Steph - Great new pic. Glad you enjoyed your cruise, you definitely deserved it. Great job on the weight loss, you never seem to amaze us. I didn't post last week, I was weighing in about the same. I had my 1 year dr visit and they wanted me to do their commercial and they also gave me a little black t-shirt that says Barker's Babes (that is my dr) to promote or I guess help others in my group want to make it to goal so they could get one and I guess advertise. My husband doesn't want me to do the commercial. He is to private and also doesn't see any use, since he says there is nothing in it for me. I told him it would be my testimony to help others see there is hope. I would also get professional photographs and a copy of the video, etc. For now I am okay with waiting a little longer to decide. This week I am actually thinner than where the doctor wants me to be. For now my doctors just says be careful what you wish away. He said he is not concerned at all about me loosing some more weight. He assures me that it will taper off and I will have regain. I am not too concerned, but if I get below 110, I will definitely be asking the doctor to tell me what to do. Unfortunately I do have the snack demon, my snack of choice these days is Goldfish. I can eat and eat and it feels like it's a bottomless pit. I have taken the wheels off and have even eaten pasta, which I don't ever eat, just to try to get some weight regained. I have a lady in my support group 2 years out who weighs less than 98 lbs and she is starting to see an internal medicine doctor to determine how she can maintain a higher weight. She wears clothes in the children's section and she is really struggling with being too thin. I really never thought I would ever have the issues of loosing too much. I have been so swamed with the interviewing and getting ready to quit and start my new job that I haven't had time to think about proper meal planning. I hope by March 1st, I can get back to the gym and have a healthy meal plan laid out, that is part of my 2008 goal plans. So here are my stats this week: HW: 232 SW: 228 Two weeks ago: 117.8 CW: 116.2 A loss of 1.6 lbs in the last two weeks. I wish everone else success this week. Hugs, Lindy

Lori, I am so saddened to hear your struggles. I haven't been online much lately, but I have read your posts and I have been praying for you. I just can't believe all that has happened to you. I know there are risks with this surgery, but you just never want to think it happens to anyone. I had a new person attend the support group that I lead this past weekend who has had around 4-5 surgeries since her RNY last April. Somehow they nicked her bladder and she became toxic. I just couldn't believe it all. You have such a wonderful and positive outlook and your disposition is what is needed. My mom has had 2 brothers, a sister and her mother all die of cancer. When my mom was diagnosed with uterine cancer, she stayed positive and said she is not going to let it get to her. She did have down days, but she just kept saying that she knew the lord made her strong enough to survive. She has been in remission for almost 18 years. I always have believed that God doesn't put more on us than we can handle. So you must be a very strong person and have a ton of resilience. You seem to be handling this better than most would. Please know that we are always here for you. Even though I have never met you in person, I still feel a close bond to you because all that those of us on the January board have shared the last year. I am going to ask my support group to pray for you as well. Please keep us posted. Lots of hugs and blessed thoughts coming your way! Lindy

Marilyn- I have been dying for a cigarrette and I was only a bar smoker before being married. For me- I just must have some serious oral issues!!! Good for you for quitting!!! Holly

Holly, I am going through the same thing. On Friday the doc put me on a second round of prednisone and antib. I feel so guilty taking the antib too because I have to take them with something to eat and lots of water. NOOOO. But they are 400mg 3x's a day and I don't want to tear up my pouch. So I have been eating a couple of crackers and then swigging the pill with the required water. I can't wait to be over this. Are the steroids and antib's making you overheated? I have been turning on the AC and the fan and even sweating as soon as I start my workouts. I have been plugging along for most of my scheduled workouts but I find myself sucking wind. It is a change not to be cold. LOL We are closer to well than we were! Hugs, Katy

Wow Steph, what are you doing this week to lose so much? I bet you were shocked! Did you lose a little here and there or was it more like a couple lbs one day?? You are doing amazing! SW 238 DOS 225 LW 123 CW 123-125 it keeps bouncing up and down. I am able to eat more and want to eat more now and it's a little scary. I'm trying not to though and keep myself busy. Night time is the worse. I am so glad I have you guys to share this with. ***Hugs**