You inspire a March 06er

I love lurking here and seeing your successes. It motivates me to stay the course so I can inspir March07ers. You guy have changed your lives. Could you take the time to answer my questions? 1. Could you imagine at the time last year you would be where you are now? 2. What was greatest positive moment this year? negative movement. 3. When didyou know you would be successful? 4. What became your favorite food? 5. How did you set your weight loss goal? Did you reach it Thank you Be strong and positive--bj

1. Could you imagine at the time last year you would be where you are now? Absolutely not..had no idea! 2. What was greatest positive moment this year? negative movement. Greatest postive moment was getting into the size I am now.. This is the smallest I have ever been, and I haven't even stopped losing weight. Negative moment would of been the surgery and having the complication..but that seems so long ago 3. When didyou know you would be successful? I kinda always knew I would be. Losing the weight was ultimately always up to me. The surgery helped but I also was motivated beyond means to lose the weight. Without that motivation, I would have never done as well as I have. 4. What became your favorite food? Starbucks latte's and subway salads. I drink latte's twice a day and probably have subway 4 times a week now.. 5. How did you set your weight loss goal? Did you reach it.. Well my doctor said 180. I'd like to get to at least 167 because that would put me at a normal BMI. I'm 193 right now so not quite to goal but I imagine I should reach the 167 by my 18 month anniversary. We shall see.. Kerri -148lbs

Kerri--thank you for your response. I bet getting in onederland was awsome. How much of a small Subway can you eat? bj

I don't eat sandwiches at subway. I always get a salad. Kerri

I wish you luck with your surgery! Being thinner doesn't solve all a person's problems, but I am glad to cross "morbidly obese" off my problem list. 1. Could you imagine at the time last year you would be where you are now? No, I couldn't imagine losing past 250. I was sure that I would be a failure, because I had failed every time in the past. 2. What was greatest positive moment this year? The day that I tried on a size 12 and it fit. I could no longer shop at the "big women stores" negative moment? When I realized that there are some people that are still waiting for me to fail. And when I lost my best friend because she was upset that I going to lose weight and be as thin or thinner than her. I was shocked and very hurt. Still am. 3. When did you know you would be successful? Good grief, I am still not completely sure. 4. What became your favorite food? Egg white omletes with green and red bell peppers and fat free cheese. I would never have believed that a year ago. 5. How did you set your weight loss goal? I didn't have a goal weight because I couldn't imagine losing more than 30 or 40 pounds. Did you reach it? These days, I would like to weigh just enough to not be considered overweight on the BMI charts. I need to lose 5 more pounds for that to happen. I think that I look pretty good at this weight, tho, and wouldn't mind if I stayed here. Becky

1. Could you imagine at the time last year you would be where you are now? No way at all did I believe that I would be at goal and maintaining. Wearing a size small or 6-8. It has been an amazing journey. 2. What was greatest positive moment this year? negative movement. Most positive I guess would be reaching goal and having maintained that goal for 3 months. It is a one day at a time journey for me. Negative ~ The vaginal prolapse and the surgery that entailed and the loss of friends simply because I became a smaller person. 3. When did you know you would be successful? From day 1. I refused to let failure be an option. I still refuse to consider failure. I may slip back and make bad choices but will use this amazing tool and be a continued success 4. What became your favorite food? Cheese, jerky, vietnamese foods, sushi 5. How did you set your weight loss goal? Did you reach it I picked my goal with my doctors assistance and then also by a feel and how I looked. Originally was 155 but am maintaining at 160 - 165 to allow for plastics that I want to have. Best wishes on your journey, Jeannie 315-163

Absolutely pay it forward, Betty Jo! 1. Could you imagine at the time last year you would be where you are now? Absolutely! I never doubted it! 2. What was greatest positive moment this year? Getting my annual physical and finding out my blood pressure, my cholestrol, all of my numbers were NORMAL. negative moment. Unrelated. My mother died in June. BUT, instead of doing what I always do (eat myself into a stupor), I stayed focused and continued to lose weight. 3. When didyou know you would be successful? The moment I woke up from the surgery. 4. What became your favorite food? Edy's Fat Free Sugar Free Ice Cream (Butter Pecan) 5. How did you set your weight loss goal? Did you reach it. My first goal (178) has turned out to be unrealistic. I decided that, so long as I was under 200 lbs, I'd be happy. I'm at 191 and I've set the more realistic goal of 185. I'll reach it. It'll be slow from here and I'll have to work for those last six lbs, but I'll reach it. Greg (342/191/185)

1. Could you imagine at the time last year you would be where you are now? Heck no! I thought I would be the one person WLS didn't work for. Thank God I was wrong. 2. What was greatest positive moment this year? negative movement. The best moment was when my 21 y/o son's co-workers thought I was a his girlfriend when I stopped by his job one day. They said I was too hot to be his mother. The most negative thing that has happened was that it has affected some of my friendships. My friends were supportive until I got smaller than them and then they started wierding out. I try not too talk about my weight loss too much in front of them, but they still can't get over that I'm not the fat friend anymore. 3. When didyou know you would be successful? Really not until last week when I had my 1 yr ck up. My surgeon told me I exceeded his goal and anything else I lose is just gravy. I was worried I didn't lose enough until then. 4. What became your favorite food? Strawberries w/ cool whip free. 5. How did you set your weight loss goal? Did you reach it. My personal goal is 150. I weighed 169 as of this morning, so I haven't met it yet. I met my surgeons goal of 70% awhile ago. Good luck...... Scarlette

Hi Betty Jo, Wow you are right in the middle of what ended up being the toughest time post-op for me. I read your profile - HANG IN THERE. It gets SO much better! Let me answer your questions on my 1-yr anniversary today! 1. No, last year I could not really imagine I'd be where I am now. I hoped, I dreamed, but I did not REALLY believe FOR SURE that this would all work out for me. I had never had any kind of surgery, and was scared about what to expect. 2. Greatest positive moment: Has to be being physically strong & able enough to do take vacation from my job and devote 16 hr days for 3 weeks to working at the Red Cross shelter that was set up in my town after Katrina. I was only 5 months post-op then, but my mobility and stamina were enough improved that I couuld do hard physical work like I had not done since my 20's! I was so blessed by the people I met, and so grateful to be able to do something in the wake of all of that suffering. Negative: Some post-op complications, probably caused by my lack of compliance (kidney stones, probably from failure to be more diligent with calcium supplements). 3. I still don't KNOW I'll be successful. I have been successful so far, but I consider this a life-long thing. Several people close to me have had WLS only to regain most or all of their lost weight. I had to think HARD about that before having surgery. Get back to me in five years and ask me this again 4. Favorite food: Well, I have to say medium-rare London Broil with horseradish! Many of my old faves are still faves now, but in moderation. 5. It's funny, I didn't even talk to my surgeon about a "goal weight" until a few months post-op. At that time, he suggested I aim for a range of 140-170. So I'm heading for 170 - 55 pounds to go! I hope to reach this goal by the end of my second year out, and then I'll be looking at plastic surgery to deal with what's left of this body. I saw from your profile that you're not feeling well the past couple of days. Take good care of yourself & let us know how you are doing. I hope you are feeling much better by the time you read this! Kathy

1. Could you imagine at the time last year you would be where you are now? I was hoping but never actually dreamed I would be where I am now. 2. What was greatest positive moment this year? When I put on a size medium underarmour "tight" shirt and my son said...."Mom you look hot". negative movement. I think it was my sister in law telling me I would fail 3. When didyou know you would be successful? I always hoped I'd be but never thought I could truly be 4. What became your favorite food? Chipolte burrito bowl......no rice, double black beans, extra spicy with corn salsa(of course I can only eat half of it) and Starbucks non fat, decaf, 180 degree 7 pump sugar free vanilla latte (high maintenance) 5. How did you set your weight loss goal? My doctor gave me a range he would like me at and I chose midway thru that range Did you reach it? Not yet. My goal is 165 and I'm at 203 but I'm still loosing and he says if I keep doing what I'm doing, I will EVENTUALLY make my goal weight. Sandy 357/203/165