To all my wonderful new friends!

It's Saturday am, I'm reading posts on the local & national side. My daughter has just gotten up and is now coloring and has no need for me (YET!), there should be a scream for oj soon! I didn't even get on last night to update you all with my good news...what a slacker I am! Well, yesterday I was 10 days out and had my 1st visit with Brett (in the office, we won't include the hospital!) post op. I lost just over 18lbs! Huh? I thought for sure I was going to be lucky to have lost 10, since I started on the 'smaller' side of this journey. Well, NOW I have a goal to lose 16 more pounds in the next 10 days to put me under 200. So, Brett gave me the okay to drive, to increase my exercise (with caution, etc!) and said to keep my protein gram intake at 80 or above (I had just gotten to 80 grams on Thursday!). Well, I'm sitting here sipping my 1st protein drink of the day and in another hour, I should have 49grams of protein and 2 actigall (bluckchck! can you say NASTY?) in my system and i'm going to walk 1/4 of a mile (no smarties, only a 1/4, not a 1/2! YET!). I'm going to do this 2x today. Use my steps at least 4x today and go to my neices birthday party and have the family fawning all over me, because to them I'm still an invalid! I'm taking Crystal Light with unjury and some cottage cheese. Life is good! Basically, I've been painfree (no pain meds since 4 hours prior to leaving the hospital!), my blood pressure has been awesome and my PCP said as long as I take my BP at least 1 time each day, I don't have to use my BP meds! Already, there are differences, changes and a body that feels better already. I again want to thank all of you for the support , love , shoulders , phone calls , emails , laughs and general friendship you share with others . Delaware has the best of the best! Have a great weekend everyone! Your friend, Valerie

Hi Valerie, You are doing an awsome job and what comes across loud and clear is your positive and upbeat attitude! Congratulations and continue to do well. Peace! Terre

GM Valerie, WTG on the weighloss girl! Keep up the good work and the positive attitude goes along ways. Enjoy you weekend

Val You are doing GREAT Keep up the good work! Sounds like you have an AWESOME attitude. Dianne

Wonderful results so far. Don't worry too much on how fast you lose, and always keep your measurements (decreased inches) and activity level (increase) as backup to give you some positive incentives to help avoid the inevitable letdowns in case you run into a plateau. Glad to hear everything else is going so well. Keep it positive. Rob

Valarie, You are doing great. Keep up the super attitude. It'll help you through all of this. God Bless. TT you soon. ((HUGS)) Elissa

Hi Valerie, Congrats on the weightloss, you're doing great! Linda