(((Konnie)))) I am very sorry to hear about your cancer, May you not have any relapses again, I am almost a yr out as well and I am headed over to that site as well CONGRATS AND GOOD LUCK!!!!!! YOU R LOVED

Hey Lori, I just saw you photos and you look awesome!! You go girl !!!! I can't believe it has been a year. I see that you have had plastic surgery. I am glad everything went well. I am sorry I have not kept in touch but I have gotten so busy. New job new promotion! My weight is down now to 175 slow going for me but I'll take anything I can get. Email me your phone number I would love to give you a call. My computer had a bad virus and I had to wipe my heard drive so I lost a lot of my numbers and email. One again you look terrific. I hope to hear from you soon. Your old surgery buddy Carrie

Hello Everyone! Wow..exactly 1 year ago right now I was laying on the operating table having my life forever changed! I had done a TON of reasearch on Gastric Bypass, but nothing prepares you for it until you live it day by day and stage by stage. I would like to offer some thoughts...I have been far from perfect. I could have excersised more, gotten my water in better. I did make sure and get my protein in each and every day. I do still take my vitamins and Citrical religously. I have not had a serving of refined sugar....I have had a couple of m & m's, a bite of cake, a taste of something, but I still at 1 year do not know if I dum*****t. I don't want to know..... I eat carbs....the first 6 months I kept them to a mimimum. I just found that if I mixed my foods up my loss was more consistent and I was more satisfied. I still sometimes take that one bite too many and then have to throw up....old habits die hard. I still struggle with the image in the mirror....I was at one time 270 lbs. I was 222 lbs. day of surgery, on December 14th I had an extensive panniculectumy (8 1/2 lbs. of skin removed) and a Breast lift/augmentation. This morning I weighed 137 lbs. I wear size small and medium in tops, 6/8 in pants. I hope that my brain will accept my image sometime soon. This surgery does not "cure" us of our emotional attachment to food, it does help us "control" it. I can't stress enough how important support groups are....go...go...go! I am a recovering food addict...I always will be. I have met some wonderful Lifelong friends through this whole process...they have been such a integral part of my journey. I can run now....not like a marathon...in a park with my daughter..and she thinks that is very cool! I can cross my legs, tie my shoes in the middle, sit in all kinds of seats without spilling over into the next one. I can do subway stairs and not huff and puff. I live in Florida and am not afraid of being outside and sweating like a pig. I can do anything and not be afraid that people are staring at me. I go to restaurants, parties, wherever and I enjoy myself. I am living life, not letting it pass me by! All my best to all of you wonderful people wherever you are in your journey!! Lori 222/137/1?? laprny 1-6-04 plastics 12-14-04

Wendy, I was glad to see your message. I've been a little bumped because my weight loss has been pretty slow the past 4 months. Today is also my anniversary! 1//5/04...!! I started at 246 and now 163. That's an 83lb loss for me. I read about everyone that has lost over 100 lbs @ their anniversary. I very happy to be down the 83 lbs ,so I'm not complaining because I love the way I feel and look. I'm 27 lbs from my doctors goal weight. I hope this starts coming off a little faster. I've really been watching my carb intake and increasing protein and water. Hopefully, this will do the trick. Good luck in your journey! You've done GREAT!! Becky