May- Babies October Check In .. How are you doing !

Fall is here and we have survived the last 5 months or so . Are you all ready for the Holidays ? How are you doing with your daily regimes ? Are you happy ? Gosh knows that I am .. I do have some bad days .. but life is awesome for me now . I am still holding at 203 . I am trying to get in more food . I am really struggling to get in my water .. as my job is so hectic .. I am setting a goal this week to do better . My hair is starting to come out by the pound LOL.. but I know it will stop . My protein intake is @ 85 and my calories around 600 . Much better than before . I have seen so many people that knew me when I was .. well Obese and some have even been moved to tears .. My children are very please with the way I am looking and feeling ... and I am now borrowing my daughters clothes .. never in a million years would I have ever thought I would be doing that .. Well take care all .. Love ya .. and let me hear how you are doing ! Always , Natalie

Life is great! I am down 75 pounds and closing in on being under 200 pounds for the first time in as long as I can remember. I am at 201 now and am determined to get to 199 by Thursday! My husband and I are going for a short overnight get-a-way on Thursday and I want to be under 200 by then. Crazy? NAW! I am wearing 18-20 (down from 26-28) and XL (down from 3X). I donated 5 trash bags of clothes last week. Now my closet is bare. I have been trying to bargain shop for new clothes but my husband says I'm going to send us to the poor house! But, this is a NICE problem to have. I coach high school softball and our season just ended. I had gotten off of my exercise routine during softball due to my hectic schedule. I am looking forward to getting back on track! With the exception of learning that my step-mother, who I am very close to, has breast cancer, life is great! As many of you know, I lost my mother in September, 2003. I have always been close with my step-mother but she has really been there for me since Mom passed. This news has been devastating to me and my family. However, she is in stage 1 and the docs are optimistic that she will be fine. They will remove the tumor Friday and she will begin radation/kemo soon. Prayers are welcomed and appreciated. Sorry for the long post. Keep up the hard work, May girls! ~ * Alice Ann * ~ Open RNY 5/25/04 -75 pounds

Hi Natalie, You are certainly to be congratulated!!! I had RNY-LAP 05/14/04. So, I am at my 5 month anniversary. I started at 278 am at 202. I am wearing 18-20 from 24-26. I feel fine most of the time but have been having a bit of trouble lately. For instance, last week all food made me queasy! This is weird for me as I am not a picky eater. I also did not drink enough water. As a result I had to take a couple of days to rest and eat well to get my strength back in check. I don't think I really zeroed in on how critical the water and protein can be! My blood work came back with a zinc deficiency. All else is fine. Hair is falling out just like all of you guys!!! I am great now. I work out with a trainer 3 times a week. I am very glad to have had the opportunity of having this surgery. I still have good days and bad days - pity parties etc. - not over the loss of food but over the fact that chicken works one day and the next day it doesn't. I guess it's a frustration more than pity!!! Okay, I do ramble on... It's good to hear that all the May folks are doing well. Take care my friends. Christine Brow

Hi Natalie!! I have lost 58 lbs. I haven't had any trouble at all with this surgery. I sometimes wonder if that is why I seem to be losing more slowly than some of the others on this board. I feel good though except for my knees. The pain has not eased up any even though iI have lost some weight. I have been exercising at the YMCA and a lot of people think I look like I have lost more than I have. I have gone from a 4X down to a 2X pants and probably should buy some 1X tops. Oh well!!!! I am very happy that I had this surgery even though my insurance company waited until after my surgery to decide that they were not going to pay for it after all!!!! That news was very disheartening as all of my bills came to about $27,000!!! I am paying what I can each month on them. Sorry for all the complaining. Roberta

Wow...it really doesn't seem like it's been 5 months! Time flies when you're losing weight! I'm down 80 pounds. I now weigh 165 and am wearing a size 12. My biggest news as of late is that I went out on my first post-divorce date this weekend! Nice guy--very smart and fun. It was good to get my feet wet in the dating pool again, but boy was I scared out of my mind! I wasn't THAT nervous on my surgery day! It feels good to have confidence that I know I would've lacked had I still weighed 245 pounds. So, men of the world, look out! I'm getting skinny, feeling cute, and I'm ready for you to take me out!

I'm doing pretty well. I've lost 79 pounds and people that don't see me often stop to stare at me now. I overheard a nurse that I work with telling someone that I'm beautiful. I nearly cried. I've never been called beautiful before. I've gone from a 5X (30-32) pant to a 2X or 22 pant. Tops have gone from a 4X(24-26) to XL (14-16). I'm happy and feel good much of the time. Food still makes me a bit nauseous some days and I don't enjoy that. However, I'd have this surgery again in the blink of an eye! My energy level is high and I can do things that I never thought I'd ever be able to do again.... like climb stairs, tie my shoes, paint my toenails, sit in chairs with arms, etc. My confidence level is extremely high. I'm working to get my water and protein in. Some days I do better than others. Work is pretty hectic and so is the rest of my life.. I forget to eat and drink sometimes. But, I'm working on it. Cheryl

Goodmorning all...I don't check in often but love reading everyones info... I started at 297 and today I am at 221.. from 26-28 to 18 can't believe it sometimes...I too have been having nausau (can't spell) alot these days and yes the hair is falling out...but overall I feel so much better...and would do it again in a heart beat...thanks for keeping me inspired and talk to you all soon..i am hoping this wgt. loss will speed up soon but hey wouldn't hurt if I would get my but excersizing...i know iknow...thanks all!!!

Hey all, Well, tomorrow will be 5 months exactly and I couldn't be happier. I couldn't have imagined that in this short of time I could be just 3 lbs away from the century club. I'm wearing the smallest size jeans I can remember wearing in high school again. Fighting the desire to graze and an even harder battle to get my water in, but I've been strong in my daily excersizing, vitamins, and good protein choices, so I'm happy with that. I'm amazed at how everything has improved; my heath, my outlook and attitude, even my marriage (with was already great!). I can't even imagine what the next five months will hold. Blessings, -Perry 376/335/238/185 97 Pounds Gone! Perry P. Perkins Christian Novelist Just Past Oysterville: Shoalwater Book One Read chapter one - (www) perryperkinsbooks.com

I always love it when it is time for us all to check in. I really enjoy reading everyones progress. As for me...well I think I am doing pretty well so far. I have now lost 84 lbs. I started out at 265 size 24 bottom 22/24 top and I am now 181 size 12/14 bottom (depends on the brand) and a Large top. I still find myself looking in the plus size dept. on accident. I feel like I have been given a second chance in life. My oldest daughter is 10yrs old and when she sees before pics of me she is SO shocked. NO one seems to ever remember me that huge. I guess love truely is blind..lol I am doing ok with protein most days...water intake is still a problem for me. I try to get in as much as I can remember...I just seem to forget a lot. I do have a hernia now....I hope they approve me for a TT down the road so they can fix both at the same time. I really have had no issues or problems since surgery. I am thankful that I DO dump on sugar.....if I didn't I would be in trouble. Good luck to you all!! Julie 265/181/130 doc's goal is 150

Hey everyone. Sounds like everyone is doing very well. I'm doing pretty well myself. Am down to about 267, from 346, so almost 80 pounds. I've been doing better about not weighing myself everyday. It's a nice surprise to get on the scales and see a 2 or 3 pound drop! My biggest issue right now is not really big....just seems odd that some days I eat just fine and other days I can't seem to eat anything at all. It just comes and goes. I still feel just fine and energy levels are up...plus I'm still losing steadily, so I'm not too worried about it. The only other issue is my hair. I think MAYBE the hair loss is slowing down some...but that could be wishful thinking. Marcia