Hi Kathy, It's been awhile since I've checked in and I'm sorry to hear about all of the problems you've had...but you are a SURVIVOR! I had bunion surgery last fall and found that your intake must be adjusted to the amount of excercise you are able to get. I probably gained 10-15 lbs since Thanksgiving and am not at all happy about it! I also had a terrible family tragedy. In Jan of this year my brother's ex-wife murdered my 91/2 yr old niece before hanging herself. We were all so distraught and the wierd thing was it seemed I ate sweets and junk (you know how everybody brings it) so that I would feel sick because I felt so bad inside. I'm still trying to get through it. The fact that it's golf season again and I can exercise because my foot has healed really does help. I know I've still lost 100 lbs but I want to get to 150 and lose the rest of it. Lately I've been seeing myself as that 306 lb person and not the person I really am. I am going to a counselor to try to work through some of these issues. Like everything - it just takes time and living life one day at a time. My best to all my fellow Maysters! Sue McD

So good to see all of you fellow Maysters post, to see the old familiar names and faces, and to hear what's been happening in your lives. I feel so fortunate in my life and health. I was an "over 50 over 50". I had my open RNY just before I turned 50 years old, and my BMI was over 58. At 5'5" I weighed 351. I had been morbidly obese since a toddler, and my doctor didn't give me much hope of losing more than 50% of excess body weight. Well, when I saw him for my 3 year checkup, he told me I could be a poster child for him. My BMI is 23, and my health is great. I weigh 133 and can wear a size 4. Amazing to me. My weight has stayed pretty consistent since year two. I put on about 6 pounds after the holidays this year, which I couldn't get off until I just had round two of plastic surgery. Yes, I am recovering from brachioplasty and revised abdominoplasty in mid-April. It has been tough, as I always seem to have some complication after surgery. I have developed seromas after every surgery I have had. This time it is in the left arm, and has been very painful. At 5 1/2 weeks post-op, I still have swelling and pain in that arm, but no longer any infection. I am glad to have had the plastic surgery, but am looking forward to complete recovery. I am scheduled to have a breast lift/augmentation in September, and that will complete my plastics. I don't ever plan on having a lower body lift or thigh lift, too great a risk for me. So for me, this is the new normal. I still think about the surgery every day, meaning what will I eat or not eat. I am not perfect. I do eat some carbs and some sugar occasionally, but I always start the day with the protein drink still. I am good about my vitamins, and try to get my water in. I can still remember what it felt like to be 351 pounds, and hardly able to move, that feeling of disability, of missing out on life. My knees will never be normal, and I have limitations on what type of exercise I can do, but I love the freedom of being able to move my body. I love walking through a crowd and not standing out. I love the feeling of just being "normal". After three years, my oldest daughter has still not adjusted to her new mom, but I hope some day will. I hope I can say the same things in another three years. I will always be grateful to my two surgeons, the RNY surgeon and the plastic surgeon, who have given me a new life. Debra M.

Thanks, I really try hard to keep my weight with in 10 pounds, for outsiders who think surgery is a cure all not true I have to be careful everyday.I was very lucky not to be hospitalized , when I start chewing ice I know my iron is low.I think I will probably have iron issues for a long time.I take my scripts but no luck with iron meds.In fact I have hard time with a lots of meds they seem to burn through me so fast or I have a opposite reaction to how they are suppose to be.Kinda sinks since I have anxiety issues and I have a hard time sleeping.Sleeping meds keep me sleeping for 3 hours then I am wide awake.oh well thats part of the way this goes.I am going to my primary doctor next week if I can get in..Not sleeping doesnt do well for me since I go no stop all day :] I hateto hear everybody snoring and me staring @ the fan ...stinks... Gonna try something else hopefully .

Laura, This all sounds so familiar. I just posted a blog on my profile about all this, but in brief, it has been a little over 3 years for me also. With problems not until about a year out. I have always had heavy periods and terrible cramping, but after the weight loss I became very anemic and was hospitalized with 2 blood transfusions. After that it was determined that I needed a hysterectomy and while they were there the removed my excess skin. A year after the hystorectomy I get an incisional hernia and have to have that removed. Now I am dealing with menopause and also on lexapro but still feeling very anxious. Yes it does feel good to have lost the weight, but there are still the mental eating issues. Good Luck to you!

I am going to my first meeting in 5 months tonight. I keep telling myself I need to get ready etc but I just keep doing other things. I'm going road construction, gas prices and all!