Erin~ I hear you about the emotional eating!!! GRRRRRRRRRR!! It frustrates me because I know I do it and I know what and who triggers it. I've been trying something and it seems to be helping me. I went out and bought a notebook and index cards. I keep them on the counter in the kitchen. Whenever I want to just stuff my face, I write down in the notebook how I'm feeling and if I'm really hungry and if I really want to eat what I'm thinking about. I write down that phrase "nothing tastes as good as thin feels" and I write to myself ...for example...do you really want to go back to where you were? do you really want to have to shop in the plus sized department again? I then write down the positve things that this tool has brought me..such as being able to fit in a size 3/4 pair of shorts and is it worth eating a bunch of crappy food just because I'm stressed out and because someone pissed me off or I'm feeling bad about myself? I then take the index card and I write down all of the things that I wanted to eat at that moment and add up all of the calories I saved and I put it in a jar and then I look at what I could have eaten at the end of the week...it puts you back in control and in focus. Writing helps me so much Erin and it gets out so much on paper and I notice that if I don't do it, I feel like crap because I store up all those emotions. I've been working with a counselor for a little while and she has suggested this to me and by go**** works! It's hard for me right now because I've got my appetite back. My husband refuses to change his eating habits..so there is junk food in the house and it is so hard for me to resist eating it and snacking in between meals and especially when I get emotional. Like the other morning, I came home and I was so stressed out from work...I wanted to eat poptarts, brownies, chips, cookies, candy...anything I could get my hands on..I wanted to eat *I'm a food addict big time and it's so hard for me to resist eating* but I took a conscious effort and avoided eating those things and I wrote down everything that I wanted to eat and I saved myself from eating 800 calories that I didn't need. I notice that I go for the crap and not the good stuff when I get upset...do you? I hate when some people say that I took the easy way out. I tell you what this is no easy ride, especially when you have a bad relationship with food and emotional eating problems. I'm sure those 4 lbs will just fall off of you again after you put yourself back in control Erin. You can do it!! If you ever need to talk, I'm here for you Sorry for such a long post..I've got my insomnia kicking in again!!

I have just been having a hard time the last few months...I am experiencing depression, i dont want to eat hardly ever, I sleep about 15 or more hours a day, I have a gym membership I dont use, my friends are jealous of me and I am just plain tired!!! Is anyone else experiencing this??? I am down 109 since surgery have 20% body fat My surgeon just changed my goal from 150 to 175olbs because I am 5 ft 8 and I am carrying only about 40 lbs. of fat on my body. I am loose skin city when it comes to my upper arms (waterwings) but my belly isnt to bad and i have lonng legs so they dont look bad but my back is saggy. I have gone from 30-32 clothes to almost a size 14 jeans and xl juniors tops!!! I look good but feel horrible!!! Now that I have laid it all out does anyone still feel like talkin?? Shannon highest 375 at surgery 322 Now 213 goal 170

I have really been lurking also and would like to, well kind of need to talk to someone.. I have had a lot of probs lately I am down 109 from surgery, dont eat hardly anything, sleep all the time and have no energy to speak of....My docs trying to get stuff straight but i just need a peer to talk to about this. i also have after 9pm free and free long distance long distance My friends dont understand me and are jealous so my support group sux!!! shannon 322/213/175

To those of you that had to have your gall bladder removed was you very sore?? I just had the surgery yesterday and I am so sore. How long did the soreness last?? Thanks alot. Hope everyone is having a great week. Hugs Mary

Hi to all....wel i got brave........my daughter took my 9 mo pics of me at my goal 133lbs and this is where i want to be..........i am happy but i need boobies lol......i am so much happier this summer than last..now i will try to maintain and get some plastics done..my doc said that i dont need any but..........i think so ..........flabby labby is what i call myself sometimes...........well you all have a good one!!!!!!! vickie r.