HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE !

O.K. a new year. I have been struggling with me eating...but I am loving going to the gym. I have been stuck at 240 for too long for my liking....but I am going to work on balance in this new year. I have always struggled with balance in my life. I have gotten much better than I was in the past. THE WAYS I AM GOING TO WORK ON BALANCE... 1) BACK TO THERAPY... 2) ADD MORE STRUCTURE..(DO NOT DO WELL WITH ALONE OR DOWN TIME) 3) WORK DOES NOT = MY LIFE...A TOUGH ONE FOR ME 4) SOCIAL LIFE VS "THINGS TO DO" 5) EATING ON A SCHEDULE..AND ACTUALLY PLANNING WHAT I AM GOING TO EAT...INSTEAD OF DOING IT IN THE MOMENT. WELL I AM OFF TO THE GYM.....AFTER I EAT..... I WISH ALL OF YOU A HAPPY NEW YEAR ! I VALUE THIS COMMUNITY MORE THAN I COULD EVER HAVE IMAGINED.... WHAT PLANS DO YOU ALL HAVE FOR THIS NEW YEAR ?

Happy New Year to you my friend! This year is definitely going to be my year to focus on me! 1. I have my first appt. with the Psych on 1/24 and I'm looking forward to that. My mental health is as important as my physical health. 2. I'm putting exercise at the top of the list of things to do. This will be the key to my long term success with weight loss and better health. Everything else is secondary. 3. I am not going to focus on the negative and let the negatives define who I am. Only positive thoughts are allowed in my head. If I find a negative trying to sneak in, I will snag it and figure out how to make it a positive. Thank you, everyone, for all the wonderful support you offer to me and everyone else. This is truly a positive community. Rachelle

My plans: Keep on exercising. Keep on doing my meal plan. Keep on making sure I get my fluids. Find positives in every day. Improve my social life.

I'm 241 right now but I'm trying to be patient. WLS-related goals: - Learn to cook better and become more adventurous and creative with food - Watch my sodium intake and increase fluid consumption - Exercise at least 30 minutes a day at least three times a week - Start strength training - Start jogging/running - Get down to 175 for my birthday (9/27) Non-WLS related goals: - Catch up on old movies - Read more - Travel overseas - Succeed in school - Get a new job that doesn't suck, with coworkers that don't suck - Save money better - Make new friends and (hopefully) relationships - Keep my room clean - Pay off my car loan

Great plan --but switch your eating to after you work out. If you need energy to workout have something to drink or drink fluids WHILE working out. The rule is to eat WITHIN the hour AFTER you work out because MUSCLE REQUIRES food. Every weight trainer I've always had has told me that -- that could be one of the reasons you are not seeing any weight loss -- just a suggestion. I don't plan any of my meals either because I never know what I'm going to feel like eating -- salad or chili or chicken or something.

Happy New Year Sean! 2008 is the year for me! It has already started. I just got a promotion and start the new job on Monday. After vacation this month, I'm changing my life goals to put my happiness first and everyone on this board has helped me move to this point. Thanks. JM