Hi May WLS buddies! I will be updating my profile soon and submitting some new pictures. I just wanted to wish everyone a happy, healthy, safe & successful New Year! Weight lost update: Started out = 285 lbs - As of last Saturday = 147lbs - I continue to loose each month - but this is also due to a lot of work on my part - I go to the gym everyday and have done so since Feb 05. I should get released from Dr. Bolar this month with a referral to the plastic surgeon I'm very excited and hope to have my insurance help me out with a TT and Breast lift! I do my measurements every 3 months at the gym and the results astound me - I still see the same old me in the mirror, but the compliments just pour in...even from people who don't know I used to weigh 285 - men seem to notice the new me and a few let me know how "hot" I'm looking Can give a girl a big head! The support I found here was a life preserver and I'm very thankful! May God bless your families and keep you safe as we enter 2006. Best wishes - and check out my profile in a week or so - hopefully my new pictures will be posted ;) Hugs, Michelle

Hi Maggie, Congratulations! You go girl and LOOK MARVELOUS!!! This is so exciting and I'm very happy for you. Isn't it wonderful to be able to wear these types of clothes???!!!! I just loving trying on things "just because I can"... It may not be something I consider approriate for "me", but it is sure fun to put things on and have them look GREAT!!! Just knowing I could wear something if I wanted to is great! Wishing you a HAPPY HEALTHY SUCCESSFUL NEW YEAR Pam 268/155 below goal & maintaining

HI EVERYONE HOPE YOU ARE ALL DOING WELL AND HAD A GREAT HOLIDAY THIS NEW YEARS EVE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YEARS ME AND DH ARE GOINGTO A NEW YEARS EVE PARTY...... FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE IAM GOING TO WEAR A SIZE SMALL SPAGHETTI STRAP DRESS WITH SEQUINS ON IT IAM SCARED......... BUT EXCITED AT THE SAME TIME MY DH THINKS I LOOK WONDERFUL..... I HAVE NEVER BEEN BARE ARMED OR BARE BACK BEFORE........... BUT IAM GOING TO CHERISH THIS NEW YEAR AS THE FIRST AS A LIGHTER PERSON IN A SMALL DRESS MAGGIE B/S 278 @GOAL 134

Hi Natalie - I just saw your post and was intrigued, so checked out your profile. What an amazing and beatiful person you are. I am pre op scheduled for Jan 23 - 1 month away - nervous and scared and struggling to quit smoking. Reading you story was very inspirational to me, and I just wanted to thank you for your candor. I am so hopeful for a better quality of life for myself. Somewhere in life I heard the expression "If you want what I have you must do what I do". I am taking that to heart, because I really want the same things you have achieved by WLS. You are such a success! Thank you again for sharing your experiences so that I could find it and gain strength.

I have only lost 110 lbs. Both my son Andrew and I had our surgeries the same day. We both are doing the exact same despite the fact that I excercise and diet - he does not!. I am 51 he is 23. I wonder if there is something mechanical going on here. I will comment that I wish I would have lost a bit more. All during my first 12 months I did not tolerate protein well at all. Meats made me real sick. I was able to eat oatmeal, yogurt, protein shakes etc. All of these things that did not bother me had some carbs in them. I feel like if I could have tolerated more meats I would have done much better. But also - my doctor said my age had something to do with it. I also ate cheese and some nuts. A lot of foods still make me sick. I am down from 332 to 220 (about). I would like to be at 170-180 lbs. I am seriously thinking about getting banded which would cost about $4000 and may enable me to lose the rest of the weight I need to lose. I have a friend who is the the same position and her surgeon told her he could help her lose the last few pounds this way. I have tried and tried to stick to the prescribed diet and am attending Curves but the weight stays the same. I am still happy though because I am better off than I was 18 months ago. Blessings and Merry Christmas to all *****ad this post!!