Good for you Britt! You sound like you had a great week. I'm still struggling with my fibro and headaches are back so I'm worried I have my sinus infection back. Exercise was awful last week eating so so. I am happy to post that I'm maintaining even though I haven't been exercising. I'm going to aqua jogging today and at least 3 times this week. I have to get myself off this pity party I'm having. I have a disease and I'm not always going to feel good so deal with it and knowing that exercise helps push myself to do it. Starting weight 298.5 Last week = 162.2 This week = 162.2 Maintaining Total loss = 136.3 Current BMI = 29.7 We are suppose to get 8 inches of snow today which really depresses me I'm so sick of winter I could scream. I want to wear some spring and summer clothes and not my parka. Everyone have a fabulous week. Deb

Hi Gang! Hope all of you had a good weekend. Thank you to all of you who expressed kind words and said prayers for *Spencer* - It was so very hard, but ... I *know* that he is in a great home. His new Mama - emailed me telling me she is in love with Spencer! Anyway - thank you again! The good news through this emotional time. I DID NOT, I repeat DID NOT emotionally eat. I felt the feelings and DID NOT turn to food to dull the pain. It was EMPOWERING and yes, difficult - but boy am I proud. My Good friend - brought up a good point it was a sort of PLANNED emotional day and I was prepared for it. The next day I had an unexpected stressful event... MY mom (who also had rny) Had to go in for emergency surgery to repair a hernia. She is doing great and *I* didn't emotionally eat! This has been BIG for me. I also am proud to say that I ran a 5k yesterday with 2 ladies from my support group. It was their 1st one and it was SO fabulous to be there and encourage them that "they could do it" .... What an accomplishment - what freedom from obesity - to be able to run in a race!!!! - if you have the chance GO FOR IT! You will be amazed at what you can do if you put your mind and heart into it! I went to my surgeons office and had to see a gain on the scale (that was hard to swallow) - I stressed about it ... but, the reality was the scale was up - I gained ...it's over and I and moving on. I plan to be back at goal *soon* and STAY PUT ... and step on the scale at my June surgeons appointment and see 140 or less! My labs were good (Thank God) - I am going to post more about this in my blog this week. ~~~ Good news ... the scale is DOWN! yay ~~~ Here we go ... Starting weight 250.5 Last week = 149 This week = 147 Loss this week = 2 Total loss = 103.5 Current BMI = 23.7 have a great week! Stay focused & keep your eyes on that prize hugs, Britt

Hi Chrisy, Welcome back! Sorry to hear that you have to go iinfor surgery ... know you are in my prayers how is your daughter doing? thanks for the thoughtfull words regarding Spencer ( I am at peace with it and REALLY KNOW he is in a great home) I hear you on the grazing - it can be VERY difficult to stop it again - once *we* allow ourselves to fall back onto that habbit. I finally feel like I am in the zone now .... but Jee**** took many weeks yo JUST DO IT! Let me know how you do with the 5dpt - i am pulling for you. you are doing good - no gain ! whoooo hoooooo hugs, Britt

Congratulations, Linda! You've done great! I really want a face and neck lift too! My face has fallen and I'm very self conscious about it. I will be looking into a face lift too, so keep us updated. Wanda

Hi, Linda, welcome back! How wonderful that you have done so well in losing and now maintaining your weight! Well, you posted this just in time because I just scheduled a face and neck lift! It is going to be next month. I saw 3 plastic surgeons for consultations. One only does face lifts. I was actually impressed with all of them but had decided on one in town who had 20 years of experience. I actually know several of his clients and had never realized that any of them had face lifts before they told me! However, when I went back to "my" plastic surgeon (who has done my LBL and UBL/Arms/Breasts) and listened to what he would do and how he would do it, I chose to go with him. With him, I will again be in a hospital. I feel a little safer there since I'm no spring chicken! From what I understand, the recovery from a face lift isn't that hard. If you bruise easily, you may look a little beat up for a couple of weeks but most people can get out and about with a little makeup. You may have a drain in but that's usually only overnight. The following week the stitches are removed. With the neck lift, there's a small incision just under the chin. The other incisions are around the ears and can be hidden by your hair plus they are supposed to fade or blend in well. My neck is terrible so I'm hoping for a big improvement! I'm anxious to finish up this plastic surgery journey because, unlike you, I've required more "reconstruction!" Having just finished the upper arms, I'll just say that if you can live with a little flab, the incision lines are SOMETHING ELSE! I know they will fade but, unlike the LBL scars, they can't be hidden as easily. The recovery hasn't been as hard as I expected. I've been on the go from almost the beginning! Good luck in finding the right surgeon. Do get several opinions and please keep us updated! CeCe