Do not let this board die off !!

Hey everyone .. it has been a while - a while since anyone gave updates . I do not want this board to die off ... Well.. I am down 175 pounds from surgery date of May 27th - of last year . I am struggling to keep the weight loss from continuing . I went for my plastics consult last week ,..Doc tells me that I need extensive reconstruction on my upper abs - as they have been destroyed from previous surgeries . He will be submitting the paperwork this week .. fingers crossed for that approval along with my tummy tuck . I am able now to get into some size 5's and 4's - 6's are getting to be too big .. It is all a dream to me sometimes .. I never would have believed it all .. Well I updated my picture trail .. if anyone wants to see my summer so far .. I did post one that has my bikini shot in it .. I hate my legs .. they are so saggy .. but o well ... so is life sometimes .... http://www.picturetrail.com/lifestarts Go to the album called Pixies Summer for latest Updates . Love you all and hope to hear from you all .. I miss you .. Natalie

Hiya Pixie! I think we're starving the board to death. You're new pictures are divine, as always. What kind of poochie is Duffy? I just got a Bichon Frise for my birthday last month. She's 3 months old now and her name is Cali (short for California). She is so much fun, so sweet, so worth getting up at 5:30 to take outside. That last bit has led me to a big coffee habit, which somewhere in my brain I know is not good for me. I found the da Vinci sugar free syrups at Sam's and Walmart and I'm loving them. My latest exercise project is to work on my abs and my arms. I do about 300 reps of various things for my tummy every day, and I've started free weights for my arms. I saw this young woman at the university gym doing her arms one day, and they were just so gorgeous-they were very muscular but not a bit masculine. I figure that since I'm not too likely to get this dangly skin removed from my arms, maybe I can fill it back up with some muscle. Either way, my biceps are a'bulging and I think they're sexy so it really doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. I've been slacking off of my cardio work lately, though. I mostly just get little walks in with Cali, and we chase each other around the yard. She is the tear-assing-ist dog I ever did meet. She looks just like the Mighty Dog commercials. I'm not down to my perfect number and I may never get there. I'm at a really great number on the scale (145-150) but I'd love to see 135. I haven't been working very hard at it, but I know that when it's time, I'll be able to lose some more weight. I've been stable at this weight for almost 6 months. I feel healthy, happy, and normal. I'm in size 10 and 12 and a Medium in most things. I just got a job, and I start next Tuesday (orientation). I'll be a Needs Assessment Counselor for a local psychiatric hospital. I've done this work before, but I know I'll be so much better at it now. When I went for the interview I was wearing one of the suits I inherited from my mom (who had a phenomenal wardrobe) and I looked so incredibly professional, I just knew I'd get the job. I just never was willing to spend $250 to get something at Lane Bryant that would make me look professional when I was m.o. Now I can look on the outside like I feel on the inside. I turned 35 last month. I can't believe it. Every woman on my mother's side of the family has had a hysterectomy between age 35 and 40 due to tumors in the uterus and/or on the ovaries. Most have been benign tumors, but I'm still scared. I've known about it all these years but it's still alarming to get into the age range where things can happen. I think about how this is the age when women start finding breast lumps and men start having first heart attacks. We're not kids any more. We have to lead responsible adult lives. I still feel like I'm play-acting at being a grown-up. Like a little girl dressed up in her mommy's clothes (whi*****identally, I often am, lol). My mom's death has really stayed with me, and I miss her horribly. I am a much happier person now that I'm no longer obese, and I doubt I could have made it through her death if I hadn't become the person I am now. I have a lot of morbid thoughts, though. She was only 63. Her mother and sister both died younger than that. Her grandmother was even younger. My mom lived an incredibly healthy lifestyle-ate right and exercised and was active. It has struck me that maybe it might be more realistic to think that I might only live to be in my 60s too. Morbid, I know. And I plan on living a healthy life because it makes me feel good in the here and now. But it makes me feel sad to think that maybe I'm more than halfway done with my life. I know no one can see the future and I could live to be 105 and there's no point fretting about any of this stuff now. But I still try to look at life with a sense of realism, and to me, this is a realistic possibility. Oh my. I wandered off the path and into the shadows. I certainly haven't become smarter or more focused as a result of surgery. I feel like a total airhead half the time. Anyone else feel forgetful or ADHD more so post-op? Hope everyone is doing great! It's so wonderful to hear from you, Natalie! I hope you get approved for your TT! Sorry the surgery is going to be so involved, though. Huggers, Susan

Hey Susan .. OMG you have been busy .. Congrats on the job .. I am still looking to change mine . My new doggie is a West Highland Terrier . I rescued her last month .. Her name is MISS MC.DUFFY .. Duffy for short . I am in love with her .. she is such a great friend to me . And to the arm exersises .. girl they work !!! I am doing mine and have been and the skin is leaving .. and muscle is forming .. I wish more would post .. I miss talking to everyone .. How is your daughter > I think of her often .. especially when I see my Amy .. Life is good huh.... better for me than I ever expected . Email me at LIFESTARTSWLS@AOL .. ANY TIME ! Love ya beautiful ! Nat

Natalie, You look GREAT! I have been super busy!! I was supposed to have my reconstructive surgery on 9/22, but due to work problems, had to change it to 11/15. I was so upset, but I just have to get over it. Life is busy...daughter started school, work is busy, and trying to get in 3 days of exercise is getting hard somedays. I am down to 131 pounds, and my goal was 130, so hopefully I can lose my last pound by november. I am hoping that after my tummy tuck, brachioplasty, LBL, hernia repair,breast reduction and medial thigh lift, that I can get down to 120 pounds. I was told that I have approx. 10-12 pounds of exessive skin. I am very nervous to be having all these procedures done at one time, but am excited that this will hopefully be my last surgery for a long time. I struggle with food sometimes. Sometimes I get in 800 calories and then others 1500 calories, which sseems to be too many calories. I have a hard time with deserts, I always have, but have been working on that. I bought sugar free ice cream bars, and they are only 100 calories, and I try to eat one of those in the evenings instead of the other junk. I still struggle getting in all my fluids alot, but have been doing well in getting at least 64 oz lately. This board has been slow lately, but I think alot of us have been busy. I can't get online during the days at work, so when I have time at home I try to come online. Tricia

Hey fellow May Babies, I know what you mean. I work for the Dept. of Energy in Contracting and it's the end of our fiscal year. Things have been so nuts I don't even get time to check the board during lunch, and when I get home (after going to the gym) and cooking dinner, I'm ready to drop. It's gonna stay this way until October 1--I hope I make it through. The one good thing is it doesn't leave much time for grazing and snacking, so I should be able to take off this last 10lbs before my TT in November. Hope everyone has a great weekend. thx g

I have been busy with life and haven't been checking the board like I used to. I am healthy as a horse and weighing in at 151. I have been at this weight for sometime. I had hoped to be in the 140's, but am thrilled with where I am. I went for a plastics consult in July and the surgeon was amazed with my tummy. I don't need a tummy tuck, but my boobs are in serious need of help. I need a lift and wouldn't mind silicone implants. I just need to find 8K extra to cover that. I also discussed my thighs, but don't know if I'll go through with that or not. The doc and I both think the scars might be worse than the skin hanging now. We are going on a cruise in October and I might try to get these last 5- 10 lbs off before then. I bought some dresses thinking my boobs would be in the upright(haha) position by then. I guess those dresses will have to wait. I hope everyone else is doing as wonderfully as I am. I am thrilled with my decision to have lapRNY and couldn't be healthier or happier. I have tons of pics on my picturetrail if anyone wants to see the changes. Take care, Christie

Pix, you look fab and pictures are great, Keep us informed as to the PS info you seem to be a thorough person, Marcia

You look great Nat!!! I know I dont post often, and probably wont for a while. At times I feel like I am failing this surgery. I have gained 11 lbs so far, which my OB says is great, yeah right! I am very tired all the time, I dont get exercise in, just keeping up with the house is enough to kill me. Anthony is back in school and getting 100% on his accelerated readin. I am so proud of him. He is getting anxious for the baby, asking everyday if it is coming. I cant walk too much, I get dizzy and short of breath and feel like I am going to faint, and the pool is closed, so needless to say my two exercises are no longer around. I am trying not to be so negative, and hope I will be able to lose this weight and the rest to get to my goal. I am just so far away from my goal of 130-135lbs now it is discouraging. I am now at 193lbs, and that 200lb mark on the scale is getting closer it is scary. I tried so hard to get under it, and now it is creeping up to me. My OB says we will do the c-section the last week of October, if Mattea will hold out that long, she seems to want to come out and see everyone, lol. I am having a hard time sticking to good foods also. I can eat anything, and seem to snack quite a bit. I am trying so hard to steer clear from that, knowing how hard it will be after the baby comes to get back on track. I just hope I have not failed this surgery. You are doing so great, and look fabulous!!! I am so proud of all of us May babies for taking this giant step to better ourselves. Well that is all for now, I have some spare bedroom cleaning to do for my mom who is coming to visit and help take care of me and the house and Anthony and the animals while Harry is out of town for a few weeks.- Melissa