Hi Kim Now is the time I have to work harder at maintaining my weight. The scale goes between 266 and 275 every few weeks. I have been at this weight for 14 months now after losing 185 lbs in the first year. I get 120 grams of protein every day and 120 oz of water also. From time to time I do indulge in something I shouldn't; I refuse to feel guilty about it because for me that is the start of a downward spiral. We are all human. Please view yourself as a success and understand that your weight will fluctuate. Be good to yourself. In may I will be going to Atlanta for a users conference. Can you recommend something's to do while I am there? I have been there before and hiked to the top of Stone Mountain. Darrol

Nona, Hi there : I just thought of you and had a great Go to the Over 50 Forum. There is someone talking there about Fibromyalgia. I hope I spelled it right. If you can't find it I will send the link to the room Email to you. Take care Lorraine

Honey, every time I eat a Dove Dark, or a handful of chips, I feel the same way. But, I still eat them. But, yesterday, I was watching an episode on Oprah and there was a woman from France who published the book, French Women Don't Get Fat and she said everyone could, and should, live by the three bite rule. When it comes to anything indulgent, just three very slow bites is all we should have. Take time to enjoy them. Don't gulp any food. Start each meal with a salad. And, enjoy every bite, savoring the flavor. So, That is what I am going to try to do. I know I can't stay away from chocolate, but I will just have three. Let them melt in my mouth, and savor each one. The same with other things. And, I will eat slower, and start with a salad. I can easily eat a whole Lean Cuisine meal and a salad and dessert with no problem. But isn't that less than I could eat? At one time, I could easily eat 2 or 3 Hungry Man dinners and a salad, at one sitting, and still have a dish of ice cream. So, I am better off now. I, too, see the same 10lbs go up and down, mostly up. But I try to keep it under 200. I know more exercise will help and I'm working on that part now that I'm feeling better. It is so hard, though, isn't it? We all know what you're feeling. But you are not a failure, as long as you realize that you have a problem and are aware of it. Denial is the failure. Acknowledgement is the success. Working on it is the reward. Nona

Hey everyone.. Cant believe it has been 2 years plus since I was sitting here with so many questions, waiting for approval, going through all the testing to get this surgery going. I sit here today and reflect on the way I anticipated and the promises I made myself. I look how far I have come what I have accomplished. All that being said. I look at myself returning to my old ways and eating things I know I have no business eating.. Seeing those 5-10 pounds going up and down on that scale. Eating more than I should be able to eat. Wondering have I ruined myself will I have to go and have this surgery again in a few years.? I have done well dont get me wrong.. I have went from 310 pounds to 160-170 pounds.. From a size 28-30 to a 6-8. But I wonder can I screw this up? Does anyone else feel like they are sabatoging there self. I know that I dont have any self control and some days I do real good but the days I do bad I feel like I do real bad. Am I alone in this.. Anyone have any suggestions or feel like I do?

Hi all, I haven't posted here in ages but I have been reading the posts lately. I wanted to check in & let you all know what's happening. I had my surgery 12/9/2003 starting at almost 350#. A year or so ago got down to 190 & I had my first plastic surgery in March of 2005. In August I had a second procedure as well as some liposuction. During the last year I have only lost the weight from the skin removal. I have stayed the same otherwise. I now weigh 180#. I am trying to figure out how to lose another 15# or so but so far it's not happening. In December I had my gallbladder removed as well as a bladder repair. I also became a grandmother for the first time. Last week I did something that has shocked most everyone, especially my children. I got my belly button pierced! I love it & it was painless. Afterward, I stopped to see my great niece at her job in the beauty shop next door to the piercing place. I decided that the words "Great aunt" & belly button pierced" really don't belong in the same sentence. Feel free to ckick on the WWW below to view my albums. The piercing is the last page of the Tummy tuck album. The album titled "second phase" is my second plastic surgery. Dixie