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What you do is just look at the Nutrion Label on the back of a package. It will tell you what a serving is. Soup is usually 1/2 cup to 1 cup. chicken fingers... 3-5 pieces. The nutrion label will always give you the serving size. Lets say I eat Uncle Ben's Brown Rice. So, I go to fitday... ADD a "custom food" You name it and then enter the nutrional info. In one serving (which on the box tells you is 1/4 precooked, 1/2 cooked) You have the ability to change the amount of the serving... you can use TBSP, TSP, CUP, LITER So, in this instance... you enter .5 CUP Calories 170 Total Fat 1 Cholesterol 0 Sodium 0 Potassium 100 Carbohydrates 36 Fiber 2 Protein 4 Alcohol 0 Then you SAVE it. Now, when you come back three days later, you could enter that you ate .5 CUP and those stats would pop up. (EX 170 calories) If the next day, you only eat .25 cup(half as much).... half of those values pop up. (EX 85 calories) It will calculate the changes for you once you enter it the first time. So, if you enter the stats for 1 Ounce of meat... then you eat 4 ounces. You enter four ounces and it will automatically X 4 to get the total amount of calories, fat, carb, ect... that you ate. TIP: If you don't have a nutritional label... they have many foods already listed in their database that you can search for and add. You can also find ALL Fastfood nutrional facts at http://www.howstuffworks.com/framed.htm?parent=question457.htm&url=http://www.calorieking.com/foods/ You can search by restraunt. Then enter the nutrional #'s into fitday to tally them up with everything else you've eaten.

2 more days until my surgery. Up until this very moment I thought I was prepared but now I'm not so sure. Feeling anxious. Had my pre op appt. on friday. I've lost a total of 47.5 lbs prior to my surgery (I started the pre op diet on January 1st so that my new eating habits would be just that...A habit). Haven't eaten any sugar, bad carbs, fast food, caffeine or alcohol since then. My doc said no liquid diet is necessary and the nurse asked me if I'd talk at one of their seminars. They were both shocked (and happy) with the amount of pre op weight I've lost. I guess I just feel kind of alone in this...I've worn this body Armore for so long, not sure what to expect when it's gone. Tell me my concerns are normal? I'm really freaking out right now...

You are correct, some programs are way more thorough than others. I met with one nutritionist, one time... and it wasn't even weight loss surgery specific things we covered. It was mainly about nutrition basics. Then I had a group class that went into more specifics, but in no way could it or did it cover everything. But that's when I stepped up to the plate and did as much research as humanly possible, including reading threads on this forum. I was never going to allow my program nor my NUT to tell me everything I needed to know. I probably, no... definitely, know more than my NUT knows about nutrition for bariatric patients. I felt like she was there to fulfill a requirement, but didn't know the specifics about bariatric surgery or nutrition related to that. Some people are looking for validation to break the rules, and others truly don't know the rules. But I don't think its safe to blame just the doctor for that. I think we should know things like... not to drink alcohol or eat bread at 1 month post op. Those things are common sense. And those are what get under my skin.

I've def had some FOMO in the beginning stages. Oh, I remember going on a shopping trip that required a road trip with friends. On the way home, I had to find something from the gas station to eat.... They came back with Subway. I came back with a stick of cheese. It was saddening, at the time. When we have a couple party and I serve dessert, it sucks to be the only one not partaking. However, I could make it easier on myself and eat something with them, that is allowed on my plan. I'm getting better at ways to have yummy things that go along with my plan. I think I have FOMO the worst though when other people point things out, sometimes I don't even think about it, until my bestie says "Come over, I've got a bottle of wine with our names on it". While she knows that I'm not regularly partaking in alcohol, it just slips her mind. I haven't slipped on anything pastry or cake-wise because I am afraid to dump. I think the fear alone is keeping me on track. I do eat SF ice cream and ice cream bars, but you can't find those things at restaurants while out with friends (which is when I think about it). Do I think that this will change overtime, and I'll be able to have a bite of cake at a birthday party, maybe? I'm good without it at the moment. I actually don't crave sweets much anymore. My weakness is chips... oh boy, I salivate over some chips. LOL And I eat some from time to time. I buy the little snack size baggies (like the size for kids lunch boxes) and I splurge. But I feel VERY guilty, every single time. I haven't gained from any splurges, but I can tell when my diet isn't fine tuned enough, and I stall out. The first thing to go for me is fruit.

My fill is working like a mug! (remember when people used to say "like a mug?") Anyhow, I have to sip slowly, otherwise liquids get backed up. JUST LIKE WHEN I WAS FIRST BANDED! I'm hoping that this was the tightening I needed. No more gobbling steaks and other junk. I went for a walk yesterday w/my little one. I felt really good about myself, too. We'll do it again today - except I'll put his little busy butt in the stroller instead of letting him walk, too. Yesterday was SUCH a stressful day. I'll have to tell you about it in Yahoo, since I don't like to post work details on the open net. Needless to say, people have lost their damn minds. I'm most proud of myself for not self-soothing with chocolate. (laugh) It's MAY you guys! Shit. By month's end I better be closer to 230 than to 235. And I better be one size smaller. Claudia - how are you doing, baby girl? I'm so sorry your friend wasn't honest with you. I have been there. It's heartbreaking and hurtful and so incredibly unnecessary. I hope you're feeling better. JillyJill - how's your little diva? I was thinking about her yesterday as I was walking with the little man. How are YOU doing? Has she healed up? Steph - That email made me howl. I'm not kidding - I had tears in my eyes! I'm going to send that to my girlfriend at work, but not through work email servers. Way to go on the NSV. No one has said "you look skinny" to me in a while. That's cuz I haven't lost shit and am looking fat again. LOL Annie - I love your May goal. I'm right there with you. I have to be a bit more stringent with my May goal. No sugar, no alcohol. And yes, I'd love to exercise 20 or more times this month. Additionally, I have GOT to get back to journaling my food intake, Water intake and exercise output, planning EVERYTHING ahead of time. VaB - I'll get one of my people to scan these articles for me today/tomorrow. Posting them in the FILES section of the Yahoo group is a good idea. "I CAN'T HEAR YOU" made me giggle. YES WE ARE! ((laughing)) bk's boy had the b'day. My DS's b'day is in June. And no, we'll not be celebrating here at my place! LOL bk my love - how are you doing? How's the tummy? How's the job? How's the hubby? What are you doing for the boy's b'day? I was thinking of themes for my son's b'day in June, but have no idea. Personally I thought Happy Feet would be cute, but.... we'll see. B'Man - Ooooh, honeybunch. I wish I could make it all better for you. Purge that mofo from your life, and take time to heal and cry and mourn and believe that you won't always be affected by his memory. One day he'll mean nothing to you. Way to go on running a full mile - you can run farther than I can! Last week at the hotel, I ran on the treadmill - 3 minutes. I thought I was going to pass the fuggout. ((laughing)) I also decided not to join a gym yet. I am going to kick my own butt on this elliptical and get back into the swing of exercise. Sassy - Glad you got your fill! Can you tell a difference? How do you feel? What did the doctor say? I have also found that it helps to lie... er, exaggerate when you talk to your surgeon about needing a fill. "I'm hungry ALL THE TIME." "I Can eat a full loaf of bread." LOL "I sucked down a filet for dinner." I hope this one helps you! Okay - it's 6:30 and it's definitely time for me to get up and get moving. UGH gotta work again today. I feel like I have to put on a suit of armor to go to work now. It's like a warzone. Hope I didn't miss anyone - love you guys! Stay tuned for articles! N.

Debbie, pour alcohol over a pair of scissors or nail clippers to sterilize them and just clip those ends off.

OK guys, I enjoy a glass of wine before dinner more days than not and I truly don't want to be a stick in the mud. But there are a couple of things to at least be aware of. Keep in mind that alcohol will likely hit you harder and much faster than it did pre-op. There are some nightmare DUI stories out there from bypass patients that had a single drink. One often quoted ratio is 3 to 1 - one drink post-op is like three pre-op. Would be a very good idea to give your keys to someone else before you take that first drink. My surgeon said absolutely no alcohol until six months post-op. Your pouch is doing a lot of healing from the surgery and alcohol can be an invitation to an ulcer. We pay doctors to be conservative and as others have said, there may be absolutely no problem. But the risk is there. Whatever you decide, have a wonderful trip!! My wife and I will be there in late Nov. and have tickets to opening night for Shania Twain on Dec. 1st. I just have to go to Vegas every now and then and visit my money! Lol!!

If you only have one stick at a time it's not an issue because you'd only get 1 g of sugar alcohol. You'll get dumping when there are 6 or more grams of sugar and sugar alcohols in a serving. HW 283. SW265. SD 3/22/13! CW 244.

In answer to sleeve 4 me: Nom I don't take any special meds now or drink any alcohol (never have), I do, however, drink with meals. Having been trying to stop that again and I think it does make a difference. Have lost 3-4 lbs in last week and half from no junk. Doing a "Daniel Fast" right now with my church so my diet includes more carbs but they are GOOD carbs (whole grain etc) and beginning the year by this plus the elimination of junk food has caused me to start losing. Going to try to follow more closely original guidelines and lose the pounds gained plus want to try to get off another 5-10 (so I will have a few to play with!). I'll let you all know how it goes. I have found that it does make a huge difference WHAT I eat and still have good restriction. I can eat little dense protein and things like beans fill me up very quickly. Gonna be HEALTHY! Love having all of you as sounding boards!

I had VSG because portion control is hard. It's hard to eat only a little, or restricted foods while dieting. You're hungry, and it takes a lot of food to fill you up. But with VSG, I have much reduced hunger. And when I do eat, the quantity is so small, it's max a few hundred calories, and I'm full. I have lost nearly 70 lbs in 5 months, and it has been easier than any diet I've ever been on. You also seem to think that you have to be on a crazy restrictive diet after VSG. I'm certainty not. I eat quite healthfully when I'm home, focusing on protein and otherwise fairly low cal foods. But I don't restrict anything, I eat fruit, bread, protein pasta, cheese, frozen yogurt bars, frozen fruit bars, etc. But for example I don't make fettuccine alfredo or fried chicken at home. So it's balanced and moderate, IMO. I actually eat out multiples time per week for work. I wouldn't recommend eating at as much as I do, because it is harder to make healthy choices, and hard to track restaurant food. But for me it is unavoidable. Sometime I make healthy choices dining out, sometime I don't. I could eat healthier while dining out, but with clients and colleagues it's not appropriate to customize dishes very much. I've seriously eaten just about everything in the last 4 months, including bites of dessert. And most days even with 3 meals out, I'm still under 600 calories because my stomach size is so restricted. But I am very conscience of what I consume, I log everything. So even though I might have biscuits and gravy for breakfast, I'm not off the rails and have a f it attitude, if that makes sense? As far as FOMO, there is only one hard decision I made. I've cut out all alcohol. I didn't have to, it doesn't have an adverse effect when I do have it. I just don't want to add the empty liquid calories to my diet. It was a big deal because of the travel and entertaining I do. I'm in bars multiple times a week, and I'm drinking water, so definitely awkward. But if it was only glass of wine or two a week, I wouldn't have cut it out completely, as that's pretty immaterial in the scheme of things. But for me, many weeks would be 20+ drinks, so it just would have counteracted my WLS too much.

Hello, I’m currently going to doctors and collecting my documents for surgery. My dietologist telling me scary story of future: no alcohol, no sugar, no fat and spicy food for all my life after the surgery. And it can’t leave my head, because I’m only 21 and my future life will be in China. So there is a lot of “problem” food that I want to try after year or two. I really want to ask you all about your life after surgery. Do you able to have fun? How was your pregnancy after the surgery (if you had)? (My weight is 100 for hight 165 and I have pco, so maybe surgery covered by my insurance. I’m thinking about different types of surgeries, maybe you can give me some advice)

Hi everyone. I have not been on for awhile and boy have I had some major changes. I recently went on a cruise. Ate what I want and drank what I want. After the cruise on my way home I thought what is happening to me where has my motivation went? Why am I drinking so much alcohol? Because it makes me feel good it makes me grow wings & I become super women. I only drink at night as if that makes it better. One night my husband had a terrible time helping me down the stairs. I don't remember any of it. So on our way home some where in Texas I woke up & thought to myself I have gone through so much. No way was I going to let alcohol control my life like food. I took my life back in control & have not drank any alcohol for 5 days. There are so many obstacles in life that we have endured & have yet to endure but losing the battle of winning is not one of them. I hope you all are doing well. Let's revamp, refocus & reset my friends.

Hey!! I never saw this post back in December!? I'm so happy for you that you're doing well!!! But be careful with that drinking girl! :-) You don't want to drink your calories, especially alcohol since it's chocked full of sugar. I find myself wishing I still got "sick" easily, LOL!! Although, I just ate half of a cookie from Panera and I'm totally nauseous, so I'll take that--now I'll be turned off from eating those Cookies, at least for a while! :-) I had a breast lift 4 weeks ago and am VERY happy!! Congrats on your surgeries too!! I didn't have implants done (much to my fiancé's dismay, LOL) so I'm actually a little smaller than I was before. I'm a 34, large C, small D right not. I used to be a 42DDD!! I wouldn't "mind" a tummy tuck someday, but I'm not set on it. Only one person sees my belly besides me, and he's totally ok with it. He was ok with my boobs too, but wow--I didn't realize how much the way they were affecting my self-esteem/ confidence. I'm not fully healed yet, so I'm anxious to really see the final result. I've creeped up a bit more since the last time I posted. I'm at about 155-157 now. But honestly, if I could tone some areas up, I'd be pretty happy. I'd still love to lost about 6-8 pounds before my wedding (May 20th) but I can't exercise, other than walking (and it's too cold out for me now!) for another month I think.... I've really been watching my food choices and being really careful, since I can't exercise right now. But I can really tell my hips/stomach/thigh area is getting "loose" :-( Dang it! My blood work all came back normal. My B12 was just a tad low, but she said I'm absorbing it, so that was good. I wasn't taking any B12, so I take 1, every other day now. Be careful with your iron levels!! If you're too low for too long, it can do permanent damage!! :-( My typical food daily is: Breakfast, wheat toast with Peanut Butter, or 2 eggs with cheese/ veggies. Lunch: Either a sandwich on whole grain with turkey, cheese, veggies...or a salad with turkey & ham, or grilled chicken and tons of veggies. Dinner: Some kind of meat, veggie and small amount of carb(Potato, rice, etc.) Snacks are typically string cheese, hard boiled egg, pop corn, dried fruit/ nuts, yogurt, fruit, raw veggies....those are my go to's. :-) Not to say I don't have an occasional glass of wine, a few cookies here and there....I can handle about 4 pieces of candy (like starbursts) then I'm sick, LOL. Absolutely no ice cream. I get VERY sick, quickly. NOT WORTH IT! :-) I have developed being hypoglycemic. Ended up in the ER twice before we figured out what it was. I just really need to make sure I eat enough, often enough and don't get low on my Water. I'm so sorry you and your hubby are not doing so well. :-( That makes me so sad. Would he/you be open to counseling? I am so thankful for the man I'm marrying!! He is my rock, for sure. I'm in nursing school and he has pretty much taken on all my "duties" at home, LOL. He "makes" me go sit down and study while he makes dinner, does laundry, etc. Plus, we work together, so while I'm at school, he does my stuff at work too. He's truly a gem. And I wish everyone was as blessed as I am. ♥ On that note---I'd better get off my behind and do something!!

@Luna222---I was told NO alcohol at all. The surgeon said it would be like pouring acid on an open wound. I do know friends that have drank like a year out, but I'd be afraid to try it this early.

I chose the lapband because it is a healthier alternative to RYN. I don't like the fact that you have malabsorption with RYN. You also can't drink any alcohol. I like the fact that I can eat anything, just less of it.

I drank too much wine one night (a very regular occurrence for me) and in bed before falling asleep I said something to my husband about WLS. I had honestly not put a lot of thought into WLS. The next morning, my husband said he wanted to talk about something I had said the night before (oh crap...what did I say?). He asked me if I had truly considered WLS. During that conversation, I began to consider the possibility. There were lots of tears and guilt for being a failure at losing weight on my own, but my health was really starting to suffer. I had no energy and lots of joint pain in addition to new diabetes and a sleep apnea diagnosis. This was on top of my hypertension and high cholesterol. I also had recently been diagnosed with very early macular degeneration, for which my weight was a risk factor (I have a very strong genetic pre-disposition for it). I was only 46 years old. I did not want my health issues to define the rest of my life. Less than 8 months after that conversation I had my RNY. Now, 8 months post-op, my vision is stable. I no longer have joint pain, hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, or sleep apnea. I am fit and active. I love my second chance! ps. I rarely drink alcohol these days and when I do, it is typically one glass of wine. 😊

Definitely change the dressing at least once a day and additionally after the bandages get wet. Swab with alcohol wipes each time around the drain site and the tube. Did they show you how to sterilize the drain opening after you empty it?

. I was told that gum is fine but can cause gas and I chew extra that has sugar alcohol in it and I know others that chew gum also

So glad you were able to talk to someone and get that all out in the open!! I've heard a lot of Gastric bypass patients end up having issues with alcohol. :-( I honestly can't drink more than about 1/2 glass of wine or I get sick. I'm too busy with work/nursing school/ kids to fit drinking in there, LOL. That's probably a good thing! Wednesday nights are my only evening I "allow" myself to not do homework/studying and I usually will have 1/2 glass of wine too. It's like my treat for getting through classes for the week. Then Saturday evenings we typically go on a date (if you call going to church and then grocery shopping a date!) You can "talk" to us anytime!! It's never too much info for me. :-) Gotta run! I'll try and check in more often!

Rhonda Where you are is very frustrating! You have received great advise; eat more, exercise and drink your WATER!! It might not shed 4lbs a week, but you will start shedding! bkat I was fortunate to have a weekend end and 4 days off from work before I returned from my surgery last Thursday. I did great at work yesteday, I was not tired, actually I had to be there at 7 am for a Board meeting and did not leave until 5:30! I felt fine. You will be ready to go to events that you want!! Toni I agree on the drinking change. I wish I had this info prior to my doctor appointment on Wednesday. But I only sipped the one time with a dry mouth. But I will follow my doctor's directions now. I am also on food sooner than some, so I really don't want to pop my band or anything! How is your new gismo!! I love the bullet! My son said, IS THERE ALCOHOL IN THIS!! IT WAS A PINACOLADA PROTEIN SHAKE WITH STRAWBERRIES, YUMMIE ( no rum this time! ). I will get the name from a coworker. I only brought home a scoop to try it. She ordered it on line. I just wish it did not come in those huge containers!! Laughingbird and Kland GOOD LUCK TODAY!!!!!!!

Isnt it funny how insight can strike when you least expect it - I was cleaning the cat boxes and realizations, or words I guess started to flood. I wont go into gory detail - but I had a horrific childhood, filled with terrifying violence and sexual abuse from my alcoholic step-dad (he died from cirrhosis long ago.) I have done a lot of time on the couch, and on meds and am good. I usually keep it to myself, but it is also not a secret with those closest to me. I guess I feel like I am starting to wake up - 50 this year. Feels like I am just opening my eyes - I too must be getting into some of the serious stuff. This just poured out in the last 30 minutes - I apologize if this feels triggering to anyone. "Always living with a vague expectation that enlightenment and a healing of the old, old wounds would strike one day like a bolt of lightening - or maybe gently like awaking from some bad dream. The longer I am alive I am coming to understand that this probably isn't going to happen. That everyday we fight, some days we gain ground - some days we lose it - a little on some days, some days a lot. It is little victories over time - each adding up. All the years of therapy, self-help, support groups...its one moment at a time - over time. Years of hiding in pain, burying yourself under blankets, under hundreds of lbs of unburned calories, behind the walls and doors of your home - seeking solace in your surroundings- being made fun of for being different by the people you trust the most. again, and again, and again. Just be numb Just don't look maybe then it wont be true what is real and what happened will cease to be so Learning to not turn away - not to hide is hard work. Bravery is not for sissies. What is courage? Why so much fear of what happened lifetimes ago? What you put up with from others How poorly you treated yourself for so long. This is like learning to see to speak to walk to feel for the first time maybe. Is that old me true? Is that still me? What am I? Who am I? I looked at a snapshot of the August 2009 Goddard residency and I can finally see how malignant my despair and mistreatment of myself is - in my weight - the symptom that becomes the focus and the problem. A heavy horse collar of shame - its like being imprisoned in the stocks - immobile, every step pain, every glance from others cruel - like being flayed alive every moment of every day. Maybe if I am lucky this fire of shame will burn me right to ash. Deep, deep sadness and hopelessness Try so hard to change - and it never seems to stick - I cant win. I could never win. I am doing the same thing to myself now with my belief in my abilities as a teacher and an artist - hardly a day passes that I am not wracked with fear, doubt, and the battle against my own weaknesses. Here you are again, more exposed even now. No matter how hard you wish you had that magic lamp that would take away the anxiety, the panic, the terror you feel everyday at just breathing - there is no such thing. It is part of you it IS you Where is my strength? Do I even have any? The only respite will come from within yourself - for yourself. How the f**k do I fix the broken stuff I weep now at even being able to access these feelings. Fraught Frightening Breathe Dig the knives out of the back and stand up straight. Look it right in the f**king eye step forward step up Let go"

HI, my name is Jenn and I'm an alcoholic... and if had one more day in Gruene... would be an alcoholic slut.

Wow, Tina what a SMALL world. What is medifast? Congrats to her! Id have to admit i lost WAY easier prior to band then now. Now its like you have a hard time eating when stressed, tired, dehydrated, exhausted, early am, late night, and liquids are just so nice. I am making a goal though of 15-20 before xmas.. i think we can all do it. Thats only 1 lb a week. Weve lost 3 a week.. so i know it can be done!!! Im cutting carbs down to one meal a day, and no more alcohol. That stuff i think seriously is getting me in trouble. OH and my coffee intake!!! I never drank coffee preop.. now i get migraines if i dont!!! Today I bought some natural herb supplement and st johns wart lol.. and mom wants to try slim fast for two weeks to detox.. off the carbs.. AND, i moved all my pasta crap to stephens cupboard. Ok.. im done talking. Anyone wanna do a challenge or something?

Tied2BFit ~ I have had a few glasses of wine since surgery with no problems. I just sipped them slowly and all was well. Of course, after two glasses of wine at my brother's wedding I was tipsy. I guess I'm a real "lightweight" now. I miss the occasional beer but I was never a big drinker. I do like mojitos and dirty vodka martinis. :thumbup: And you were a naughty one dating a 15 yo when you were 17. W Genius! My DH was 21 and I was 16 when we started dating. My dad didn't find out about that for awhile...Woo, your little stories are taking me back to those early days of dating. :tt1: Your photo is too cute. I was 175-180 in as a senior in high school (at 5'10") and thought I was a whale. Yeesh. Brandysmom1234 (and others who mentioned strained parental relationships) ~ my MIL is an unmedicated paranoid schizophrenic as well as being a complete and utter bitch who emotionally abused my husband. He is an only child. We have not spoken to her in about eight years, after we threatened to call the police because she was stalking us. Seriously. She told my husband that I was a witch who had cast a spell on him because otherwise why would he be with me and not remain under her thumb? She was also convinced that I was a drug addict and an alcoholic. Basically she forced him to choose and he chose me. That was one hell of a first year of marriage. But we got through it. I wrote her many, many letters that I never sent. I am sad that there is this rift, but if your family is crapping on you, you should not take it. Just my opinion. Wow, such a positive note. OK, I'll end on something else. I have been talking with a few soon-to-be and newbie bandsters via PM and elsewhere. And there seems to be this consensus that once you're banded & have restriction, you either a) can never eat bread again or :smile: should never eat bread again. I am kind of confused. I eat bread. I have restriction. I lose weight. Now soft white breads like Wonder Bread tend to gum up and get stuck. But otherwise, I'm fine. Did I miss something? Yes, I limit my bread intake so I can get in protein and veggies and fruits, but...bread is not taboo for me.:tongue:

Globe glad to hear you are okay.... and I know what a difference the arms make on my silhouette. About 3 weeks post op my son's girlfriend almost didn't recognize me..except for my hair...my back sitting to them waiting at a bar. She could not see my abs or thighs....smaller arms changed my whole look. Steven didn't know I had skin removal on arms and thought I had somehow lost weight there (naive about reality that I really can't lose weight to fix the problem areas) 1, but very noticeable even under sleeves, more than I realized. So glad I didn't chicken out on the arms. I also lost my dad to the ravages of alcohol. I felt so much guilt when he died but it was mostly for all the years I spent wishing him dead. Time does help and I have come to a certain peace with it and you will too. One thought I have is that now is MY time, my life and I won't let my bad feelings over his life take any more of my precious time here. Yesterday the nieces and nephews were telling funny first date stories and how they met spouses.almost all were online dating. Anyway my niece's hubby talked about his mohawk and kilt he sported at the time. He always got "looks" so part of his reason was to be in control of that. When I go out and about,I get looks. When I was morbidly obese it was for my huge mid section. Now,I don't always know why,but I get"looks". I kind of like wearing something like those flashy shoes, or my striped sweater dresses or whatever and he articulated the reason. I feel confident in cool shoes and like to giggle with other women over it for example. I can go into a store and know I am dressed way outside the social norm and wear it with ease. If I don't have something that I know draws attention I wonder why people are looking. Don't tell me I am paranoid friends have noticed it too...I somehow stand out no matter what. Btw, I did not share my dating adventures. Maybe next year. Yeah and while colored jeans were a trend last spring,the purple jeans were not my best fashion risk...haha. Everyone loved my outfit yesterday including my shoes but I don't have pix! Red and black was my color scheme and I have cute flats with sparkles....my sis called them ruby slippers. This is a family of tennys, crocks and clogs which is all very Seattle. This is NOT a fashion town. Have any of you thought about stress and weight loss? I wonder now that most of us have already lost alot of weight if stress cortisol is part of the mystery.