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Ok GF the 1st thing you do is go buy a stupid scale - then you weight 1st thing in the morning after you have peed & pooped (i know tmi) and weight totally naked !!!! If you aren't weighing in the same clothes then there is no way to tell.. Just keep on keeping on - what the carbs and drink your water - how's your restriction doing - it's not going to come off over night - some weeks I only lost 1/2 a pound - but all those 1/2 adds up each week and each month... I think it's the full moon !!!! Kari - Wii Fit & EA are my new transfer addiction - spent 6 hours yesterday playing the diff exercise games - alot better than sitting 6 hrs in front of the computer on my butt.... Yes I went today and ck'd my crops - see I have lost ALOT - well it's just a stupid computer game - so no biggie - I am loving my Wii - and have been too busy at work to play there since Karri is coming to visit on Friday - So no can't say I have quit forever - just not my main priority right now.. Since you aren't going to the gym you should invest in one ... It can become your new transfer addiction too... And it's alot more healthier for you... You will reap real benefits not imaginary ones :0) Have you gotten your passport yet !!! OK girls - run to my house !!! We can swim - plant flower- play Wii and all eat healthy together - it's not really about losing 5 lbs in 2 weeks - that's a big big amount in 2 weeks - it's about staying on track or getting back on track if you have fallen off.. That's all - who care if you only lose 1 lbs - its a loss and that's what truly matters... Phyl - sorry that Earl's being a butthead - wish I had some advice there - but alas I'm single for that very reason don't want to put up with the 3 days of bad - even for the 4 days of good - I can do that all by myself Weigh in isn't till Friday anyway - and I don't think I will make the 5 either and I hiked on Saturday - played 6 hrs of wii yesterday and 1 hr today and have been eating well.. So don't sweat the 5 lbs - just keep on track - we all know that some weeks the scales aren't our freinds no matter how hard we work.. Hugs - Tomorrow will be a better day !!!! Ok 23 months out and I get to report a NSV !!! Today was legs w/trainer - he had us do walking lunges - Well guess what - I can touch my back knee on the floor !!!! it's taken 15 months of working out - but I can do it - I can do it !!! Well it's 9 I haven't eaten - my spinach is draining and so I am off to eat... Keep up the good work girls - you are worth it - the scales might not show it today - but in the long run they will... Hugs & Sweet Dreams

Question... what is NSV? Is that someone's name or is it a short form for something... I'm clueless!

Today's NSV: Every year the students order tee shirts promoting Medical Assisting. Linda always orders 3X. This year Linda ordered 1X. Linda got an XL. Today is the day that everyone wears their tee shirt (Medical Assistant Week). Linda is wearing her XL--and get this--it looks better tucked in! Unbelieveable!!!

None of my fills have hurt and he doesn't numb me or use a fluroscope. He just has me keep my legs out straight lying down and raise them slightly to tighten the stomach muscles and it is easy to see where to stick the needle. No pain! Kathy, thanks for asking about NSV, pretty sure it meant a new good thing, but didn't know what it stood for. Tried to post from airport on Sunday, but lost it and didn't feel like typing again. Wanted to tell you what my dr said when i asked him why we panic so when we pb. I mean it isn't blocking the airway, so why do we sweat, get flushed, have saliva pouring out, nose running, get panicky, etc. etc. He said that it is because of all the main nerves running behind the esophagus. I remember that my mother had a hysterectomy for cancer and then they stuck their hands in to remove the tumor that was on the intestines and her heartrate would skyrocket. When they pulled back out, everything was normal. It was the Vaga (sp?) nerve that runs up the esophagus to the stomach.

Phyll- Sorry to hear about your son. It has to be frustrating, I have a teacher that I work with that is going through the exact same thing, but I don't think that bond was quite that high. As for the crying, I have been the same way lately. Mine is mostly about hating my job, but I will see a sad commercial or show or hear a sad song and I get all choked up. Here is a funny story that might get you to laugh a little bit. I just got done doing my workout routine with the exercise ball and weights. I was doing push ups and I go until my arms just won't lift me any further. Just as they gave out and I kind of ungracefully rolled off the ball, my boyfriend turned around to look at the tv and there I was sprawled out all over the floor. He said "when you claimed to be a beached whale in the past, I didn't think that you ever looked like one, but seeing you laying there all sweaty and flopped over, I think I finally see it." He was just kidding of course but I told him that I was going to have to post that he called me a beached whale. Then he said "well, more like a beached guppy, there is just not enough blubber left on ya." How sweet. I will take it as a compliment. So here is an NSV for the day. I went in to the copy room this morning to make a few copies. Then I left and quickly remembered that I forgot to check my mailbox and turned around to go back in. I heard another teacher say "Holy crap she has lost a lot of weight". I knew that they really meant it, because there is a wall between where I was and where they were, so they weren't just saying it to make me feel good. :clap2: That makes me happy because the stinking scale went up a pound today. But that is okay because the jeans that I just bought 2 weeks or so ago are getting loose!!!!!! I am starting to think that I will be really happy when I get my fill on the 21st. I am still staying at the same amount of calories, but I am having to eat a lot of salads to even get satisfied anymore. I found this great new caesar salad dressing spritz that has 2 calories per spray so that helps with my wanting to eat. I have wanted to eat, eat, eat in the last few days. My will power is being tested. So far I would give it an A, and since I am a certified, legitimate teacher, that should be an accurate grade. Good night all, chat with you tomorrow.

So...just got back from Anchorage...I didn't have good access to the internet and I don't have the time/patience to read everything that I've missed...I hope nothing BIG, but if there was something big I expect that someone will fill me in. So I had my second fill on Wed. afternoon. Put another 1.0 cc in = 2.5cc. I didn't feel any restriction and that afternoon I was able to eat a baked potato and small salad (Wendy's has internet access so I was there for a few minutes checking some email.) :huytsaoI called him and said that I'd like more so I went back in on Fri. and got another .5 cc put in. he did a check and pulled it all out to make sure there wasn't a leak and it all looked good. :)So now I HAVE RESTRICTION! And GOOD restriction at that! I was getting a little jealous that everyone was only eating a little bit and I could eat...well, more than that. So now I've been cut off! Now, I just have to get over the "head hunger"! :hungry:I had lunch with a friend the other day and we had chicken legs and salad. I got through the salad, had two bites of chicken and got stopped up! I had a real hard time with having food still on my plate and I hadn't eaten that much! I even picked at it for about 15 minutes, but just got more and more uncomfortable so finally I stopped. Carbonation doesn't bother me though (tried a diet Coke yesterday and was fine, but I didn't drink it fast either). So, maybe I'm on my way? We'll see. I head off for my cruise in a few weeks and I definitely won't feel all sexy, but definitely better about myself.:biggrin1: OH.....NSV! I went to get some jeans (mine are FALLING off of me) and I had to go down TWO sizes! It was AMAZING! I felt good having to go back to the racks for a SMALLER size!:clap2::whoo:

In the case of that I have a legal obligation to step in and report to child welfare services because I am a mandatory reporter. Hopefully this will be my last year as a teacher. I really don't like the job. It is thankless and I am noticing that I just don't have the patience that I used to. I don't want a job where I have 5-6 hours of "homework" after I am finished at my job. I would like to come home, workout (of course) and then just spend the rest of the evening with my BF doing whatever we want. I have had to give up our season tickets to the symphony and the theater because I just don't have time to go. Plus we just moved to the central oregon area in June and I DON'T LIKE IT HERE. The people are rude and the landscape looks like nothing can live over here. We are trying to find jobs so that we can move to Western Washington (even though right now they are under 8 feet of water!) because that is where my family lives. Only problem is this lap-band bill that I pay every month makes the income that I need very high. Oh well...it is worth it. Even if the dang scale isn't moving. Good NSV though...the last three shirts that I had in my closet this morning are all too big. The scale has not moved but I am losing size like there is no tomorrow. I will take that over the scale not moving any day! Have a good day. My kids are state testing today so it is nice and easy for me!

Phyl, you are FULL of NSV's today! I was going to ask you about weigh in's while you're in the desert. I remember hearing about something when you were down there last year...but don't remember what exactly and I'm too lazy to go back and find it. I bet all the other snow birds go nuts at your loss since they last saw you. Is it cool enough for you to wear your new jeans? Oh...and don't wait too long to try on those smaller sizes, they might surprise you. I hope Soleil comes by. It's amazing the difference the support you guys give can cause. Just check out my home pages. The only posts are once a month on the weight loss poll. And even there, the numbers dwindle each month. I know I couldn't have done this without you all. You are so much a part of my success. Okay...off to bed, I have a long day tomorrow. I can't wait to eat! I have a feeling I'll dream about food tonight. The food commercials have been driving me nuts the last few days. I'll talk to you all tomorrow night.

Hi 7s :wave: I haven't been on since before Christmas and thought I'd come back because I "need" this group. You all help keep me in check and I've been lacking lately. Some of it is self pity, some of it not, but I'm tired of finding excuses so I'm here to get back on track again. Just before Christmas I was having some pain problems with my left breast. As you know I had a lift and implants in November. Well in early December one of the incisions under the breast opened a little. My surgeon stitched it up and put me on a week worth of antibiotics. Two days after that script ran out I was feeling some pain in my breast again. When I went to clean the area, I noticed there was a milky white discharge. The stitches were still in place but it was oozing from behind them. I didn't want to do anything wrong so I called my surgeon spoke with him about it. He asked if I was running a fever or if there was swelling or redness in my breasts, to which I said "no". So he told me to meet him at his office the following morning and not to eat anything after midnight just in case he needed to go in and take a look around to see what was happening. So Christmas Eve at 8am I'm in my surgeons office and he has his emergency team with him. He tells me he'll need to go in and take a look around and if he finds anything out of the ordinary, he'll have to remove the implant. This news upset me as I'd waited such a long time for them. Not only that, my mind was already tallying up how much this surgery was going to cost and how much it would cost me in the future to have it replaced. He told me if he did have to remove it, he'd only be removing the one and leaving the other there. The implant would still be under warranty so I wouldn't have to worry about the cost of that. At that point I was almost in tears because I was still worried about the addition costs; bringing him and his team out on a public holiday, the anesthesia, the post-op drugs, the follow-up surgery; everything was mounting up in my head. Then he told me the best news ever. It would all be done at no extra cost to me. I could have kissed him right then and there. After all the drama I've had to go through with the insurance company for my lap band surgery, (oh and I'm still having drama with that, but that's another story for another day) I couldn't believe what he was telling me. But I digress..... So he went in to see what was going on and it turns out I'd developed an infection. There was good news and bad news. The good news was he caught it early and there was minimal damage to my natural breast tissue. The bad news was he had to remove the implant and clean out a protein build-up that was causing the infection. So now I have 2 different sized breasts. It's been emotionally draining and if I'm honest, a lot harder to deal with physically than my lap band surgery. I've been very moody. I've had to keep in constant contact with my surgeon and visit him sometimes twice a week. He's been very protective, and while I certainly appreciate that, it's tiring have to visit him so often on top of trying to heal, trying to enjoy the holidays, trying to keep my eating in check, trying not to be a total biatch!!!! It's been a battle I've lost more often than I've won. My weight has been up and down. Thankfully it's not gone back into the 200's yet *touch wood*. I've been down to 194 and up to 198 and it's hard trying to keep out of the fridge and pantry when I haven't been able to head off to the gym and walk those thoughts off on the treadmill. But I got the all clear to exercise again yesterday and I've been able to get my gym fix (albeit a little more slowly) the past two days. I never ever thought I'd miss exercise! :confused: I guess that's a very unexpected NSV that I'm proud of. Anyway ladies, it's good to be back again and be able to get all my frustrations out. Thank you all. You're the best. :kiss2:

Ruby - you had me cracking up on this... Heck we patrol the whole lbt site :0) 1) I am just really nosey now... what is everybodies Marital status...??? single/divoriced 2) Does everyone live alone and cook for one?? My 16 Grandson lives with me - I cook for him most likely 4 nights a week - I prepare separate meals for him most of the time - he does eat fish with me sometimes if I have lemon. 3) Who prepares family meals and who eats what they cook their family? ' I prepare most meals - my GS will make his own a couple times a week - last night at 10:30 p.m. he is making cupcakes - OMG - NSV I didn't eat any when I woke up at 1:30 - just had a bite of cold hamburger patty... I sometimes eat what I cook for GS but not often - sometime I take the hamburger when he is having taco's and make myself something diff with the meat. 4) Or... do you prepare special meals just for your bandster self? 98% of the time I make my fish rice and veggies for dinner.

Karri Thanks so much - I think I look ok for an old broad Who still wants to get her groove on :Banane20: Great NSV Medium tops and seeing yourself as you are - a lot thinner than you were 6 months ago... In fact if you are in a medium top I would say skinny....:Banane20: Hope you feel better soon - I know my DDIL (nurse) says a bad flu is going around here in the Desert... Hugs to you - chicken soup,... Well gotta jump in the shower an go to my Son's for the superbowl - see I have been on this computer all morning - it's addicting.... I did get my wash almost all done:rolleyes2: Will ck back after the game...

Karri - I need to do more weights too but I am beat after my treadmill work out and I read the calories burned on the treadmill - I don't know how may calories are burned when working out - I want to get a trainer for a week or two - but the guy I think I want is always busy when I am at the gym - plus I am a little intimidated (sp) by them - but I do see other older women working out with them.. Do you have to do soup for 3 weeks :cool2: I only have to do them for 1 but ususally move to mushie/soft after 3 days.. Linda - since my diet is mostly soft foods and I think I don't have restriction then try to eat something more solid - OMW I too see that I do still have restriction.. Well, reported that I didn't have to cook - but guess what ladies - I don't want mexican food - I want veggies- talking about a NSV - wanting something healthy instead of something greasy & fattening - I am steaming some yellow califlower - I have never had it before - but suppose to be good I don't know what it's hybred with... But I am craving healthy food not bad foods... Things do change :eek:

Happy Monday Gang.... How is everyone this morning?? Good I hope... Today is my 5 month anniversary - 56.5 pounds lighter Here is my NSV for the day I am not going to be able to go to the gym tonite (have to go see a gf who's Dad passed) - so guess what I did I set the alarm for 4:15 A.M. - got up had my coffee - dressed and was at the gym at 5:05 A.M. - Did 2 miles - came home showered and was at work by 7:30... For me exercise is key and last week had so much going on - I didn't get to go except for Monday & Saturday... Well, gotta go order my Earth Wind & Fire concert tickets for 1/12 and then get to work - Will ck in later... Have a good day and make good choices.. P.S. Linda - i will fess up on all the cookie & tamales that i eat !!!! I am human too - I do have treats - I figure that so far i have been so good and not eating any junk here at work that I will allow myself some treats next weekend :biggrin1:

Kartrina, I think it's a great idea. I'm not sure I can find a before pic of myself. I've been a camera-phobe for many years because I didn't like the way I look. Now I'm more comfortable. Taking a photo of myself and putting it on display will be a big NSV for me. I'm sure my hubby's jaw will hit the floor when I actually ASK him to take one so I can post it here.

Good that you took some time for yourself! And, celebrate those NSV's! We'll all have to work on the "fat girl thinking"!! We went to the Navy support facility today... I had my heart set on these shoes I saw two weeks ago and didn't buy! DH intimidates me about buying shoes... he thinks all anyone needs is two pairs of shoes! So we go back today to do some grocery shopping and now the smallest size they have is 7 1/2... way too big for me. AND, I wanted to look at clothes. First couldn't find anyone to help me, then only a guy. He says "how can I help you?" I say, " Do you have any clothes that aren't size 2 teeny bopper clothes???" He says they don't have any plus sizes anymore. I'd already figured that out so I had an attitude!! So I told him he also didn't have anything that anyone over 30 would wear!! So I went home frustrated, and with nothing but cauliflower, lettuce, etc.!! I did get some Tostito Queso in a jar.. only 40 calories for 2 Tbsp. Figured I can use 1 TBSP in my eggbeater omelet in the morning. I found something called "Coromega" Orange Flavor Omega 3 Supplements.. about the consistency of yogurt or pudding, in squeeze tubes that you can either squeeze directly in to your mouth, or onto a spoon, or into something else like yogurt, etc. Only 20 calories, once a day, no sugar or artificial sweetner, colored with beta carotene, no dairy, yeast, wheat or gluten, tastes decent. I found it at Costco.. but Janet & I were told about it at a support group meeting we attended at her dr's office. All these body image issues you gals are dealing with are getting scary!!

Thanks, I needed a little support. Yesterday i just felt ugh, for lack of a better word. I really do think that most of it has to do with the fact that I have to go back to work tomorrow. As for eating out, we go out a lot. My BF and I just share a meal and I never eat very much because I can't account for all of the calories. He does most of the cooking and most of the time he will fix things that work for me. It is just the last couple of days that he has done nothing but gorge himself and it is probably due to the fact that he is very very sick. He seems to be back to normal this morning. But Janet you are right, I know the struggles that I am going through because of my unhealthy eating habits and it frustrates me when other people just sit there and stuff an entire medium pizza down their throat. It will be better after I get through the first day back to school. Also, I am not craving anything specific, especially ice cream. I love ice cream but ever since surgery I can't eat it. If I do I have a lactose intolerant reaction to it. I can't drink milk either. cheese, cottage cheese, and yogurt are alright, but milk and ice cream are a NO NO for me. It is more that I just want to get to a point that I dont have to over analyze every single thing that goes in my mouth. And actually it does get easier. I was on Atkins for 2 years and I guess it did start getting easier for me. I am sure this will too. As for my body type I have 2 VERY distinct rolls with my belly button tucked neatly between them. I would really like to lose that damn top roll. All of the shirts just seem to cling to that one roll. So I can't wear my pants at my waist because otherwise my top roll sticks out like a sore thumb. So I have to find high waisted pants that will help mold the two rolls into one! Camp shirts are my favorite too, but again mine are all too big. I really don't have many clothes left that I can wear and I can't really afford to go buy new clothes right now. I need to go get a presser foot for my sewing machine and see if I can attempt to tailor my old clothes. I usually go through my clothes on Sunday's because I try to lay out my clothes for the week. I am too tired to make decisions at 4:45 am. And you are right about the thin material that just shows off everything. I really need clothes with structure. My back fat has almost gone away I have a few little bumps around my bra line, but most of my weight is front and center. My skin is starting to take a hit too. Yikes! My belly looks like my grandma's belly did when she was 95! I have read and heard that it can take up to a year for the skin to catch up, so there is hope. There is no way that I can afford to have plastic surgery nor do I really want it. As long as I can find clothes that make me look alright I will be fine. Here is a funny NSV. I told my BF to sit on my computer chair last night because I thought there was something wrong. I thought there was a lump because my butt hurt when I sat on it. He said, no there is nothing wrong with the chair, and I realized that it was that I had lost so much fat off my butt that I was sitting on my tailbone. I didn't even think I had that much fat on my butt, but I had to fold up a blanket on my chair because it was painful! Well I have to finish getting lessons ready for tomorrow so I will talk to you all later.

It's been awhile and I'm sorry that I've not been on here more, I love reading the motivated posts that people put here on a daily basis.....and right now, I need it. I know my eating is no where near where I once was, but it's been getting harder and harder to stick to it. Even with one fill, I got little to NO restriction and find that meal time can be larger than I want. I don't snack most days, between meals, and I don't eat sweets at all, but when it comes to food....and sometimes not all the good kinds of food, I find I can eat more than when my stomach says, "OK, you are full, you can stop now!!" I hate going down that road again. I want to feel the motivation and excitement once again......my only saving grace is that tomorrow I go for me second fill and pray that the restriction is more noticable this time!! I thank God for this band every day, because knowing my past history, I would have sabotaged this "life change" once again. Now when I fall off the wagon....I at least have the band to rein me in. I admire all of my fellow bandsters and their stories and personal successes and feel your pain when somedays are not as good as others. I enjoy all the NSV's that each of you are experiencing more and more!! CONGRATULATIONS!! I knew with my second fill that my eating would dramatically change, so I ate good all day until dinner and then went to Red Robin for my "usual" and it was good.....but my stomach is saying, "Was it really?" I'm feeling stuffed and uncomfortable. Why don't I know how to say, "No more?"....ughhhhhhhhhhh Anyway, I will quit whining and get back to my Quantitative Methods book......take care!!

GREAT NSV, and I LOVED the "God Smack" story!! I retold it on one of the Christian threads... a lady was lamenting the fact that she was craving chocolate and using it to self-medicate. Hope you don't mind.

I had my pre-op today. My surgery is a week from yesterday! 13 days! I have actually been doing my pre-op diet since Monday. It is so different to just eat protien and veggies. I thought it would be really hard, but it isn't too bad. My body feels different without carbs, though. I didn't like it the first couple of days, but today I am excited about it. Going grocery shopping and getting lots of foods i can eat helped. And I guess diets aren't so formidable when they have an ending date! I also wanted to ask where I can look at the calendar that has been mentioned on here? I am missing that somehow. Congrats to everyone recently banded and all the weight loss successes and NSVs! I can't wait to join the ranks!

:tongue2:Karla, YOUR quilting retreat sounds like HEAVEN to me!!! I chuckled when I read about the skinny dipping - sounds like something I'd do. OHHH the food sounds wonderful too... this year you won't be able to eat 1/4 of it... what a NSV that will be eh? Someday, I would love to visit Montana it sounds lovely.. I love rugged out of doors.. guess that makes me a natural born Canuck hey!!! Back from my bike ride with DH, I thought we were gone 45 mins. but DH tells me no, it was more like 1/2 an hour:frown:

Well just dropping in to say GOOD MORNING to all before I begin my day NSV - I bought a pair of white linen pants back in Feb - didn't try them on until i got home - well they didn't fit - couldn't even close them - most likely like 2 -3 inches gap between one side and the other - Well guess what i am wearing to work today :):eyebrows:. As to taking pills - I read somewhere on this board - not to take and NAISD (Advil - iburphon sp) etc - as there could be a contection with band erisions... Tylenol only.... and imho - pills vs liquid it's what ever works for you - I have the liquid and think it may work faster. Chris :clap2::clap2: on you NSV :clap2: Citygirl - My doc doesnt have the floruscope (sp) but he numbs you up first - I WOULD NEVER LET a doc stick me without it - it took my doc forever to find the fill spot in my port. ssankofa73 - Exercise - at least you were moving and thats 100% better than sitting on the couch...:clap2: Ruby - :clap2: only one tiny candy bar and not the bag :clap2: Phyl - Are you having a good time??? Didn't get to they gym yesterday as my 3 yr old grandaughter wanted to come to her La La 's house (I'm LaLa instead of GM) (I pick up my 2 gd's 2 or 3 days a week when my DIL is working) So - she and I took the doggies for a walk - so did some in - but it was more important to me to spend the time with them - Memories... Gotta make room for life as tomorrow isn't promised... Have a Great Day !!!!

auntie phyl- CONGRATS to you!!! You are doing great!! Even hungry and surrounded by temptation you chose the healthy food. That is a wonderful NSV!!!!!! :clap2::clap2:

Today's NSV- Just got on a ride a six flags with my son!! I haven't been able to do that in years!!

I just had my first NSV....We had a death in the family, so I had to go shopping for something to wear to the Funeral. Before surgery I was a size 22/24. The dress I just bought was a size 16!!!!!!

Hi Everyone! I've been Traveling with the Band. I drove to ABQ on Easter for a Dentist appt. on Monday. Yes, I travel over 400 miles to see a Dentist. Insane! NO! I have had the same dentist since I was 10 years old! I have only seen 1 other dentist in the last 34 years. I'm never nervous! He is a good friend of mine! AND I was the Lap Band Marketing Queen! I had some of Dr K's cards from my previous appts. You know the ones they give you with your time on the back - well I passed them out like candy! Everyone noticed my weight loss! It was such a pat on the back! Everyone knows someone who needs the surgery, so I would give them a card and my speech and then I would remind them that is has to be a very personal decison. And if someone had asked me last year at this time if I would have WLS, I would have told them absolutely not. They need to be patient and loving with their friend or family who is overweight. Give them the information and allow them to do the research and make the choice. The funny thing about seeing my friends and family was that everyone said I look like I've lost more than I have. I think when a person is my size, they wear very baggy clothes so they appear much bigger. Yes, I am huge, but I think with the baggy clothes I looked larger than that! This weekend I wore more form fitting shirts (my same huge and now very baggy pants - I only own one pair of 3xl - so I have to wear my suspenders.) and people were shocked! Someone at work said, "Hey you have boobs!" I replied, "I have always had boobs, but my tummy is now smaller - making my boobs look bigger." I guess you can call that a NSV! Okay Friends: Tina - we do need to see some recent pics! You my dear need to see some recent pics! It's such a pat on the back to see yourself in pics after you've lost weight, even if it's just 10 lbs, it's good to see the change. You're not a bad bandster! You're human and I think you're doing very well! I think I was like you before surgery. I never really ate poorly, I ate whole grains, lean proteins and a lot of veggies and fruits, but I was a bulk eater. Now I'm thrilled to be able to be satiated on a small amount. I think that is why I force myself to get a take-out container when I'm out and separate the food out before ever taking my first bite. Then I close the container and put it on an empty chair. What is on my plate is for me to enjoy and savor and what is in my take-out container is for tomorrow or later. It keeps me on track. Because I know my weakness! Amieru - Dr. K told me I could start riding my recumbent bike at 3 weeks and I could start swimming after I saw him at my 4 week appt. I think it's fine to start exercising, BUT I'd just send a quick email to Natalie and clear it with her. (how's that for a response from a former Telephone Triage Nurse?)