I've always been extremely open about my surgery and many of my co-workers have asked about it. I'm always positive as I think this is the best thing I've ever done just for myself, but I'm ALSO clear and brutally honest regarding all of the negative aspects as I wouldn't want to sway anyone without being truthful. The sister of a co-worker actually came to my home and we talked for hours. I referred here and to my surgeon and she had HER surgery two weeks ago and is doing great. With the increased press coverage and more and more of us out here, I think it's just a much more open topic than it used to be.

Rhonda, I avoid them if at all possible. I do not have a restraunt card. if it's not avoidable to go to a buffet, then i go, eat what I can and pay the price...figuring that i don't do it that often and once in a while is ok...after all - before surgery i'm sure i ate more than 8.00 worth of food and it will all even out. Denise

Hi Rhonda, My family loves to go to a chinese buffet close to our home. They do not honor my restaurant card so I usually order egg drop soup or a fried chicken wing appetizer and take left overs home. That is the only buffet style restaurant we go to. Wanda

Oh, Sarah.... I am so sorry you're feeling so low. I will send happy thoughts your way and say a prayer for you. Having your tonsils removed is bad enough.... I can't imagine having that done AND having sinus surgery at the same time. No wonder you're feeling down. I bet you'll be feeling better before you know it and everything will start looking up! Take care......Wanda

Hey all! It's been forever since I've posted and I figured this would be a good one for me to respond to! I still eat very little at one meal. Part of it is my monitoring it and limiting it, but mostly because my stomach tells me that I'm full. I've upped my exercise pretty drastically now that the weather's finally warmed up here, I walk/run at least 4 miles 4-5 days a week or more, plus I"m doing sit ups/crunchs and ab work. My weight loss at this point is hovering around 175 pounds, like many of you, I had been gaining and losing the same 2-3 pounds. Although, I've just dropped about 6 pounds over the last week, and I'm thrilled! Here's my general menu for any given day: Breakfast: water, coffee and either a protein shake or protein bar (over the course of 2-3 hours) Snack: (If I have one) is some dry whole grain cereal that I pick at throughout the day. I fill up one of the 'snack' size ziploc bags and have that as my snack for the day. Currently I really like Cheerios and Tiger power! Lunch: One of the following: Yogurt, cottage cheese with sunflower seeds; soup; or maybe some left overs from the day before. A protein bar or shake in a pinch. Dinner: Beef/chicken/pork/etc; a side of either vegetable or pasta/rice, etc. I don't measure out my meat/protein, but take a small portion and eat what I can in my 20-30 minutes while alternating between the protein/veggies/carb. Snack: Whole grain dry cereal, maybe with some craisins or nuts added in (again the snack size bag). I get in a minimum of 70 ounces of water/non-caffeinated beverages a day and I have yet to have carbonated beverages. I do occasionally indulge in a few bites of my sweetie's ice cream or allow myself to have a piece of this DELICIOUS sugar free chocolate that I have found at the grocery store here. But for the most part, I really don't have an appetite. When I do want to snack, I have found that the whole grain snacks work better for me and I love the snack size bags. They really help me keep in perspective the quantity that I am eating. About the only food I can't eat right now is tuna, regardless of how I prepare it, I am miserable afterward, but everything else is fine. I don't eat a lot of sugars, but also don't deny myself altogether. I'm wearing a size 12 pants right now and a medium or large top, depending on the style/manufacturer and I couldn't be happier! I'd like to lose another 30 pounds or so, although I dont' know how realistic that is, I've been maintaining my weight without really trying that I don't know how much more I can lose. I've got a TON of loose/saggy skin on my arms, legs and belly, so I don't know how much weight that accounts for. While the scale hasn't changed as much as I'd like it to, my body is toning, my clothes are fitting differently and the veins in my forearms are now protruding and it looks wild, who knew this could happen to me! I go back to the doctor's in August and if my weight is still not fluctuating much, I'm going to ask for a referral for a consult with the plastic surgeon's that they work with. I'm hopeful that my insurance will cover some of it, although I'm also able to switch to a health care plan that I've heard covers the plastic/reconstructive surgery more readily. UPMC is an option through my employer, so I may look into it during open enrollment! It'd be well worth the hassle of changing if they'll approve it! Take care! Michelle