Hello Everyone, Long Time no posting I know but my LIFE has started happending and it is wonderful! My high weight was 326. I lost 14 lbs before surgery so was down to 312 and now flucuate between 168 and 170 for a loss of 158lbs from high weight. I have had problems with not losing but I think it was because for almost 6 weeks I had no protein shakes. I have now started drinking at least 2 a day and they are staying down so that is a good thing. My surgeon doesn't set goals but I want to get to 120 lbs. I am 5'2" and according to the BMI chart for the CDC that is "normal" weight for my height. However, if I don't lose but another "3" lbs I am happy. I have lost a person and will forever be greatful to the tool that was afforded me. Hugs Noelle Gaspard 326/168 (today who knows about tomorrow)/120 02/24/04

just celebrated my one yr yesterday, and i couldn't feel happier!...this year has been amazing....i have lost 185lbs, and although i have been stalled at 225lbs for the past cpl months, i am still working out 3 days a week, and my lean muscle mass is very good!....i know if i stop grazing and eating the stuff i shouldn't i might be able to jump start the loss again...but i'm not stressing it....i look good and i feel great!....so, yay!..hope all of my fellow "febbies" have had a successful year!!! xoxox, Patrina

I thought reprinting this here might find its way into the useful mental files of someone's thoughts. This shows where I am in my journey. I don't post much here as I post mostly in my British Columbia WLS support group. But, we are all a year post op now and other of you might see yourself where I am or might see yourself in another space that you won't mind sharing. I do hope this prompts some form of discussion of value to us throughout our anniversary month. The Value Village (resale store of used clothes) shopping discussion (in my home group) has fallen into my thoughts as I went to Mayfair Mall yesterday to get my hair done. All of the stores had sales with clothing for $4.00 and up. Even though I didn't buy I browsed without concern. I could have bought many things. I haven't shopped in a mall for decades. The ability to have purchased something is so empowering. I was thinking about empowerment. I give so much credit to Dr. Amson (my surgeon) for giving me back my quality of life. I am empowered by that. The surprise joys (a phrase I coined meaning: an unexpected complement completely unrelated to surgery discussion) are empowering. The comments and complements from family, friends and co-workers are empowering. My ability to do things I was never able to do before is empowering. So much has given me a great feeling of self. This group and our monthly meeting members are so very deer to me and are also very empowering. But, with all this, it seems I have forgotten to give credit to someone very close to me. While Les (my hubby) has been my rock it is not he that I forgot. I forgot me. I never gave me any credit in this journey. I never patted myself on the back for eating properly and exercising when I didn't feel like it. It's hard to explain. It's like I gave all the credit to all the people, places and things that helped me along the way. As a failure, I was never able to do this on my own. It was the thing that always eluded me, so, why give myself some of the credit. I was always a failure in this arena. While this thought is always with me it can no longer rule me. I have been thinking about this a lot since I am nearing my goal and the one year mark. At last Sunday's Curves staff meeting we were introducing ourselves to our new staff members. The fact that I had WLS and lost 127 lbs got stuck in my throat for the first time. I didn't know quite what it was all about but I think that it is time to get off my laurels and move on to life without WLS being the centre of my life. I have to acknowledge that I played a role in this journey to give me strength as the rest of my journey begins. It is a little scary because now I have to maintain or manage my weight and if I gain I have to take the steps to lose. This part of the journey brings with it some fear. While my pouch is smaller and I eat smaller meals I can eat more than at the beginning of my post op life. This is the time where I could gain and I have to be careful. Regain for me has always been very easy throughout my life time. I'm not a new postie now. I have been at this a year. The thought that I will have to be careful now for the rest of my life is unsettling at best. So, I will steal a concept from AA. One Day At A Time. I'll do this one day at a time. My life during this past year has been, in part, about accolades. It was important for my motivation during this first year. Now my journey is about homeostasis or balance in life.

Hi, I was 315 pre op and 270 by surgery. I am now 187 with a total loss of 127 lbs. I wear a size 14 now and have not lost any weight for two months. I'd love to loose another 30 lbs but if it's not in the cards I'll stay here. I did gain 4-5 lbs over Christmas that I have lost almost all of. I do not count that as loosing since I gained it I have two plastic surgeries planned one for March 11th for a hernia repair and tummy tuck which will take off some pounds and my brachioplasty is planned for three months later. Those will take of maybe 10-15 pounds. Perhaps I am on a plateau or I have leveled off. We are supposed to loose into the second year or at least "they" say we will.

So how'd the infusion go? Hope you're feeling much better. Linn