I'm so glad you're feeling well. Yes, it makes an incredible difference in how you feel physically. I know I feel like a kid again. You'll get there. Stick to your program and your 20 pounds will go away and your goal will be achieved. You're in the home stretch! Cheryl

Just had to post a wow moment for me.....went school clothes shopping with my kids yesterday and tried on (and could fit in them comfortably) a size 4 petite pair of pants....WOW!!!! I was wearing a size 18/20 women's last year at this time!! I have never been this small in my adult life....I still weigh 139 pounds at 5"2', so I know I am healthy and not getting too skinny..... I have been sticking to the pouch rules for two weeks and that has been the trick to help me bust my plateau.....

I'm just wondering who else out there took their pre-op measurements--sometimes when I don't see the scale move, I can still see my measurements shrinking. Anyone else wanna share? I took my monthly measurements and here are a few WOWS for me: Pre-op/Post-op in inches Neck: 17, now 13.5 Bra: 44, now 33.5 Chest: 52, now 37 Waist: 47, now 31 (did I EVER think I'd have a 31" waist?!?!) Apron: 52, now 36.5 Low Hips: 52, now 38.5 Thigh: 29, now 21 Calf: 18.5, now 15 I now have a hard time visualizing myself the old, bigger size but the numbers are clear. I'm very proud of my progress. I'm 5'11 and in a size 8. I am terrified of regaining, as I think most people are who post on our board but that's why we're here--for the support. Congrats to all the new butterflies! -Laura

Hi Sweetie, I've missed seeing your smiling face! Hey none of us are perfect, I've had a lot of the foods you mentioned too, just not in the quantities that I used to be able to eat them, but GONE are the days when I couldn't tolerated a lot of that stuff! I do my best to make smart choices, but I do indulge in a treat on occasion (small) and I am addicted to Starbucks coffees. I'm there two or three times a day sometimes and trying to stick to the lower sugar ones with fat free milk, BUT I think we all have our cross to bear. Unfortunately emotional eating is such a huge part of who we are. I help run a support group and she keeps me grounded. I know that I am going to have to give this part of my life a lot of time and attention so that I can work with the issues that brought me to where I was originally. My life is so good now, I don't ever want to go backwards, my divorce is almost done, I sold my house, I'm moving to a 2 bedroom condo with my boys on Sept. 1st. I'm DATING again and enjoying it for the FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE! Concentrate on all the positives in your life and fix the ones that aren't!! Big hugs, Vi

I did one once (when I was 350+ lbs) and I'm doing another one next month. I never trained for it. Just jumped right in! Hopefully this time being almost 150 lbs less it'll be even better!! Good luck! Vi