Cheri

Nice site!! Those are the prices I'm talkin' about!! I only get to LB about 2x a year because I live so far away from any good sized cities. They had a lot of their stuff marked down 50% with an additional 60% off of the 50! I got a $89 jacket for 20 bucks! The rest of the stuff I got was around $5 each! I usually can't afford LB, but love the quality!! I will definitely bookmark the closeout site and shop when my hubby chills out!! LOL

WOO WOO!!! Can you tell I'm excited?!?!?! I am going for my first fill in a few minutes, but that's not what has me pumped! The bra - you know, THE BRA - with underwire and pretty material? Well, it is on this body and not cutting me in half (first time in ten years!) AND - I am wearing the shirt - you know, THE SHIRT - with no gaps or stretched out button holes!!!! It is actually a little loose on me~ The scale says 243, but we'll see what it says as I toss it out the window!!! WOO WOO WOO WOO!!! ~cheri:clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

Unjury protein! Itdoesn't taste too bad, and I can use an egg whipper if I don't feel like a smoothie from the blender! My trick for actually somewhat enjoying the shake is adding sugar-free chocolate syrup "stuff". They have it at walmart, and it only has like 15 calories for a serving! It is well worth the calories for me! I have just recently added benefiber unflavored to my shake "concoction". I was not getting much fiber in my diet. The powder dissolves completely & is tasteless!! Invest in a personal blender, some sugar-free chocolate syrup, and enjoy!!! Good Luck! ~cheri

Okay, penni, breathe! Breathe while you can, and remember to keep breathing even when you don't have time for it! How many kids do you have? Sounds like you had rabbits intead of children - just kidding!! Your mom has lots of "strangers" prayers (which are better than friend prayers IMHO), so she is being looked out for! Enjoy the bead expo, and take some time while you are away for a mani-pedicure!! The closest thing to a chocolate bath! Hang in there! ~cheri

Girl, get you some fence locks:lock1: , a pit bull, and a tazer gun:laser: !! That will solve a heck of a lot! (Make sure to use the tazer on the idiotic parents in your neighborhood!!!) Just kidding, but wouldn't it be nice?!?! Oh, by the way, I would take a chainsaw to the fishing poles:Banane26: or sell them and use the funds for my own "fishing" trip!!! Any great resorts in the area:ip: ?

Hey Folks! I am beginning to think that Friday the 13th is my lucky day! Not only did THE BRA and THE SHIRT fit, but my fill went fine, and Lane Bryant was having a 60% off the clearance rack yesterday!! Talk about WOO WOO, I could barely keep from dancing in the aisles!!! I got several pieces for under $50 - although I still got in trouble by my hubby for buying clothes while losing weight (he just doesn't get it!!) Thanks for your replies, everyone...and I seriously doubt I ever go into cracker barrel again (although I have been out to restaurants a ton of times, CB just left a bad image for me!!!) I don't really think anyone needs to eat there - the food is awesome, but my arteries would groan as soon as we would park the car!!! ~cheri

Okay, so I thought we just shared our twisted sense of humor, but it looks like I might actually be your clone (or you might be mine, depending on who's older!!!) I have an 8 1/2" inch wrist, wear a size 11 ring (which was purchased at 150 lbs.), a size 11 shoes, but you are somewhat taller than me. I have my goal set at 150, although I know I will probably never reach it - and if I do, I will most likely join the Lindsay Lohan-Nicole Ritchie-Olsen Twins Bags OF Bones Club!!!! I am thinking 175 is a great number to work toward, but I agree with the person who posted that you look HOT now!~! Hey, why don't you make your goal 230? That way someone else might actually have a chance of winning your challenge!?!?!?! ~cheri

Don't fret over it, Sunta. I think most of us had at least a four month "waiting" period!! It stinks, but it goes by pretty quickly!! Best of luck!

That really stinks...but...the right fit will come along and you'll be glad you didn't settle!! Sounds like a cool career field! My brother programs medical applications for a cancer research center, my husbands programs robots, and I chat on LBT! Maybe I should learn some new skills!! Don't worry, that better opportunity will come along soon!!!

Well, I found something weird in my fridge, too. I don't know which is weirder, the fuzzy grapes my 2 year-old was eating or the fact that he stuck his entire collection of weebles in there!!!! Guess it's time for a fridge lock!!! I have three kids and he is the only one to get into the fridge by himself, AND the only one to throw everything on the floor into the toilet! Now you understand why I am such a psycho!!

Hey guys, just wanted to share this experience to maybe help save someone out there the anguish I went through! So, I went to a restaurant this weekend for the first time since surgery. We had spent the day Christmas shopping...building up quite a hunger I must add. The family chose Cracker Barrel for dinner because they are known to have Soups, applesauce, and cottage cheese - you know, things I can have. Well, after waiting almost an hour for our table, we find out that they only had chili (yikes!), don't serve cottage cheese, and I was afraid to put applesauce in my tummy (it makes the runs even runnier in my case)! I was already struggling with the visions of people stuffing their faces with all that yummy food - everywhere I looked there was something I will never eat again being shoved into the pie-hole of someone who obviously didn't want it as badly as I did! Adding to that was the fact that I could not have anything there but Water - the next thing I know the tears come streaming. How utterly embarassing!! I was completely horrified with myself, how could I be so upset over something so stupid!?!? Well, no matter how hard I tried to chill myself out, the tears just would not stop! I excused myself from the table (did I mention that my MIL had been staying with us for the past week, and was heading home the next morning? ... ah, that's a whole other story), went out to the car, sat there and cried until I was almost sick! I had NO idea food had such a hold on me! Point of this story - next time I go to a restaurant, I will be certain I am mentally ready to face all of my issues head-on! Anyway, I hope everyone out there is doing well. I hope you are all finished with your holiday shopping, and I pray for continued wellness for all of us here!!! ~cheri

I love the new smilies too! BUT, I think I may have to watch when my daughter reads post with me - how do you explain 2 humping bananas to an eight year old??? LOL The naked Dolly Parton banana is definitely the best!!!

I have a Protein shake as SOON as I get up everyday - soo great for the metabolism (that is what makes the taste manageable)! Then, a few hours later I have "breakfast", which usually includes 1 egg cooked somehow and a yogurt smoothie. Maybe even a few strawberries or 1/2 a banana on the side. For lunch, I have 1/2 cup of cottage cheese or a yogurt with 1/2 Peanut Butter sandwich on low-carb bread or turkey and provolone on a low carb tortilla. I can't eat lettuce, but you could add lettuce for some variety (if you can eat it) Yesterday, I tried a South Beach wrap for lunch, but didn't enjoy it too much! For dinner, I have a good source of protein (lean hamburger, chicken breast, pork loin, etc) and a vegetable of some sort - unfortunately the veggie is usually some potato dish (stick to 1/2 cup or less and it's not so bad) No bad carbs at dinner (no refined sugars or white breads!!!) For my snack, I count up my propel drinks for the day, add in my Fiber choice tablets, and if I have room in my calories for the day, I will have an apple or some grapes - or, if the chocolate urge is in full gear, I will have a sugar-free chocolate pudding!!! But, hey - what do I know? My weight hasn't changed since going back on solids!! I have not had a fill yet either, so my portions may be too big, but they are definitely much smaller than before! Good luck (I hope this helps!!) ~cheri

Mykdsdad - I think we call it a BAR - B- Q around these southern parts!! Of course, everything is called a barbecue around these parts!! LOL Fried chicken, burgers, hot dogs... I thought barbecue was ribs and chicken!?

Week 2 - Water - always get it in, cause I love water food - tough week, I have learned that my appetite increases in the evnings, so I must stay away from all temptations (and temptors) Exercise - Walked 45 minutes 4 days, strength training twice Weight - still 244

1/2/06 Weight - 244 NSV - Tagging my 24's for a future yard sale!! 1/9/06 Weight - 244 (also last week and week before) I go for my 1st fill on Friday, so maybe my weight will actually change for the week after next!!! NSV - my daughter (8 years old) walks with me everyday. Yesterday, she was tired before I was!!!!!

PLease count me in too!!! I need all the motivation I can get!! ~cheri Weight today - 245 Weight in 26 weeks - 215 (Or 240's!!!)

Mary, Are you getting your required Protein? I finally had to start tracking my levels because I was fatigued, too. The surgery, anesthesia, and healing process cause you to SLOW DOWN, but once you start feeling physically better, you need to make sure you are getting your protein!! It really has helped me! If you can't stand the Protein shakes (I don't enjoy it, but I feel a million times better on the days I drink one for breakfast), try boiling a chicken breast and then pureeing it. Put plenty of chicken broth in it, and you have a TRUE protein meal! Good luck, and hope this helps! ~cheri

Got to agree with everyone else on this one! You are a light to us all (whoa, don't blind me, okay!?!?! Geez...) You truly rock, even without a back-up band!! - haha Seriously though, you have inspired me, motivated me, calmed me, kicked me in the pants - and I thank you for it! Love ya, you psychottie chick!! ~cheri

I agree - WHOO HOO - the hottie train is approaching! (My brown eyes are green with envy!!) ~cheri

Wow, look at that hottie picture, vinesqueen!! WOOT WOOT! You go girl!

Delarla, I guess I didn't commit as commted as I thought I was! I need commited - hehe! Did anyone get that?? I have confused myself! Oh, I remember, please add me to your wonderful list! Weight as of 1/4 - 244, my goal is to make it to 225 by the end of the challenge!!! Thanks dear! I apologize for the confusing note, but I had a piece of cake (first pure sugar crap since surgery), and it's killer late here!! Forgive me??

Hey everyone! Just wanted to let you know that I am still out here (somewhere). I have not been spending quite as much time on the sites lately (Holidays were so so busy - my birthday, sister's birthday, and my now 2 year old's birthday on top of Christmas and New Years! Whew!!) I have been doing pretty well, but I find it VERY easy to overdo it in the food dept. For instance, tonight was my little one's birthday party, so I was very skimpy on food this morning (you know, saving up!!) Tonight I had a couple of mozzarella sticks, about 4 squares of homemade pizza(maybe more), and a 2" square of birthday cake. I ate so much it almost made me sick, I can not understand why I allow myself to do this! Before, it would have been at least 5 cheese sticks, at least half a pizza, and a MUCH MUCH larger slice of cake (or two), but I still had WAY over 2000 calories in just that one meal. I can't wait to get some restriction (I know I have some, but I want a lot more!!) I have my first fill on the 13th - woo hoo!! I have been exercising on my own according to my www.sparkpeople.com guidelines, and I will begin at the gym on Monday. I can't wait to find the new me somewhere hidden deep inside!!! Oh, by the way, sparkpeople is a super site for help with weight loss. You need to wait until you are on solids, but it gives you a personalized exercise program, so many goals you can work toward, daily incentives, and you can track all of your food on it!! I add my personal daily foods onto the database, that way others can use them too (such as my unflavored unjury Protein powder). Did I mention that it is free??? Well, everyone, I hope you are all getting into the New Year with a view of the new you to come!!! Good Luck! ~cheri

I am in, too! (unless we have to sign in blood, yikes! I'm not so fond of needles - hehe) I really needed to read your Mission Statement!! Thanks! ~cheri

Hey, I went to the link to check out my stats! I am 68 inches, 245 pounds, and barely 35 (hehe) Your basal metabolic rate (basically couch potato weight maintenance amount - I think), aerobic metabolic rate (must take in more than this to gain weight), and a guideline for safe weight loss is given!! Mine (for my personal stats) is posted below! No less than 1354.0 calories per day recommended for safe consistent weight loss. Mo more than 45.136g (30%) of fat, 50.778g (15%) of Protein, 186.18g (55%) of carbohydrate. At this safe consistent Weight Loss Caloric rate, you will lose 1 pound every 7 days. That is what the site suggests. Personally, I believe that carb number is way high! I also try to stay below 1200 calories, but now I know I can play with my numbers a little! This really helped with my questions, thanks again! I found this FREE site for fitness tracking, has a great calorie counter (and you can add your own foods to it!!) I like it so far, give it a try!!! www.sparkpeople.com ~cheri