ROLL CALL @ YEAR 1 - Come out of lurkerdom for just one post....

You are looking soooo good Dee!!! Thanks for a reminder on April being Autism awareness month. Your right.. it's everyday for mom's like us. My tummy skin has shrunk a bit the last 2 months.. even though I have lost very very little weight.. (like 4 lbs max in two months) I think your will spring back too. We are still only a year out.. I met a woman recently that said it took her skin two full of being at the same weight for it to spring back and she looks normal now.. I've seen her. She is in her late 30's and also had WLS. Just something to give us all hope! -Shakeira

shakeira Thank you you give me hope that this will shrink but with all the weight and 2 c sections I am not soo sure? dee

I had my RNY surgery April 30th. ( last one in this group I think!) Highest weight 335 (month before surgery) Surgery weight 312 Current weight 210. Loss of 125 since surgery and 102 since surgery. I guess I'm most proud of myself for putting my health first this year and learning to love myself this last year. I'm also proud that I can jog without pain and that I have a waist line and one chin! My hardest struggle has been dealing with who I really am.. on the inside. I didn't realize how much I hide behind my weight. And of course turning to food to continue to try to hide... The rest of this year, I plan on loosing the last 40 lbs and keeping up with a healthy lifestyle. I'm getting a mountain bike this summer and I'm looking foward to riding with the family. -Shakeira

Hey guys!! 1. My surgiversary is April 16th! 2. I have lost 133 lbs. I started at 277 and I am about 144 now. I am amazed at how well this has worked for me. I was wearing 28's then, and now I can wear some 6's! 3. I am most proud of the fact that I am only 8-10 lbs. from goal at 1 yr out and that I have made some huge life long changes to better my health and the health of my family. We all eat so much better now!! 4. My hardest struggle has come in the last couple months...it has been easier to eat junk and I have to be alot more present and conscious as time goes on. 5. In the next year I plan to focus on exercise more and try to get some tone and muscle to my body. I also plan on working on loving me for me, and not being my worst critic anymore.

For pics and stuff check out my blog: www.workingongfreedom.blogspot.com

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF US APRIL BABIES!!!!!!! My surgiversary is April 30th, so I still have a bit to go. On the date of my surgery I weighed 345lbs. Right now I weigh in at 184, which is a total weight loss of 161 lbs so far. I am most proud of going for the surgery and not giving up. NO ONE, except for my boss, was supportive of my having the surgery, but I didn't let anyone swey me and went for it and I am go glad I did. I knew it had to be done. The hardest struggle for me has been fighting the hunger. I seem to be hungry all the time. This year I plan to accomplish starting a new position with my boss. She is becoming a judge and I will be going with her as her assistant. I also am going to try to have some plastic surgery if I can convince my insurance company to pay for it. HA HA

Hey Everyone, This is such a great idea. I have loved reading all of your responses and finding out how differently we have all dealt with the same issues. 1. Suriversary is April 16th 2. From my highest weight (347) I have lost a total of 181lbs. I still have a hard time believing that I have lost that much weight in less than a year. I never thought it was possible. 3. I most proud of the fact that I have stuck with the principles of the program. I get my water in, my protein, vitamins and supplements. I have not eaten any candy, cookies or chips. (a major downfall for me before surgery). But I know that this as helped me keep on track. If I start to eat those things again, I am afraid I will fall back into my same eating habits as before. I don't want to take the chance, so I just avoid them all together. 4.I would say my hardest struggle this past year is losing my dear friend a week ago and not falling into the same habits of using food as a way to deal with my emotions. But going to our support group and staying on OH has kept me on track. 5. My main goal for this year is to up my exercise. I am working on turning my garage in to a gym and getting my bike out of storage and using it this spring and summer and getting out and enjoying this wonderful weather we have been having. I also plan to have PS on my arms first and then hopefully a tummy tuck either later in the year or first part of next year. You all have been a wonderful support for me. I might not always post or respond to posts that are here, but I always read them and it has been great to have you all here and know that we are all going through the same thing. I wish you all wonderful successes as we start our second year on this lifelong journey.

Oh I am a total lurker, but I read this board all the time and I am so thankful for all the advice and support that the A team has given in the past year... when is your surgiversary: April 17th where you are at with loss/weight: Highest: 250 Day of Surgery:242 Today: 162 Total lbs. lost since surgery: 80 lbs!! what you are most proud of: rollerskating with my daughter and not being out of breath...climbing 3 flights of steps without sweating...wearing a tank top without a jacket...weighing less than my boyfriend...shopping anywhere I want! what has been the hardest struggle: The head trip. I just can't wrap my head around the fact that I am not obese. After being obese my ENTIRE life I just don't get it...When I look in the mirror I still see the fat girl. I still reach for size 18's. I still buy my bras at lane bryant just so that I can shop there (is that sICK or what?). I am in a size 12 but really need to buy some 10's everyone is telling me that I look like a hobo but when the hell did god give me permission to put on a pair of size 10's? I just don't get it still. Its like being thin is something that I am not allowed to be. Yeah, convincing myself that I am thin and healthy and I deserve this...ahhh that's the hardest part. what you plan to accomplish this year: I want to get to the 100lb mark...thats another 20 lbs and that would make me like 140 and I don't think that I ever weighed 140, not even at birth. Anyways losing another 20 would be nice. I'd also like to make working out a more permanent part of my routine.

My bandiversary is 4/17/08 I started at 291, I now weight 198#. I really want to get to the 100# mark by the actual anniversary, we'll see. I wore 24's, now I wear size 12-14. I am 18# from goal. I am most proud of sticking w the "band rules", they have become a natural way for me to live and I don't think if them as restrictive (bad pun) or punitive..they are simply how I eat and live now. I have been most challenged by snacking, but my band restricts even how much of that I can do.. The band has worked fabulously for me and I am glad for my choice. I still work on saying "no" to snacks. I have so much more energy it is fabulous. I kickbox and do aerobics classes. My goal for next year is to reach 180# and hike part of the Superior Trail. Best to all you, thanks for your continued inspiration!

Ok - I'll confess that I too am a total lurker but really come here to the April boards for advice and to make sure I'm on track. BTW - Jessica/A Team you guys are an inspiration to me, I just wish that I'd participated early on. I really appreciate all the advice, tears, frustrations and truths of the discussions. 1) Surgiversary: 4/24/07 2) DOS: 282, today 166 = 116 loss. I was in 24/22's and now a solid size 8. I would like to get to the goal of 145. 3) Most proud of: Not only changing the outside but have changed on the inside through therapy, my local physician's support group, and supportive friends and family. I have more peace in my life and am finally able to say "I Love Me!". For me, being self critical was a key part of my obesity. 4) Hardest Struggle: Head Hunger and underestimating my calories. In January I finally really started tracking my food on Spark People and love it. I put everything down regardless of what it is. It really keeps me accountable and helps me manage and plan my day. I have also found that I need to eat every 3 hours to ensure I don't do "unplanned snacking"/grazing and that if I plan for every 3 hours they are healthful choices. 5) Accomplish this year: Hit goal of 145, hike a local mountain that's round trip 16 miles, continue to provide support to my local support group to newbies, maintain my friendships with local support group friends that hold me accountable, and continue to "love me" no matter what. Peace to everyone! Suzy