Good mornin Teresa, Well I am not officaly doing this but have been lurking and I have lost 4 lbs. in the last week. Thank God I am back in the 360's. The Holiday's did me in. Its those Nasty/Evil Carbs. So I am working on getting in at least 80-90+ grams protein. I just went to Wal-Mart last week and stocked up on protein bars. MY menu is going to be kinda a basic one: * Breafast - 3ozs. of oatmeal and coffee (2cups of reg.) * mornin snack - protein shake or protein bar and water * Lunch - tuna salad wrap or egg salad wrap (use half of low carb whole wheat wrap & 4 oz. of salad made with ranch dressing) * afternoon snack protein bar and water (Crystal Light ) * Dinner - Bean soup ( lentils & chicken or pork, split pea and pork) or or chicken white bean chili. after dinner cup of coffee. * Night snack - protein shake I try and get in at least 80 to 100 ozs of water in / day. Thats is not counting the 3 to 4 cups of reg coffee, I have to have my coffee. Also usually after my workouts on Monday Wednesday and Friday I drink 20 ozs of Gatorade or Power aide to replentish my electolytes. Hope you all have a great week, I am aiming at losing 5 pounds this week. Unless this cold hangs around then I will have to go sweat it out in the sauna at the gym... Take care, Tom 536/368/250 -168lbs

Good mornin Tara, I am glad I am not the only one that has this problem, It feels like I am stuffing myself everytime I eat anything that is bulky, but I have no problem with thick, creamy or liquids and I have found I am leaning to alot of that type of food. I eat alot of oatmeal, cream of wheat cereals and beans with meat or chicken in them. I just started back on the protein shakes too, since I did a tally of my carbs, protein and calories. I was only getting in about 60 to 70 grams of protein and 80-100 grams of carbs ( those darn crackers are so easy to INHALE! )so I have cut them out by half and going to use protein shakes to get in at least 90-100 grams of protein per day... I think my body is in the starvation mode too.. Because I have notice for the past month that my energy level after my hour and half work out is just about none.. I feel like I could nap afterwards... Some times I do take a little nap on the bus ride home..LOL! I have finaly gotten back down in the 360's again after gain 4 pounds over the Holiday's. Keep us informed in what you nutionnist/dietain recomends. Take care, Tom 536/368/250 -168 lbs.

I know you've heard it a million times, but everyone loses at different rates. It's normal to feel jealous of others loss, but you have to remember where you started and where you are now. Compare yourself to those around you in real life, and not on here. When you go out in public (and I know this sounds horrible, but it's therapy), but find the biggest person around and compare yourself to them. Remember where you came from, and be glad you're 87 lbs thinner. 87 lbs is A LOT of weight. Have you ever carried around something in your arms that's even close to that weight? Probably not, because you wouldn't be able to lift it... that's what you were carrying around daily on your body. Your body, though you may not be at goal yet, is VERY greatful that you've done what you've done. If you're afraid your not done losing, don't worry... you're not done. Your body will stop when it's done, but you have to give it a little boost now and then. Change your diet, because even if you've been on a real strict diet since surgery, your body will get used to whatever you're on and eventually stop losing, just because it's become accustomed to what you're eating. If you haven't been eating right, and you can admit it... then change. Start eating healthier things, start working out a little harder, just mix it up for your body and get it jumped on losing again. With our new pouches, it's made easy for us to jump start weightloss, all you have to do is crank the engine, and let it rip. Your body knows it's not done losing, you just have to give it a little incentive. Obviously the surgery did what it's supposed to do for you, you just have to keep it going until it's done, and then pick up fix and repairs for the rest of your life... which has been made very easy for us now. Pick a "scary weight" for yourself, and if you creep up to that weight in the future, jump back on a treadmill and start eating less carbs. Your surgery will do what it's supposed to do if you use it right. It's okay to eat wrong once in a while, as long as it's not all the time. We've all learned our lessons with the wrong food, but that doesn't mean that we have to never eat it again... just be cautious and know when to stop. Congratulations on your loss thus far. You've done a tremendous job. There are millions of people that would give anything to do what you've done, and you've done it! Great job!

Well, this may sound silly, but I can browse the clearance racks at places like The Gap and actually find clothing that fits me!!!

Have you weighed yourself for the end of the week, Joanne. How did you go? I saw my nut today and she says since my loss has been so slow I have to up my dense protein and exercise. So although I am not going to be on the same challenge as you all,. I am going to keep challenging myself and reporting in each day, to keep me on the straight and narrow. I hope I havnt let anyone down by now keeping to the liquids etc but I feel I have to do what my nut tells me, cos I am terrified of not losing any more weight. Let me know how you go. hugs, Helen