Hi Analyn,

Yes, isnt this board wonderful? Great folks here.

About your co-workers....there's not much you can do to "help" them except by example, I think. In 6 months when they're 10 lbs heavier and your 25 pounds lighter they'll come back around....especially when you go to lunch with them and they see you globbing blue cheese dressing all over your chef's salad!!
Seriously though, you are just in a more committed place than they are...you are really ready to do what you need to do once and for all. It's a state of mind, a decision...not an experiment.

I wouldn't think it's all that unusual to gain 5 or 6 lbs before TOM! I gain 2-3 and it drops off pretty quick. But perhaps if you're drinking more water now than before it won't be so bad. The rule of thumb in any situation when you're retaining water is to DRINK water! It should help.

Congratulations to you on your great decisions!! Isn't it a wonderful feeling to take control again?