Good for you! Your dress is really lovely and you will be a beautiful bride! Your fiance is very lucky and be sure you remember that!

I am so happy for you! You know, the weight loss is great and it's nice to look better and feel better about ourselves. BUT, nothing tops the absence of the aches and pains we had before surgery. Keep up the good work. I bet it will only get better and better! Sherry

I have had a bunch of little wows nothing to write home about. My first big wow was fitting into the booth at Popeyes. Couldn't believe it. Most of you know I have had a lot of Ortho surgeries over the years and very limited to what I can do. I have not been in a hugh shopping mall in decades. Just couldn't walk it. I went into Dillards. That was the only store. But that was a BIG deal to me. We walked slow and went on every floor. I was like a kid in a candy store. So much has changed so much has stayed the same. I was walking and looking and walking and walking. Finally it was my friend that said I better call it a day. It has been YEARS since I have walked that much and WITH OUT holding on to a shopping cart!!!!!!!! Yes I did hurt the next day but it was muscle hurt and not bone hurt. I kept checking my self. I don't know how to act with out my bones hurting. I can't wait to do it again but I do have to take it slow so I don't hurt my bones. The last hip replacement I had my bones were so brittle they had to use some one elses to complete the replacement. So even if I do become a walker it will forever have to be a slowwwwwww walker. But hey I don't care I AM WALKING

1) Eaten chips? Yes. I have eaten chips on about 6 occassions. One of those 25 cent bags is just about right. I have had vinegar and salt chips, hot chips, cheese puffs, doritos, and last night I had about 6 sweet chili and sour cream chips. 2) Tried soda? I have only sipped on soda a few times. I had a 20 ounce Coke One in the fridge and had a couple of ounces of it at a time. It is still in the fridge though, and I haven't had any in over a week at least 3) Tried something with sugar? My nutritionist said to just try to stay under 30 grams of sugar at a time, so I have been having sugar all along. I do stay under 30 grams at a time. The biggest sugar item I have is Lipton Sweet Tea. It is 17 grams per serving and there are two servings per jar, so when I drink that I go just over 30 grams. I have eaten some candies. No more than one piece a day. Usually about 4 pieces of candy a week. Something like a peanut butter cup, a small piece of milk chocolate, a chocolate mint, or Butterfinger Stix. 4) Eaten Popcorn? Yes. I had popcorn from my husband's bag at the movie theater not too long after surgery actually. And then I have some of the mini bags of popcorn at home, and when I pop some for the kids, I usually eat about half a dozen pieces. 5) Chewed Gum? Yes. Are some people told not to chew gum long term? 6) Skipped a meal? Yes. I don't get overly concerned as long as I get my nutrients and fluids in each day. And one day a week, I let myself slack on getting all my protein in. One day a week is no shakes and no protein bars!!! 7) Not exercized for a whole week straight? Not yet. I have gotten at least one day a week so far. 8) Eaten your carbs and no protein for a meal? Yes. Sometimes I get my protein in early enough in the day that I can have a meal without concentrating on carbs. Normally, I drink a shake for breakfast with 30 grams of protein and have a protein bar for lunch or snack after lunch with 30 grams, so from there I don't focus on protein much since I only have to get 15 more grams for the day through my regular food. It's not usually a problem. 9) Had an alcoholic beverage? No. Not sure when I will. I only every drank once or twice a year anyway, so it's not a big deal, but not long ago, a friend said something about "the girls" going out and getting drunk, and I wondered how that would work out for me. I decided I could be the designated driver. When I take a sleeping pill, it hits me within 2 to 3 minutes of taking it, and I can barely walk straight. I even get slurred speach. I told my husband that Lunesta is my alcohol. 10) Eaten out at a restaurant? Yes. I have eaten out several times. We love going to restuarants together. At first it was emotionally difficult, but I have it worked out now with a strategy, and it is not stressful. I have been to Joe's Crab Shack, Red Lobster (3 times), a local resturant for catfish, a mexican restaurants 3 times, an italian resturant 1 time, and Pizza Hut 1 time. When we go, we immediately ask for our drink to be in a "to go" cup. We ask for a to go box very early on and tuck away a good portion of our food to be taken home. If I know that I am taking it home and it isn't sitting on my plate, I am less tempted to keep eating past when I should. I have them hold the salad (or get some soup) and have to be careful about eating the complimentary breads. I like to eat about half a piece of bread, so I am not willing to tell them to just not bring any bread. Now, I am going to read everyone else's posts and see how "bad" I am. LOL!

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!