Pookeyism

I don't have time to read all the responses but about the cards: Your FICO score is based inpart on your available credit AND how much you are using. Closing a card will almost always lower that score if you have a balance. But again too many cards with open balances can be an issue too. Answer:just don't use them. Really. Truly. No your miles don't add up to enough to matter, no you don't get as much back as you think. A zero balance card can be bad too. if you have zero on the card and a 15000$ limit that is 15000 you could run up quickly - and most of us that is a bit of our income, and affects potential debt. When you stop a card that has a balance you have stopped a portion of available credit, and you nw have a balance. Yo uhave lessened credit available, and yes lowered the credit you could dip into, BUT you now have more of a debt/available income ratio. ZING Keep only cash. Keep small bills, make yourself SEE what you spend. If you must spend, go to consignment shops - but I would seek counseling - you have noticed it in time and recognized it enough to mention it here. Now get help - not for the shopping per say but for the fact that your eating issues were unresolved enough to start a crossover addiction. PS - as for the cards, you may want to consider moving the balances for specialty cards (never get a specialty card) like lane bryant over to a general use cc. Then close it at a zero balance. You can then focus on putting expenditures on the cc while also paying down more than you spend. It could get you in the 25 day zone, which is usually a grace period before you owe on the card. Good luck!

PIlates in my opinion may be less forgiving than yoga. I have been doing yoga for over 20 years so I am biased! here is a website I keep a very inexpensive subscription to to show friends and fam how to begin, to be abel to practice and the have bariatric yoga also: http://www.medicineyoga.com/index.php this is an OK review for the book 'yoga for wimps' - I do not like the new pic of someone stuffing their face - as if to imply this is for people who are lazy overeaters - because it isn't - could be, lol, but isn't. I am not saying buy it from here! It just has lots of info. There is a DVD also but I do not keep the dvd. http://video.barnesa.../e/743452186228 core exercizes are essential, and many things can still be done in modificaton as long as the modification stil supports the same muscles being used - remember at first core training seeks to make your brain remember how to do these things - you re-wire! like an older computer getting an upgrade - except you have no obsolete parts. Do not be afraid if you shake - literally or feel awkward. For the stand up exercizes utilize a finger or two on a chair or wall. If you need one-on-one help with yoga see if you can find an instructor that does free or donation-only yoga classes (If you can afford classses this is stil a great option. Donate what you would pay). I think alot of times these instructors are so overwhelmingly happy to assist someone in our position you get almost 1 on 1 care. Bariatric yoga is a newer term and it is gaining credibility fast. In a year you will be doing acro-yoga. I hope to be! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acroyoga I dislike wiki overall but decent info on acro yoga. PS - Even the most basic rotating of your hands and feet will help - never omit the small things! If you want more info let me know - I will help all I can.

http://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/key-nutrients-that-protect One of several sites to help look up nutritional info.

The small OMG's can be the best!

I am a much more mellow person right now but I wish I had been there with you! GRRRRRRR If you ever find your way you Houston let me know we will have a lite dinner and some Xbox kinect and no one will make an issue. That invitation goes out to everyone!

It sounds like a good idea. take advantage of it!

Bartering is inefficient, It uses too much human capital. LOL studying Economics right now! PS - You can still do that provided the other person agrees.

So you are a size 4, 5'6" and 170? 160? I have my goal at 150 - I really should go ahead and change that! (5'10") Awesome pics in LBD!

Lol I thought you meant hip insurance like 'leg connected to'...i need to call it a day and go home! lol

Yup! I go into the kitchen more now to feed my rabbits than I do myself...but they are HUGE rabbits!

Depending on how much you have to lose and the little extras life throws at you, it is possible to still lose weight after a few years, but chances are either you or your body will create a stall. A stall further out is different than it is in the beginning. The more weight you lose the less "sitting" calories you will burn. So unless you have added activity to your lifestyle you will not burn much extra. Even then it has to be an active lifestyle, not a life with an activity in it. Another thing is I think many people hit that level that they would have anyway, but it is harder to slingshot back. You have no guarantee you will only consume 1000 calories a day...if you learn bad habits you could easily eat twice that much. I know a young lady that took 2 years to lose 45 lb...but she did it and eight years later it is still off. Who knew...

Cindy lynn I live just off 290 in cypress!

How much have you lost?

By the time we are into summer you will already have lost so much! Cheers to your new life!

Sleeved 1/4/12 and I have lost over 30 lbs. Not sure on the exact amount. I was 279 in January of 2011. I am 210 (weighing in two days) now.

Does it irritate your tummy again when you do that? I am back to liquids trying to get to the mushie phase so I have never experienced it...8 weeks on liquids! Ugh!

You should print and frame that pic of your half-eaten yogurt!

Thank yo ufor deciding to join us! Our strength is in our numbers! I would offer to stay with you Friday, but Cali is a bit far away!

I am sorry I was self-pay out of Houston - but I will keep you in my prayers - patience, you iwll get there!

Wonderful story! I am so glad you were able to share with your family, and demonstrate to them that this isn't just a diet, that you have it figured out and are doing great. I would give so much to be able to have another huge dinner with my abundant family and let them see the new me, but that can never be. Enjoy every minute of it. What a NSV!

I did not realize you were going through that. My baby sister married my best friend at a young age and he progressed into horrible alcoholism, but I did not see him to know - and she held it in for almost 18 months. For an 18 year old kid it's a lifetime. Hang in there - and don't take any crap!

I appreciate your vent, but I want to say something - how do you know you just didn't make a fellow dieter, someone with or without surgery pay attention to what they were eating? Perhaps you were being looked at with healthy appreciation and envy? Judgeing and assuming about people who are smaller than you is as fair as them doing it to you, and it does happen often. I was with a friend one time downtown, we had parked the car and took our bicycles to the farmers markets, and she goes "I hate it when those skinny 'B------' show up with their eco bags and yoga pants and hair pulled back" and finally I looked up and went "um, those two work at a non profit yoga place just down the road - the one I go to on the weekends"...she just assumed they were doing to show off, but they were gathering stuff for their dinner, lol.

Now you know - and honestly - do they need it either? Alot of people forget these foods are not treats, they are bad - There was a time when an orange was a treat, because it was rare. Now we make things treats because why? They don't taste that good, and they aren't rare, and they definately are not made out of good things... Good decision and yes, keep those triggers out of your house!

Wow, I had not even thought about all of that! I have never been on a birth control pill (not as irresponsible as it sounds, long story and still no kids ) but that is a really good question.

Okay, I think my body is still not ready for mushies. I always end up in pain the next day and usually a certain amout of intestinal distress. I also get very runny stools which I am pretty sure would dehydrate totally except I lived with a cup or popscicle in my hand yesterday. It is annoying but not overwhelming. I think I am going to give my tummy a rest and stick to liquids again - give my tummy time to rest and any inflammation I caused to fade. After I am going to to a very very, super very gradual mushie transition and if that does not work I will check with my Dr. I was sleeved on 1/4/12so it has been almost eight weeks. I am not concerned yet, but if anyone wants to recommend some exceptionally bland mushies that worked for them in a similar situation I would appreciate it. Thanks!