Hi Maureen, I'm back to basics too. It seems since I got my gall bladder out last year, I've been able to eat a little more food at mealtime. I'm still below the surgeon's goal....but not by much. I slacked on my walking, too. I think that is my major issue because I don't seem to consume a lot of calories. Anyway....you are right....just gotta do it! luvitsunnyv

Oh Yeah. My scale died a year ago and I didn't replace it. Then I started having some medical issues and periodically went to the Dr's where they weighed me. Still creeped up some, but not alarmingly so. Some of it I attributed it to the medical issues. I still think that probably 10 lbs of that true, but the other 10 lbs is all me. I was sick yesterday and and called into work. I started feeling better in the afternoon, and visited the local thrift store to see if I could find something cheap and pretty to wear. Haven't been there in awhile, but I usually end up with an armful of stuff. Everything I tried on, really looked ugly . I went bra shopping at Walmart and that didn't go well either. Definately shocked me back into reality. In the past year I have revisited some really, really, ugly eating habits. I know better, and I didn't have this surgery to fail. Before I gained this weight back, I was stil 30 lbs from what I considered my goal Then and there I made a new decison . I don't want to punish myself, because I would just rebel and make it so much worse. I will go back to basics. Since I am offically a pre op (3 wks) from another surgery, I can't do anything crazy anyway . I am going to go back to what I did preop , preparing for the bypass surgery. It isn't unhealthy and my organs and digestive track will be prepared for the trauma that is to come. It should also take 10- 15 lbs off, and the plan is to reset my eating habits again. 21 days of liquids, protein, lots of water, broth stuff like that. I know I can do it because I did before. Wasn't pleasant, but I wanted, and needed that surgery more than anything else. I could just picture my liver being all boggy, and the Dr not being able to get underneath it to do the bypass. Then, in the process having my liver knicked up badly, and because of the consistency not being able to repair it. Since that surgery, my life has gotten so much better. Thin is just normal now. Even though I didn't really feel "thin". Back them people were telling me I couldn't afford to lose any more or I would be a skin and bones. Yeah, right. I have seen several women that had this surgery, and slowly gained back most of what they lost. That could be me . Yesterday was the first day in a year or more that I came back to this board. I am grateful for it. I wish you luck in 07 and am sending you love and light. We can do this! Maureen

Hi Nona, Your new pic looks great. Sorry to hear about the pain you continue to deal with. I'm sure it gets discouraging. I'm doing okay...weight is up a little because I've not been exercising like I should. I hope once I've taken this State Board exam that I can get back in a routine and pull off those 5 pounds. I have to eat several times a day to avoid hypoglycemia and even after three plus years I can get the "foamies' real easy. Not complaining....I wouldn't go back to pre WLS days at all! Take care my friends....stay well and have a blessed and sunny day.

Just popped in to say 'Hello'. Don't have much time, or energy to do much any more. Just work and home and that's about it. I have found someone to help me with house work who doesn't charge a fortune. She's only coming twice a month, and we are also closing the upstairs and moving our bedroom down to the first floor because it is getting harder for me to get up and down the stairs. I'm selling all my exercise equipment, if I can, to help pay some mounting medical bills. I'm now down to 140lbs. My weight is 'normal' according to BMI scales. I just hope it doesn't go any lower. I wear a 6/8 on the bottom and a 10/12 on the top. My arms are the reason for that. Can't afford to have the skin removed. It's kind of funny, in that so many are struggling to keep their weight off, and I'm trying to keep mine on. But just as fast, my disease could turn around and blow me up like a balloon and there's nothing I could do to stop that either. I have a lot of food allergies, so I only can eat what I cook from scratch, very lean meat, fresh or frozen veggies, green only, and whole grains and a few fruits, the kinds you can peel, excluding peaches and pears, plums. I'm not suppose to eat banana's but I do once in a while. I eat around 800 calories a day, sometimes less, and drink only soy milk. I can't exercise, except for stretching. I can't tolerate cold at all. I really want to move to Arizona or southern New Mexico. Maybe someday, if I get rich. Nona

Sunny, How are you doing? You will be an excellent nurse and me being in nursing read over time your compassion and time and effort that you put into it. You would be a great nurse and blessed to get to work on the Bariatric Med/Surg floor. You could give your best from your experience. Your words of compassion would come from your mouth and especially from your "HEART" I am praying you will be working there. I have alot of obes and morbidly obese patients that come to my floor which is Med/Surg. If they talk about being obese,. Before I left for my foot surgery I chatted with a 19 years boy who was over 800 lbs. I hope the advice he asked for has helped him. He was on a respirator and could not breathe. If it was not for our special bed with a scale built in we would not know what he weighed.I do talk to them if they ask my advice. We don't do any Baratric Surgery where I work. If they had that unit, I would love to work there. Good Luck to you girl Keep me posted Lorraine