In order to help me control my eating, also 3 years post op, I joined Weigh****chers. I was given a gift, that gift took away my hunger pain, took away my need to eat. It gave me control, now I need to make the right choice on what to eat, when to eat. I turned to Weigh****chers to give me a life style to take me to the next phase of my life. I was 110 lbs post op from open r n y surgery, I am now 140 lbs post op. It took me another 9 monhs to lose 30 lbs but I can't be more thrilled. I still have 15 lbs to go. I just wish at this stage I could get a tummy tuck to remove the rest!! Kate

Are you losing weight still or is it just skin shrinking and loss of such?

today date is 08/10/04 I am down to 160 lbs. still feeling good and I still glad I had the surgery.still losing after 3 yrs.

Hey guys, thanks for all of the replies. My general doctor is the best... he's the type of guy who has struggled with his weight for forever as well, and would always try out all of the diet pills with us - and tell me which worked, which didn't. For the past two years, he's been doing the Fat Flux plan, and had suggested it to me. I tried it for a while... but it's a DIET! Yuck! And, to be honest, the flaxseeds really tore my tummy up! I went to see him again Friday. Man is he skinny! He's been that way for a while now. I asked him about the cravings I'm having, I'm hungry all of the time, I want sugar all of the time... He told me that my body is really craving fats, not sugars, and explained, that's why I get so tired when I eat sugar. This is not what my body was craving, and I eat it, and my body did not want that. He said to do this... Just to take 2 Tbsp. of Flaxseed oil (or fish oil - but I'm alergic) every day. He said to have it on a salad or work it into a smoothie. He said there's another product that may help, he didn't notice a huge difference, but he said it did help a little. It's called Sugar Ease.? It's only available via some special phone number, it wasn't on GNC. Well, for now, I stopped Friday and picked up two bottles of Flaxseed oil from GNC (also at Whole Foods and Central Market). He said to make sure and refridgerate it! It's only been since Friday, and he said it takes a while to get into your system. It may be in my head, but I really did eat less this weekend! ? I'll let you know how it goes, but thought I'd share. I really trust my doctor, based on his help in the past! So, hope this helps others! Mary

I know this is a long time in replying, but hopefully you'll read this anyway. I just read your post and I am really excited for you! You mentioned that it will be terribly painful... I just wanted to tell you that I had a tummy tuck last year and it was QUITE extensive and it wasn't painful at all! I had a very easy recovery. As a matter of fact, my doctor even got upset with me because I was out shopping the day I was released from the hospital! Well heck... I had to get an idea of what size jeans to buy right? LOL. However, because I was naughty and didn't obey my doctor, I developed fluid in the incision area and had to have it drained for several weeks post-op. Again, it was no problem, but it wouldn't have happened if I would have obeyed my doc. So, just obey your doctors orders is my advice to you. But as far as the pain goes, it was the easiest surgery I've had so far! I've had several surgeries besides the open rny. I had a hernia repair. I had a breast reduction. I had a very small panniculectomy at first (with the hernia repair).... and then the tummy tuck last year. They removed a LOT of tissue. I had almost 100 staples from hip to hip. I am very pleased with the results. The only thing I had a hard time getting used to was the "tight" feeling I had in my stomach area, since it was all pulled so very tight. It loosens up a little after awhile, but not a whole lot. It also was a shock to look down and see my feet instead of my belly! I love my flat tummy and I have NEVER had a flat tummy in my entire life. I chose not to save the belly button (because of cost), and frankly, I simply didn't care if I had one or not... I still don't. So, good luck, congratulations... and keep in mind that it may not be painful at all! You might be very surprized! I was expecting a lot of pain too... but I literally had NONE. Believe me when I tell you... I'm a big baby when it comes to pain... so I would be the first to yell for pain meds. But, that was my easiest surgery, even though is was pretty extensive. So, congrats to you.. I am so happy for you! Lori C.