Rick. I'm so in that winter blues boat with you! Even though it was tough getting out of bed today because of the 1 hour sleep loss, the sun is out and will be out an hour later BF sent 3 tulip pots to me (maybe thats a sign he doesn't want to see me moping around from the awful winter anymore? ) either way everyone has commented on how springy my area looks so hopefully they've helped more than just me turn from a grump to an optimist that springs almost here!! I really need to get in control with those vitamins I dont know why I fall off that wagon so much, but nothing good is going to come from it so its something I need to fix!! hope you're having a great day and enjoy that extra hour of sunshine

Thanks for giving us a chance to check up on each others progress to date. Starting weight, surgery weight, current weight, goal weight? 339 / 300 / 183 / 186, I have been as low as 174, but that didn't last long. Starting sizes, current sizes, loss in inches? shirts 5x, now medium, pants, 46 now 34's, inches lost - 92.5 Do you have any regrets since surgery? I wish I would have done it much sooner. What has been the easiest and hardest things to accomplish? Easiest - walking for exercise. Hardest - seeing me as the size I currently am. I just don't see it and still think of myself as a very big guy, but I guess I'm not any more. Any complications or new medical findings you've had since your 1 year anniversary? None at all. Any lifestyle changes you've made or have happened since your 1 year mark? I'm more physically active now. Bad habit you've reverted back to? I eat way to much junk, bread, baked goods, snacks in general. Any thing you wish you would have done differently during your post-op journey? No, not really. I'm very pleased with where I am and how I got here. Life is great, Rick

Starting weight, surgery weight, current weight, goal weight? starting - 261.2, surgery - 250, current - 127.4, goal - under 130 133.8lb loss Starting sizes, current sizes, loss in inches? shirts then - 26/28, shirts now - large or medium depending how it fits around the spare tire pants then - 22, pants now - 6 Do you have any regrets since surgery? none at all! What has been the easiest and hardest things to accomplish? easiest - eating small portions, hardest - exercising on a regular basis & getting in my vitamins every single day Any complications or new medical findings you've had since your 1 year anniversary? i've developed reactive hypoglycemia which has made me learn that eating simple carbs will only make me feel especially white potatoes in any form! Any lifestyle changes you've made or have happened since your 1 year mark? - I've changed my eating habits by eating complex carbs and no simple carbs and look for any where I can add extra protein to a meal or snack (protein fudge, protein cheesecake, etc) - Had 2 foot surgeries in less than a month which has slowed me down and helped me regain a couple pounds. Bad habit you've reverted back to? Too many baked goods at times until I crack the whip and dump them out till next time they find their way back into the house in abundance Any thing you wish you would have done differently during your post-op journey? I wish I'd have gotten use to exercising regularly and taking vitamins every day Favorite post op recipe you make often (please share with us ) Banana Wheat Bread 2 cups whole wheat flour 1/4 cup wheat germ 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 1/2 cups mashed bananas 1/4 cup vegetable oil 1/2 cup sugar free honey 2 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 cup chopped walnuts Grease a 9 x 5 inch loaf pan. Preheat oven to 350 degrees (175 degrees C). Combine oil, honey, eggs, vanilla, and mashed bananas in a bowl. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, wheat germ, salt, and baking soda. Make a well in dry ingredients, and add the banana mixture. Mix together until dry ingredients are moistened. Stir in nuts. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 1 hour in preheated oven. Test for doneness, and cool on wire rack.

Hi Emile. Happy surgiversary to you as well! You'll truly have something to celebrate on St. Patrick's Day. Feel free to pop out of your cave and come visit us at any time. We all have demons and I find it helpful just to know that others have them and I'm not alone! Hugs, Stephanie

hey y'al. Stopping in to say congrats to everyone for making two years and wishing all the best. My short stay here last fall made an impression. I do deal with my demons and being a guy I go into my cave. I wish all the best for any plasic surgury folks and good health to all emile in Louisian aka big ole tri guy