HI EVERYBODY!!!! Ok, so tell me about this card thing. I need to make sure I get on here at least every other day or I miss out! How does one go about getting into the card circuit? I have a lot of cards I could send people!!! LOL sounding desperate huh?! I don't get anything in the mail other than bills so I need something to look forward to! Let me know and also, for those of you who have yahoo messenger, add me, jamielynn_md I'd love to chat! I'd love to catch up with everyone! I miss you all!!! I talk to Rebecca on a daily basis and need to catch up with the rest of you! Jamie

{{{{{{{{{{Courtney}}}}}}}}}} You know, the one thing you truly have on your side is that you had this surgery at such a young age. I was days from being 42 when I had it. I've had 42 years of the "fat girl" in my head. I still don't see what others see. I can't wrap my head around my mom giving me an outfit she bought for herself but never goes out and would I like it. WHAT??? My MOM???? Then it occurred to me that she wears size 6 or 8 jeans and I just bought freaking 10s! For the first time in, I swear, 30 years, I am almost my mom's size!!! It's VERY hard to wrap my head around that. When we were in North Carolina at Thanksgiving, Britt and I were walking into the convenience store and two young guys were walking out. Mark had the SUV window down and saw them turn around and say "did you see the ass on her?". Mark told me that and I said "was she cute?". He said "dumb butt, they were talking about YOU!". I still don't get it. Remember, we only had this surgery 7 MONTHS ago! It's hard to change your thinking that fast. And, as fast as our bods are changing, our minds just aren't catching up. My surgeon and I talked about it and he said eventually it'll change. But it takes a while. You ARE a gorgeous, gorgeous woman! That you HAVE to get in your head! There is a guy out there who will find you beautiful. But, when you share your journey with him, he'll find you courageous, beautiful, and amazing. THAT is the guy you'll want to share your life with. Mark is slowly coming around. I mean, I've always been heavy since we met. So, this is strange to both of us. For Britt, I've always been her squishy mom. As of this morning I'm 5.4 pounds from my surgeon's goal. NONE of us can get that one through our heads. So, for the three of us, this has been a difficult journey at times. But, in the end, I think it'll be wonderful for all of us. Mark's losing weight, I"ll be healthy and it can only benefit Britt. Take some time. Don't be in such a rush. But, get it through your skull, YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!!!!! * Cyndi *

Courtney, First {{{{{{{{Courtney}}}}}}}}! You know I do know what you mean. Some have said things like "skinny minnie" or "slim" or other comments that at first I think "Oh they must just be being sarcastic". But they see the me that is drowning in her scrubs right now refusing to go buy new ones. I look back and see the person that needs to loose 80 plus pounds still.....not the one that is getting into clothes that have not fit in 11 years!!! But think about it.....your "walls" are tall and set with the strongest of bricks or stones. You have built up those walls for years and they are not going to crumble over night. I do not have that issue of being single.....but that does not come without its own set of problems and I have really been struggling with the changes in the new me and if my husband will be able to evolve with that. And then I am becoming soooo active and he has his own inner struggles with weight and just very thick wallls that he built up over time and is not very social. So as I am emerging.....he is withdrawing if that makes since. I would say.......time to go talk to a therapist. Just an unbiased sounding board for all the emotions that are coming with your emergence from a caterpillar in a cocoon to the Beautiful Butterfly you are becoming. I have heard that our minds do eventually start to catch up and "SEE" the new image.....but yes I think inside it will take some work to repair the damges set for so long. Discover you for YOU! Embrace what you are becoming! Then I imagine you will see the chips start to fall into place. Sometimes I think we can want something so bad that we actually build a bigger wall that makes it harder to overcome! But I would see about going to talk with someone that is experienced with helping WLS patients. Otherwise dealing with the triggers that got you to where you are will not have a chance of healing. Good Luck to you, but I think that even though we will never forget /get over the images that we once saw.....I thin that is a good thing in htat it is a reminder so we will not go bac****ep us posted!!! Donna

I am so jealous of all still losing. My body sucks I've been losing less than a pound a week for what seems like an eternity. I have 1 random week where I'll lose 1.5-2 lbs...but that's as much as my body seems to want to shed. I even had my first post-op gain this week. Furious! Start: 272.8 Last week: 171.7 (was 171.8 the week before) This week: 172.2 (+0.5) Doesn't help when the holidays are just around the corner either, my next weigh-in is on Christmas morning!

Well i didnt' even want to come and post but I am making myself.... Highest 262 Surgery 258 Last week 177.5 This week 178.5 I am so ready for the Holidays to be done and over with.....still doing decent with my protein, but my water and excerise is really hurting right now. Also the treadmill died on us so waiting until we have the cash to get a new one. Please keep me in your thoughts as I fight through this. Congratulations to all....YOU are doing fab!!!!! Hugs, Holly