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

I'm Inky and I'm a regular pokey lurker Sometimes I don't have a chance to post or read until the weekend (work is craaaazy!) but I'm here for the long haul. Of all the forums on OH, the A-Team 2007 forum has given me the most, so I hope we stick around - no matter how few. I am 48 years young, 5'4" tall and born at nearly 10 pounds, have battled obesity all my life. I weighed 322 pounds at my consult, 309 on surgery day (two month later) and this morning I am holding down the fort at 188 pounds. A total loss of 134. I am still losing, averaging around 3.5 pounds a month the last 3 months. I currently wear a 12/14. I am in the best health of my life, off all my blood pressure meds, down to a very healthy cholesterol level and energetic and happy. Aside from a pesky case of frozen shoulder with a little rotator cuff tear (I wanted to be like Lisa!), life is pretty damn good. My husband starts his GS job as a System Administrator at an Air Force Base this next week and we love where we live. Our next goal is to take swing dancing lessons!! That should be some good exercise and there are many places locally with a good swing/lindy dance scene, so we are excited about that. Hugs to all of our A-Teamers, Inky

Am I too late for Roll call? I hope not... Well, I am thankful for this board and do lurk more then I post... My name is Shakeira. I am a stay at home mom to 3 kids. Ages 9,7, and 5. We home school and are a part of an home schooling co-op. It keeps my time pretty busy. I live in a very rural town (1150 people). My husband works for Immigration and we have been married 10 years. I've had a weight problem since puberty. At 15 years old I was 50 lbs over weight and it just continued from there. My highest weight was 335 lbs. I look back now and recount that as one of my lowest moments in my life. Surgery weight was 312 and I am now 210 lbs. That is a total loss 102 lbs from surgery and 125 from highest weight. (every pound counts!) I don't often feel like a success and wonder lately if I failed my RNY since I haven't lost any weight to speak of in nearly 5 months. I'm not skinny, but I'm not obese either. Well, actually according to the BMI chart I am obese.. I can't tell you here where I would like to put those bmi charts....... up some antiquated doc's _____! Anyways.. I feel healthy and strong. People tell me I look "so good". I wish I saw it. Like a lot of people on here, I've grown pretty unsatisfied with myself. It's awful to feel as bad about yourself as you did 125 lbs heavier. So..... to combat this I'm trying to remember why I really had this surgery. It wasn't to get skinny and have an amazing figure, but to be healthy! And even if those stupid BMI charts say I can't possibly be healthy.. I am! I can run, I can jump on the trampoline with my kids, I can ride my bike for miles without stopping. And more then anything, I feel full! I never ever ever felt full before RNY. I would eat and be hungry again 30 minutes later. I have my health and my youth back. Concentrating on those things encourages me and keeps me going on and living a healthy lifestyle. So I guess you could say I'm a slow/wayward looser... but I'm going to keep going! And even if I never reach "skinny" I will at least know I am healthy. that's my story and I'm sticking to it! -Shakeira

HI! I am here too! Back from not checking this site for about 1-2 months due to keeping really busy. Partly because I have more energy after losing 126# (yes I am a few pounds below goal.) Partly because money is tight and I am watching my kids on my days off instead of having them goto daycare so I could have time to take care of myself. Either way... I am trying to be good, eat right, and exercise 3x/week. I love the new me and hope I can stay this way for a very very long time! Take care all, Dianne

Hi everyone! I loved reading your updates. It really makes me see that I'm not alone-there's a wide spectrum of losing patterns with us. Like Shakeira, I haven't lost any weight in several months. My lowest was 183 for about 2 days, then I bounced up to 189 and have been stuck there for a long time. My highest was 293, and I'm only 5' 2". All, and I mean ALL, of my comorbidities are gone. I am so much more active now-I love working on my house and in my yard and not feeling tired. I hardly watch any TV any more, and am actually considering cutting out cable altogether. That is huge! I wear a size 8-12 pant, depending on the brand, and a 14-16 top. In the past year I got a much better job, and married my boyfriend of 7 years. It's been a whirlwind! I now wear contacts instead of thick glasses, and I put on makeup every day and do my hair. I feel much cuter and feminine now. A lot of bad habits had starting creeping back into my life, such as white bread, alcohol, pastries, and ice cream. I have banished them again because I am determined to lose this last 50 lbs. The big news now is that my husband and I are working furiously on getting our finances in order. We are tired of being in debt and living beyond our means, so we have made some radical lifestyle changes. I feel that debt is like obesity, or even clutter in your home-it's a result of short-term thinking, or an "instant gratification" mindset. We are working on getting lean in every way now!

Hey Lisa, I am a regular as far as weighing in....lately tha is all I have had time to do. I don't post much on this board but I always read and keep up with everyone! Thanks to each one of you that has helped to keep me motivated and on the right track over the last 15 months. I started at 289 and now I am at 178-180. I am not finished loosing just slowed down momentarily. I was in a 22 b/fore WLS and now I cna wear mostly 12 some 10's BUT I wish to be in single digits!!!!! I have went from a 40DD to a 36D, and shirts are from 2xl to a large. I would love to be in a med.....I just want to be medium for a change!!! My shoes size has even slimmed down from an 8 to a 6/12, go figure! I am planning on walking in the Walk for Obesity this year and I am an active member for Race for the Cure. I am so thankful for the A-team, you guys keep me accountable each week! If your lurkin'......Jump on in and join us! Huggs to each of you! Rhonda