JaNae~ You look AMAZING! Praise the LORD! Thanks for posting this too. I love reading all the updates. 1. Pre-op/Current/Goal? 314/188/150 2. What are you eating on a regularly basis? TOO MUCH! I am starting to feel old habits creeping up as well. I am praying against them BIG time. I can eat pretty much anything including sugar. So, I try DESPERATELY to stay away from fatty carbs and sugar. Sugar was a HUGE trigger food before surgery. So, I try hard to resist. It seems like this time of year is like sabatoge for me as well...I want to succeed, but I am weak. So, I repeat my mantra "Girl, you almost DIED, you spend a LOT of $, Food almost killed you the FIRST time!" And usually, this helps me focus. Surgery fixes ONLY your body, not your head. So, I am doing battle with my head! I eat: A lot of fruit, especially apples. I eat salad, soup, meat, meat and more meat. I also struggle with snacks, I eat some very naughty stuff. Am I PROUD of this behavior? NO, but I want to be more accountable, so I lay it out for everyone to see. It's a daily struggle to continue to overcome the addiction I have had all my life. But, God is faithful and I KNOW, with Him, I can be successful! 3. Any regrets/complications/issues? No regrets, no complications since the initial one. The issues, I mentioned above. 4. How are you doing on vitamins and protein? Vitamins ~ DAILY! Protein~Struggle. 5. Any advice? Don't forget to exercise! I find that when I am faithful to working out my energy level is SO much better than when I don't. Also, get your family/friends/co-workers on board to keep you accountable!! Thanks again JaNae~

Congratulations on your weight loss! I had WLS December 1, 2005, weighed in at 216 and am now down to 127 lbs. I feel wonderful, healthy, focused and full of energy. I agree with you when you say that the tool is the most important part of the journey -- I am so grateful for the tool that was given to me. I've been overweight my whole life and had a completely different lifestyle. I sat on the couch all day watching t.v. and eating. I never exercised. Now I am always on the go and I walk 35 miles a week. I still have emotional eating issues but am working on them. I tend to graze a little too much but am still losing weight. I never miss my protein shake in the morning (Anywhey from Rite-Aid with orange juice). All of this has helped me get thin and hopefully stay thin. Because nothing tastes as good as thin feels. Good luck to you! Janet

Ya'll make me feel like I eat too much. I drink an Isopure protein shake EVERY morning (with skim milk) (I love them). I don't eat again until lunch when I have something like Wendy's Chilli, tuna or egg salad, or cheese with a couple of whole wheat crackers. I love no sugar added peanut butter and will snack on that and almonds if hungry later afternoon. For dinner, I usually have another protein drink and then maybe some more almonds/peanut butter. I feel like I eat way too many almonds. I pour myself two ounces every morning into a container and that's what I eat from. Anyway, some days I seem to be lot hungrier than other days. I'm thrilled with the surgery and weight loss and the way I feel, etc. I'm only afraid that I'll eventually regain and that maybe I eat too much and will stretch the new pouch. But we're all in this together, I'm sure some of you feel that way sometimes too. Does it sound like I eat too much?

Hi Madeline, I don't have any recipe ideas either but wanted to point out there's a cooking/recipe forum. They may be posting holiday ideas there?

Try Chocolite. They are 30 calories a piece and no sugar (albeit some sugar alcohol)/ Best tasting I have found.