CeCe, or should I say Skinny Minnie? I guess you deserve to be lazy this one day. Back to work on Wednesday so take advantage today and tomorrow. How are things progressing? I suppose the bruising and swelling have subsided or you wouldn't be out and about. Do you like your results? Would you do it again? Sounds lke you really had a great weekend. If I could maintain the way you have been, I don't think I would even worry about grazing. Obviously, it is working for you. Hugs, Valorie

Trudy, Valorie and Everyone, I'm glad you guys started the thread this morning. I've been LAZY! I was up early because my husband flew out on business this morning but since I don't go back to wor****il Wednesday and it was rainy and dreary, I crawled back into bed and got up later. When I signed on I suddenly remembered I should have started this if it weren't already started. So, GOOD for you guys! First of all, I'm so happy you found a good home for the beagle, Trudy, and to finally hear from you again. You have been MIA! Valorie, I was wondering about all the bad news out of North Carolina with the weather and it's good to hear there wasn't further damage to you "new" place and that your business was only closed due to nearby damage. We had terrible rain and thunderstorms last evening and I found myself stress eating as I was preparing dinner. The weather people on TV just go on and on and I know they are helpful but it does make you frightened too. Before surgery, I drank my decaf Diet Coke and my caffienated Cafe Au Laits that I bought daily at my favorite coffee shop. When I would finish the au lait (with skim milk), I would refill my cup with coffee to bring home to make more au laits at home. After surgery, I still drank the au laits, just not as often. I didn't start back right at first but the habit came back. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it!), the skim milk or the Splenda combined with the skim milk started getting to me and I would dump if I drank a whole cup. I switched to the Lactaid skim milk but that still bothered me. So, I drink very little coffee now. I do love tea as well but the majority of my fluid comes from my eating shaved ice or drinking Crystal Light Lemonade. Sometimes I REALLY miss coffee!!! I bought a case of Achieve One but it wasn't the flavor I think I would have liked best and I hated the smell and taste. I took it to the OH event and gave it away. Which flavor do you like? However, I do make a sort of protein coffee smoothie. You could easily make it with decaf coffee. I just use coffee, skim mil**** protein powder (I use unflavored but your favorite flavor would do) and Splenda, of course!!! Valorie, how terrible to have to spend Mother's Day cleaning! Hey, I know a new stove is an added expense you don't need right now but it will be nice to start cooking on a new one. Deb, congrats on your weight loss but what a terrible way to lose it. How old is the sister in law? I'm so sorry for the situation. Where's Deidrah lately? And, Phyllis and everyone else? Alan? Seems like there's fewer and fewer of us each week. I got flowers from my daughter and SIL for Mother's Day. That was nice! The card said "Happy Mother's Day, Skinnie Minnie" WOW! Yesterday we ate breakfast and read the paper at Panera. Yes, I drank coffee and yes, I got a little sick! It was good though! Then, we went to Kohl's where I intended to buy nothing because my husband was looking at Chap's sportscoats. Well, he suggested we walk through my section after buying him a few things and he insisted I buy a couple of tops (buy one get one free) and then found me a fantastic coat that was over $150 and was on sale for $28!!!!! Now, I had already bought SEVEN coats over the fall/winter season. YES, SEVEN! I sure didn't need another but my husband is a sucker for a good deal! We then decided to go to Nordstrom's - not to shop, but for lunch. I love the Grilled chicken and strawberry salad in their cafeteria and figured it wouldn't be so crowded because it was Mother's Day. Well, it was but we enjoyed it anyway! After that, we saw "The Visitor," a movie I had been wanting to see. We enjoyed it! So, that was my Mother's Day! We ended up having to grill our steak indoors because of the horrible weather last night. It wasn't as good as it should have been but the asparagus was great! Stats: Beginning Weight: 245.25 Last Week: 126.50 This Week: 126.50 Total Loss: 118.75 BMI: 21.7 I'm still fighting with grazing. I feel like I eat constantly. I'm eating when I'm not truly hungry. CeCe

Good morning everyone! I will step in and start the weekly weigh-in post in Britt's absence. I hope everyone had a great Mother's day weekend. Did anyone get anything really great or do anything special? How about any Mother's Day horror stories? Share with us please. Let's get some chatter going on our board. As you might expect, I had a busy weekend. Cleaning and painting the "new" home. DH decided to rent a power paint sprayer to do the ceilings. OMG! What a mess! What he saved in time from painting, I will more than double in clean up. As if there wasn't enough to clean before. I spent 2 hours cleaning the stove/oven just to have the thing shoot sparks as I was pushing it back into place. Needless to say, the thing is now sitting on the back deck. I refuse to even take the chance that it has a problem. $300 for a new one is NOTHING compared to my peace of mind. Money gladly spent. Just wi**** had happened before I spent my time cleaning it! Did anyone have any storm issues this weekend? My business was closed Friday due to the street being blocked from tornado downed trees, light poles and debris from several damaged business in our Business Park. It was good to have the extra day off but man what a mess today! We have double the work to get out. Stats: Beginning weight: 349 Last week: 192 This week: 192 No gain/no loss I will be better this week. PROMISE! No more salty snacks- they are my weakness. Have a great week! Hugs, Valorie PS...looks like Trudy beat me to the punch. Now we have 2 posts to answer. Keep some excitement going. I never drank coffee before WLS- now I love it. I like a couple of cups in the am, after my Acheive One, then followed by green tea throughout the day. I definately feel the increased hunger throughout the day when I over endulge. A few weeks ago I swore off the coffee and lately I have been drinking Red Roibos tea instead of the green/white variety. The taste is great and it is supposed to be "naturally" decaf. I highly reccommend it.

Hey Shwan - thanks Nope ... the reason for my not posting is so I can REALLY FOCUS .... thank you for your support I'll be back .... hugs, Britt

Thank you sweetie talk to you soon, Britt