I can't believe it's been nearly two months since I updated here. Wow. A lot has happened since then. We went to Costa Rica Feb 4-14. It was amazing. I walked around a lot an didn't eat too badly. Pam fell on the ice last Sunday (March 2) and broke her wrist. She has a hard splint on it up to the elbow and is going for a recheck on Friday. Sparky tore his left ACL. In the process of doing a pre-surgery workup they discovered that he possibly has Cushing's Disease. He is going in today for an orthopedic evaluation and a third test to narrow down the possiblities for his elevated alk phos level. I decided there is simply too much going on to add one more major stressor so I am postponing my PS indefinitely. I feel good about this decision. When Pam went to the doctor last Monday, she discovered that she weighed more than 300 pounds. That was the last straw for her. When I weight myself on Saturday I was 142 - a new post-surgery high. That was kind of the last straw for me. On Friday we ordered the Medifast package. On Sunday we starting a pseudo-Medifast diet - logging things and using Slim Fast shakes and bars in place of the Medifast ones. At my weigh-in this morning, I had lost five pounds! Pam had lost seven. So I guess it's really working for us. It is so much easier to be on the same plan together. RNY 3/1/2006 218/208/137/110 - 4'11"

Stephanie, I'm glad you are able to easily do the things you want to do. I also do not know what normal is, nor do I think I ever want to be "normal". I just have to get used to what the "new" me. I still have trouble wrapping my head around that one. I will indeed let you know about the zip line adventure. I WILL do it. The thing had just been set up for a day or so and I want to wait until there is a proper launch platform. They were just using a ladder and it was very awkward. I look forward to all of the new adventures we will accomplish in our future. It is just great to realize we all have a healthier future to enjoy. Take care, Rick

I'm so glad you have been cleared from the doctor. It will feel good to get to moving again. Like you said though, take it slow and work back into it. I know what you mean about the weight limitations on things. I have always wanted to take a helicopter ride, but I was over the limit before. It is another thing on my list to do. Take care, Rick

Last weekend I went to a brother's house to help him cut down some trees and clean up some brush. I spent 10 hours climbing up and down very steep hills and doing some pretty strenuous work. The funny thing was that I never broke into a sweat and I only got out of breath two times, once wile I was walking up a steep hill carrying a large log. It felt so good to be out in the fresh air and feeling like I could accomplish something without worrying about dropping dead from exhaustion. It seemed like I was watching someone else doing all of this work because I know that I have never worked that hard with such ease in my entire life. Two of the reasons I was helping out my brothers was that I would be the benefactor of some firewood for next year. The other is that they were clearing out these trees to install a zip line. It goes for about 550 feet. I wish I could tell that I was brave enough to go down the line, but I chickened out, at least for now. I will do it, I just wasn't ready just yet. The reason I have posted this is because I was wondering if this is the feeling of good health that I have missed out on for more then 40 years of my life? I wasted a lot of years planning how to get out of physical work or trying to figure an easier way to go over the next hill. It is an incredible feeling to not have those concerns anymore and it amazes me what I am able to accomplish with so little effort. I hope each of you have experienced this feeling and are now living life to it's fullest and not just trying to get by, which is what I have spent most of my life doing. Life is great, because I have the hope of an active, full life. Rick

Starting weight, surgery weight, current weight, goal weight? 289/261/169/159 Starting sizes, current sizes, loss in inches? 28 to 8's and 10's in the bottom 3x to medium or large Do you have any regrets since surgery? No regrets, best thing I have ever done for myself. What has been the easiest and hardest things to accomplish? Easiest losing 100#; hardest losing last 30. I have 10 to go. Any complications or new medical findings you've had since your 1 year anniversary?I'm a little anemic and vitamin D has been a little low. Nothing major. I feel great! Any lifestyle changes you've made or have happened since your 1 year mark? Even more active than last year. In the past year I have rode my bike 100 miles and gone white water rafting. I plan to learn to hang glide at the outer banks this september. Bad habit you've reverted back to? Evil carbs Any thing you wish you would have done differently during your post-op journey?I wish I had stayed away from the carbs longer. Belinda