Hi guys

Hello to one and all, I've been doing really well and just wanted to share. I'm down about 30 lbs and I'm down 2 dress sizes now. In a 30! woohoo! i'm wearing skirts I've had packed up for 3 years. friends are seeing a difference in my face and my husbands is feeling a difference in my shoulders and that horrible fatty hump I had on the back of my neck area. I have no pain, tenderness, or pulling on my tummy anymore and I've been cleared now for ab exercises. OK exercise has always been a dirty word for me but I know I gotta change all that. SO I was praying the last time I was at the gym for God to supply me with a partner. My husband is more than willing to go with me in the evening but I want to go during the day so that it is part of my day to day stuff. We can go swimming as a family in the evening. Well I got a call from a lady at church who wants to be my workout partner! So God listened and I guess He wants me to do this too. But that is so much better for me 'cause I know I won't not go if some one is dependent on me to meet them. Tax season ends tonight! Ya got until midnight guys! That means my life will change again. My husband will be done with working evenings and we can have a life together again. This has been a less busy tax season than other years. He has been home much more than previous years but I still miss him in the evenings. I'll be glad to be back to "normal". I've finally caught up on all the posts around here. I was out to a youth conference since Thursday. It was really great and reminded me of being young and going myself. Tracey, I picked up one of your books from a bookstore table there and will try to get time to read it soon. I love novels and this one looks very intresting. Melissa, soory about your mama. I'm gald this is soemthing they feel they can treat. I hope that and prayer keep your mind at ease. I can't believe you will be having this at the end of this month! That is soo . Wayne, happy to hear you are back at work. I know what that must mean to a man. Hope it is going well and you are back in the swim of things. Pixielf, guess I need to talk to you someitme about all this workout business. You are really encouraging about all this. Thanks. Naming names is a dangerous thing 'cause someone is always left out. But know this eveyone, I read all the posts. Most times soemone else has already said what I was thinking so I leave off my post, but I do read them all and you are all important to me. I'm glad we're all here together. Thanks.

Jennifer, 30 pounds and two dress sizes in just a few weeks...that's great! Keep up your great work and your motivation is right on!! You go Girl!! That's great that you have a workout partner. Last year, I did the Breast Cancer 3-Day 60 mile walk and it was one of the most wonderful experiences ever. I couldn't have done it before surgery so it was a celebration for me to be able to do it. I started off by having a workout partner. It starts the habit of regular activity or movement, and after awhile you do it because you love how your feel whenever you move. As you lose weight, it just feels great to move inside your new body. It sounds like you're already discovering that and it will only get better. Way to go!!! Early post-op, I started like you are with a partner. I like walking in the organized walking events such as the Relay for Life, Breast Cancer Walk, the Memory Walk for Alzheimers, etc. They are organized walks that give you a goal to work towards in your walking or workout program. Plus, you're in the event-in the moment of being part of a walk. You get to meet people that are like you in being active. They are lots of fun. Usually there is only a minimal registration fee and you get a t-shirt and other donated items for being a walker. For many of them, you don't have to hit up people to get donations. It is a fun thing to do and you get to be part of an event where everyone is pumped and positive to be active. Another thing that I've done is Pilates which is great. It is low stress on your joints yet builds great muscle mass. It also gets you back in touch with your body in deep ways that I never had before. You see a difference physically and mentally too. It is so exciting to hear of all the great things you're already incorporating into your new life. One of the keys in determining long-term post-op success is replacing unhealthy habits that we had pre-op for healthy habits in our new post-op success path. You're already doing that so big CONGRATS to you!! We each find our "thing" - Jan has her gardening which is so awesome and you're reaffirming your love for reading novels (yeah, Tracey). When I speak to pre-ops, I stress as you shrink on the outside, you grow on the inside and you're certainly doing that already! Thanks for sharing all you're doing. It's great! Cathy ObesityHelp Support Group Specialist