hamburger dishes. I do snack on candy minitures or suck on a hard candy. One is enough. I'm still losing. I have to watch that I drink enough liquids. I've gotten dehydrated 2X. Betty

Depending on the time of month it could be water weight. If no****ch your carbs and watch your portion control. Up you intake of proteins and water too. If you are "testing" stuff that was not healthy for us before then you need to stop. If it was unhealthy before it still is. Best of luck.

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Hi Ladies: Well the good thing is we are normal and seem to be following the normal path. They said the first year to 18 months it is easy and after that we have to work at it. We know the program and what to eat. Protein first and low carb stuff after that. No empty calories and no drinking with our meals. We can do what they call water loading before meals to give us a full feeling again. No drinking for a hour after eating. I read an article that if you really want to kick start again eat nothing but meat and cottage cheese for about 10 days. Or we can go back to protein drinks and small meals only, that is what I am doing right now. I need a kick start so I am doing protein drinks and one meal a day for a few days. Good luck to you and remember it is a tool and if the tool stays in the tool box it does no good we have to work with the tool for it to help. Hang in there and follow the program and it will work I am convinced. Melanie October 4th 2004 360 - 202 158 pounds gone and not coming back whatever it takes