We did it - we completed our very 1st chat. Deb, Cece, Corinna and I CHATTED for about an hour. It was open - honest and we had a few laughs along the way! next chat is scheduled for 7/2 @9pm (NY time) we can also use yahoo messenger if everyone has that (it is a free down load) Just a thought .... ok what we discussed * motivating yourself continually * postitive vrs negative thougts * sabotaging thoughts * how we deal with slip ups *getting back on track * deprivation *poor me syndrome *it matters every single time *talking back to sabotaging thoughts *excuses * destracting your self when you are facing a temptation * any unplanned eating = GRAZING * guilt after eating a nono food * thoughts come 1st * eating is not automatic * we can be our won worst enemy *accountability tread - add triumphs * the importance of planning out our meals / day * obsessing over food - while on track or off * knowing what we need to do - then why don't wer JUST DO IT? * exerising our resistance muscle EVERYDAY * challeng your self to resist a temptation and COMMEND a job well done *promises *eating something that we don't even really like - but still eating it * staying thin *fear of regain *commiting to FINALLY completing THE BECK DIET book and all of the exercises! If i missed any other valid points discussed please - chime in! again THANK YOU ladies for a great CHAT! hugs, Britt

thanks Cece! Oh - I know - I know .... still *that* is me thanks for your post you made me tear up onto the next hour love ya, Britt

Shawn, Sorry you won't be online tonight but I wanted to tell you how good it was to hear from you. I've been wondering where you've been! Have a great time with you company! CeCe

Britt, I think you are like me and beat yourself up when you are not perfect! You know, it all seemed much easier a year or so ago but I'll bet we didn't have many PERFECT days then either. We probably kicked ourselves in the butt for eating a bite or two too much. These days, our FEAR of regaining, of messing this up has some of us in a panic and I am certainly one of those. I'm not saying you and I, Britt, should not worry about it but I think we have a personality trait that puts so much pressure on ourselves to be perfect or feel like we've failed that we set ourselves up. Please, please don't think I'm criticising you, Britt, I'm only writing this at all because your posts always seem to reflect exactly how I'm feelng about myself and my progress. I see you are very hard on yourself. While I know I'm hard on myself, it's always easier to see when someone else is and I have such empathy for you. Britt, you are a SHINING star on OH. You are a wonderful mother and wife. You are an athlete!!! You are strong and you ARE ALREADY A SUCCESS!!! Please post more positives about your journey along with the challenges!! I challenge you to do that and I'll do the same, ok?! Hey, I just reread your post and see a mini-goal is to take it one take at a time. How about ONE HOUR AT A TIME as a mini-mini-goal?!!! It would work for me too!!! Now, gather the 3 girls (and hubby if he's home while you are reading this) and have a BIG FAMILY group hug and internalize some of that love for BRITT! CeCe CeCe

Corinna, I think you had a MAJOR victory by not eating MORE of the samples! I admire your strength and determination! Just a word about your feeling hungrier this week, do you think it's hormonal or is there extra stress? I know I've gone on and on about how I could easily recognize my hormonal issues prior WLS and those are the same. Keep some kind of info on your feelings, you hunger level and all of that and see if you see a pattern. CeCe