Hi! My surgery was 2-9-06. A year later, I'm now able to eat and drink almost anything. I only feel sick if I eat too fast or too much. I started at 273lbs., and fluctuate between 184-187lbs. The lowest weight I achieved was 178 for a few days, but that was when I threw up alot. I'm 5'7'' so the 184-187 weight is fine. I am in a size 12 and have some size 10 stretch jeans, which is great! I would like to lose some more if possible. I don't exercise really. I like walking, but don't do it other than when I'm working, or running errands. I have increased my sugar intake since surgery. I was diabetic before, but now all my labs are great. I don't overdue it though. Honestly, I need to drink more water, start taking my vitamins again, eat more protein, less carbs, less caffeine, and sugar, and I would probably lose. I'm just not worrying too much. I feel great! It's the first time in my life that I'm not obsessed with my food intake, the number on the scale, etc. I feel normal. I eat when I'm hungry, stop when I'm full, and enjoy the food when I eat it. I have a little chocolate each day, which I love, put I also eat the Light and Fit yogurt, which is great! I don't binge, and I don't starve. This is better than I ever hoped it could be. It is so funny, two weeks ago, somebody actually refered to my legs a skinny. I never thought that would happen! It is not true, by the way! I may decide to jump into a serious exercise routine, get serious with the water and protein intake, and take off some more, but for now I'm enjoying this for the first time in my life. I appreciate all of you! Rebecca in Atlanta

Wow this forum has become like a ghost town since we hit our 1 year anniversaries. Where is everyone? So i figured I'd start a thread to get people's updates. My update: I'm still losing weight, I lost 8 lbs last month (month 14) and am now about 25 lbs away from my goal weight. I started this journey at 492 lbs the month before my surgery and now I'm down to 216. I'm working out 3 to 4 days a week and am eating fairly well, I don'****ch my carb intake like I use to, but at the same time, I rarely go carb overboard. For instance, I still opt for eating BBQ pork rinds dipped in french onion dip rather then having potato chips. So WHAT ABOUT YOU? Whats going on with you guys? Scott

I think what makes me think you have issues is the "afraid to eat" part. We will need rules if we're going to keep the weight off. We need to exercise too. The part about not eating in the car, good rule! Eating in the car is a trigger for me. And if the rules about salad and shrimp keep you from indulging and triggering bad behavior when you go out, keep to them! I eat off a tiny saucer. I measure EVERY SINGLE meal and log it into sparkpeople.com. The only cereal I allow myself is either Kaysnaturals protein cereal or the Kashi Go Lean high fiber/high protein cereal and I eat both dry. I never eat the last bite of food either. Eat more fruit! Try some grapes or some apples. 100 grams of grapes (about 3.5 oz) only has 70 calories! Fruit is your friend! Yogurt is ok if you pick one that has lower calories. The Dannon Fit & Lite only has 60 calories per container. I eat 2 every day. I say as long as your eating enough and your labs come bac****nock yourself out with the rules! I make myself exercise at least an hour 6 days a week. I was at the gym 3 hours today. I tell myself "no excuses babe!" and haul my butt to the gym. I believe you're making new habits. At least that's what I tell myself.

Sometimes I am scared that I am becoming anerixic. But I feel as if as long as I have weight to loss I am not hurting nothing. So would you consider walking three times a day to much exercise. I keep forgetting to put my pedometer on so that I can see exactly how much I am walking I would say around four miles today. In three different sessions and I will probable go again it is so nice out. I walk more and more ever day. I enjoy my walking. I was house bound two yrs ago with my back and really enjoy and it feels better when I walk daily. I also have trouble getting in enough calories. I am so afraid to eat that I am over doing it. I try not to eat over 1000 calories a day. some people keep telling me that isnt eough, but I can hardly make myself eat more some days and other days I want to eat everything but wont let myself moslty. I eat enough protein and drink a lot of fluids. I have tons of rules that I cannot let myself cross that line to keep myself in line and keep making more. Like I cant eat in the car. And I cant eat nothing but salads when we go out to eat or shrimp. And I cant drink green tea except in the car. And I cant eat nothing every fried. And I have to drink two glasses of tea when we go to the restaurant uptown and then wait 30 before I can eat. I have to walk at least 30 minuets a day and do my pilates before bed time. I can only eat crackers at my Nana house. I cant eat cereal at all, except oatmeal on FRidays for breakfast. I can only eat two yogurts a day. Only three bannana a week. I never eat the last bite on my plate and I always use a small saucer to eat off of. I take one bite at a time and sit my fork down. . I cannot eat after eight oclock at night. I still have 45 pds to lose to get to my surgeons goal. Am I learning new rules right or am I becoming anerexic? I worry about going from one extreme to the other and keep telling myself it is okay untill I get all the weight off then worry about it. Do you think I am becoming anerixic?

I'm still looking into it. I had a "Coming to Jesus" conversation yesterday with someone close to me and I realized that I really do have some deep down stuff that probably should be addressed for my health and sanity. Can't put my finger on why but I feel like crying for no reason.... All the time... But I don't. Chin up, right? Happy face for everyone, right? Gotta find a provider that takes my insurance. The search is on. What fun. --- Your WLS twin... (except you're the skinny twin)