Good hearing from you, Renie. I love my sister very much and know that her presence in my life is monumental. I also have 5 amazing sister's in law who I love with all my heart. There is a lot to be said about the girl power that runs through our families. Glad to hear you are doing well. Denise

I weighed 330 and now weigh 188. My doctor wants me to go to 145. I wish. I've been losing about a pound a week for awhile now. It sucks. I try to look at it like this 52 weeks in a year and 43 pounds to go so hopefully I can reach my goal by my 2 years out. It's a struggle but we can all get there. Slooooooooooooooowly though. Some poeple have less or more to lose than me so I try hard not to compare pounds because it can get you down. I can comfortably fit in a seat at the movie theater. Heck I've got room to spare now so I am very happy with my progress. This summer I'm riding a rollar coaster. (That's my real goal... he he) Woo Hoo!

Hi Rhonda, I am almost at my year mark next week and have lost 210 pounds and want to loose 80 more. I have some platues but get it going im still loosing about 5-10 pounds a week it's definatley a struggle to get off the plaetau though.... Good job to you on your success

Hi Everyone, I was just curious how many of you are still losing weight, and how many have stopped. For me the weight loss has slowed down drastically, and I have to go on a very strict diet plan to get the weight loss started back up. I still need to lose around 20 lbs or so, and I'm so thankful I can still lose at this point. How is it for you? Take care, Rhonda Carter -100 lbs

I don't post often, but follow the happenings on this board frequently. My one year anniversary was February 3rd, and in general, I feel great. Well, except for right now - - I have the office bug (flu/bronchitis) and am home now coughing my head off (and my lungs out!). That aside, I think I share most of everyone's thoughts about how much better off I am now than I was last year. Was diabetic, had high blood pressure, high cholesterol, muscle and joint pain, and on and on. Everything is now normal, I'm full of energy (my husband wonders where I get all of my energy from!) and with the exception of the current malady (which happened as the result of letting myself get run down - - please do not use me as an example and take care of yourself!!), I'm in great health. As of my 1 year anniversary, I lost 110 pounds. I had been on a 2 1/2 month plateau, which frustrated me to no end. In the last week and a half, first as the result of my body finally letting go of some fluid after getting my period, which had been MIA for 3 1/2 months (I'm 47, and even before surgery had started going through the change), increasing my exercise level (walking 4.75 miles at least 4 times a week, and then coming down with the current malady (don't really have an appetite - - the only good part about being sick!), I've lost another 7 pounds. So that's 117 pounds! Ideally, I want to lose about another 25 pounds before I even think about plastic surgery, but we'll just wait and see. If I only lose another 15, it won't be the end of the world. There are other great things that have come out of having the surgery: Five weeks after I had my surgery, my sister (who lives near me here in Maryland), had the surgery as well. She has done great, and also is off all meds, etc for diabetes, high blood pressure, etc. She and I have been a great source of support to one another, and she has told me that she probably would have not had the surgery if I had not done it first. Now my sister in Colorado, who when my other sister and I decided to have this surgery, was very resistant to the idea, is going to have the surgery on March 1, 2005! She was actually my "reason" for having the surgery. She is also diabetic (insulin dependent), with some damage to her eyes and kidneys from the disease, has breathing problems and arthritis. She has difficultly walking from both the breathing issues and arthritis. She is 11 years older than me, and after seeing her with all these problems, I decided I needed to do something before I ended up in the same condition. Anyway, my sister and I who have had the surgery did not press her to have the surgery because we did - - that would not have worked, even on me! What we did do was keep telling her how good we felt and all the things we could do that we couldn't do as when we were heavier. That worked!! She recently told us both that she was "jealous" of the fact that we felt so good, and can't wait to feel that way, too. So, I'll be going out to Colorado to be with her for the surgery and the other sister that had the surgery will go out a week later. We hope we can help her through those first difficult couple of weeks after the surgery - - I so remember hating life when I was there! (Gotta get myself well, though; don't want to make her sick!) I can't tell you how happy I am that she's having the surgery. I'm close to all my sisters (I have another one here in MD), but Colorado sister is the oldest (I'm the youngest), and especially dear to me. Please put her on your prayer lists on March 1st (11:00 AM Mountain Time) for an uneventful and successful surgery and great recovery! To end, please know that even though I don't post often, I do very much enjoy keeping up with all of you through your posts. It's wonderful to see our progress, not just with our weight loss, but as we "gain" in other areas. Thanks so much for sharing! Renie Fellers 292/175/150