POLL

Hello everyone- I have not posted in forever, and was wanting to know how everyone is doing. 1.) Name 2.) Age 3.) Height 4.) Starting weight 5.) Goal Weight (Doc/yours) 6.) How much do you lack from your goal or have you reached it already? 7.) Have you been exercising regularly? What kind? 8.) Have you been eating things you are not approved to eat? 9.) What is your latest accomplished goal? 10.) Describe the difference in your feelings from when you began this journey and how you feel now. 11.) How is everyone around you handling the weight loss? (jealously, happiness, etc...) 12.) Have you had to lose some friends over the weight loss? 13.) Feel free to add anything that has been going on lately or anything that you would like to share!

1.) April 2.) 21 3.) 5'1 4.) 231 lbs 5.) 120 lbs doc's goal and mine so far. 6.) I lack 18 lbs from reaching goal. 7.) I do Rhythmic Aerobics (Tuesday and Thursday), and Yoga (Everyday). 8.) My doctor has approved me to eat anything at 9 months out. YES! 9.) My last accomplished goal was that I weigh less than my husband! BAM BABY!! 10.) I hated myself and how I looked, I felt that David (hubby) deserved so much better than me. I felt like I was ugly and should not be loved. I felt like I was a burden to everyone. Now I feel alive, and I know that I should be loved and I know that David is happy w/me and I am happy w/him. Our marriage is wonderful. I actually look at people when I walk when I use to just look at the ground. I have more self-esteem which is amazing! I would not trade this feeling in for anything in the world. 11.) I have a friend who told me 15 lbs ago to stop losing weight haven't seen her since. I feel that that is not a friend. I am 5'1 and at 138 lbs. A big wow for me. My family is happy for me. Especially hubby. Just that one friend. 12.) The friend mentioned in above. We may speak but we will never be close again. 13.) I got food poisoning last Saturday and have been down and out. I finally started feeling better Thursday and have started to get my appetite back recently. Work has been killing me with the long hours maybe this week I won't have much. School is hard I need your prayers there between that and work and David losing his job in April (7th). I applied for the nursing department at two colleges please pray I get in at one. LOL! I have to pass A&P first. Yikes.

1.) Name: Kathy 2.) Age: 45 3.) Height: 5' 7.5" 4.) Starting weight: 276 5.) Goal Weight (Doc/yours): Don't know the docs goal; mine is 160 6.) How much do you lack from your goal or have you reached it already? I'm 9 lbs from my goal. 7.) Have you been exercising regularly? What kind? I have for the past month or so. I go to the gym 5 days a week and do light cardio (have back issues) and weights. 8.) Have you been eating things you are not approved to eat? I drink a can of soda almost every day and I do have a cup of regular coffee each day too. Other than that... we really aren't forbidden anything though sugar isn't recommended. I haven't tried that. 9.) What is your latest accomplished goal? Ummm, latest goal was to break 170. I hate it to be a "numbers" goal but it is. 10.) Describe the difference in your feelings from when you began this journey and how you feel now. I feel much more energetic and just plain healthy. I feel good about myself. 11.) How is everyone around you handling the weight loss? (jealously, happiness, etc...) Everyone has been very supportive. 12.) Have you had to lose some friends over the weight loss? No. 13.) Feel free to add anything that has been going on lately or anything that you would like to share! Just getting ready for parathyroid surgery on Friday. So I guess no weigh-ins for a while after that... I just love those IV fluid gains!

1.) Name - Becky Sue! 2.) Age - 31 3.) Height - 5' 7 4.) Starting weight - 287 5.) Goal Weight (Doc/yours) 170 / Not sure, maybe 150ish? 6.) How much do you lack from your goal or have you reached it already? - past my doc's goal by 4 pounds! 7.) Have you been exercising regularly? What kind? - Not like I should. Early out I did really well but have been bad for the past few months... 8.) Have you been eating things you are not approved to eat? - Not too much. I'm really supposed to not have bread until a year out but occasionally will have 1/2 a slice of toast. Once in a great while a few chips, but for the most part, I eat what I'm supposed to. 9.) What is your latest accomplished goal? - Size 10 Levis! 10.) Describe the difference in your feelings from when you began this journey and how you feel now. - Huh... I felt desolate. Like there was no point in life. Like I was waiting to get sick and die. Now I feel like I love being alive! I skip down stairs, I rush around to get things done so I can go have fun. I smile a LOT more. 11.) How is everyone around you handling the weight loss? (jealously, happiness, etc...) - Everyone has been wonderful. Aaron is very supportive and loves the new me (inside and out), my friends have been very gracious (at least to my face, anyway ), family has been great... 12.) Have you had to lose some friends over the weight loss? - Nope! 13.) Feel free to add anything that has been going on lately or anything that you would like to share! - I'm getting the PS bug, as you can tell from some of my earlier posts. I'm going to wait a while, still, but am starting to really do some research. I'm also starting to research my next tat, which will be a long way off - well after my PS is done. It's going to be a large (6-8") piece on my back.

1.) Name Wanda 2.) Age 44 3.) Height 5'1" 4.) Starting weight 294 5.) Goal Weight (Doc/yours) don't know Dr.s, mine is 130 or so? 6.) How much do you lack from your goal or have you reached it already? I'm currently at 174, so I want to lose another 40-50 pounds 7.) Have you been exercising regularly? What kind? walk every day about 1-2 miles. I need to increase that and add some weight bearing exercise. 8.) Have you been eating things you are not approved to eat? not really. I can eat almost anything, but haven't had anything that's all sugar like cookies, cake, candy, etc. I'm afraid to and am gonna try to live the rest of my life without even touching it! 9.) What is your latest accomplished goal? reaching 120 pounds lost 10.) Describe the difference in your feelings from when you began this journey and how you feel now. soooo much more energy. feel better, healthier, look better! 11.) How is everyone around you handling the weight loss? (jealously, happiness, etc...) Everyone has been oh so supportive! 12.) Have you had to lose some friends over the weight loss? no, I haven't 13.) Feel free to add anything that has been going on lately or anything that you would like to share! This has been a wonderful experience. I'm so much healthier and have met some of the most wonderful people through this experience also!

1.) Name - Lisa 2.) Age - 44 3.) Height - 5'11" 4.) Starting weight -320 5.) Goal Weight (Doc/yours) - 190 6.) How much do you lack from your goal or have you reached it already? 5 pounds 7.) Have you been exercising regularly? What kind? working and going to Cardio Club 3 x week 8.) Have you been eating things you are not approved to eat? probably 9.) What is your latest accomplished goal? getting into a size 12 10.) Describe the difference in your feelings from when you began this journey and how you feel now. - I never dreamed I would be able to look at myself in the mirror and see skinny? 11.) How is everyone around you handling the weight loss? (jealously, happiness, etc...) - It seems my husband cares less and less about the way he looks as far as his weight. Some people seem to be very happy for me, others seem to have unspoken jelousies. 12.) Have you had to lose some friends over the weight loss? not real friends 13.) Feel free to add anything that has been going on lately or anything that you would like to share! I am working so much lately I haven't really had time to enjoy my new physical ability yet! I am hoping by summer I will be able to make more time to just have fun!

1.) Name: Linda 2.) Age: 50 3.) Height: 5' 6" 4.) Starting weight: 272.9 5.) Goal Weight (Doc/yours): Doc-didn't set one, Me between 136-150? 6.) How much do you lack from your goal or have you reached it already? Minimum 28, max 43 7.) Have you been exercising regularly? What kind? About 3-5 days a week, I'll try to do aerobic/fat burning on the elliptical each day I go to the gym and then every other day or so, I'll add weight training. 8.) Have you been eating things you are not approved to eat? Once in a great while, I might have a junior burger or a few fries. But I've actually been doing pretty good about staying away from most things and I haven't really felt deprived. 9.) What is your latest accomplished goal? To get into size 14 pants, can almost get into 12s but my waist is stopping me. 10.) Describe the difference in your feelings from when you began this journey and how you feel now.: I feel pretty proud of myself for all the work I've done with exercise, sticking to the program, and most of all, my work on changing my eating habits 'cause I know that is where long-term success lies. I'm also so thankful for my doctor and doing such a great job on me that I've had no problems. That's not to say, though, that I've gone thru many mood swings that I almost feel "bipolar", lol. 11.) How is everyone around you handling the weight loss? (jealously, happiness, etc...): Mostly postive. My husband and boss are my biggest supporters. Most of the people I work with have been really supportive and cheering me on. At first I think they thought it wouldn't last, they've seen me on numerous diets in the past. There have been a few people that I've sensed a little jealosy, I think. 12.) Have you had to lose some friends over the weight loss? No. 13.) Feel free to add anything that has been going on lately or anything that you would like to share! Only that I'm obsessed with my weight loss, that it's hard to focus on other things in my life. It's almost as if everything else is on hold. I'm sure this will start to subside as I get to goal and start maintaining. I don't want this to be all consuming, I would like my eating to be healthy and natural, something I don't have to think about so much. I want my exercise and eating habits to be second nature. I know that I will always have to monitor my weight so as to not let it get out of hand again though.

1.) Name: Deanna 2.) Age: 39 3.) Height: 5' 7" 4.) Starting weight: 324 5.) Goal Weight (Doc/yours) 170 6.) How much do you lack from your goal or have you reached it already? I'm 45 lbs away from goal. 7.) Have you been exercising regularly? What kind? not at all 8.) Have you been eating things you are not approved to eat? I chew gum but that is about it. 9.) What is your latest accomplished goal? I hit the Century Mark! 10.) Describe the difference in your feelings from when you began this journey and how you feel now. Oh my gosh, too many emotions to put down here. I feel GOOD! I enjoy waking up, I enjoy life, and I am so much happier than ever before. 11.) How is everyone around you handling the weight loss? (jealously, happiness, etc...) Mostly everyone is very happy for me and have been tremendously supportive. 12.) Have you had to lose some friends over the weight loss? Not yet, but I do have one that is very jealous but hides it most of the time. 13.) Feel free to add anything that has been going on lately or anything that you would like to share! I am so extremely happy to have made new friends here on OH and to have found a place where I feel unconditionally accepted as both an overweight or obese person, and as a bariatric patient.

I was wondering where you've been! 1.) Name: Lori Rosendahl 2.) Age: 44 for about 3 more weeks 3.) Height: 5' 9.5" 4.) Starting weight: 384 5.) Goal Weight (Doc/yours) 168 6.) How much do you lack from your goal or have you reached it already? I still have 84 lbs to go! 7.) Have you been exercising regularly? What kind? I exercise 6 days a week. I do cardio and weight training. 75 minutes a day at 5 am. I've become addicted! 8.) Have you been eating things you are not approved to eat? Popcorn is the only one I can think of. You are supposed to be 1 year out before you eat it. 9.) What is your latest accomplished goal? I walked 4 miles. 10.) Describe the difference in your feelings from when you began this journey and how you feel now. My feelings are similar, I just feel so much healthier, so I'm pretty upbeat and proud all the time. 11.) How is everyone around you handling the weight loss? (jealously, happiness, etc...) I've had excellent support from everyone! 12.) Have you had to lose some friends over the weight loss? One friend who weighs over 400 lbs, has not cut me off completely, she just never calls. 13.) Feel free to add anything that has been going on lately or anything that you would like to share! I'm really doing well with my fitness training. I'm hoping to get fit enough to join the breast cancer survivors women's rowing team by spring! Lori 384/252.5/168

1) Gina Milligan 2) 31 3) 5'8" 4) 289 5) 155/155 6) I lack 31 pounds...They're just a-hangin' on! Stubborn as all get out! 7) I do NOW...I walk daily on most of my errands and do 'Mommy and Me' workouts with my 23-month old. 8) Yes. All the time. Damn. I'm doing much better, though...really!!! 9) I'm a size 12!!!! 10) I used to hurt all the time, and I tried to make my personality outshine my stature. I didn't see any of my husbands friends for 3 years because the last time they saw me, I was a size 6...I was too embarassed. A couple of weeks ago, I went to poker night with them all and turned heads!!!! VICTORY! 11) I have total support! I'm so blessed! 12) Not a single one. I'm loved, and so grateful for it!!! 13) I love you all! Wish we could all get together and meet in person! You all inspire me!!! PS: Anyone got any ideas on hairstyles? My new little hairs are growing in, and I'm starting to look like I have a fuzzy aura, so I decided to go short....I have curly hair, so bear that in mind when suggesting, k?