I think that's the first time I have ever actually used the word "howdy" hehehehe. Anyway, my goal at this point in my life is to maintain and hopefully improve my functionality. If the side effect of that is weight loss, well I won't complain. I have multiple pain conditions coupled with the fact that I more or less "checked out" for a year--eating fast food everyday, sleeping all the time and drinking as much soda as I wanted. Now that I am back in the real world, I am living in a body that I'm not sure really belongs to me. I feel very confident that if I get my eating back on track and move my carcass a bit more that I will feel like the real me in very short time. My plan is not something everyone will agree with but I know what I can live with so here it is--Jimmy Dean (turkey)sausage, egg and cheese biskies for breakfast, Lean Cuisine for lunch, Kashi bars for snack, practice some portion control for dinner, and Skinny Cow ice cream sandwiches when I need something sweet. As for exercise, I work on the 8th floor so I am taking the stairs down (my hips don't go up) and of course I have to walk back and forth between the building and the parking garage. Ahh the joys of working downtown. In addition I want to join Curves. It is close to work, we get a discount and the machines will be gentle enough so as not to aggravate my connective tissue disorder. So that's me. I'd love to hear from anyone in the Austin area, any Jewish people, anyone dealing with chronic pain or anyone who thinks we could support one another.