I am scared too death of food. Only because I know that I can eat again. I feel fine. I have good days and bad days. Some night I am sooo tired. I just have to make sure I eat my protein. I think our lives will always revolve around food. I look forward to the day when food doesn't rule my life. Just remember during the Holidays it is o.k. to eat... but keep protein first and stay hydrated. Water will keep you full. Stay busy and enjoy the Holidays. ~Jennifer Wright~

Watching the Charlie Brown Christmas Special with my family on Christmas Eve... we also watch National Lampoons Christmas Vacation Christmas Night. Oh...most important... Christmas Eve we go to the midnight candlelight service at our church. Thanks for asking... ~Jennifer Wright~

I have two. 1. Is every year since the Christmas before my Mom and Dad were married they have bought a dated Christmas ornament together. Others in our circle of friends know this and there are years we may have more than 1 dated ornament. However, my Mom and Dad have always shopped together for a special ornament each year. These dated ornaments are then placed center stage for that year and the rest are scattered by date throughout the tree trimming process. I am engaged to be married next year and this year he and I started the tradition for ourselves as well. 2. Each person who will be at the house on Christmas morning receives a Christmas card from the others who will be there. It can be humorous, sentimental or whatever, but everyone gets cards. They are opened before anything else on Christmas morning. Lise 409/221/180

One of my favorite holiday traditions is after decorating the Christmas tree, turn all of the lights off in the house except the Christmas lights, turn on the Christmas music and just hang out with my girls and my husband! It is very simple but very meaningful and fun!!!!

Thanksgiving was bittersweet for me... The good news I could eat.... last year I was on clear liquids THe bad news I could eat... I ended up in bed feeling like ka ka cause I just didn't stop eating... thank god you can only eat so much!!! I guess it was just so radically different from every other thanksgiving... old habits die hard! But guess what Christmas is coming!!! Damn....how to focus on getting enough of the right things, minimize the bad stuff and still feel good!! I also confess that since surgery for the most part I have felt like crap - my doc has me on some new meds and some new iron supplements which seem to be doing a little better but I gotta tell you, inside I am scared that I have a lifetime of feeling like this ahead of me. I am tired of being in pain, tired of being tired, and feeling like I can' ***** about this to anyone since it was my choice... Now, don't get me wrong, I move around better... its nice to be down to a size 16-18...but am I condemmed to a lifetime of always feeling like I am playing catch-up to life!!!??? Most weekends I come home and really don't care if I come out at all again until MOnday am when I have to go to work - everyone talks about how wonderful they feel -- truth is I am barely making it... and I have to make a living so I keep quiet about it,,, suck it up and keep going. Christmas has me scared!!! So many rituals and feelings that have to do with food... and so much that really isn't that great - nutrition wise that is... there is never a social occasion this time of year that doesn't revolve around food in some way???!!!!! What you guys doing??? Is anyone else worried about this??? Now I have passed my year... and quite possibly have finished losing what I will lose??? but am wondering whether I have traded feeling like crap in one way for feeling like crap for a lifetime??? B