Hello all you Holiday Hotties, It's been awhile. Congrats on all the weight loss and overcoming the ups, downs, and challenges! :tt1: Lets not forget to celebrate the little victories along the way, like fitting into some of your favorite smaller clothing, seeing the scale numbers go down , feeling lighter, reducing meds, and getting some compliments too! I am so happy to be "really doing it " this time - we're gonna win, right? :thumbup: I am down almost 40 lbs since my Dec. 26 surgery, that weight loss includes the 2 week pre and post op liquid diet. I didn't have my 1st fill untill Feb. 9th, got only 1 cc because the doc said I was doing very well and I said I didn't want to push it and get sick easily. Didn't feel too much restriction, but enough for me for now. They told us not to eat red meat for 6 months and be careful with chicken, and chicken is a little tricky sometimes. I have been slowly increasing my exercise :Banane43:to about 5 days a week, I just walk 3 days a week and have added weights 2 days a week, also swam once, it was great but I need a new bathing suit. I have back and knee problems so I am achy a lot. What do you all take for aches and pains? :tt1: Before surgery I took advil daily, that's supposedly a no-no for us, but Tylenol is not an anti-inflammatory and doesn't do much to help.:frown: I have taken 1 pill crushed up in a little crystal light, a few times, her and there, no problem. Any suggestions? Thanks, Gigi