Lorraine - From a fellow crazy...I lost all my weight, reached my goal almost exactly one year after surgery. For Christmas last year, my oldest brother bought me a 2 pound box of See's candy...my older brother bought me a gift pack of Smucker's jellies. See's candy was one reason I weighed 310 pounds. I am ashamed to say that yes, I did eat the candy...ALL of it. But, as opposed to before my surgery, when the box would have been gone in one day, it took me almost a month, eating one piece every once in a while. And guess what? I found out it's actually OK to eat "wrong", as long as you control it! I help control it by eating sugar free candies - they are wonderful! And Lay's makes fat free chips that taste exactly like "real" chips, and are only 75 calories for 1 ounce - which is really alot of chips! And I constanly hunt down sugar free, fat free or low fat recipes - Kraft.com is GREAT for this! They had a recipe for a Cream cheese pie that is to die for, and is sugar free and low fat! They have great meal recipes for us, and LOTS of dessert options that we can eat and not feel guilty about. Try them! Lots of luck! Melissa

I read on the main forum that those power crunch bars are really good. I will have to try them also. Thank you for the tip.

Dear Lorraine, My sister and brother didn't gain weight until they were in their 30s. I started gaining as soon as I got my first period. Anyway, my brother-in-law...My sister and brother-in-law live in Connecticut and I barely ever see them... I saw him a few times in the last year and he ALWAYS says, "oh Allison, you are a half of what you used to be" That just sounds like such an insult to me, so I know EXACTLY what you mean. My husband tends to insult me and he thinks it's funny, but for once, the other day this happened. He is 6 years older then me, and I did have this really really nice thing happen to me. We went to watch Jaime play POWDER PUFF football for homecoming. She is a Junior and it is the Juniors against the Seniors, and one of their friends mother's said, "Your wife looks young, how old is she?" and he said, "She's a freshman." Okay, that was a dumb story to tell, but it made me laugh. Oh! BTW... You DID handle your temper. You didn't shoot her, did you? Allison

Hi there Allison, I hope that Diane is Ok. I have not heard a thing. Lets keep our ears and eyes open and say our prayers for her safe return Lorraine

Dear Jesi, You are not a failure! I hate to hear you even think that. You look wonderful in your pictures...so pretty and sweet. I have been reading the plastics board and ALMOST everyone says they have gone up in weight because they have so much swelling. The carbs thing, that is another issue. My husband brought home these cinnamin buns and THANK GOD everyone liked them and ate them all up, because they were all I could think about. What I do is not bring things I can't resist into the house. (he also brought these cheese balls home from Sam's Club and I always want to pop a few in my mouth... I only did it ONCE, but I think about taking more each time I see them) We are all having some trouble and issues that we are dealing with about eating, BUT!!!! people that I talk to all know someone who has had this surgery and either never lost much weight, lost for awhile and stopped, and gained it all back. They are NOT people that lurk on the boards and keep reading about what you need to do or discuss their troubles. We all care about you here and I want you to feel better. I will pray. I promise. Allison