Thanks a lot Heidi! How are things going in Albuquerque? I came to the balloon festival many years ago. I am sure the city has grown since then...you are looking great yourself! Thanks for the support! Mikey RN

Wow, you look great.. Love your new picture.....

Hi Dawn!! We are surgery sisters!! You and I have done a wonderful job!! We are about at the same weight loss!! I dont know for sure where you started but I started at 270 and have lost 72 lbs!! Sometimes I feel like I eat too much too.. Sometimes like a bottomless pit and then some days I dont feel like I eat much at all!! Dont EVER feel you are a failure!! What we have done is wonderful!!! Keep up the good work and Im sure EVERYONE in here would agree when I say dont ever feel like you have to hide or feel ashamed to post anything in here!! We are all in the same boat and are all here to help one another!! And hey like our bodies come in all different shapes and sizes,, so do our problems!! But the support in here is wonderful!!! Keep up the good work and I am sure its only gonna get better for us!!! Patti

Hi Deborah, No actually I am there with you!! I dont really exercize at all!! I wal****asionally but thats about it! I am gone most of the time too with my kids in almost every sport they can get into!! I know it would help if I would kick it up a notch and start exercizing but I feel like I never have the time!! Oh well..maybe the kids will slow down this winter and I can try something!! But I cant see them slowing down!!! Thanks for the encouragement!! Patti

Today is 6 months from when I had revision surgery. On March 10th, I had my old gastric band from 7 years ago removed and was revised to the DS by Dr. Baltasar in Spain. (www.duodenalswitch.com) I have gotten rid of 111 pounds and feel great. I'm working out several days a week with a personal trainer and usually try to get a few days in on my own. I have so much energy compared to before. My asthma has once again gone away and the edema in my legs is much better. My joints and back don't ache much anymore! I've lost bunches of inches - as of 5 months, I had lost almost 60 inches, I'm sure it's more than that now, but I won't be measured until Tuesday. I've gone from a bmi of 71.2 to 53.1. I'm getting closer to just morbidly obese from being super super morbidly obese! I would switch to the DS again in a heartbeat - I can eat a very small normal meal and don't feel deprived. I'm drinking protein shakes too, and trying to stay on top of all my vitamins. The one thing I still struggle mightily with is getting enough water in! I also have had some significant hair loss in front (of course!) since my 4th month. I'm getting tired of that, but I know it will grow back and already is.. it's just the chunk of hair that's new is soooo short compared to the rest of my bangs! Life is grand, and I just wanted to update things for all of my March 2005 brothers and sisters! Jill revision from band to DS 3/10/05 Dr. Baltasar, Spain 440/435/329/160 hw/sw/cw/gw -111lbs