Today is my 9 month anniversary from surgery. The inches have flown off . I have lost 12 inches off my chest, 17 inches off my waist, 19 inches off my stomach, 16 inches off my hips, 11 inches off of each thigh, I've lost 5 & 6 inches off of each knee & about 6 inches off of each calf. There are a couple of other things that I measure as well. These are the major areas. I have lost a total of -131.25 inches! However, my weight loss is crawling downward, slowly, or so it seems. I am very happy when I run into someone that I haven't seen in a while & I see how shocked they are at my weight loss. I have gone from a tight 24/26 to a very comfortable 16 or a regular large. My shoe size has dropped from 8.5 W to a 7! I have kept up with my lab work. I suggest that everyone does that. Get copies of all tests for your own files. My cholesterol became normal at 3 months PO. My tryglicerides became normal at 6 months PO. My blood pressure is normal, now. My GERD is gone. Surgery has been such a blessing. However, I am not absorbing my calcium (& I do use 1500mg of calcium CITRATE daily). We don't absorb calcium CARBONATE properly. The test that we need is called a DEXA scan. It measures bone density. I now have osteopenia. It is when your bone density is between normal & having osteoporosis. If anyone has any advice on this dilemma, I would appreciate hearing what you know. My iron levels are, also, low. My BMI is 30, now. Down from 44 or 45. My daughter has a real problem with the butterfly that is emerging within me. She does not want me to date. I have been dating a gentleman for about 4 months & she said a lot of vicious things to him & about him. Last week he told me that he really cares about me, but can't take her attitude...... I went through this surgery to gain my health back & have a full life. That includes being in a relationship to me. So, needless to say, I am sad about this most recent occurrence in my life. She is the most important thing to me, besides God. But she wants to be the ONLY important thing to me, as far as people go. Hopefully, she won't do this to me again. I hope my words have helped someone & thanks for letting me blow off some steam.....

I am almost 9 months out and have lost 86 pounds. I'm feeling good about myself.

Hi Shay I give you a big hand for loosing 150 pounds, WOW that is GREAT! not everyone will loose at the same rate and it does slow down, and you will have plateaus. All you can do is keep up the good work, and maybe as it gets warmer outside you will be able to get out and get more exercise then. Do you get enough calories and protien a day along with water? Keep up the good work and "enjoy the ride!" Rosemary open RNY4/24/03 >100

I've lost 108 as of the last few weeks... Stuck at 140 although I think its a good weight to be stuck at. I hope to be stuck here forever without gaining. I'm a little worried about loosing too much... Just dealing with it as I go though. Trying to stay healthy and take my vitamins. Deal with the head trips and people in my small town. That part really sucks. I would do it over in a heartbeat though and deal with everything I've been dealing with to have this gift. I love being small... Its weird to even say I am, I feel like I'm lying but I know that I'm not... Hope you all are enjoying it as much as me...

Congratulations !!! I was a size 24 and am finally down to a size 12. It seems like decades since I wear size 12. I've got more energy and am working out 2 times a week. I have also been passing the word along to women who are interested and I'd do this again in a heartbeat. Actually, wish I would have thought of it when I was younger but 45 is not a bad age to do this. I weighed 236 and now weigh 143.