Updates Requested on Everyone!!!

I'm just wondering how all the April babies are doing????? How is your progress? What are your struggles? What are your greatest joys? Are you at goal?? Can you believe it's been 15 months?? I am 30 pounds from goal (surgeon's goal). I've lost at total of 155. My struggles are still the same but seem to be getting better and becoming more of a certain lifestyle change for me now. ie: using food for emotional needs, continuing my pouch rules DAILY (water, portions, protein, vitamins, exercise, etc), learning to love the new "saggy" body although I have had a tremendous weight loss. My greatest joy is the increase in self esteem and ability to do more activities such as taking tennis lessons (huh? me?) Although I still struggle with body image issues I am being more insightful and learning more about the real me - who I really am without the layers of fat I was hiding under. I'm a definite work in progress How are you doing?

I have been at the same weight, give or take a few pounds, since April. But like you I am starting to learn about the real me. I would like to lose at least 30 more pounds. I have been looking into Plastic surgery, but I dont believe that I will be able to afford it when the time comes, so I am trying to get use to the excess baggage. I am doing more, than I ever thought I could do over a year ago. I seem to stay cold, unless it is really HOT outside. My husband is paying more attention to me now than he ever did. Which is a miracle in itself. If I had to do it all again I would in a heartbeat. I am really watching the carbs now, because it seems I was getting to much. I am not doing much exercise, but I try to do what I can. Hope everyone else is doing okay. Kathleen

Sounds like you are doing fantastic Kathleen!!! I know what you mean about the PS. I want to wait until I get to my surgeons' goal which would be to lose another 30 pounds. Keep up the great work!!

I'm with you, I'm definitely thankful for my new body, energy level, ability to walk without my thighs rubbing together, and all of the other wonderful benefits I've gained, but I am really having a tough time accepting this loose skin, and the comments about me getting "too thin", and my" bones popping out"! Hooda' thunk it? I have to admit, I love the attention, but it's almost a slap in the face when I know what I have gone through with the weight all of my life...and I would even like to lose 15-20 more lbs. My biggest challenge is "SNACKING". I graze all day at work! I take my vits, drink my water, get enough protein (well, now that it's summer, I probably am a little low on my protein intake, because all I want to do is eat melons and nectarines), and I exercise like crazy, but I definitely feel like I shouldn't be able to eat as much as I do. I know that's the reason I'm not able to lose these last few lbs. I have exceeded my doctor's goal, but you know us women are never thin enough. I will end with this, if I never lose another pound, or have to live the rest of my life with this saggy skin, I would graciously do it!!! Lady D

Yay!!! Lady D, I feel the same as you do. Snacking is a constant challenge. I've added my protein drinks back between meals if I need them and it helped with my hunger (per RD instructions and surgeon). I didn't think it would be as good as real food but it does help my hunger. I found myself eating crunchy carbs (crackers, baked chips, etc) with no nutritional or protein value and now have those only once in a while as a treat. This is hard work huh? You have done amazingly well and should be proud.

Hi Lady D and all you other wonderful April babies! I hit my goal weight at 11 months out, then went a few pounds under that, I gain about 4 pounds every month when it's supposed to be "that time of the month" but then loose it the next week. I have lost a total of 186 pounds and I have been the same weight give or take a few pounds for 4 months now. I went from 336 pounds to 152 pounds, from a size 5X to a size 8!! God is soooooo good! Lady D, you mentioned melons ... I go through 4 water melons a week LOL! LOVE THEM! I still struggle with getting in Chicken, pork, and some red meats and rice, but I can eat seafood non stop! I'm also still in the process of retraining my BRAIN! It battles with my pouch daily! I also still drink my GNC 50 Gram Slam drink mixed with my coffee every morning. I'm looking into plastics, need to get rid of tummy flab, leg flab, bat wings and oh my poor, poor breast, can we say deflated balloons?! My daughter thought she was gooching my belly ... uh .... it was a boob! LOL! I was denied plastic this first time, have to be the same weight for 6 months, so I'll go from there. Life is wonderful! And I thank God everyday for this surgery and the many, many new wls friends. Love you all, Debra

Hi all, it is hard to believe that it's been 15 months! I would like to lose 10 more lbs. But I need to remember where I came from and that even if I don't get to my goal I have done great I am the weight I was starting my senior year of high school. I never thought I could get even close to that. It was the year I went on my first real diet. Everyone, including myself thought I was overweight, so I went to weigh****chers for the first time that year and by graduation I was down to 127lbs. That only lasted about a week, off to school and after one year my weight was back up with a added few lbs. So that started a lifetime of diets with the same results and losts of added poundage. This a new beginning, a chance to finally get control and manage my weight. I am healthier and happier with myself than I have been in many years. I would like to have some PS to complete my journey, but even if I don't, feeling as good as I do now has been so worth it. Sher

Sher, you look fantastic. What an amazing transformation and an inspiration. Keep up the great work!

Wow, I hardly recognized you Carolina Girl!!! Makes me want to put up a new picture of me. I don't think I have changed that much but maybe so. Congrats on your graduation and becoming a BSN. You are right---you deserve the BMW and it is cute. I have lost a total of 153.2 pounds and am hoping to lose another 17+ pounds at least. I figure the last 10 (total of 27 more) could be done with a TT and breast reduction. That may have to wait a little longer than I planned as I have changed jobs and need to accumulate some vacation time for the surgery. The good thing is that I had the self esteem and courage to change jobs where i would never have done it before surgery. I turned in my 2 weeks notice and then planned to take a month off before looking for a new job. Didn't work quite like that as I was recruited very soon after turning my notice in. Good to know I am still in demand as a soon to be 59 year old!! I did take one week off and then only worked 2 days per wee****il last week, so did have some time to my self too. Wonderful to enjoy summer when I can move, walk, work in the garden, travel and just plain have fun---all of which was so difficult to do when I was morbidly obese. Like most everyone has said---if I never lose another pound it has been well worth it and I know I will live much longer because of this surgery and weight loss. Off of my diabetic meds, blood pressure meds, C-Pap, cholesteral lowering meds and mostly take a lot of vitamins. I thank everyone on this site as I have learned so much from each of you as the time has gone by. While I miss the day to day communication, it is great that most all of us are now out enjoying out lives and spending less time on the computer! We should try to update with a short note monthly to keep in touch. I will try to remember to do that and hope every one will also. It is fun to see what turns our lives take now. Julia

Wow, are you a walking success story or what? PLEASE put up a new pic!!! I thought the same thing - that I didn't look that different until people said they hardly recognized me. I think it would be awesome to update monthly and see where we all are. I will try to do the same. So proud of you as I'm sure you are yourself