My body image is so much different than I expected. I sometimes wake up and feel the same as I did before surgery. I cant believe that my bottom fits into those size ten jeans. They are so small. I feel like I have to turn sideways to get through isles in the market or restaurants. any one else waiting for that little kid to say, Hey mom look at that lady! Men look at you differently. But in my mind, I feel that they are thinking, what a cow. Please let me know if anyone is feeling this way. I am at measurements 38-30-38. Wanting it to go smaller. Huggsss :hugs:

Hi Stacie!!!! Sometimes I wander the same thing. I'm on the website everyday. I guess everyone is busy with life's many expectations. Don't feel lonely, I know that there are a number of us who are always around!!! How have you been doing! I had lap rny on January 10, 2005. I started at 261 pounds and currently am stuck at 147 pounds. I would really like to lose another 20-25 pounds. I'm only 5 feet tall!!! My doctor did tell me that the window for losing was between 12-14 months. But I refuse to believe that I'm done. Don't get me wrong, I really am a new person, both in appearance and am also much healthier. I thank God everyday for giving me this opportunity. I just had a TT on March 6, and recovering from that procedure. I must say it was a much more invasive type of surgery. It's hard to explain it until you actually experience it. I was hoping to lose another 10 pounds or so, but my plastic surgeon told me that with the loose skin and fat that was liposuctioned, it must have totalled about 5 pounds. I'm not having an arm lift or thigh lift because I form really bad "keloids", (scar tissue) and he felt that I would not be happy at all with what I was going to be left with. Have a blessed weekend and take care!!! Aloha, Pat 261/147/125

I'm gettin kinda loney by myself Hello *listens for an echo* Hello

Dear Deb, My gosh, you're doing terrific with your weight loss. You should be so proud of yourself. I'll take all the advise and recommendations that are out there for this ugly neck of mine. I'll go buy the dove firming cream, and give it a try. It could only get better. Have a great spring! Dianne

Replace your "soft" foods with sustaining foods, i.e. meats if you can - fish is the best and tuna is mighty high in protein, fresh uncooked veggies. If you can, use fitday dot com to track your calories and protein and carbs... you may be surprised, that even though you aren't getting in a lot of calories (should be about 1k/day at a year out - lower than 800k/day and you will usually stop losing), you may be overdoing the carbs. Carbs are funny little guys and like lots of water and insulin to digest and insulin needs lots of water too... so when eating more than 40-50 carbs/day, you're probably holding water. Use this as your eating mantra: Protein first 3+ oz/meal or 25grams, then low-carb veggies, salads, etc. with low-fat dairy products (but be careful here -- low-fat usually equates to higher carbs). When using fitday, my pie is 1/2 protein for the day and then the other stuff makes up the rest of my pie, with carbs being the lowest. I have a hard time getting in all of my water, but lord knows I try my level best -- it's just don't drink before eating for a certain time period, then don't drink afterwards for a time... and then I forget and then it's time to eat again -- I hate that! So I'm trying to do the waterloading thingy to get in all my water of 64+ oz/day. Good luck! (((skinny hugs))) wendyb -121