Trudy, I'm happy to hear that you aren't obessiing over food right now! I love it when I'm feeling in control and food or feelings about food aren't ruling my mind!!! My advice to you and everyone on the board is to track when you are feeling out of control and when you aren't ruled by cravings. I think I've mentioned several times that I did this and found that hormones were a big part of this. CeCe

Britt, I just read your blog and applaud everything you wrote. I could have written the exact same thing. I admire you for writing it and letting people know that this is never easy. This far out from WLS, we deal with all that we dealt with prior to WLS except that we often get reminded that we can't eat the amounts - dumping!!! Still, grazing is a big hazzard. And, allowing ourselves to eat those foods that we never dreamed we'd eat again opens doors we never thought would be opened again. So, thanks, Britt! Thanks for the reality check and for letting us know we are not alone! This is TOUGH! We need this board MORE THAN EVER these days. When Britt admits it is tough, we ALL know it is tough! Britt, you will get those pounds off again. Keep your focus! We can all do this!!! My weight is up a little and I know I've been eating too much. I tell myself part of it is anxiety from my upcoming surgery. Yes, I'm sure that's true. Part is failing to plan my meals all the time. Part of it is pure rebellion. Part of it is allowing myself to be out of control. And, finally, part of it is muscle building. Knowing my upper body is going to be "out of commission" for a while, I've worked really hard on building up muscle prior to surgery. I'm truly pumped up right now! Lots of lower body strength training too. Haven't forgotten the cardio though! Anyway, here's the stats: Starting weight: 245.25 This Week: 132.50 Total Loss: 112.75 BMI: 22.7 CeCe

Britt, Thanks for asking about me! Glad to know I was missed! I just read Wanda's reply and, thank goodness, my reasons for being absent from the board are not as stressful as hers! Poor Wanda! My surgery is next week and I've been getting all sorts of things arranged. Heck, even arranging for the dogs and cat to stay in the pet resort has been hectic. This place cost a fortune and demands fecal exams within 30 days of the visit and very recent bordatella shots so I've been running back and forth to the vet. Then, they called and said some of the stuff was out of date so back to the vet I went for print outs of every thing so I could prove they were up to date! I had blood work for myself and the results were supposedly faxed to my PS but I had to go all over the hospital o get a copy for myself. I'm also picking up prescriptions and getting all sorts of other things done. Hubby left this morning for Cincinnati on business after we worked all weekend on our stairs. We are redoing them and I spent all day on Saturday transforming black wrought iron spindles into pewter antiqued looking nicer spindles with antiqued gold colored edges. It looks great but took forever because each spindle has one or two of these twisted ball-things that were HARD to paint with a tiny brush! We are living with no hand rails during this reconstruction and now with bare wood treads as he redoes those in oak as well. The walls are looking good though. Hubby made some sort of platform to get up to the ceiling to paint it and the walls. I couldn't bear to watch! I'm nervous about my surgery and even thought about not going through with it but I know my arms would continue to bother me. The breasts - not so much - they look good in a bra. Still, if I'm in the OR, might as well have it all done. I just wish tomorrow was the day so I could quit dreading it. I know recovery will be TOUGH but in a couple of weeks, I'll start to feel like myself again. Again, thanks for asking Britt! CeCe

I am definitely on cloud 9 right now. I'm at work right now looking up cruises because that's one thing we definitely want to do again. We went on one the first time we were together and had a blast. Valorie, I'm sorry things didn't work out with the 5dpt. Just keep plugging away and stay away from the carbs. They are worse than sugar for me. If I need to gain a pound, all I have to do is THINK about having some bread! lol. Good luck!!! Susan

Thank you, Britt. Now that I have made it to One thirty something, my next goal is 135. Then I will be done and I'll weigh what my body wants to. As far as Mark, he is wonderful and I've been in love with him since we met. It just took me this long and many thousands of dollars in therapy to be able to live with the fact that we would never be together. Then out of the blue he calls me. Crazy world!!! Susan