Hi Everyone!! What a pleasant surprise to pop in here and see you all! I, too, have had some struggles with weight. My lowest was 158 and I have ballooned up 22 pounds and today sit at about 180. I have not even updaed my profile with the bad news - I am very, very unhappy with myself. I still exercise regularly but I am clearing out-grazing and out-carbing my workouts. I still do not eat sugar or bread but I can put a hurtin' on crackers, salty snacks, and sugar-free cookies. I need to keep telling myself that cookies are cookies - sugar free or not. They're evil... stay away! Anyway, i have rejoined Weigh****chers, again, and will be working to get back down to below 160 pounds. I wish you all the best. We have a three year anniversary in three month, let's challenge ourselves to get back on track and see where we are by May.

Hello Fellow Maysters, I was pleasantly surprised to see there was a new thread here. I usually lurk on the graduates board, and decided to pop over here to see if anyone was around. I feel I have just plain lucky with this surgery. I sometimes wonder why I have succeeded as well as I have, since I am so far from "perfect" in my food intake and exercise plan. I went from 351 down to a low of 131, within two years. I stayed at 132-133 for eight months, and now am usually 136-138. The weight gain has come about the same time as menopause, and I have not been able to drop the four pound gain. I realize this is not a huge gain, so I am happy with it. I still weigh myself everyday, and although I don't track calories or carbs, I am still aware of what I am eating everyday. I also still drink at least one protein drink a day. I have been really good with the daily vitamins and calcium, but didn't start supplementing the iron. I think this has been a mistake. I had my three year labs done early two weeks ago, and I have seen my ferritin levels drop by 75% in the last two years to 37. I have taken iron for about 4 months now, and hope this brings it back up. All other lab levels were good. I had an extended tummy tuck in Sept. '06, and am getting ready for my next plastic surgery in mid-April. I will be having a brachioplasty and tummy tuck revision. He will be evening out certain tummy areas, and some much needed mons revision. I am dreading the surgery, but am looking to having arms that approximate normal. I will have the breast lift/augmentation in September. I have been saving my money for a couple of years to pay for it all. My friends all tell me I radiate health and energy, and I am thrilled to feel as well as I do. I am able to eat just about all foods with no problems, so I have to be careful on the quantity. I keep grape tomatoes out on my kitchen counter at all times to snack on when the mood strikes. I still love the baked goodies, and have to be really careful with them. Family life has it's ups and downs, stresses and jubilations, just like everyone. I've lost a father and father-in-law since surgery. My mother was in the hospital three times last year, and my MIL is in the hospital now. One daughter has moved to NYC, and the other has left the nest for college, and now recently returned for some needed re-mothering. At least I have had the energy to cope with it all. I am sorry for the troubles I have read about, and relish the good news. Kathy, I hope your back and tummy troubles will resolve themselves soon. Good luck to all my fellow Maysters. Debra M. 351/137

Im here as well.... 07 was a roller coaster... bad job issues, now good issues, hubby issues... up and down.. My all time low was 163... 3 lbs from 100 lost.... I wanted 150 as a goal, doc said 160... so never got there officially... I now bounce between 167-174... up a few, down a few.. doesnt seem to matter how much or little I eat or how much/little I exercise... I do feel like my muscle is wasting away.. but thats lack of use.... ahhh me... Last labs I had done (may 07) were good.... will have a set done soon to see how Im fairing. I need to find some chewable calcium or I forget to take it... weird huh. Im still in a size 10... and still feel fat... at almost 3 yrs out, Im not sure that will ever change.... Take care yall and keep in touch. Karen

Hi Kathy and everyone! Long time I know. I am doing really well. My husband and I bought our first home. My one and only daughter moved to Colorado Springs and I went into a depression. I gained 23 pounds but started back on the old calorie counting and have lost 3 of it so far. My goal is to lose all 23 by June 5 which is my wedding anniversary! I can do it! Hope your year is better than last year and hello and best wishes to everyone on the board!

Hey there Kathy, I am praying that 2008 is a better yr for you.. I continue to have my share of challenges, But I'm confident that I will beat the, I've had a 20-30 pound weight gain, but I've kepy off 12 since November. I hope all you Maysters are doing ok.