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I want some. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

So I want to share my whole story as well as post my progress here. I guess after having issues with my weight for so long it's time to be honest as to why and how I get here. JUST A KID ages 10-16 I have always been a bigger person as a child by the time I was in 5th grade I already weighed 100 pounds, I know this because at a party with friends one of my friends said I had a Dream we all went out to party, and Shanqiua u we're skinny in my dream, that hurt. I become queen of disappearing to advoid ppl picking on me. It didn't always work I still got called fat, the ugly sister and if you were small you would be pretty. I learned to live in a made up world to not deal with reality. I would read a lot and made myself a character in my book. This lasted till 14 when I had my first kiss, that lead to first sexual experience than a baby. So adding to my issues I made myself a teen mom. It was very depressing. I balloon to 280@16 and stay this for a long time. I was in a bad space in my life. Teen Years age16-21 With a baby I still managed to excel in school graduating with honors and divorcing my parents so I could be my own legal guardian. I learned early on that what I did with my life was my choice, and I felt I could not control my weight so I control my life by ensuring I wasn't another teen mom who did nothing with her life. Went to school, college for BA , Grad school for MSW. But I was making bad men and food choices and I think the men choices I made was to please them because I believed no one would want me. THE HEALTH ISSUES age 19-25 I was a dibetic and didn't know it. I was 19 when I lost a ton of weight I went from 280 to 200 in three months, I was thristy all the time pee smelled like fruit and I was lossing my vision. I thought I was lossing weight because I had changed eating habits and started working out, this help but it wasn't the only reason I was lossing. I was so happy about the Weight lost that I didn't bother to go to a doctor till I could not feel my leg... This scared me went in and sugars we're 400. I was put on insulin, which cause the new found weight lost to stop, so I stop taking the insulin dumb yes. I did this back and forward with the medication for a long time till my doctor told me I did not care about my life, I did care but was so scared of going back to 280. I change eating habits for good and started working out which allowed me to stay between 200-210 MEDICATION age 25-26 I started my medication the insulin and did not get back to 280 but was hovering BTW 220 for a while. I was in a very toxic relationship and more drama than ever food and alcohol become my safe haven. After a DV situation with my now ex husband I decided to take my life back and I joined weight watchers, and the gym, my doctor put me on a diet pill as we'll . It worked wonders getting my weight to 185 lowest I have ever been since 16, with this new found confidence life was good but I started not taking the meds again plus the pill was giving me racing heart, depressing thoughts all the side effects. Stop the pill gained all the weight back and than some getting to 215. NEW START age 27-28 At this point I had two kids hated where I lived and was feeling like **** about my life, I took the 3k I saved packed my car and moved from MI to TX with my kids. Found a new doctor got back on my meds and hit the gym and boxing. Because of the yoyo diet, refusing to get on the diet pill again I was not lossing weight like before . My doctor talked to me about the wls and I was not on board i was 5'1 215 and was thinking im not that big, but reality was I was that big and knew I had to do something especially to get my sugars under control..i talk to my therpist about it and she was supportive. We went over the pros and cons as well as how relationships would be if I did go through with this. (We had been working through my relationships with ppl due to poor relationships with family, friends and men back home). After the talk and research I went in for a seminar. SEMINAR age 28 Went on 8/25/2015 Started process the following week. I did not like the first surgeron I went to and switch on 10/1/2015. Here is how the progress went: 10/7 Appointment met with surgeon, Nut(psy evaluation done that day), dietien. Was given requirements from doctor which was: Don't gain weight 216 Keep sugars below 150 10/12 Went to get blood work done Xrays done My insurance required six month diet, but I already met the requirements for this from past diets (the pill and weight watchers) 11/7 submited to insurance 11/8 approved 11/18- pre opt appointment (weight 213) 11/23 surgery date @10am

During my pre-op nutritionist visits, we were taught that alcohol consumption essentially stalled any/all weight loss for 3-4 days after...so I simply felt it wasn't worth it after making the decision to have my VSG. I have an indulgence, though---sugar-free Torani Bourbon Caramel syrup...drinking just doesn't appeal to me anymore...not to mention, I'm not wanting to experience any hangover, nausea, etc, due to my drastically changed BMI and stomach size...I simply don't know what my new body can/ could handle...and don't care to test that.

This whole journey is hard. But don't give up. You just have to keep at it and celebrate the little victories. We are to hard on ourselves. One step at a time is the way to a victorious journey! We are addicts who unlike alcoholics can give up our addition completely. We need food to live. So we often have to fall off and get back on several times until we reach our often unrealistic goals. Let our first step as addicts to say I am going for being healthy and not thin... We see the stories and the pictures and the encourage and discourage us.... For the most part we have been on this journey so long it seems as it will never end... But the best part is that if we keep trying and working and keep faithful it will move in the right direction and soon you will find yourself feeling better and living like you never have before. Be encouraged my journey was long but it was worth it.... @ adoptmom

@Aprile3211 Great post, I completely agree. @xmaleengyx - I did have a catheter but they put it in after I was under anesthesia and removed it before I woke up. And ask your doctor about it if it makes you that nervous. Also, if you are really anxious about surgery, there's no shame in asking your doctor to prescribe something to help calm your nerves that you can take even up to the morning of surgery. Surgery and recovery is such a brief part of this that you forget about it very quickly. As for the alcohol and such, my psych said there is nothing we can't have (once we're healed) but there are things we shouldn't have. You will not explode if you have alcohol within a year of surgery. I am choosing not to drink alcohol because I don't really like it and it's not worth the calories but that's just my personal choice. You will not die if you drink diet soda after surgery. Doctor's generally say we should stay away from it but some people choose to have it again once they are healed. Same with caffeine. I think taking tiny bites is important early on but I think they get a little bigger than a eraser size as time goes on. It is important to chew well and I'm trying to break myself from a lifetime habit of not chewing my food up well. When I don't, I do get sick because the food gets stuck and it's a little painful. Some people never have a problem with this but I am a slow learner so I'm still working on it. I take one Multivitamin a day and my 3 month labs came back with everything completely in the normal range. It's something I really should have been doing before so I don't look at it as difficult. Hang in there and do a lot of reading on this site. It really helped calm my nerves about a lot of things.

You didn't wreck it, but you're going to have to go slow on the alcohol from now on. I'm guessing you're in the UK and this is going to be hard, since pretty much everything is centered around drinking in a way it isn't in the US, but your tolerance for alcohol is going to be radically different from what it was before. I'm ten months out and can get knocked for a loop with two G&Ts. Three months is still pretty early for reintroducing alcohol, talk to your doctor about when you can start drinking again - and obviously your changed drinking tolerance is going to impact decision-making... and that's where the coke comes in. Because you know you shouldn't be doing that with a compromised digestive system and surgical healing. Talk to your doctor about the recreational drugs too. Or, if you think you're going to hit a judgement wall there, talk to another health counselor. If it helps at all, there's a significant cultural difference US/UK when it comes to talking about drugs, and I think you accidentally ran into the buzzsaw with your original post. The puritanical streak in the US is considerably wider and more opinionated than in the UK. There are a lot of posts around this forum about how people's social lives have changed now they can't drink much and it's changed the way they experience the bar, so maybe look up some of those to find fellow travelers?

Hey ya all.. Just got back.. Well it neither went real bad, but nor did it go good. We get another Hearing in May. The good part is the pro active stance I took sending his Lawyer a letter in regards to child support came in handy. When the Judge asked his side about child support they Lawyer said that was not figured out. I said NO that is not correct and it is figured out and I did send you the figures. So the Judge stopped what he was doing and looked at the Lawyer and said "Your Client better start paying something cause he is getting behind" Oh you should have seen the look on the Lawyer's face. PRICELESS:devious My STBX did not watch his words and admitted he drank when he has the kids. Not anymore per ruling from the Judge -- NO Alcohol He gets to see them everyother weekend Sat and Sun but NO overnights.. He also gets to come by and pick up his tools and a truck box he has in the back yard. To tell you all the truth I really belive it is his Lawyer that is pushing him but I hope that when he starts coming by for the kids he will maybe say something and I will tell him lets talk and agree. Because the Lawyer I am going to get is going to eat and spit you out and I do not hate him not think he is a bad person I just want my kids to be safe and happy... Humm I will come back later.. on a good note I won a 1000.00 dollar shopping spree on line.. Now I can send something to those I owe a gift too...

Hope everyone had a lovely Easter and hope you got to spend time with family and friends. We had a wonderful Easter here. DH's Brother and his wife came to visit and have been here since Tuesday. So we had them plus my friend and her hubby and daughter came over and my son came home early from his dad's. He wanted to spend Easter with me and his Step-dad. I thought that was quite the compliment . THEY had Turkey, ham and the fixings. I had quite the PB episode on the first try of scrambled eggs this morning and that was it. I was done with eating for the day. Doc said mushies and my body is SCREAMING it lol. It was TERRIBLE! This was the first time I, ummmm let loose, I've only had sliming before with that golfball. NOT this time. YUCKY! Anyway....mashed potatoes with LOTS of gravy, squash and sweet potatoes were my Easter meal and it went down nice and smooth. WHEW! Donna and Pat - I'd love to have an East Coast party I'm on my cruise from July 16-23 so that's out for me. Some weekends are tricky because of my son going alternate weeks with his dad but, I should be able to work that out. Once people throw out specific dates I'll know better I'd really love to meet my friends here at LBT So sweet of you to offer a meeting place Pat! Cindy - Wahoo congrats on the smaller band size. What a difference aye? That's great and keep up the great work. Oh I tried some of those Zone bars you talk about and I like them. Thanks for the tip! Patty - I hope you had a great day at your friends house. I bet the boys collected lots of eggs Betty - Sounds like you have some great recipes. Maybe we should all get together and create a NJ LBT Chat (Can't say chicks cause the gentlemen I hope will help too) recipe book Wouldn't it be great to put together a band friendly menu? Oooooooo yea. If people would like to do that I'm willing to volunteer to put it all together in word. Then I can email everyone that pages. Sounds like fun! Ira - Congrats to you and your wife on her deciding on the Band. I know it's so much easier with my DH dieting or changing his eating habits to go along with my banding. Your wife had a head start already having you as her mentor. That's awesome and I wish you both the best! Eileen - I get up early when I don't have to yet, work days the alarm has to wake me up. Hmmm wonder why hahaha. (Psssst I was with you, I was wondering what was wrong with Donna's dog hahaha) Shackdog - welcome and happy April to you too. Hope to hear more from ya. Forgive me Bubbame I don't know your first name, but I hope your STBX gets more reasonable. Its just not worth fighting over because kids are smarter than ya think. Doesn't matter the age they pick up on it. Been there done that and thankfully my ex and I get along great when it comes to agreeing on my son's well being. I wish you the best and pray for a good outcome with it all for you and your children. Anne - Hope you're doing well and having a good Easter egg hunt. Hope all your work paid off and you were able to enjoy your company. Everyone...I have to thank you for your kind words regarding the situtation with my sister. My mom who's out visiting my Aunt and Uncle actually came by today with them on their motorcycles. She's so dang cute in her leathers hahaha. My 64 year old mumsy is out riding in her black leather jacket with the fringe that her and my aunt put black and silver beads on every 5th one, her leather chaps, gloves, boots and vest....they are having the time of their lives. I couldn't help but smile when I saw her and know that her living here with us made this all possible for her. She no longer has to worry about yard work, house problems etc. Well, I wear my heart on my sleeve and a tear formed when I saw her UGH. (Wish I could learn to hide stuff. Never could with her.) Well she told me when she comes home Monday she wants to hear ALL that my sister said and she means ALL of it. I told her it's not pretty and I can't even bring myself to say it. She insists and made me promise. CRIPE now what? How do I tell her her other daughter was flipping out and calling her every name in the book most of which don't even come into my mind never mind cross my lips? One word in particular makes my stomach want to hurl. I'm so stuck in the middle of stuff it's sickening. It's been this way my entire life. I've always been the one holding this family together from before my alcoholic father left until now. Why, as my shrink I had years ago said, am I the adult in the family when at the time I should of been a kid. Well.....I've decided I need to yet again take a step back from my siblings. My life is so much better off without them. Sad to say because I do love them but, I just can't deal with it anymore. The crap, the drama, the jealousy, petiness and meaness. It's ALL just not me. In the meantime...what the heck to do about what my mom is asking me to do ugh. Thank you everyone for your kind words, prayers, positive energy....I thank God for all of you. He brought me here for a reason and it wasn't just the band.

Good Morning, I'm home today, I always take the day after Easter off b/c I'm pooped! and my house is a wreck lol. Sherry, the way you described your family, I thought I was reading my very own story. I am the youngest of 7 but the oldest when it comes to responsibility. I think I am the only adult out of all of them.... they have no responsibility, jealousy is sickening, lazy, etc..... (except my eldest sister, she was the only one who was "normal"... I say was because she died in 1998...long sad story..) anyway. My dad died when he was 54, of cancer (mom is still alive) I have 3 brothers, 2 are alcoholics who are sooooooo jealous its sickening (one brother died when he was 34 of heart failure...we think it was steroid b/c he was a body builder ), the 2 sisters who are still alive, I hate to admit it but are very lazy and I'm the one who takes care of my mom's financial stuff, etc. I love my family like nobody's business and we are there for eachother its just the petty shit that goes on and the talking behind the back that makes me sick. I try to stay away from it all. So.... I understand where your coming from. Okay now that you know all about my disfunctional family LOLOL !!! you can understand why I'm like I am eeeeeeeeerrrrr :guess and why I'm fat....being the youngest of 7 was not fun lol. So how is everyone today? I ate so much yesterday its not funny. I feel numb and tingly from all the salt I ate but it was surely tasty. Get this.... I tried to eat some pineapple and the first bite I took it kinda slid down and poof...got stuck. I thought it was gonna come back up but it didn't...it just hurt for about 20 minutes as I paced the floor. See thats what I get for "trying" to eat healthy haaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.

I don't have any problem as long as the drink isn't carbonated, but it will absolutely get you drunker faster!!! The band really effects the alcohol absorption.

How long did you wait after surgery to have a drink? What was it? Did you tolerate it ok?

I say no time like the present to start adjusting your mindset for social situations...choose something else to drink that is non-caloric...will prove to yourself that you can do it, and post-op you will have to get comfortable with how you navigate both eating and drinking in social situations...if it is helpful, imagine yourself pregnant...you wouldn't feel "pressured" to drink alcohol with everyone else because you would know that isn't a healthy choice...or if you were on medication that couldn't beiges with alcohol...you wouldn't take a drink then, right?

I am 5'10" and have always been tall and solidly built. Even in high school when I was athletic, I weighed 160-170. My HW was 374. I lost 50 lbs on my own prior to surgery and 80 since. I had RNY in December 2020. I had a follow up appointment last week and asked a question similar to yours of one of the program doctors. I asked what my goal weight was as I didn't recall ever being given one. I said I realized that to be considered normal BMI, I would have still have to lose a considerable amount. I said that while I still am actively losing, if I never lost another pound, I would consider the surgery a success given the improved health and ease of movement that I've regained. The doctor stated that my program does not give goal weights nor rigidly follow BMI guidelines as every individual is different. Improved health and wellness is what the goal is. If I ever see 199, I'll be thrilled just to say I was once again in the 100's. I can't imagine being 150-155. I don't aspire to be that just so I can be considered a success in someone's statistics. It IS my body. I am 100% working the program provided to me. Even during preparation classes, questions were answered with what the best practice is for any situation but they also addressed the questions from a realistic standpoint. Coffee and alcohol were examples: the advice was not to consume but the realization was that we make our own choices and provided suggestions on how to manage if we were to consume.

Your question is a little confusing. Have you had the surgery yet? If so, folllow Normas answer. She is right, no one will notice. Just take the soft foods offered, and drink Water. no alcohol. OR get a juice drink~ 50/50 water and cranberry juice carry that around with you it looks like a drink. I put mine in a wine glass. no one knows or cares. No soda! Find out where the bathroom is right away, so if you do eat too fast, and there is a problem, well, you can make you exit less obtrusive. Remember~~SIP!!! Now, if you have not been sleeved and are asking about the pre op diet, HELL YES we all cheated. No saints in this club. Ya just do the best you can. And, when you are sleeved you get to do so much better! So, go to the party! Have fun, do not tell anyone what you are doing. It is personal and should not be brought up in a party setting. Memorize a couple of jokes before you go. Talk about cooking, sports, books, chairity's, trips planned. That kind of stuff. Enjoy your life! Do not put off one moment for "later" do it all now.

How did I become obese? Mass quantities of food and alcohol...... 12" sub with 2 bags of chips and large soda, 1/3 pound burger with a plate of fries followed by a piece of cake, lots of vodka, whiskey, rum and beer (my liquor store bill often exceeded my grocery bill), a pint of Ben and Jerry's, a whole Tombstone pizza, A tube of Nestles premade cookie dough. Basically I didn't have that chemical trigger that told me to stop eating because I never ever got full.

Hello everyone!!! My gosh, I hate when our group is unhappy! It is one of the frustrations of our online friendship (maybe the only one?) when one of you has a problem, needs help, whatever, I cannot just hop in the car and run over to your place to help. I truly wish I could. Betty--I am so glad Alan's tests went well, and hope he is healing well from the angiogram. It is a relief to actually SEE the rest of everything is working, and know they consider it nothing major! I hope the schedule works so he can get it done soon, and have the Spring and Summer to begin walking again, and building up his strength. Rick had his in August, and it was too doggone hot to walk outside some days, and then before we knew it, fall was upon us! I loved being banded in the Spring, it was the perfect time. I think it would be for him as well. I hope your stress levels ease some---I can so remember the fear. ((((Big giant hugs)))) Eficka--The very last thing I said to my former friend was "Friendship requires trust, we have none, so we have no friendship." I see her around, she avoids meeting my eyes. She looks like what she is---an alcoholic. She has several years on your friend--we are 46, but time will do it to her as well. It is a hard life, and one I would think is hard to live as well. My brother had alcohol issues for awhile, and he was horrid to be around. I chose not to be around him often, so why would I choose someone knowing that about them. I am not anti-alcohol. I am anti-abuse. When it causes problems---it IS a problem. You will mourn the friendship---or at least what you thought the friendship was. It is normal for you to be able to think of little else. It IS a major issue in your life right now. While the inside you is not changing as drastically as the outside, it IS changing. You are gaining in self confidence, as you lose in size. It is good. Just as Fiona deserves better, so do you. And here is your ((((big, giant hug)))). Yep Amourette---you deserve better. You could have had much worse, but you deserve better! Your job, makes it such a different possibility! I mean for myself, if I were single, in the rural area I live in, I could go to the next town over, go to bars, or to events, like local rodeos etc. but I would have definite limitations. You have the world at your feet--literally!!!!! You could meet a man in the USA, or one in Italy......oh the possibilities!!! And you like Eficka are changing, your self confidence, although it took a beating this week, Is going to soar! Self confidence attracts people---even male people!!! I am so sorry you are hurting....but better to know now, it is for the best. I send you ((((big, giant hugs ))))too! Julie---I have no doubt Onederland is sitting there waiting for you with open arms! I cannot get there!!! I think my GPS is broken! I think I would have made it, but I am in a place where I am building muscle now. I have dropped from a 16 to a 14 in pants, and my body fat percentage has dropped by over 10 points. Measured on the same machine, at the same time of day. I have gone from being able to do 5 sit ups to doing 2 sets of 20...underneath that layer (and it is a pretty good layer still!!!) of fat, I can feel muscle. I also have a bicep to be proud of!!! Triceps are still hiding under the wing of fat, but I feel them there!!! The biggest change is one only I notice---it is in my lats. I used to have a roll over my bra on the side/back---it is gone. My bra band has dropped another size as well. BUT the scale sits tight, it jumps from 202.5-205---not over, not under!!! I hate to go for another fill, I am in a good place eating wise. I can eat most things, I can likely eat more than is ideal, but it is less than I did by far. I do not want to worry about food. When I am tight, I stress over what will work and what won't. So I want to do this without another fill at this point. I know Spring will help, lots to DO!!! Boo---WOW!!!! 110/51!!!! I thought I was doing good---mine closked in at 118/72. I see I have more work to do!!! You have done such an awesome job!!! Bluehill---how you doing? Hanging in there? How much longer til they think you can get home? Roberta---where ya at? Ok I need to get some things done. My Mom is having knee surgery tomorrow, I am battling with my oldest DD---and feeling like hell for it. It is not starting out a great day.....hope it improves! TTYL, Kat

hi everybody:-) Im up for that challenge althoough Im afraid 19 excercise sessions is bit to much:-) although if walking and shopping (I mean walking from one store to another) counts then I might actually do it:-) I had a rough week, we went out with my friend and she got so drunk (she does that a lot lately Im afraid shes an alcoholic) and she tried to seduce the guy I was flirting with and it worked both ways(seducing-not in some soft way she was like all over him trying to kiss him and her hands everywhere) .I was so mad because in a long time it was a guy I liked and he liked me!! there was no point of talking to her because she was so drunk that she wouldnt get what I was saying from her ears to her brain. In the end they decided they want more drinks, I didnt join them cause I had to go to work next day and also didnt want to deal with shitfaced friend (excuse my French:-)so the next day I found out that she took him home and slept with him!!!yep she spreads her legs while saying hi to a guy.I know I sound bitter, but I guess I am. I always told her not to sleep with random guys like hours after she meets them-cause of her safety and health (nope she doesnt use any protection except for a pill) but she didnt listen and I thought ok she knows what I think and shes an adult, but now her behaviour is actually affecting me! Shes 32 she should have a brain and know how to use it! I told her that I was upset with her, but all she said is that she was drunk and doesnt remember anything. Now what Im mad about is basically that she spoiled my chance to get to know that guy better and find out if we could see each other more often. I really liked him and he liked me, but I guess since his alcohol level was going up he went from hating Stepanka (first he was disghusred with her)to ok maybe I could sleep with her, hey its for free and he is a man. Sorry for bothering you with this but I had to went it out.thanx for reading:-)

Sugar alcohols (compared to sugar) have about half the calories but are less sweet so more is used. Since they aren't absorbed completely, they have a lower glycemic response - hence their acceptance on many low carb diets. About 40 - 60% of the sugar alcohol is digested. So my advice would be to avoid them when you're working to shrink your liver. I too followed Atkins (the induction phase for over a year), and never let sugar alcohols go by free and clear. I ALWAYS counted them in my carb allowance, because I was still absorbing them. A lot of people think they go through unabsorbed, but unfortunately that's not the case.

This time next week I will already be in surgery. I am the first case Monday September 14th, 0730 start time. We are traveling home from a family wedding at which I managed not to have any alcoholic beverages, which I am pretty proud of! Lots to do this week, I'm a little more nervous about getting life ready then the actual surgery at this point!

"Trigger foods" indeed. There are certain foods that I'm just going to have to learn to abstain from. I am a food ADDICT. So I can't just have a taste of certain things any more than an alcoholic can just have one little drink. It's all or nothing with me. That is one thing I'm grateful for with the band, I can no longer have a huge binge. But boy, do I want one sometimes. They define addiction as something you continue to use even though you get negative results from it's use. That certainly applies to me and food. I have made a new rule for myself. No eating in front of the TV. That is just the worst. I totally zone out. If I stay at the table I'm mindful of what I eat. The TV really ties in with emotional eating for me. I have tried OA before but it didn't seem to stick. Maybe I'll give it a try now that I'm banded.

Leave now. Do not pass "go." Do not collect two hundred dollars. Or you will go directly to jail. Men who abuse drugs and alcohol do not respect themselves much less anyone else. Their God is the drug and their lifestyle revolves around the worshiping of same. I believe I gave my ex-husband the choice: Marijuana or me. Go to treatment or our marriage is over. He chose drugs over me. I'm rather happy with that decision as my second marriage is a blessing--but damn, girl. Get out while you still can.

Drink a lot of Water, Propel 0 calorie 0 carb also was helpful. Brush your teeth and use a non-alcohol base mouthwash, Biotene works best for me. I also floss a lot, nobody eats right after they floss. When Ketosis hits the breath can get pretty nasty and dry mouth is the worst. * added - Decaff Peppermint or whatever flavor you like tea with a little Truvia or spenda is good to stop the craving and growling. I'm on 3 Protein shakes a day only on day 9 of 14. Day 3 & 4 were the hardest. Keep busy, walk and don't think about it.

Curious what changes (if any) folks made to their diet while waiting for their surgery date? I'm trying to make some changes now so adjusting to a new lifestyle won't be quite as dramatic after surgery. I want to set myself up for success as much as possible. So far I have done the following: - cut way back on my coffee (only one cup caffeinated every other day) - water intake up to 100 ounces a day - tracking my food and limiting carbs to less than 120g a day - trying to teach myself to eat 5 times a day instead of 3 (this has been a big change because I had finally gotten used to only eating 3 times a day...my new program wants folks eating 5 times a day so something is eaten every 3-4 hours) - focusing on protein first - cut fast food down to 2 times a week - cut out alcohol - adding in walks, though not consistently yet Any thing else I can do to help prepare myself more for this new lifestyle?

Most of mine have to do with my home state, West Virginia. We are not all, as one state education official recently told some school board members in one of our more backward areas, "four-wheel riding, dope smoking, alcoholic rednecks" who had no interest in education. Hello ... I have a master's degree and my husband (who is not my cousin!) has a bachelor's. We both have professional jobs and make good money by local standards. I've never lived "up a holler" or on top of a mountain; in fact I've spent most of my life in metropolitan areas with populations of more than 100,000. I've never even been on a four-wheeler, although my older son has. I do drink occasionally but haven't smoked dope since college. I will cop to one WV stereotype - we are one of the fattest states in the Union and I do fit that description but hey, one can't win them all!

Went to row class at 9am tomorrow. Felt great. Also went and bought my swimsuit today. :-) so now I have one day tomorrow and I need to get 2 workouts in to hit my goal. Wondering how I will get that done. :-) yesterday evening I had serious cravings. I think it had to do with the alcohol the night before. Tonight I am going out again so I need to figure out how I will handle this. Today my cravings are in check. I fasted for 16 hours so that definitely helps with the cravings I believe. Purposely kept myself busy. After workout shopping, pedicure, manicure and brows!! here is to tomorrow!!! :-)