Roll call We have 13 on A team board I know we have more

I was counting how many active members that replied to the come back to us so that goes to show our A team is alive and kicking. I am sure we still have some lurkers I think it would be great to hear a update from everyone and how the weight loss surgery has changed their life. We really have some high achievers and over achievers (below goal)and yet some pokey ones like myself but no matter what we all our walking this journey together, I actually felt thin for the first time yesterday I was walking out the store and on the store window I caught a glimpse of me and there I was THIS thinner woman. I was looking around to see if my eyes or window were playing tricks but it was me I saw the refection of the new me. I almost cried..I don't know her yet guess I better introduce my self to her I think she is shy, LOL I still battle the shoulder issue and my pitiarty tumor but I am pressing onward to to fight the battle of obesity. I been slacking in the gym and decided AFTER I get back from my vegas trip I am back at the the gym and work out with the trainer.. I have a chicago and marathon to plan for Lisa

Hi I am Dee and a pokey loser. I started at 364 and I am now 229. I have been working on my total trainer but it make my back hurt (just figured that out) so I am buying some roller skates and going to go to town. I hope one day to work for my surgeon that is my dream job. I also would like to join the roller derby too. My goal is to be 195 so 34 pounds to go and I have a tummy tuck coming up that should take 20-25 pounds of that away. I just did my yearly blood work last week and everything looks good but my thyroid is out of wack so I am back on levinthroid 100 mcg. Hey maybe that will help my weight loss. I bought a bathing suit it was an 18 top and 20 bottom tankinni thing. So nothing is showing but I needed a halter type top because my boobs are inflated OK next person

Dee U have lost the amazing amount of weight . My back is what got me to finally motivated to lose the weight I have arthritis in my lower back so After working as a emt for years and lifting heavy people like me my age and how bad they looked and I thought if I continue on that course I will lose a leg or something with my diabetes out of control . My changing point was when I picked up this man out of his home for treatment for obesity. He was 650 lbs and his poor petite wife could no longer take care of him her back was warn out from hoisting him etc. The guy was a very kind gentleman and he knew he had lost control of his life and he was embaressed as he was sitting in feces and maggots were crawing around the rotting folds of his skin.. It took 3 of our ambulances out of service to load him up and cart Him to the Er The neighborhood came out to see the poor fat man being loaded up We had to form tarps outside to protect his privacy and the sheets could not cover him I was the attending EMT on that call and I was 283 lbs and as I was riding in back with him in ambulance He said I wish someone would say what I am about to say to you Do something about your weight before it becomes out of control, I was your size about 10 years ago and I hurt my back and look at me now. So it was one of my turning point to lose weight Lisa

I lurk most of the time or as often as I can. I was a light weight 220lbs., I got down to 148lbs. I just found out I am 2 months pregnant, weighing in at 160lbs. Lynette

AHA!!! Baby Soft! You can stop lurking now; you're one of us! Congratulations on the new baby. You'll have to keep all the baby's A-Team "aunts" posted on your progress now, and we'll expect pictures when the little one gets here, of course. I'm Marcia, I've lost 90 pounds, which looks like all I'm going to lose, but I'm in a size 12 and am happy with the weight loss. I am no longer on diabetes or cholesterol medicines, but am still on blood pressure medicine, which the doctor thinks is because of my family history. (Darn it, Mom!! Didn't you even LOOK at Daddy's mother before you considered marrying him???) (Not that I didn't adore my grandmother, of course...) Anyway, it's changed my life in that I am more active now - training for the Chicago marathon, as most of you all know by now. I'm able to do more stuff for longer periods of time and can sit anywhere in anything - airplane seats, flimsy lawn chairs, whatever - without having to worry about whether I'll break it. Marcia

I forgot to say that I now weigh 150 pounds, from a high of 240. This is what I weighed in high school. For the first time in 40 years, I weigh LESS than what my driver's license says. (I have GOT to get a new one!) Marcia

Ok, I'm a lurker too. I seem to read about what's going on and never post. I had my surgery April 30, 2007. My surgery date weight was 345 lbs. As of today, I weight 168 lbs. My doctor says that at 6'1" tall, I can safely get to 165 lbs., but I would like to get down to 150. We'll see what happens. Although I have lost the weight, I can't say that the loss has really changed my life for the better. To tell you the truth, I had more engery when I was heavier. Now I am tired all the time, to the point where I wake up tired and can't wait to get back in bed at the end of the day. If any one has any ideas why I am so tired all the time and what I can do to change it, please let me know. My doctor has no idea why I am so tired. I take all my vitamins and get plenty of protin. In addition to being tired all the time, my mind still can't get around the fact that I am smaller. I went from a size 30/32 to a size 10/12 and I still feel like I am 30/32 and 345 lbs. Anyone else feel like this?

Hey Lisa, I'll admit that I lurk... Half the time when I want to respond I am sidetracked with stuff going on at work or home and end up forgetting... This surgery has been life-saving and life-affirming. I am now just under 200 pounds finally - my highest was 350+. I remember at some points I was afraid to weigh myself. For all I know I could have been somewhere up in the 360's (or beyond). Susan

I am a regular. Lisa would say I am an overachiever since I started at 282lbs made my goal of 165lbs for 5'10" and now weigh 159lbs which is below goal. I love that I can wear a size 6-in fact I love that more than any food I can think of right now(just to show how much my tool has changed my thinking.) This forum helps keep me accountible. I know I have access to those who are in the same stage as me when I have questions. I attend post op classes regularly but since they are once a month there is a lot that can happen in between. I know I have changed. This has been a year of turmoil. Some of my relationships have survived and some have not. But, I am so much better off. As for being tired-I have had problems with that. I had to switch my supplements to include bigger doses of B-complex with B-12. The B-12 alone was not enough. The other thing is that the changes in our hormones can affect our sleep patterns. YOu might have trouble sleeping or it might be that you do not get into a deep enough sleep to get refreshed. I bit the bullet and started takiing Lunesta so I could sleep. It helps a lot. Hang in tough A team....

Ok now I am not a lurker but some people might want me to be....lol.and for those that don't know me.. I am down 120 and now I help people loss weight. I love my job and I could not have asked for better co-workers...except one. I am still about 30-40;lbs from my goal but this divorce is fixing that I think....lol....6lbs in 5days... Well Lisa that inner me is a spit fire...lol...and yes I still have a hard time with walking by mirrors and knowing that is me.. I still have alot of extra skin but you know what one thing is I am noticing it less and less. I think I am accepting the new me and darn it I love her.... I hope to talk to you soon. between now getting an attorney and work and kids and all the other stuff I will call you when I can talk to you all very soon.