How do you Celebrate LB or health-related victories? The old me celebrated with special meals or food-related treats? Do you buy something special for yourself that you've had your eye on? Just rejoice in the victory itself without a tangible reward? Thoughts????

Thanks!

I just started my pre-op diet on Thursday, but I love the charm bracelet idea too! I think I will head to Brighton this week and have it in time for surgery day, June 13th.

This was/is a hard one for me. I grew up in a very strict Baptist church, where just about everything was "not allowed." The list of "don'ts" included:

• dancing
  
• movies
  
• mixed swimming
  
• of course alcohol
  
• of course smoking
  

However - whatever the occasion - food was appropriate. Party = eat. Funeral = eat. Wedding = eat. Graduation = eat. Church function = eat. Family gathering = eat. Lost your job = eat. Baby born = eat. Holiday = eat (the bigger the holiday, the more you eat). Celebrating anything = eat.

I'm truly not bashing "religion." I have a very strong faith and even though I've come to have different standards than those I was taught as a child, I still very much identify with my small town, Baptist culture.

Shelley, as a long time Baptist, I have often observed that the only "Sin" we aren't against is the sin of gluttony.

Excellent idea' date=' about the charm bracket. I've lost 13 lbs so I'm going to buy myself and Pandora bracelet and will buy a charm for every 5 lbs. .[/quote']

This is a great idea' love Pandora

The key is anything but food. But Rejoicing works for me! That and sharing the event with hubby or friends.

Love the bracelet idea but I can so relate to church functions. Everything is food related. Once a month to seniors meet with the pastor at a restaurant for lunch. We hold church suppers a lot. It's all food related. Tomorrow after church we're having a church supper. I've only been a member of this church since November and there have been more food functions than I can count.