Becky, We are all 16 to 17 months out now. The honeymoon is over. This surgery doesn't fix our heads. The same heads that got us to the place where we'd need a surgery! I struggle with grazing, I struggle with eating small amounts, I struggle with shopping and charging clothes on my credit card that I don't need. I can't tolerate alcohol, so that isn't a problem for me, but, maybe would be if I could. The reality is that I'm still a compulsive person. Luckily, the one good compulsion I've picked up is exercise. I exercise 6 days a week for 75 to 90 minutes a day. I'm not going to try and change that one! But, I am actively working on the other compulsions that aren't so good for me. I guess we will all have to keep working on this until the day we have one foot in the grave... Big hugs to all of us! Lori 384/233/199

More "same old" here as well. I am detemined not to go over my 35 Weigh****cher's points this week; in fact, I've "challenged" myself. AM - 2 cups of hot tea and one cup coffee B - Atkins protein shake and a pear L - 1/2 cup of brown rice salad, one cup tossed veggie salad, grapes S - not sure. Maybe a cup of cereal and some fruit D - grilled chicken, tossed salad, 100 calorie popcorn for dessert NO FOOD AFTER DINNER Meds and Vits - done Water - it's lunchtime and not a drop so far... Exercise - 45 - 60 minutes of cardio followed by lower body toning

first of all I wanna say: thanks for making this a place where I can be honest: my weekend was really good, but Flo came today! breakfast-pork roll egg and cheese with the english muffin coffee, sippin on a non diet wild cherry pepsi lunch-something from Burger King-NOT a salad dinner-broiled fish And today I evaluated the caloric contents of the cafeteria: an enchilada was 983, and the turkey and provolone with alfalfa sprouts on tomato basil foccacia was 1293! I actually think I'll be better off at Burger KIng

I think it all has been said already. Debra definitely had some good questions there. The "why" of things. I think you answered some of it. I think falling back into old behaviors is part of it. The sneaking of food. Yes, far better to sneak 1/2 a cheese sandwich then 3 full ones but it is the act of sneaking itself that is the true issue. I definitely hear ya and others on the transference thing. Me, addiction to the internet. No, not me of all people! I'm on at work and then at home except now that we are down at home. Different than alcohol or spending or is it? Takes too much time away from productiveness. Obsessiveness, a bit. Compulsion, maybe. Who knows. We'll have to reinstate the Snackers Club! Glad you are recognizing the problem and analyzing what it means. Go, Becky! Hugs, Kathy

Wow, Candi, you look incredible! Look how skinny your thighs are - I'm so jealous... Congrats again. Hugs, Tracy