Becki - I make them about the size of a half dollar. Cheri

Jenny, My doctor did not set a goal weight for me but I wanted to have a normal BMI so I decided (my nutritionist agreed) that 155lbs would be good for me. I am 5'8" and have a medium frame. My highest weight was 333lbs and surgery day weight was 316lb. I am now 171lbs (-145lbs since 1/12/05 or 90% of my excess weight). In my opinion, you should aim for a weight that you want, even if it is only a "psychological weight". If you feel that it is important to say you weight 180lbs (and it sounds like you do or you would not be mentioning it here) then I think it is super important for you to reach that goal. Don't worry what others think, whether it be the doctor or your family or friends, this is all about you. I decided when I was laying in the hospital the day of my surgery that I was not going to give up until I reached my goal weight. I did not care if the statistics said that I would only lose 75% of my excess weight, I was determined to lose 100% of the 161lbs of excess weight I was carrying. If it is true that we really only have 12-18 months of prime losing time then I think you should take advantage of every day of this. I am determined to be at my goal at or on my 1 year anniversary. I have 16lbs to go and 2 months and 10 days to do it. I guess I am lucky in that I don't have anyone telling me I can't do it or even telling me that I look great now. I am down from a 26/28 to a 10/12 and yes, I feel great but that is not the point. I want to weight 155lbs, at least for a day. If my body decides to level off at 160-165lbs, I think I will be ok with that but I truly don't think that will happen. Sorry, this note has turned into tooting my own horn but the people I see in everyday life have no idea the struggle I have undergone to get this weight off and even though they are impressed with my success, they really have no clue. I have not cheated once since my surgery and since March 19th, I have exercised religiously. This journey to my goal weight has become so important to me and I am not going to give in until the goal has been reached. I may have a heart attack from the pressure I am putting on myself but since I am doing it of my own free will, I think I will survive. Enough about me and back to you. I read in your note that you are not happy with being in the 230lbs, since that is clear, then change it and keep going until you reach 180lbs, you have come this far, don't settle for something you are not happy with. Take care and thanks for listening to my rambling. Kathy 333/316/171/155

Dang girl, the good news just keeps coming! Whoot-whoot! Jamie

THANKS! I promise to update the picture with a clearer one after I make one from the real picture. The one I used to make this avatar is blurry b/c it is made from the digital image from the sears website and they purposely make them poor quality so you don't download them. UGH! HUGS- Jamie

I had this problem shortly after sugery around March April and May. I thought it was an ulcer and started taking Prilosec OTC and that seems to really help. I have since (last month) had a scoping and find that it is not an ulcer but acid reflux as the connection of the y-rouex or whatever is loose. Not sure if that means it was not a tight job done by the surgeon or if after 125+ lost means things just loosen up. But now I am on Nexium for life unless we can fix the loosness.