Don't take it personally, sweety, you're in and out a lot, cuz of your schedule. Kathy posts daily, sometimes several times a day. I notice you're gone, as well as many other "founding Maysters" but I know you're rarely on because of your work schedule. BTW - the new pic is really cute!

I'm physically doing really crappy!!! I go back to the pcp tomorrow to get the referal to the hemotologist and I'm going to get a script for B12 injections. I hope the b12 shot will help me get through until the iron gets straightened out. I found out this week that even with an iron infusion it takes 4 - 5 weeks to feel better - Tres UGH!!!!!! Emotionally, I'm doing a little better. I got groceries today and had no problem with anxiety. I did purposely go to the grocery store right before meeting a friend so that I would have a "reason" to get through the store. Weird, I know... but some how it did really help me get through the store. I also started attending an awesome Bible study at a different church. It was more different then anything I've ever experienced and just what i needed. Usually, the "leader" asks questions but they're more like for you to think about - this lady today asked questions - and WANTED answers, and she even WAITED for answers. It was very very cool and I'm definately going back next week. Oh yes, so in this Bible study somehow my health comes up (of course I don't want to talk about it with these strangers) but somehow I did and two of the leaders are NUTS! (real licenced nutritionists) And the one leaders mom had bariatric surgery so she's very familiar with it. She gave me her phone number and said to call her and we could talk about my labs and how to get them up!!!! THAT WAS WAY TOO COOL So, I'm leaving tomorrow and going away for the weekend!!! YIPPIE!!!! I'm going to a training conference for Mary Kay. I'm pretty excited about it (well, as excited as a physically exhausted person can) . I've got sooo much to do to get ready. It's 6:30pm and I just want to go to BED!!!!! I'm sooooo tired. My sister's coming to watch the kids and I forwarned her that I didn't clean the house for her... I'm just not up to all that work. So it'll be an early night for me. DH is driving all night from WI to get home in time to leave for our weekend away, so he's going to enjoy lounging in the hot tub this weekend I'm sure. Have a great weekend and I want to hear from some of you!!! Laurie

Me? Pre-B: Protein shake (my usual) Cup o' joe B: Deli ham and a piece of cheese, 1/3 apple L: 3/4 of a chicken breast, 1/2 cup green beans, few cucumber slices w/ jalapeno ranch dressing S: A few bites of things at Cost****heese, pork carnitas), 2 SF chocolates S2: Protein shake D: Salmon w/ basil butter, sweet potato w/ butter S: Protein shake, 2 SF chocolates No exercise. Vitamins - yup. Water... um, 52 oz thus far, I think.

Thanks all. I'll try more water. I think I already take plenty calcium, mag and potassium. I upped it a couple of weeks ago.

As for drinking, here's what I used to do until it became a habit. Use a small glass, like 6-8 oz. When you fill it up, drink it right then and there. Then fill it up again and drink it over the next half hour and make sure you've drank it before you go to the bathroom. Believe me, I made sure I drank it down cuz I really had to go to the bathroom and I told myself I couldn't until I drank the water. Then fill your glass again and repeat the procedure. That way you can usually get 12-16 oz of water in every hour or hour and 1/2. By the way, I started drinking the diet Lipton Green Tea with Citrus and I'm hooked on that stuff and can easily drink 5-7 bottles a day! Snacking. Be sure to keep some healthy snacks on hand that you can eat. If there is something that you buy for the "family" but you find that you really want it, then I say don't buy it. It's a trigger food for you and is best left out of your house. If you have to have chips on hand, buy the baked chips (baked doritos don't taste bad and are better than the regular if you must have them). Same way with cookies, get the SF kind. Better yet, keep fresh fruit on hand, or cheese, or peanuts. I make one peanut last four bites, I find that I eat far less than popping a small handful into my mouth and I'm satisfied after about 1 oz. Buy SF popsicles or fudgesicles, SF jello, etc. There is quite a few things you can keep around for snacks that aren't that bad in the fat/sugar dept. It'll be better for your family too. I also talk to myself and question myself if I really want that. I tell myself that I've done such a great job of losing weight and I feel so good, that do I really want to blow it for a few minutes of satisfaction? That has helped me many times from snacking. Exercise. It's good that you get some exercise in but why not try adding 15-30 minutes of walking in too. Just try to keep challenging yourself to walk farther and faster as you progress. I made myself commit to walkathons, races, etc. to motivate myself. I really hate to disappoint someone else so I joined with a buddy and what started out very hard to walk 1 or 2 miles, I can now walk a half marathon (13.1 miles) and can jog a little bit of that. I just started walking at the end of March and by July, I did my first 13+ mile walk in rolling hills. It doesn't have to be walking if you don't enjoy that, it could be bicycling, swimming, aerobics or any number of things. Some of my WLS buddies in our support group also make up a "lunch box" of everything they can eat the next day. It has the correct amount of calories, carbs, fat, etc. in it. Whenever they want a snack, they get it out of the box. Their meals come out of the box. Once that box is empty, they are done for the day. This may take a little while to get into the habit and might be confusing at first, but you can get the hang of it soon and find that some days you don't eat everything in your box. They fill the box very soon after they've eaten their dinner so they aren't hungry and tempted to snack when filling it. They (whoever they are) said that it takes 21 days to make a habit and only 3 to break them (although smokers may disagree with that). But, whatever you want to try, then try to make sure you do it everyday for awhile to get into the habit. HTH Linda