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I have finally found a doctor that is willing to give me hormone replacement medicine. I had a hysterectomy almost 10 yrs. ago. I know one of the side effects is weight gain and this is one of the reasons I dont really want to take this medicine. But, I know I need to take it so I do. I have only been on this medicine for a month now and I can already tell the difference it can make. I am not as moody, don't have hot flashes, and my sex life well it have actually come back to life. The bad thing is, I have gained a few pounds. I am constantly hungry since I have been on this medicine and I hate it. Does anyone know how to counteract this one side effect? If so, please, please, please tell me.

CherieLynne - I know just what you mean about more recent weight gains coming off easier than weight that has been around longer. I think the longer we've had the fat, the more comfortable and settled it gets - it just hangs on for dear life!!!

Hi I am being banded March 12, 2010 and the time doesn't seem like it is flying by fast enough, but I know it will be here some day I'm 38, mother of 2 boys, an LPN in nursing school as we speak to get my RN. On November 6th, 2009 I herniated my L4 disc and have been in and out of agony ever since. My doctor suggested I take off at least 100 pounds, but told me that it would all have to be done by diet or at least until I could get the pressure off my spinal nerves, yeah RIGHT!!! Anyways, all I am waiting on now is for my income tax return to get here as I am flying in to El Paso and going into Juarez MX for my surgery to be performed by Dr. Jose Rodriguez as I do not have insurance and his reputation seems pretty good. I am using BeLiteWeight to facilitate my surgery and they are very nice. My biggest problem with my weight seemed to come after my children were born and I had double oopherectomy operations after tubal pregnancies. I just started racking up the weight until I am so out of shape, my metabolism is shot, and I can't seem to get it off. My weight gain is making me hurt everywhere and I am to the point I won't look at myself in a mirror anymore. My S.O. is a little reluctant and thinks I might leave him after I lose the weight, but with reassurance he is actually starting to get excited and showing me a lot more support. My family, who is all in the medical field, are very hard headed and continue to believe that I should just eat right and exercise and it will come off and feel that what I am doing is a bit self-serving and I could use the money somewhere else. I will be very happy to join the March-banders and wish each and everyone of you the best of luck!!

#1. Surgery date? 2/4/2010 #2. State you live in? NYC #3. Doctor/Surgery Center? Maria Kurian #4. Insurance or self pay?insurance #5. Age and height 25/5'9" #6. Current weight and goal weight? 352 give or take/ goal 160lbs #7. What was your deciding factor for having this surgery? I want my body to match how I feel on the inside. I am so sick of going to doctor for non-weight related issues and my doctor would say the reason for my issue was my weight. Tired of not being able to fit through the turnstile of MSG to see a concert. Cannot fit comfortably in seats. Tired of sweating or being hot all the time. Tired of the wieght loss/weight gain emotional rollercoaster. I am just tired. Plus this year for the first time I am starting to FEEL big meaning my knees are really giving me problems. I was fine at 300-330 but 350lbs is the max. I regret to admit that I lost some of my mobility . Nobody would notice if they saw me but I do. I have been waiting to drive for years but now when I drive, I practically need a crutch to walk sometimes afterwards. #7. Do you have the support of family and friends? Yea but my mother always says "you did it before so you can do it again." I feel the same way but a little help... well a lot of help does not hurt. lol #8. Concerns and questions? I am starving during this pre-iquid diet before surgery. I wonder if I can have chicken noodle Soup? There is not any vegetable soup that does not have the high calorie veges like peas,bean.pshhh I am worry alot too such as would I be the one time the surgery goes awfully wrong. All these people are going to see me naked. I am shy. I am also worried about work. It is such the worst time to do this but if now, then when. .....and anything else you would like to add! I think it is brave for us to take this drastic step at losing weight depsite what others think. For some people it is their last option but not for everyone. Regardless it is a step in the right direction. We should not feel bad or feel as though we are giving up and letting the surgery lose weight for us. We are doing the complete opposite. We are finally focusing on ourselves and making an effort. Despite what everyone else says, my mother nor anyone except for big people know what it is like to be big/overweight. Keep your heads up yall. We will get through it together. Also go to the group meetings. You make instant life long friendships...something I have not been able to do that easily on my own

Hang in there Dawn, I felt just like you do. I was starving. Plus I was doubting my decision to have LAP-BAND®. I started thinking "oh no another failed diet", and I paid $10,000 for this one! I chose the LAP-BAND® based on the fact that I was always HUNGRY:reddevil: and that is what was causing my weight gain. I didnt drink sodas or eat unhealthy food I was just HUNGRY:reddevil:,even after I just ate. Then I had my first fill and everything turned around. I had to really start eating slow and cut my food into 1/4 inch squares but I was no longer HUNGRY:reddevil:. The hungry devil was gone. During the month after surgery I had to tell myself "I can do anything for 3 weeks", "I can do anything for 9 more days". Resist as much as possible, dont beat yourself up for the weight gain and just try to make it for the next 9 days. Once you start with the fills and are able to eat everything will be ok! I also needed to replace the physical act of eating with a hobby. I know this sounds weird but I missed the physical act of eating. Kind of like a smoker who enjoys playing with the cigarette. Try something like scrapbooking, knitting, cut out pictures from magazines and make collages etc., they dont have to be expensive or even pretty just the physical act of doing something will replace the physical act of eating. You can do it, dont let the doubt win!

hi everyone, checking in....sorry i've been MIA. i have this bad habit of when i'm struggling...i hide....it's crazy. that's when i need to share with everyone the most.... i have alot going on that is causing me stress. it's not bad stuff but nonetheless stressful. 2 of them are are the top of those "stress lists". i'm moving from a house i just had built 3 years ago. i love the house...but...i am also getting married. my fiance has to live in the town that he is the head of the bank. i knew this from day one. in theory it all sounded fine...but going through it is a little hard. i really have seen my "headhunger" in action. it is so CLEAR. when i get off the phone with the realtor after a tough conversation....i immediately want to eat....ANYTHING but it has to be bad stuff. the good news i got back to the gym so it is making me have some sort of control. my big issue now is nighttime wanting sweets. if i can wrestle this....i'd be fine. that is a huge IF. whitepants: you really are inspirational in sharing your journey as it happens. the gym definitely helps to get us moving in the right direction. you are right when you say it's easy to lose control and harder to get back on track. but when we are on track...it's easier to stay there.. jeni: great news about the 4 lb loss. i hear ya' about we went this far....getting an operation, sacrificed to get the weight we have gotten off, we CANNOT give up and go all the way back. this statement you made is making sense to me and it offers me motivation not to give up. i know when i get in the give up mode..i will be 270 lbs in no time carol: good girl on no weight gain.... i will check back a little later in the week. i am trying to give up eating crap at night and sugar. that will be my promise. josie

So I told a friend who has had gastric bypass that I was considering lapband. Below is her response. It has me scared - this is a knowledgable, intelligent friend. I need some input, please! I have one comment to make, Tracey. VBG, or vertical banded gastroplasty / LAP band procedure, is not as successful as the all-out roux-en-y bypass. They are both surgical procedures. If you are going to do one it may as well be the roux-en-y. I'd suggest you look into it. Yes...it is permanent and they will actually cut your stomach to form a pouch and reroute your intestine and shorten it a bit. But your weight loss will be larger and you will see quicker results. I have heard of people dying from complications on both surgeries and one shouldn't make this decision hastily or take it lightly. Either procedure is serious. But I do have to say that after seeing results from both, there are fewer weight gains post loss with the roux-en-y than with the VBG/LAP. I did extensive research when I was considering surgery. I have several friends who were scared of having the same procedure as I did so they did the band. Big mistake. They ended up losing very little to begin with, got frustrated and gained everything back, plus. YES, it IS possible to gain it back...but the gains I have seen have been more popular with the band. By the way - they don't often warn you that the band can slip up and that you can actually choke on your vomit either while awake or in your sleep (which is what happened to 2 people I know. One person died, the other almost died. I don't know anyone that died from the roux-en-y, but I almost did...and 1 other person I know almost did...and another had some serious complications...but we all recovered and had major losses. The only reason I gained back some of my weight was because of fertility drugs, and I'm having a hard time losing that weight now. But I can assure you that I am still down about 110 pounds...so that's pretty incredible. I hope that you can do whatever makes you happy...but I think making an educated decision is really important.

Hi- First of all, congratulations on starting the process of weight loss surgery. This is a great site and you can get a tremendous amount of information and support here. I suggest that once you have a date you find the "monthly" support group here, as you'll get to go through the surgery with a group having the same experiences as you- it's great. As to which type...there are lots of questions to answer, some which having to do with how much surgery you're interested in having; whether you want something that will change your organs or something that can be removed, etc. I think 2 key factors is amount one needs to lose (in general, gb folks lose more faster); and very important, what kind of eater you are. Sweet eaters have a lot of success with gb because you just cannot eat them...you get to ill. Volume eaters often are better off with the band because if you have bypass and build up volume again- the band can be stretched- it happens alot- and then you have trouble and weight gain. So, there's a lot to consider. For me, it would be important, above all, to have a doctor who believes in the procedure I need him to perform..... Best of luck!

marathinner, I'm so happy for you! Yay! I hope you have a wonderful pregnancy. I'm struggling with the weight gain. I'm back in 16s and 18s in clothing size. My arms and legs have gained weight and it's just really frustrating for me. I'm not finding enough energy to exercise and eating is sporadically healthy these days. I did get to see the baby on an ultrasound this week. It's a boy. That gives us two girls, a 6.5 year gap a boy, 3.5 year gap and another boy. I think it will work out really well for our not-so-little family. :biggrin: Everything looks good and healthy, so I am grateful. I have quit weighing myself, so I have no idea how I'm doing weight wise. I just need to hang in there and not give up.

The thing I love about myself is that when I get down and grumpy and irritated and miserable - it doesn't last long! Yay! I'm back! It's always a tiny little teensy eensy thing that makes me go "what was I so bothered about?" It's this kind of perpetual circle. I want out of the bad mood so badly that I'm running in circles - and getting irritated accordingly - to get out of the bad mood - which just exacerbates my bad mood. And then something eensy teensy happens and I'm fine. Hopefully this blog won't read like me last two. What I do have to say about the last two, though, is that to me, it's part of what this process is like - for those that have to go through the danged program. Those feelings are real and I've read them elsewhere and it's better to be aware than to be surprised when the irritable grumpiness happens. I could have kept it all to myself and I would have gotten over it all just like I have with letting it out. Letting it out didn't make me feel better and it didn't make me feel worse. The people who piped up and said "dude, we're here for you", well, that helped, but me typing out how stupid I was thinking, that didn't make me feel better or worse. But if someone reads it and says to themselves, "that's how I feel" - well then the work of the blog is done. Anywho. I had my annual well woman exam this morning. And this doc is something special. I think he suffers worse PMS than I ever have. Sooooo moody and if you catch him on the wrong day, man, hold your head in your hands cause if you don't, you may lose it. Today was a good day. The last time I saw this doc was in November when I approached him to ask for his endorsement for this surgery. He was not so very kind in saying his opinions on my weight gain were that I was basically stupid. It was a less than fulfilling meeting but at the end of the day, he did give me his endorsement and I figured "whatever". His endorsement meaning a Letter of Medical Necessity. Today, though...wow. I didn't know who I was going to meet today. I've now seen this guy 4 times and I've had 2 wonderful appts and 2 nail-scraping-on-chalkboard appts. I have always loved the office staff there, though, and, in anticipation of having to switch to a new doc in the same office when my hubby and I get pregnant, I've dealt with it. Anywho. Today. FABULOUS GUY! He was chatty, he was sweet, he was positive, he was upbeat, he was in a great mood and even complimentary! Started with - how was your New Year. I'm thinking, ok... Asked if I had questions. I asked his input on actually getting pregnant after being banded. I hear 2 years before we start trying and I don't know that I buy that, personally, especially when considering my case. Not saying I want to get banded and then immediately start trying to get pregnant. What I think is that if I focus this year on losing weight, that going into 2011 we should be in a good place for starting to try. If I can lose even just 66 pounds this year, I'll be at a normal BMI. If I can get banded in Feb or March, as has been discussed, then that seems doable. Say it was the end of Feb - that gives me 10 months to lose 66 pounds which means an average of 6.6 pounds a month. Seems to me that most do better than that when they try...and I'll certainly be trying. So we had a conversation about that. And he thought it was all very doable and reasonable. If I were heavier then it might be more important to focus on two years. But I'm not heavier. And I am older, too. For a first pregnancy anyway. And then he really surprised me. He complimented me. Said "you are doing well already!" What? YOU are saying something NICE to ME? Who ARE you? In a moment I wish I could undo - he said he wants me to do my baseline mammogram this year. This summer. Really? Am I there already? But then the whole thing got eery. He got cute. He says, as we are saying our good byes.... "I can't wait to see you next year and I hope to see less of you." Noticing that he was possibly sticking his foot in his mouth he says - "well not less frequently, just less person". Noticing he was still possibly sticking his foot in his mouth he started to stammer. And I'm just smiling cause I know what he means and I know where he's coming from and it's really cute and not bugging me and I even thought it was funny - and right on the dot. So I Iet him off the hook and said "I know what you mean and it sounds great to me, too!" He smiled and shook my hand and said he couldn't wait to see me next year - keep up the good work. Really? 10 pounds is good work? 10 pounds in 4 months? I guess it's something. But it's not a lot... I have to chuckle - cause it is a lot when I consider how I've done it. Given the program and it's design, it's been half-hearted and half-arsed. Sigh. I really can't wait to just let myself go and TRY! Anywho. Who knows if I will get banded. Who knows if this is all for nothing or all for something. But somehow, this appt gave me a warm fuzzy feeling and now I just feel better. Add to that - the cold is still on the retreat and I feel ~95% finally. Still a bit of a stuffed up nose - but nothing I can't start to attribute to allergies. Speaking of which, I think I'll go get some decongestants...

The thing I love about myself is that when I get down and grumpy and irritated and miserable - it doesn't last long! Yay! I'm back! It's always a tiny little teensy eensy thing that makes me go "what was I so bothered about?" It's this kind of perpetual circle. I want out of the bad mood so badly that I'm running in circles - and getting irritated accordingly - to get out of the bad mood - which just exacerbates my bad mood. And then something eensy teensy happens and I'm fine. Hopefully this blog won't read like me last two. What I do have to say about the last two, though, is that to me, it's part of what this process is like - for those that have to go through the danged program. Those feelings are real and I've read them elsewhere and it's better to be aware than to be surprised when the irritable grumpiness happens. I could have kept it all to myself and I would have gotten over it all just like I have with letting it out. Letting it out didn't make me feel better and it didn't make me feel worse. The people who piped up and said "dude, we're here for you", well, that helped, but me typing out how stupid I was thinking, that didn't make me feel better or worse. But if someone reads it and says to themselves, "that's how I feel" - well then the work of the blog is done. Anywho. I had my annual well woman exam this morning. And this doc is something special. I think he suffers worse PMS than I ever have. Sooooo moody and if you catch him on the wrong day, man, hold your head in your hands cause if you don't, you may lose it. Today was a good day. The last time I saw this doc was in November when I approached him to ask for his endorsement for this surgery. He was not so very kind in saying his opinions on my weight gain were that I was basically stupid. It was a less than fulfilling meeting but at the end of the day, he did give me his endorsement and I figured "whatever". His endorsement meaning a Letter of Medical Necessity. Today, though...wow. I didn't know who I was going to meet today. I've now seen this guy 4 times and I've had 2 wonderful appts and 2 nail-scraping-on-chalkboard appts. I have always loved the office staff there, though, and, in anticipation of having to switch to a new doc in the same office when my hubby and I get pregnant, I've dealt with it. Anywho. Today. FABULOUS GUY! He was chatty, he was sweet, he was positive, he was upbeat, he was in a great mood and even complimentary! Started with - how was your New Year. I'm thinking, ok... Asked if I had questions. I asked his input on actually getting pregnant after being banded. I hear 2 years before we start trying and I don't know that I buy that, personally, especially when considering my case. Not saying I want to get banded and then immediately start trying to get pregnant. What I think is that if I focus this year on losing weight, that going into 2011 we should be in a good place for starting to try. If I can lose even just 66 pounds this year, I'll be at a normal BMI. If I can get banded in Feb or March, as has been discussed, then that seems doable. Say it was the end of Feb - that gives me 10 months to lose 66 pounds which means an average of 6.6 pounds a month. Seems to me that most do better than that when they try...and I'll certainly be trying. So we had a conversation about that. And he thought it was all very doable and reasonable. If I were heavier then it might be more important to focus on two years. But I'm not heavier. And I am older, too. For a first pregnancy anyway. And then he really surprised me. He complimented me. Said "you are doing well already!" What? YOU are saying something NICE to ME? Who ARE you? In a moment I wish I could undo - he said he wants me to do my baseline mammogram this year. This summer. Really? Am I there already? But then the whole thing got eery. He got cute. He says, as we are saying our good byes.... "I can't wait to see you next year and I hope to see less of you." Noticing that he was possibly sticking his foot in his mouth he says - "well not less frequently, just less person". Noticing he was still possibly sticking his foot in his mouth he started to stammer. And I'm just smiling cause I know what he means and I know where he's coming from and it's really cute and not bugging me and I even thought it was funny - and right on the dot. So I Iet him off the hook and said "I know what you mean and it sounds great to me, too!" He smiled and shook my hand and said he couldn't wait to see me next year - keep up the good work. Really? 10 pounds is good work? 10 pounds in 4 months? I guess it's something. But it's not a lot... I have to chuckle - cause it is a lot when I consider how I've done it. Given the program and it's design, it's been half-hearted and half-arsed. Sigh. I really can't wait to just let myself go and TRY! Anywho. Who knows if I will get banded. Who knows if this is all for nothing or all for something. But somehow, this appt gave me a warm fuzzy feeling and now I just feel better. Add to that - the cold is still on the retreat and I feel ~95% finally. Still a bit of a stuffed up nose - but nothing I can't start to attribute to allergies. Speaking of which, I think I'll go get some decongestants...

carrie - every slip is different. mine was sharp stabbing pain after eating which lead to sharp pain all the time. sort of in my chest where you feel pressure after eating something wrong. lots of vomitting. i definitely knew something was wrong. i didnt know what at the time but i was aware that it was severe. really thought i just had stomach irritation. some people just lose all restriction and then have weight gain. hope you are doing ok. tngirl - i didnt have restriction until my 3rd fill. congrats on your surgery.

Some people are just ignorant and stubborn. He's obviously not very educated in weight loss, most people who diet and exercise to lose weight gain it back within the next two years. I had a couple of friends that did not understand why I would be willing to go through surgery too. I just told them that the Lap-band® is a tool to weightloss, it's not a solution, we still have to work to lose weight. If he's a good friend you should explain everything to him and hopefully he'll understand better. good luck :]

I've been banded 2 years and recently had a 20+ lb weight gain after being within 40lbs of goal. So here I am, 60 to loose again. :biggrin: I went in for a long over-due fill 2 weeks ago. My fills have always gone smoothly, and I only once had to get an unfill as I wasn't able to get liquids down. I am not one of those quirky people who doesn't feel the affect of the fill till a week later, etc. Sunday night I was stupid and ate 2 fish tacos with really spicy salsa. Took me over an hour, but I got them down. Ever since I've been having coughing fits at night, having a hard time even with liquids, although I get them down. It's different then when I was too tight, it's a constant dull pain that is really annoying. Does this sound like slippage? I've been doing liquids the past 2 days to play it safe. If i'm not better I'll call my doc tomorrow. Just wanted to see if anyone who has slipped had any of these symptoms?

It really depends on your doctor and his staff. My doctor has been nothing but encouraging, even with weight gain. He is also very conservative on fills, i did not get my first until 3 mths post op and it was just 2cc's and it has done nothing but he wants me to get used to eating my portions and chewing that is why he prefers to be conservative. They doctors are they to help you win this battle so hopefully they will stay positive with you.

Hang in there! I know the waiting is soooooo hard. It took me a whole year to get my surgery between the requirements by my insurance company and two appeals. Don't worry too much about the extra weight gain. This is one of the most stressful processes I have ever been through so, OF COURSE, I was gonna gain. The good thing is that you will drop that extra weight fast after you get the band. I'm not saying go out and go crazy, but try not to stress too much about it. You have enough stress already. One thing I would recommend to help you pass the time is try to start making some changes already that will prepare you for after surgery. If you haven't been exercising already, start an exercise program now. Don't worry about losing weight by exercising... just do it to create the habit and figure out what you would LIKE to do for exercise. I did this prior to surgery and it was so valuable for me. It was the first time I was exercising just for the sake of exercising and not because I was obsessively watching the scale and trying to lose weight. It helped me to learn how to enjoy exercise just for how it makes me feel. Also, if you haven't been drinking at least 64 oz of Water per day, start working on making that a daily goal. And, 60-80 grams of Protein per day (or whatever your surgeon recommends). These are all things you can start doing now that will help you later, but won't make you feel hungry or deprived since you don't have your band yet. Oh, another thing I did to pass the time pre-band, is I had a friend come over and help me go through all my clothes (in my closet and old stuff I had in boxes). We went through all of it and she made me get rid of anything that I should never wear again (either too old, out of style, not flattering). And, we took the stuff to save and sorted it into boxes for 'stage 1', 'stage 2', and 'stage 3'. Stage 1 is one to two sizes below what I currently wear, stage two is the next two sizes, etc. That way, when I shrink out of my clothes, I have boxes of clothes organized and ready that I will WANT to wear. The 'stage 1' boxes sit right above my current clothes in the closet as motivation to me. The rest are in the garage so I don't feel overwhelmed w/how far I have to go. There is nothing in my closet or drawers that doesn't fit me right NOW. That is a great feeling! I'm sure you can think of some other ways to pass the time. Best of luck to you. You are in the home stretch!!!

I lost over 100lbs with the band. I was 257 went down to 149 then I had a tummy tuck and one year later was pregnant (good planning right) I weighed 166 at 8 weeks pregnant. My band was loosened a about 1/2 way at 2 months pregnant. I was gaining weight really rapidly so I asked my doctor to put more back in. I was partially restricted for most of the pregnancy but still gaining weight at above the recommened amount. I was completely unfilled last week due to bad, bad heartburn and even thought that is helping me I am hungry all the time and gaining weight really fast - I am now 33 weeks and am up to 212! I am totally freaked that after all this hard work I will never be able to lose the weight again and that I will gain even MORE in the next 1 1/2 until I have the baby. Any tips/ideas/support? Thanks in advance!

...and I've decided that there is too much drama on OH, so I'm gonna have to bail from that forum for a while. Why all the venom when folks are just looking for a place to garner support for a healthier life? Crazy! Anyway......I'm down 38.5 pounds since December 1, including my 16 pounds from preop. I think I'll stop dividing the two weigh losses and just claim it all! I have my six week followup next week, and I just realized it is at the same time as I will generally have major PMS and weight gain...delightful! Things are going well, and I'm averaging about 650-800 calories daily, 25-45 carbs, and 65-100 grams of protein. I feel good about tracking and making healthy food choices. And, I'm getting in a two mile walk and a little on the elliptical each day. I hope to add some light weights next week to help with the flabby arms! I'm a little annoyed with my clothing right now. As always, I'm losing all upstairs, so seven people could live in the top half of my shirts, but the bottoms are still fitting. I have a closet of either too big and sloppy or still too snug around the ol' hips and booty. Sigh.....

My husband and I went on a trip last week for our honeymoon/anniversary. I was already advanced to regular foods, and I don't have any restriction. They warned me that I could gain some weight during my regular food and without restriction. I gained 5 pounds back!! So....I'm really watching everything I put in my mouth, truly focusing on drinking enough water, and getting my 60 g protein in everyday. I've also started exercising. Last night I did 30 min on wii fit, today I plan to hit the treadmill. I don't get a fill until 2/4. Has anyone else had problems with weight gain???

hello guys, so today i weighted in @ 219.6...... yeaaaaaa for me. that brings me to a total of 7.4 lbs loss. still a ways to go but the way im starting to see it now is sum loss is better than no loss, and way better than sum weight gain. how is everyone doing?? im going to go to the gym in a lil while to ride the bike again that bike is a monster, but it must be doign sumthing for me. how many of u guys are working out?? can u tell me what u are doing and is there anything good for the stomach, besides sit-ups, lol.

Julie...hope that cold you have just turns around and leaves. (Knocking on wood right now)...I never get virus'. Just really never have. I feel fortunate and hope it stays that way. I don't sit much, Julie. Never have. I think that's why I appreiate my newfound energy so much. It was such a depressing thing for me when I was heavy and did not have much energy. I kept pushing myself but everything was a task. I feel as if I have been given this second chance and I am enjoying it. I believe a good night of sleep is the clincher in almost everything we do. We get up early around here (anytime between 4:30-6am) but I usually get my 7 hours. If I don't I try to make it up the next night. I have read so much about women/menopause/inadequate sleep and weight gain. When you are lacking sleep, it's tough to deal with many different things. All I know is that I feel good every day for so long now and do not take it for granted. One week from today we hit the road and will work our way towards FL. As I stated b/4, I have always flown wherever I have traveled and not sure about so many hours in the truck. Will just have to break up the trip every 3-4 hours with stops. My dog will need breaks so he will keep me stopping. DH will sleep and watch movies...I will most likely drive 98% of the miles. I am not a rider. I have most everything packed and ready to go. Just last minute grabbing of toiletries, etc. later. DH just keeps shaking his head as I pack. (Hey...I'm driving a truck...everything fits in a truck). He gave me a look last night and I asked him "How do you think that kitchen sink will travel?" He didn't think it was so funny.

I finally got up my nerve to get back on the scale and see how I did over the holidays. I was surprised. I had gained nothing. I have got started back after two and half weeks off from all the snow storms and cold weather. I made to the "Y" three times this week. I probably over did it yesterday. I walked in the pool for almost 2 hours, not because I wanted the excerise,but because my friend showed up late. We walk and talk alot. So now with no weight gain, it time to be serious with this goal of losing some weight. Hope everyone is doing good. Let us know. Carol

I laughed when I saw your post. Not at you but at myself. Never really made it a goal but it has been in the back of my mind. And this tells you how long I have been fighting the weight. I have been hauling a pair of jeans around for over 20 years that I bought and wore exactly once.I always wonder if I will fit in them again. They were the begining of there at the beigining of the weight gain....maybe at the end too.