Ok, I'm noticing that fewer and fewer people are checking in each week. Where is everyone? Even if you don't feel like posting a weight weekly, at least let us know you're still out there! It's not mandatory to tell your weight, you can let us know what's on your mind, your latest WOW moments or your latest struggles. I think you can tell from what is posted lately, we ALL have struggles. This is NOT easy. Surgery was not a miracle cure for all our food issues. I mess us DAILY and I'm scared that I won't be able to keep my weight down. I need all the help I can get here!!! Please come out of your hiding places! We all need support and we miss those of you who are not here. I miss Shawn's regular posts. I miss Christy's. We heard from Kimberly recently and understand she's planning a wedding! We heard from Phyllis and we heard from Kim this week. Where's Deb? How is your SIL? And, Deidre, how is your sister? We haven't heard from Alan lately. Or Chilly from the UK. Wanda, Valorie, Trudy, Kim - are there members you have wondered about? Hopefully, we will hear from Britt soon. If you are reading, Britt, we miss you! CeCe

Valorie, I was hoping you had gotten moved over the weekend. Did you get the new stove yet? When is move in day? Soon, I hope! I guess you are thankful for your job right now because it does provide the structure that the rest of life is missing right now. With your living with friends, is your son's schedule changed? How is he doing? Hey, considering what is going on in your life, I think it is fantastic that you are still losing at all. I'm afraid I would be gaining, gaining, gaining! Sounds like you are doing Hot Cardio Housecleaning too!!! WOOHOO!! Oh, yeah, you are buring calories and scrubbing builds muscle too! With your persistance, you WILL see 189 or LESS on that scale next week. Show me!!! CeCe

Hi gang! CeCe asks some good questions. I haven't been doing well at tracking my food or even planning lately. Before the fire I did both religiously and it kept me focused. Now, living out of someone else's home, it is harder to plan. I have been trying to make the best choices available but sometimes, the best is still not very good. I have to plan my meals and allow for snacks. I am not a 3 times a day eater. I know this, I accept this, and I make plans accordingly. Usually I shoot for 200 cal breakfast- 100 cal snack- 300 cal lunch- 100 snack and 300 cal dinner- and another 100 cal snack- this keeps me at about 1100-1200 per day. My body loses 1-2 lbs per week on this plan typically. Exercise- well with working so hard to get us into a home of our own, I have not been to the gym in 3 weeks. I have been scrubbing, painting, climbing ladders and lots of bending. I suppose these count somewhat toward exercise. I know I walk out every night soaking wet from sweat. Must be burning some calories too right? Stats: Beginning: 349 Last Week: 192 this Week: 191 Loss: 1 lb Total Loss: 158 lbs Not too bad for not planning. I will be better this week. I would love to see 189 by next week. Hugs, Valorie

Wanda, Even though you say you've been eating nonstop, I'll bet part of the weight is from the surgery. I'll bet the weight will drop again but you and I (all of us really) have to be more careful in our food choices now. Did any of you hear that after 18 to 24 months the body more or less adjusts to the malabsorption of calories so it gets much harder to lose or even maintain weight? I don't know if it's true but I do know it's easier for me to eat more now and I'm certainly more tempted to eat things I have no business eating. I also tend to want to eat when I'm not hungry. I think we are at a critical stage now in that it would easy to step back into old habits if we allow ourselves. I'd like for all of us to post what you do or what you think we all could do to prevent us from regaining weight or to keep us from drifting back into old habits? I know planning is essential and tracking our food intake in whatever manner works for us but what do you do when you are face to face with something tempting? Last week I went to a recognition banquet and ended up eating almost all my dessert. I had told my husband I was just going to accept it and he could eat it. Well, I ate tiny bites and waited in between but instead of just one or two bites, I ate almost all of it. That was stupid because I knew I was going to be called up front for my pin and picture. Thankfully, our department was THE LAST one and my head felt like it was screwed on straight again by that time but WHY did I eat that cake?????????? My "no sugar" rule was serving me so well but now I've allowed myself little bits and I'm backsliding. I didn't have this surgery to fall back into my old routine. What can we do, what do you do? We have to fight this together! CeCe

Oh, Kim, the first part of your post sounded like life had really turned around for you and I was smiling and happy. Then I read about the hospital bill and your husband not having found a job. There's still plenty of stress in your life, huh? Well, I'm glad to hear your health is better. I had mentioned in a recent post that things must be going pretty well for you because we hadn't heard from you. Glad to see you here again! CeCe