Kathy, My thoughts and prayers are with you. Hopefully they're identifying this in the early stages. Big, big hugs, Wanda

Laura, I can completely understand where you're coming from. First, you defintely need to be EATING and not just drinking your foods. Our bodies need food for nutrition, period. Not all carbs are created equal. If there is a choice between a slice of French bread or a multi-grain cracker - eat the cracker. For the most part, stay away from the "white" stuff (white potatoes - with the exception of sweet potatoes, white breads, etc.) and eat the "good" fruits like apples, berries, etc. I have a copy of the South Beach Diet's "Good Carbs, Bad Carbs, Good Fats, Bad Fats" and I use it to gauge what I eat. The whole grains and "good" fruits are not going to make you want more. If you're afraid to eat something for fear of it triggering you, then stay away from it. However, I have noticed that my pre-op trigger foods aren't so much of a deal anymore. McDs was my crack/heroin pre-op. I've eaten there a few times since surgery and it's not that big of a deal anymore. The reason is that it just doesn't taste as good to me and I don't feel all that hot after I eat it. I feel so much better when I eat the healthier foods. I will be honest, I don't do much in the way of protein shakes anymore as I try to get all of my protein from my foods. I can eat enough now that I can pretty much get 70+ grams of protein in per day (10 grams/protein per slice of turkey and if I eat 5-6 slices and a piece of cheese and some whole grain crackers for lunch - I've almost got it). However, some days I just don't want to eat all of that meat and beans make me painfully gassy (even with Bean-o and Gas-X) so I have meals like I am tonight - I'm making Spanikopita which is all spinach, mushrooms, onions, and some feta cheese - not a whole lot of protein going on, so I will drink a shake today. I try to keep my diet balanced - each meal consists of protein, veggies, whole grains, and my snacks are usually fruit of some sort. I do eat regular potatoes sometimes - in small amounts, but if I have rice, it is usually brown rice, my pasta is Barilla Plus (LOADED with protein and Omega-3 fatty acids and all sorts of other goodness!!!), and my bread is almost always multi-grain. I try to keep things as close to the natural source as possible - it is just healthy! I am not so into it that I do all organic or anything, but I do keep it as healthy as I can. I allow myself a few sugar-free treats - I pretty much always keep sf popsicles or fudgesicles in the freezer - I may eat one every 2-3 weeks. I also have some sf chocolates - but I can only tolerate 1, maybe 2 per day otherwise I get painfully gassy. These I eat maybe 1-2 per week if that. My biggest "problem" is sf cookies. I buy some, but I love to bake them. I have the most killer sf oatmeal raisin cookie recipe and I really need to stop making them! I ate like 6 the other day!! They are all natural, though, but still - moderation is the key. Anyway, I went from a high of 370 (wearing 4X or 32W) to now maintaining between 180-185 and I am a big-boned 5'8" woman. I wear (even with all of the extra skin) a size 12-14 jeans, when I have my TT done 2/1 I will likely be in 10s. I wear either a M or L top (depending on the cut). I am very, VERY happy with my weight and size. I am (without all of the extra skin) pretty much skin and bones - my husband has actually said that I should maybe put a few pounds back on, but I do NOT want to get into the mentality that I need to put on weight - just seems to slippery of a slope for me. I figure if I eat healthy, exercise as I can (which right now is just my PT exercises) the weight will take care of itself. Again, try a few things, but if you are really afraid of it, then don't. You don't want to push your comfort zone, but if it is something healthy and natural (the "right" fruits and veggies) then go for it!! HTH, Michelle

Kathy - you are one of the strongest women I have ever had the pleasure of talking with. I have learned so much from you during the last 18+months. I'm sure that no matter what happens, you will come through this shining brighter than before! My thoughts are with you and Rich and please update as soon as you know more. {{{{{HUGS}}}}} Heather

How'd everyone body do? Report in. Remember, if you didn't meet your goals... you've got 3 more weeks to do it. I know that's how I'm looking at it. LOL! Here is the original post. If you didn't join in over the prior last weeks, join now. 3 more weeks to go! I got to the gym three times this past week which is an increase over the previous week. Could do better on water. Did well with vitamins on the weekend which is also good. Kathy ............................................................................................................ 8 Week Challenge - Who Is Down Wid That? Original Post by Kathy & Rich at 5:17 AM PST on 10/30/2006 Fairfax, VA - RNY (05/20/2005) - Joseph Chebli, M.D. Post the things that you'd like to work on in the next 8 weeks. The challenge will last from today until Christmas day which is as you many have guessed - 8 weeks from today. Makes some positive changes. Work on getting in your water or vitamins. Work on getting in your protein. Working on moving your body to get it fit and toned. We'll have a weekly check in for those participating. Remember you can jump in at any time. Some suggestions of things to keep in mind: 1. Try not to post "I want to lose 10 lbs by Christmas" - we all know this far post-op that it is hard to truly gauge how much weight our bodies will lose and how fast/slow it will go. It would be wiser to chose eating, water, vitamin and fitness goals that might yield weight loss when done consistently over the 8 week period. 2. Try not commit to doing anything every single solitary day during the 8 weeks. Do not set yourself up for failure from the start. We all know that is derned near impossible to do something every day. Illness, problems, work, family and just plain life gets in the way. Setting a goal of "I'm going to get 100 oz of water in and all my vitamins in at least 5 days a week every week" is better than saying you are going to do it 7 days a week. See my point? (See I actually did pay attention at Weigh****chers and other therapy type meetings). 3. Be sure to set yourself some cool reward at the end for a job well done. Whether it is buying yourself something if it is in the budget, a spa treatment, or just going to the library and getting a good book and allowing yourself the free time to doing nothing else but sit and read - go for it! So what'll it be. Name your own poison. LOL!

I have to admit I am scared to eat and try new stuff.I am very strick about my protein and I really want to expand my horizions about what I eat but quite frankly I am scared.I know what foods trigger me and I dont think I can do the just one or two bite thing... At Thanksgiving I would have loved 1 mouthful of potatos but I just passed the bowl on to the next.I wasnt realled bothered either .To be honest I dont have an appetite anyomore i just really eat and drink so I can get my 80 grams of protein in.Before my surgery I would have eaten anything that didnt eat me 1st!!! I am at the point where I need to start mixing more carbs in my daily diet so I dont loose any more.carbs and fast food were like crack to me the if I ate them the more I wanted so I basically have not had any -fast food or rice,bread,chips potatos ect.. whats a girls to do??? I was a size 20 now I am a jr 3 thats as small as I want to be.I was thinking when I was loosing weight that I would be maybe... 12 or 10 but gosh a 3??? never ever even wore that size in elementary or jr high ...what do you carbaholics/fast food aholics do??? ~Laura~