March 05ers - Roll Call! How are you doing???

Just thought I'd try and check in with my fellow March 05'ers! How is everybody doing? I'll start off with my update, stats first: Starting weight 351, BMI 61 Current weight 189, BMI 33 Goal weight 170 Best things since WLS: Well of course the obvious, ease of movement & mobility, enjoying better health (BP resolved, type II diabetes gone, cholesterol normal - off all those meds), loving shopping for clothes & shoes (SHOES!), able to do for myself and others in ways I just could not at the time of surgery. I was so afraid pre-op that I'd NEVER have some of the foods I loved again, and I was willing to let them go. Little did I know that in the end, if I stuck to my surgeon's protocol, I'd work myself back to where I can have pretty much anything in moderation. I do dump on large amts of sugar - fine, keeps me honest. I "fit" into places better - booths, movie & concert seats, buses & trains (haven't had the chance to fly yet post-op). I LOVE seeing the small changes in my muscles, bones and shapes showing where I haven't seen them in years (or ever???). Worst things since WLS: the drudgery of "managing" all the details of maintaining a healthy post-op lifestyle - some days I am just TIRED of it! Loose skin is a serious problem now, and I am looking at several PS procedures in my future - scared of that! THE SCALE - thank God I don't have one in my house. This far out, I am usually "stalled" and big losing weeks are few & far in between. I haven't had serious complications, but I have had kidney stones, which were painful and required an outpatient surgical procedure to remove. Thru this I've learned I need 100oz/fluids a day minimum. TIRED of managing that! SHopping is fun, but it's expensive to continually replace clothes, even from thrift & consignment shops & ebay. If I don't wear it for 2 weeks, it may not fit when I go to put it on! This has causd probs when dressing in the morning & I have to check everything out the nite before now. OOK well I didn't mean to write a novel. I'd love to hear from yall - how are you doing? Best & worst things since your surgery in March 05? Have a great holiday! Kathy

I will happily answer yes to all the things that you said, Kathy. Best thing since surgery is I blend in, I am normal. The world treats me better, I don't have to try half as hard to get twice as much back. I went through an awful divorce two years before my surgery and that combo made me invincible. I started at 315#'s, I am now 193#'s and my doctor wants me to lose just 20#'s more because of my frame, I am nearly 5'10". If I do it I will do it with exercise. The noise in my head is quiet; you know the one that "talks" to you when you are heavy, and with that gone I was able to hear new things, like a gorgeous intelligent man asking me to marry him with my son holding the ring box............Barb

good morning girls.....Sounds like your both doing fine We are soooo blessed to have this surgery and it looks like we had it around the same time, I have been struggling with sugar, and I am a snacker but some days I am sooooooo faithful, I did get up to 150pds and went on a 2 week all protein diet and lost 9 pds but didnt feel that great so i know if i can stay between 140-145 pds i feel good. I have met with people who have put on 40-50 pds and they say that they are soooooo mad as they know they can do it, but this was our tool.. Sometimes i really talk to myself and tell myself that i dont want to go back to my old self habits. Well wishing you both the strength to proceed on with your best weight loss ever Janice 320/231/145 5'1

Okay, Kathy, here goes!! The best thing is the fact that I look "normal" (whatever that is!!??) I no longer have to go to Lane Bryant or Omar the Tent Maker for my clothing. I love not taking 22 medications every morning. Now it is only 2 and I love it!!! And those 2 meds do not upset the new plumbing. I love having a cholesterol level that is so normal that I do not even get that call from the doctor's office to increase medication. My knees do not hurt as bad and neither do my hips. I love sitting in an airplane seat and not need a seat belt extender. I can even cross my legs!! WOO HOO! Food is not such a major issue now because I have become a "gym rat". That is almost ironic since I did not like the gym before. I love the look now. As far as that food, I take in all of protein because that is just how it is and I do not mind it one bit, in fact, it is the one time of the day that I actually like my liquids (AGGGHHH) The worst thing is the excess skin. It is so bad that in about 30 days I will be having my Tummy Tuck and Fanny Lift. The PS that I chose is also a bariatric friendly doctor. I can't wait to get rid of all of this skin. Another bad thing is the money that is spent on clothing. I tried to alter my old clothing but it was just such a big undertaking that I stopped. I actually own 2 pairs of pants that fit and maybe 3 pretty shirts. That's it. Even the shoe size shrunk. Who told us about that?!?!? Too funny!! And no one told me that my face would fall. So not only does my tummy look like a shar-pei, so does my face. All in all, I would do it again!!!! I am feeling too good!! God bless you all and have a great holiday season, Karen B.

Gosh, I hardly make it over here so sorry for the delay'd update- Looks to me that we all have stopped living here and are out living LIFE! My all time highest known wt was over 260lbs- I quit looking when I knew I was pushing the 300's preop day 247 goal 150lbs currently 145-148lbs Thank you God for this second chance at life!!! I am scheduled for plastics tomorrow- I am having post mastectomy reconstruction of both breasts ( I got too small for the temp implants placed last year!!) and abdominoplasty. I love fitting in- noone notices me because of my size anymore. I'm just a regular gal. I like that other people hold doors for me, pick up things I've dropped and are just so polite. I can eat what I want- in small amts. I was diagnosed with stoma failure so I can eat more than most rny's and I rarely dump. I do have a problem with grazing at times but I have picked up a healthy exercise habit. I am worried that with my surgery and the limits post op that I will not be able to exercise and lose this addiction that I have. I'm gonna work hard to remember those good feelings that working out gives me. I'd have no regrets. I'd do it again right this minute if I had to. My biggest fear is gaining the weight back. I do worry alot about what will happen if. I know now that if God forbid I do regain back to a morbidly obese person that I will pay out of pocket to get fixed. (I know that sounds crazy to worry about but I do!!) I hope you all are out living & loving life, cause I know I am!! I'm gonna learn to water ski this summer. This winter I went sled riding for the first time in 20 years and had the time of my life. I outran my kids. I could go on and on..... Hugs to you all! Please pray for me & my recovery! Amy

I can't believe how long it's been since I've posted in here. Here's the stats: Starting weight: 342 Current weight: 180 Goal weight: 178