HI Michelle - I'm here - just so busy at work. I was hoping they'd let us out early for the holiday, but instead they just brought in lunch....stuffed shells and homemade cookies!!! Now I'm OBSESSING!!! I'm in a bit of a carb rut lately, and I'm trying to hang on with both hands!!! It seems I can go about three weeks and be in total compliance, then I go off for about a week. I think I'll have some of the stuffed shells and just eat the cheese out of the middle - hopefully that will satisfy me. If not, I have one of my Kashi Go Lean bars with me and that will help. We're having a BBQ at my niece's for the 4th. I have to make pasta salad. My son's GF is coming down from New Hampshire and she's vegan, so I have to figure out what she might want while she's here.... Hugs, Nancy

I get my Power Crundh bars at mrprotein.com. In fact, I just ordered two more boxes - they are $15.95 per box and they have free shipping. It's the best deal I've found anywhere. I've also been eating Kashi Go Lean roll bars - basically the chocolate peanut and the chocolate turtle rolls. They are really dense and I can't believe they're only like 190 calories. It takes me forever to eat one... I checked out the chocolate bar on the Smart Health store, but I kind of need to stay away from that. If it tastes too good, I can go crazy with that too. Hugs, Nancy

Hi Michelle - Oooh, cherries - they're my new favorite thing! I sprinkle a bit of Splenda on them sometimes - it helps satisfy a craving for sweets! Hugs, N.

OK - so where is everyone???? Teah? Pamela? Michelle? Denise, I know you were here yesterday, but where the heck is everyone else in my support group???? I went off a bit yesterday - we had a food tasting here at work and despite my good intentions, I ate a few things I shouldn't have. I stayed pretty good - sampling the grilled chicken and baked salmon, but I just couldn't resist the ~ get this ~ Deep Fried cheesecake! Luckily the pieces were only about 1 inch, but I had two. To be perfectly honest, I would have preferred a taste of regular cheesecake. Unfortunately, (or fortunately), I ate the fish a bit too quickly and got sick. I also had my 2 year surgeon's visit. He's thrilled with my success and the only problem is that my iron is pretty low, so I have to start taking supplements. He told me that he thinks I am at a great weight - in his estimation, the excess skin is adding about 7-10 lbs. more to my weight. So all in all, I feel pretty good. Here's today's plan: B: Isopure protein drink L: Unjury in lemonade D: Turkey burger with cheese, green salad with onion, tomato and SF dressing Snacks: Power Crunch bar Happy Herb kamut pretzels Totals: Calories: 781 Carbs: 26 Protein: 80 Hope to see everyone back here soon!! Hugs, Nancy

It's done. Today wasn't an easy one for us. My surgery started late because the OR was held up. Then I bleed a lot. So, that extended my time in the OR. Of what they measured, I lost 1/2 liter of blood. That doesn't seem like a lot to me, but said it was. My doc wants me to up my iron intake to 3 times a day. In the recovery room, I passed out in the bathroom. Thank goodness DH was with me so I didn't fall. After that, my blood pressure and oxygen levels wouldn't come up. Only my insistance that I not be admitted kept me out. They really wanted to keep me. My BP was dropping down to 78/36. They said if I could get it up to 90+/50+ for two reading in a row, I was out of there. It took a couple of hours, but I did. I have two drains and one of them keeps soaking the dressing with blood. I figure I will give my PS a call tomorrow if it is still doing it. But, it appears to be getting better. All in all, I feel pretty good. Hat