Girl you need to update your profile, it still says you have a 31 BMI... You are doing awesome girl! Yeah at one year out we are supposed to be out of our "honeymoon" period. Although I think my honeymoon period ended last month b/c now when I fall off the bandwagon I can gain up to 4-5 pounds! I know I don't have the "restriction" that most of you still have. My pouch is normal size now. It's done it's stretching. I can eat almost a whole cup of cottage cheese before I feel full (not that I am doing that regularly, but I tried it one afternoon just to test the waters). So I know now, I have to be disciplined and watch what I am putting into my mouth. I can also eat a totally normal diet... I can have almost up to 30g of sugar at once without dumping too... so it is REALLY important that I continue to journal, continue to watch what I eat and just enjoy life and not get obsessed or start emotional eating again. Witht he skin, I know I need it removed, not as much for looks persay but for comfort. I am not comfortable in this skin. I hate how my clothes fit, finding clothes is harder now than when I was fat. I am a 4 in meaurments but can't wear a four because of the extra skin on my thighs.... I am sure that you've noticed that in the smaller sizes the pants legs get so dang slim! So I wear a 5 or 6. I also have extra skin in my entire back so things that don't have sleeves look terrible on me because my skin will lap over the top of the arm holes! It bothers me so much to see my skin pooching everywhere. Also the skin in my sides under my bra line pooch out of my kevlar vest and it gets rubbed raw after only a few hours of wearing it. So THAT has to be delt with. Does anyone else have the smelly belly button problem? I have skin above and below my belly button so it basically closes off to the air and moisture gets trapped. So now I have to shove a cotton ball and bally powder in there and change it out during the day or my BB gets all red, raw and irritated. It sucks. So for me, surgery is an option. At first I did not think so but now that I am there... I am ready to cross that bridge. And like you said, having the health problems gone just brings such joy to my life! So I focus on the accomplishments I reach with that! Brightest Blessings for a Wonderful Day~ Jamie M. aka Lady Autumn Weight- 257/154/146 BMI- 44.1/26.4/25 Height- 5'4" Total Weight Loss: -103 lbs. Surgery Date- 1/19/05 Visit my OH profile or stop by My Weight Loss Journey Website at: home.bellsouth.net/p/PWP-LadyAutumnsWLSjourney Visit my Live Journal at: livejournal.com/users/magickalmom

Hey Becky, Oh yeah, our bodies definitly have their own agenda! I plataeued and then gained and lost like a yo-yo in the last few months. It has been so weird. Then I reached a point where all I did was gain and I was doing everything right. That is about the time my trained banned me from the gym until I went to talk to a therapist about misplacing my addiction to food with exercise. (Neither of which either person thought was healthy.) Yeah we have lost about the same amount of weight, haven't we? I just had a lower starting point from most of the people on this board. I was a "lightweight" by most folks standards (except my own of course). Thing is my surgeon refused to set a goal or crunch numbers with me (or any of his patients) for that matter. It is his philosophy that we will lose weight until our bodies decide to stop. As long as we lose at a regular rate and do not go too low, he is happy. His main goal is to give us a healthy start at life again, he hates to give us number to strive for b/c he doesn't want to give us even more head issues. So he tells us that aiming for a healthy BMI is a reasonable goal. So I did my research and most charts say that 25 is the high end of a healthy BMI for someone who is 64" (5'4") and who has a medium to large body frame. Of course now that I am down to this weight I should probably measure my boney areas again and see if my guess on my body frame was correct. LOL! Anyways, I told myself that if I lost 100# I would be happy and you know what, I pretty much am... just the extra skin bothers me. Speaking of skin, I am actually doing a lot better on the bounceback front than I expected although I still have more than I thought I did... lol... my advice for anyone out there who are not sure if PS is the way they want to go..... make a decision after you research but before you have a consult! I went with a friend for hers and I was joking with the surgeon about me being luckier than her that I did not have that much skin... he was like... "I bet you have more than you think!" So I dared him to find it.... he had the time so he had me put on a gown and asked me where I thought I needed work and he started lifting, tugging, and pulling and OH MY GODDDD!!!!! I knew I had skin but I thought I'd be fine with the circumfrential cut and maybe my arms... oh was I so wrong! LOoks like I am gonna have to go total body lift... holy cow... now that it has been brought to my attention I focus on it all the darn time! I always had a flat booty so now that my booty is still flat I figured that is the way I was ment tio be... nope, my arse has just fallen! LOL! Brightest Blessings for a Wonderful Day~ Jamie M. aka Lady Autumn Weight- 257/154/146 BMI- 44.1/26.4/25 Height- 5'4" Total Weight Loss: -103 lbs. Surgery Date- 1/19/05 Visit my OH profile or stop by My Weight Loss Journey Website at: home.bellsouth.net/p/PWP-LadyAutumnsWLSjourney Visit my Live Journal at: livejournal.com/users/magickalmom

I thought I would have to wait atleast 2 to 3 mos, but I had my consult last night and it's a go. November 23, 2005. My sister and I have the same date. How we swindled that one only God knows. I'm soooooo excited. Eileen at Dr. Lautz office rocks! As well as Mr. Lautz of course, he had to say yes. I know it's right before Thanksgiving and if all goes well we should be discharged Thanksgiving Day. I'll just have to celebrate a little earlier!!!! gobble gobble!

Thats a great Idea, that way we won't feel like we are missing out on anything, splenda has become a good friend of mine lol. Joi

Hello family, I 'm glad to report that I have finally made it off the 190 mark which I have been at for 2 1/2 months, I weighed and I'm down to 185, shooting to make it to my goal of 150 by my Anniversary date which is Jan 11. I can now fit into a solid 12 which is wonderful. Just wanted to share my good news with ya. Oh yea the count down is on for Germany. I have 8 days and a wake up, before my life changes forever. Love ya Joi