Im getting ready to leave for the hospital got to drop son off at work then Im going straight there...just got a call from Bill as he was doing another test this morning the tech said he definatly is showing a blockage in his one left leg...thats all I know for now, havent spoken with the doctor yet.  Least theres a reason now...just not looking forward to hearing the cure, well I am, but I aint,...I pray its something simple...keep praying.

HI Everyone,

I'm finally checking in. Haven't been on the board lately or on the computer that much aside from work. Been sooo busy at work and home. The little girl has an ear infection and a bit of a cold and the boy's been so busy with the end of the school year and band performances and graduating 5th grade. Where does the time go??? My little girl is almost 2 years old!!! sheesh!!!

Anyway... I've been working on getting my weight off. SO. I have to say before I begin that I have no true idea why things are working out for me as opposed to before. I can only hope and pray that its prayers and faith. God works in mysterious ways and when it's time to achieve a goal, I suppose HE is the one to say... "OK. It's time." thats the best I can explain why I've been sucessful lately. The other reason would be because the hot weather is comming and I want the weight off!

So far I've lost 15 pounds in about 2 weeks. It's a quick loss, but it's slowed down this week. Pretty much at a plateau. Just to get this out right away. No. I am not setting myself up to fail or setting completely un-realistic goals. Truth is, I have no true goals other than to see the numbers reach my mini weight goals that I set for myself. I have no "Food goals" set. No true set "Diet" but just a different way of eating. Basically... the way I did when I got out of surgery. Pretty much. and why I can do this now as opposed to before?? I still don't know that answer. It's strange really when you think about it. I really do think there is a time for everything.

What I've been doing:  NO sweets during the week. AT ALL. now, this does not include fruit. But DOES include fruit juices! No fruit juice. No reason for it anyway. Fruit is better. I have been eating vegetable soup. No meat in it and no pasta (well there is a scant amount as I use lipton chicken noodle soup in a box to flavor. there is no chicken and its powder form and the noodles are soooo small it just doesnt count) Just straight vegetable soup. I have an awesome recepie if you want it. Its sooo yummy. I can eat as much soup as I want and will NOT gain weight. Only loose.
NO CHOCOLATE. It's been very hard. UNLESS its in a protein bar. THEN its ok!! Or if its in a protein drink. THEN its ok.
NO SWEETS. no candy, no donughts or pastries or cake of any sort. No toast no pancackes no cereal no oatmeal or grits... not that toast and oameal is bad for you...its just carby and I don't loose personally. My choice. My preference.
Breakfast consists of maybe grapefruit and protein drink and decaf w/milk or carb free yogurt. or lite yogurt with a banana.
A few ounces of chicken is what I stick to and thats at night unless its in a soup for lunch. But the first week I was on liquid protein drinks and veggies and fruit.
I do not eat bread or pasta of any kind. I now no longer miss it at all. I get my carbs through almonds and nuts and such. Yes. I eat nuts and flaxseed!!! its sooo good for you. Flaxseed I like to munch on the little seeds and has the omega 3s and helps keep things regular.
I have been drinking my protein drinks everyday. Muscle milk and muscle milk light. Is my favorite. I drink it over a huge glass of ice or I make a yogurt/fruit/protein drink at home in the blender. GRAPERFRUIT. i've been eating a grapefruit every couple of days in the morning. But have to be very careful not to eat it within 2+ hours of taking medication or any vitamins because it just negates the effects. Pears are my new favorite. Love them!!! no limit on fruit. Bananas. Love them too and love them blended into my protein. So this is really no new news to all of us. Its the basics and the stuff I neglected to continue to follow as I grew more comfortable with my expanded pouch and seemingly limitless tolerance for sugar. BUT now that I've been on this awhile, I feel my pouch has shrunk a little bit. and find I'm satisfied quicker.
Now, for mothers day I splurged. (just a little) I had a gormet meal that consisted of a little homemade pasta and monk fish and lobster sauce and such. I had a piece of bread and for dessert I had creme brule!!! yep I felt quite a bit nauseous after i downed it in like seconds flat since its my all time favorite dessert and suffered a bit for the hunger it created later on. But that was IT no more. Then the weekend before that I shared a Mr. softee ice cream cone with my 2 year old. Small amount of sugar and that was my treat for that weekend. So im not so completely cut off. anyway... I'm sticking with the super healthy foods in VERY limited quantities. (UNLEss its the soup. I go crazy eating my soup very healthy and yummy!)I still have alot to loose and am not at a weight point in which many on this board are at. So what may seem extreme is a must for me to get the weight off. oh and along with excersise. Walking for the most part for me. Havent gone strenuous yet. Will get there soon though.

Well thats my novel. I figured I'd let everyone know what I've been up to and how I lost so much in such a short time and how I did it. For me personally. It works. At least its working now for some reason. Still baffled over why my brain is able to do this as oppposed to before. Thank God for it though!!!

Kim - my prayers have been with you and Connie too!! Huge Hugs Connie I think of you often!!! Did you get my note on the castor oil for your back? rub on the topical stuff...wrap it in ilke saran wrap and heat it up!!!  1 hour every day! or every other day if you can manage it. Hugs for everyone....Marilyn!!! you're in my boat girlfriend! we can do this! Maureen... hang in there and don't beat yourself up over those m&ms!! Try sugar free chocolate... they have to make sugar free m&ms dont they???
Much love to everyone!! Hugs Pammie!! and Joy!! and everyone else!!! 

Well, thanks for understanding my post, Pammie - I worry sometimes that I'm going to stick my foot in my mouth! So - what do we do now??? I really believe - for reasons having to do with a very screwed up metabolism ('lizbet, where are you???) - that no matter our efforts, we are really up against it in terms of being able to keep the weight off. Normal-sized doesn't mean normal body system function. I just know there is an answer to this delimma. But it eludes me ... hope you're well, thanks for keeping our beloved board going! Maureen

So I had this thought. The only way to be truly successful in sustaining a significant loss of weight is to devote your entire life's energy to the cause. Every day. Every thought, every moment has to be wrapped around keeping the weight off, keeping fit and healthy. Thinking about what to eat and when; thinking about how to work out and where - and when - and how often. The people who stay fit, firm, and healthy in this country of extreme excess are those that (1) have the gene pool of a string bean, or (2) work as professionals in the health and fitness industry. They live it and breathe it 24/7. I certainly don't fall into either category. If I look at a string bean these days, I gain 5 lbs. My gene pool is filled with the creme filling you find inside a twinkie. I'm gaining, not by a landslide (yet) but enough to see that the fat cells that make up my thighs are fat and sassy again. Those fat cells all throughout my body are doing the  because they know the losing party is over - and the gaining party is building a head of steam. And in the face of it, I have to get up at 5am every morning to do what needs to be done, all of which has virtually nothing to do with sustaining my weight loss - job, kids, house, husband, long-distance ailing father, bills, more bills, yadayadayada. This is not a pity party! I'm just sharing what I think the real problem is. I'm not Jillian Michaels or Richard Simmons or Mr. Rogers - who could have probably eaten through a dozen boxes of Hostess twinkies with nary a belch or an added ounce to his stringbean frame. Ok. Just thought I'd pop in. Hugs to all - especially to Kim. Would sure love to hear from you guys. Maureen

  Hang tough, Kim.