Sonya, we have that same saying here in Memphis:)

Hope you feel better soon.

Margaret:)

Good afternoon everyone. Sorry I have been MIA lately, but I haven't been feeling well. I had to leave work early yesterday because I was sick. I slept all day and feel a little better today but I could sure use a nap right about now.

I cannot wait until SPRING!!!!!!!!!!! I am sick of the cold weather and our weatherman said we are in for another round of snow on Sunday. Of course, in Missouri the old saying is if you don't like our weather stick around for 5 minutes and it will change, so I am hoping he is wrong.

I weigh-in tomorrow so I will let you know how it goes. I am hoping for a loss.

I will check in later.
Sonya

Just a quick hi!

Phyllis I did want to get back to you, still not feeling well and will be seeing my doctor tomorrow morning. I'm going home in a few minutes and will rest up for our meeting tonight. Ginny

I enjoyed reading the original blog and everyone's comments and posts. What I have learned, and I'm sure the successful losers have learned, is that it's NEVER about the food. EVER. (As Dr. Phil once said, sometimes "you just like having a party in your mouth," and then it IS about the food, but when you can't stop then it's NOT about the food.)

I have done a lot to overcome my emotional eating. Still happens, but in facing it, I have come a long way. For example, let's take today. I stipulate that I am very lucky to still have my mom (at 94) who lives independently and is having a grand ol' time. HOWEVER, as her memory is gone, and does not remember moment to moment plans that are made, questions that are answered, etc., it can be nerve wracking. Well today I am having lunch with her and I know in advance that no matter what I do, seeing her sends me into a downward food spiral no matter my best intentions. I had to get the bottom of the fact that she wasn't intentionally pushing any buttons (like in the old days when she really was) so what was it that sent me into a spiral? I realized that it's not even HER mortality that is upsetting me, but my own. My fear that I will become just like her - what will my children do? How is it to live in a reasonably healthy body but with a very unreasonable mind? I also realized that at least we do not have any physical burdens with her - she is as healthy as a horse, so to speak. I do not want to be a physical burden on my children. I am so grateful my mother is healthy, dealing with her mind is the least of it. I see so many women my age (57) with parents who are on oxygen, in wheel chairs, limbs lost to diabetes, etc. I want more than ever to be healthy if for nothing else than not being a physical burden on any of my loved ones.

But, I digress... This was a HUGE issue for me to overcome in terms of eating and ruining my plans each and every week. For the very first time today I packed my gym bag before leaving the house and asked my son if we could go to the gym together as soon as I got home. (I am using his guest pass, my own membership will start March 1st.) You have no idea what a big step that is for me. Not just going to the gym - that is beside the point. The big step is acknowledging in advance that I KNOW I am going to be very upset today and emotionally drained, and that I have to make a pre-emptive strike against that. (Of course the bigger step would be to NOT be upset and NOT be emotionally drained - but I'm not there yet.)

Anyway - I am just sharing this because so many of us overweight people think it's ALL about the food. It really isn't....

Looking forward to our meeting tonight!

Miriam

I'm going to make the Apple Cake now. My first attempt was awful so I hope I do better this time!!
TTFN!!
Nightowl Tammy :)

Thank you so much for your encouragement, it means so much to me!!Have a wonderful day everyone!!!!
Nightowl Tammy (I think it's easier to figure out which Tammy I am, since Kim put it this way) :)

Jill: Those are some great quotes! Thank you.

Any of you ladies on Facebook?

I'm listed under Jane Saari Chiapuzio...add me as a friend w/ a little message telling me you're a "Kimmie" as I don't add people I don't know.

Would love to get to know you all better!

(((HUGS)))

Jane

Thanks everyone for sharing all your encouraging stories. You have all done such a terrific job, and it is really good to see how everyone can accomplish their goals--and that we don't have to all do it exactly the same way. We just have to find what works for us, and stick with it--and continue to encourage each other as we have been.

Margaret:)

My advise for those who are having trouble starting is to pick one thing that you know you can do. Drink 8 glasses of water, eat an OP breakfast, exercise 5 minutes. Anything that you can do and then build on those successes. Once you experience the good feeling from accomplishing a small goal you will want to do more. I promise!! and before you know it you will be totally OP. Don't forget you have to throw the ball out many times before it becomes a habit not to eat something. You get stronger doing it as the more you practice. You can all do it!! ((Hugs)) Wendy

Good Morning Ya'll! Heading to WW for weigh in this morning. I'll report in after I return. Love everyone's posts. And Kim, it's so nice to see you on the Blog a lot! It really helps!

I'll be going to my gym and seeing my trainer around 2pm today. Also, I found a WW book mark from last year that stated where I would be if I lost 1# per week starting in early January. It said I would be 7# lighter as of Valentine's Day. We will see! Even if it's less than that, I'm still making progress. Can't tell you all how much I am loving exercise these days. Now, that's a miracle! I have never really liked exercise before, but this trainer is such a help.

More later. Thanks Phyllis for your welcome back. Tammy, you are an inspiration. Hang in there, Girl! And welcome to all the new people and all of your great questions. They make me think!

xxoo
k

Tammy Nightowl ... Great job working at it. It's not easy! I'm sorry about your housing. Praying it all works out. Let us know. I KNOW you'll find buds here in the blogs. Everyone is so awesome! Hugs, Kim :)

Hey Claudia -- Who would have thought the kale chips would taste so good? I'm psyched! But I have to check my teeth after eating them because the dark green flecks are so tiny and get stuck in the most unattractive places! Sheesh! :)

I keep losing my place in the blogs,I can never remember which one I was reading and where I left my message, so this time I wrote it down!I've been awake since 2:30 this morning and I can't get back to sleep, so I figured I would write or should I say type,instead of eating.Because this is when I am at my worst!! At 3 or 4am I am wide awake and hungry, and I'm just thinking about something sweet! But I have to say, THANK YOU SOOO MUCH for that brownie recipe, because if I wasn't eating those delicious brownies I have no idea what I would be devouring?!!No one likes them except me, which is fine, then I am the only one eating them!! My cooking has been hit or miss with all of the recipes I have tried, but I just keep trying them to see what I like and don't like, and I keep telling myself the more "good" foods I like, the less junk I will be eating. I keep praying God will send me a "diet buddy" because I don't have any friends where I live now and since I rarely go out(without a car it's very hard when you live in the country)there isn't much chance of that happening so I'm hoping for a miracle!Right now I live with my ex-husband's father(there is a downstairs very small apartment)and he is getting worse and worse with alzheimer's and my ex sister-in-law has let me know the house will be going on the market after the downstairs is redone, so she needs to know when I can move out. I wanted to start crying right then but I held it together until I hung up. The first thing I wanted to do was eat something fattening, but thankfully I don't have anything that's very fattening.How quickly I lose it really scares me!! When I saw Kim's email I was thrilled!!I was a little upset I can't go to the meetings or the sights for the members but I can't afford much right now,I'm just happy I have the internet right now!So I think I'm going to go make some coffee and read the rest of the blogs.If you have read all of my ranting,Thank You,I tend to get long-winded at times.When I read about the people who started out at my weight and more it really gives me hope that I can do this. I really hope at the end of this journey I won't have diabetes anymore, but I'm trying to take it one day at a time, that's the only way I can do this,or I would lose my mind!!
Take care everyone, and thank you for "listening"!!
Tammy D. :)

How do you guys want to do the chats? Just by emailing me and setting up an appointment? Or do you want to have a designated time each week? Or should we make it a designated time that varies? I'd love to get in the chats real-time with whoever wants to! Give me your ideas!
Thanks, Kim :)

Jill -- THANKS for those quotes (love 'em).

The STARS page is for special highlights of those at goal, but those of you who have been working and doing such a great job and have gained so much insight, really have SO MUCH to share! I don't want to wait for the STARS moment to share it. Holly and Patti H and so many others of you have WONDERFUL stories! So start working on your favorite tips and dig out those before photos (trying to find one without 5 people in front of you may be hard - hehe!) but get ready and we'll do it again soon!

AND ... BE AT THE MEETING TONIGHT! We've got new Profile Pages we're launching for you so you can show your beautiful faces and track your journeys and share tips with each other! AND I'm going to do a SPECIAL GETTING GOING SESSION -- I think it's time for ALL OF US!

See you tonight. Hugs, Kim :)
PS If you're not a premium member yet and want to give it a try, put in promo code LOVEYOURHEART and you can come without the $10 reg fee.

Hayzel -- I'm sure that a liquid diet BEFORE your stomach is smaller s going to give ANYONE hunger pangs. That will go away! You will most likely still experience some of the dreaded "head hunger" which we all get. But I KNOW you're going to get a lot of support to help you deal with that. You'll work on it and do GREAT -- we all need to keep working on it, right?! Let us know how it goes for you! Kim :)

Crunch4130, I'm having gastric bypass surgery in 5 days and the cravings that you mentioned are a huge concern for me. I really hope that doesn't happen to me. I'm on a pre-op liquid diet since Monday and I feel like I'm losing my mind because I'm having constant hunger pangs. I feel awful. I hope you lose your cravings. Good Luck to all of you.

Jillsie, those are some of the best quotes you've ever
given us. I had the pleasure of meeting Steve Covey and
heard him say that v ery thing about lighting our own fire.
You're just the best head cheerleader there ever was. Love
and Big Hug.

Dearest Hol, just had to say hi, even tho it is so late
and I have to show property tomorrow. All of our new
girls should see your beautiful website. You are such
an inspiration. Love and Hugs. See you tomorrow night!

Dear Loving, your story was wonderful. We can now add you to our esteemed list of success stories. It was DYNAMITE!
No wonder you have that blog name - it's so true! I love
your reward system idea, and didn't know it but am already
putting it into effect. My daughter, Heather, who works
for me in my real estate business (age 40), brought me a
darling pair of black leather flats with a rounded toe and
little leather flower embellishments also in black down one
side of the toe - She got them at Marshall's really inex-
pensively. They are a are a good maker, and really cute. She asked yesterday at our meeting why I didn't wear my cute new shoes. I said, "Nope, I am saving them for my l0 lb. loss reward!" See there your advice is so valid! Big
Hug.

LOVED soo much all the success stories! So great to read them, so inspiring!

I too sooo understand how so you guys feel. I started at around 250lbs in 2004 and felt like it was going to take me forever to lose 128lbs..
One thing I have learned along the way is that tomorrow(next week, next month, next year) is going to come no matter what I am doing! It feels like such a long time when you are in the middle of it but after the fact you realized how fast it goes by!

Cheering each one of you on!

**Holly**

Wow! Many wonderful stories on here from some very successful losers! I'm so glad you all shared your stories -- it really helps to motivate.

And to the current losers --- WTG! Every pound helps and every pound gets you closer to that final goal! Yeah!

I have some new quotes for you -- still couldn't get to my stash under the tarp -- but these are fresh ones -- hope they help someone out there in Kimmieland!!

****Motivation is a fire from within. If someone else tries to light that fire under you, chances are it will burn very briefly. -stephen r. covey

****Be miserable. Or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done, it's always your choice. -wayne dyer

****Desire is the starting point of all achievement, not a hope, not a wish, but a keen pulsating desire which transcends everything. -napoleon hill

****People become really quite remarkable when they start thinking that they can do things. When they believe in themselves they have the first secret of success. -norman vincent peale

Jill

Donna-Sue, so good to "see" you girl. Are you all snowed
in in Va? We have missed you so much. And you are so right, one of our biggest success factors is each other.
Just talking it out. Mary angel and I have done that a few
times lately and both of us are pretty proud of each other. Love, phyllis

Janie, you expressed it so beautifully: these success
stories of our beloved Kimmie Group are phenomenal. These
very beautiful ladies have worked to make this program all
it can be. Each is different: ages, part of country they
are from, careers, and yet share this great success factor. Sandi, Kara-Lee, Donna, Patti and Kim. They are
all the proof I need when people say (Like that lady on
Kim's Nightline show on Feb. 22nd that you "can't lose weight anyway.") it just won't happen. Yes it will and each of us can prove that. Let's do it! xoxoxo

Hi Sweet Kath, so glad to see you on here. How have you been, girl? I have had a pretty good month in the race
car and actually lost about four pounds. Everybody has
helped me, but I think what Kim said about after you swallow something and it gets past your neck, you can't taste or enjoy it any more. It just starts to play havoc (my words not hers, of course)! Kath, that has really
kept me from eating 40 bites of something when six would do. Love, Phyllis

Guys, one important thing our Tammy is good at and that is
being loyal and encouraging to all of us, setting a wonder-
ful example of what to do if you lose not only your job, but your career. she doesn't even know how many she has
helped. Next thing, Tam, you will add a success story to
your repertoire! Love and Hugs!

I'm so much like a few of you...just don't know how to begin this weight loss journey. I have so many books and exercise dvd's but just don't where to begin...maybe i'm so overwhelmed!

WTG on all those that have lost weight and thank you for the ideas and tips!

Tammy

Good Evening,

I hope everyone is having a great OP day.

Today I went to see the nurse for my first check up (9 days Post-Op) this being first set of three appointments to remove sutchers. Today's went well...they removed the ones from my chest...the nurse was awesome, hardly felt a thing. I hope next Wednesday's appointment goes as well. My mom leaves Friday morning and Darrin goes back to work on Monday. He's hoping to be able to work a few short days next week...we will see.

Today is my usual weigh in day...felt strange not to weigh in...I'm not planning on weighing in until I'm not in the compression suit and all the sutchers are out...3-4 weeks. I'm hoping that I will still be at 138lbs when I weigh in then...lower would be just icing on the cake...(and you guys all know how much I love icing)...hehe

Congrats to all losers this week.

Good luck to everyone weighing in toda

God Bless,

Kara-Lee

Current total weight loss 173.4lbs
33lbs left to lose
Goal Weight 105lbs

Donna from VA

I am so inspired by the stories that was shared, Kudos to all of the wonderful ladies. It is so very special to be part of such a support team, we cheer for the weight loses, help each other when we hit a snag in our weight journey, we have a bond from being part of the Kimmies. It does not matter where we may come from in the USA or other countries, we support our cause to help others by sharing and talking things out. I am very proud in every single individual .
Hugs
Donna Sue

Wow, wow, wow!!!!!!!!!!!! That about sums it up. Kudos to all of you who have been so successful on your weight loss journies. What a fine example you are all leading for us "Kimmies".

I hope one day I can share MY success story with you all. I know with all of your support and Kim's wonderful site, etc., I CAN do it!!!

Thank you all for the inspiration!

(((HUGS)))

Jane