Oh good luck for your surgery Julie, i'll be praying for your speedy recovery

It's so great clearing out old cupboards and wardrobes that are crammed full of things you no longer use. I feel so cleansed through after having a good sort, i'm sure it's given you some peace of mind right before your operation. It's wise of you to use this time and as you said, this is a way of preparing mentally for your recovery.

Wennim, I understand what you are saying. You sound as though you have had a fantastic weight-loss as from your tracker, you can certainly see a big different in your numbers! I have gone from a UK size 22/24 to a UK size 16/18 and recently became demoralised because I didn't think you can see the difference. Others can, but sometimes I can't. My body hasn't snapped back as I would have liked (I have since learned that it can take 1+ years of steady maintenance for your skin to re-adjust) and I just feel wobbly everywhere.

This is so much easier said than done, but try to get some alone time and cast your mind back to when you started. It helped me to think about why I started, what I wanted to achieve and why it is so important to do this for my future and that of my loved-ones. This won't improve what you see in the mirror right away but perhaps it will remind you to be kind to yourself and remember that you are worth this, you have come so very far and you are doing a wonderful thing.

You can do it!

Kaela x

Please send positive thoughts, all. Facing a major hurdle in my financial struggles today. Not expecting miracles, as I am owning the mistake, but still, I would love to see something positive today... Will check back in later.

Oh, and Wennim, make sure you put those pictures adjusted to the same size (so your height in both pictures is the same, then put them side by side, whether on the computer screen or printed copies. Putting them side by side will allow you to see the little things going back and forth may not show... slightly slimmer face, clothes hanging differently, slightly less width, etc.

Julie, sending you positive and relaxing thoughts today!

Hugs to all, Carly in OK

Hi all,

I've taken a short break as well, but am back in it again. Not so much a break from watching what I eat, but I was (and still am) dealing with the longest cold I've ever had. I think this is the third week I'm still coughing. The sucky part is it's not really that bad, but it's bad enough that I wake myself coughing at night so I haven't slept through for a few weeks. During the day, I'm just a little phlegmy, but not enough to warrant a doctor's visit. Bleh. The first week I pretty much laid on the couch and watched my Fitbit steps drop. That was sad. But, now the numbers are back up so I feel encouraged by that. It was hard not eating the week away.

Last week we took a vacation and went to Asheville. It was phenomenal. The mountains out there are gorgeous, and the food is unbelievable. I gave myself permission to eat a nice dinner each night, and stuck with my typical breakfast smoothie and light lunch. Somehow, I've come home and didn't gain weight! That is a major victory and certainly due to the fact that we were extremely active almost every day - hiking in the mountains, walking the city, sight seeing in general. So, back to real life for me, with this nagging cold...

Good luck, Carly. Sounds like a tough week. Hope it works out as best as it can. Keeping you in my thoughts.

Norah, I think you must have been down the same week I was. I saw your steps dropping along with mine. Glad to see you've rebounded.

I totally relate with the wishing I could see more weight loss visible. I've been doing my best to avoid cameras for so long, and this past year I'm really trying to be in pictures more. It hurts to see full body images of me. I don't want to believe that's what I really look like. I'm more comfortable with images of my shoulders and up and can see improvements there.

Good luck Julie. You're almost there. In some ways, it's kind of like preparing for a new baby, only the new baby is you. These last two weeks will be full of milestones. Getting your closet ready sounds like great prep work.

Take care, all...

Caroline

Well, court went about as well as it could have, I guess. Still owe money I can't afford to pay, but we shall see if anyone can be reasonable. Anyone know somewhere I can get a loan of $10,000 with crap credit, but decent job history? I'd love to consolidate all my crap and only have one loan to juggle, but I've tried several places and have no way to do it (tried consolidation loan and CCCS - credit counseling)...no go on either. Both say I have to make way more money before they could help.

Glad to see some faces returning. We've got this ladies and gents...let's take the universe back for us!!