You're not done... you WILL make it! Come on... positive thoughts!!! Angie 280/175/135

We are celebrating my one year with a BBQ with some friends and neighbors! It should be a good weekend. I think I will enjoy this!

Congratulations! I had my surgery on June 1 also. I went from 290 to 1 70. I'd still like to lose 20 lbs more, but I'm happy with my new self. I run every day with our dog, and he lost 7 pounds, too! Best of luck to you. I hope you feel as great as I do!

1. Surgery Date: *June 21, 2004 2. Height: *5' 7" 3. Day of Surgery Weight: *270lbs 4. One Year Weight: *154lbs give or take 2 lbs 4a. GOAL WEIGHT: *145-150 lbs 5. Best Health Habit that you have acquired since surgery? *quit smoking 6. The Worst Habit that you still possess even after surgery that you know you shouldn't? *comfort food eating, boredom nibbling 7. During your 1st six months did you? A. Follow instructions to a tee and do everything physician instructed. B. Occasionally eat something that wasn't that good for you C. Cheat like a fiend all the time My Anwser: *A, which surprised me. I'm not good at following directions usually. I think I was too scared not to. 8. During the 2nd part of the 1st year did you? A. Follow instructions and do everything your physician instructed. B. Occasionally eat something that wasn't that good for you C. Cheat like a fiend all the time My Anwser: *B, once I realized I could push the limits I tried things. 9. Do you feel that these habits have slowed down your progress? *probably a bit, but I'm not sure. Maybe my working out has canceled this limit pushing out, because I'm at the goal weight my surgeon set, just not the goal weight I've set. 10. Do you exercise on a regular basis (meaning at least 3 times a week)? *absolutely. I've now started to compete in triathlons, and I have a few endurance rides schedule on my bike this summer of 100 miles, so I work out quite often. It's GREAT! 11. Have you had plastic surgery as of yet? *I will. I'm looking forward to a tummy tuck, and my poor breasts look like change at the bottom of a tube sock! This needs to be fixed. 12. Did you lose more weight after the plastic surgery? *N/A as I have not crossed that bridge yet 13. Was it worth it ?( Plastic surgery ?) *It WILL be 14. What's the MOST POSITIVE thing to come out of having this surgery for you? *I've got more confidence now than I've ever had, I look good in a pair of bicycle shorts (laughing), and I can buy clothes off the rack! 15. What's the MOST NEGATIVE thing that has resulted from having this surgery for you? * Still feeling fat when looking in the mirror 16. On a scale from 1-10 How would you rate your use of your new TOOL? *Probably an 8. I could have done better, but the tool itself has worked wonderfully. 17. Would you go through this again? *without hesitation 18. BIGGEST FEAR now that 1 yr. anniversary is here... *fear? That's a toughie. I'm not sure. I feel so happy with myself, that I'm not sure I have a fear. I've reached the goal weight my surgeon set, almost at my personal goal weight, I'd have to say I'm pretty pleased with myself THanks for reading and thanks for sharing!

1. Surgery Date: February 2003 2. Height: *5' 9" 3. Day of Surgery Weight: 285 (weigh in before required diet: 311) 4. One Year Weight: *167 4a. GOAL WEIGHT: *167 (changed from original of 155) 5. Best Health Habit that you have acquired since surgery? Learning about proper nutrition and following it! 6. The Worst Habit that you still possess even after surgery that you know you shouldn't? Ever figuring out I could tolerate a small amount of sugar. 7. During your 1st six months did you? A. Follow instructions to a tee and do everything physician instructed. 8. During the 2nd part of the 1st year did you? B. Occasionally eat something that wasn't that good for you 9. Do you feel that these habits have slowed down your progress? No! I firmly believe that occasional poor choices do not sabotage a healthy diet; it's the constant abuse that does it. 10. Do you exercise on a regular basis (meaning at least 3 times a week)? I did until plastic surgery; just OK'd today to resume. 11. Have you had plastic surgery as of yet? Abdominoplasty on May 9, 2005 12. Did you lose more weight after the plastic surgery? No. Only 1.5# of skin removed--there was no fat left to remove. The scale didn't budge despite having NO swelling, but probably due to the lack of inactivity during recovery. 13. Was it worth it ? A thousand times YES!!!!! (Actually, more than $6,000 times yes!) It has been such a good experience and such a good outcome that I will have a couple other things done (thighs, arms) but I'll probably do it over a 2 year period as I don't want to abuse my body now that I'm living healthy. 14. What's the MOST POSITIVE thing to come out of having this surgery for you? Hard to say; it's all been great; but I guess appreciating me for simply being me; no more self-flagulation! 15. What's the MOST NEGATIVE thing that has resulted from having this surgery for you? I think about the fact that I've had WLS every single day, every time I eat, everytime I pull on some clothing that looks impossibly small (but fits); I'd prefer to be able to not think about that and just lead my normal average life. 16. On a scale from 1-10 How would you rate your use of your new TOOL? *About 9. My tool reminds me, still, when I'm full (I burp) and when I eat the wrong thing (too much sugar), and when I eat too fast (fill up too fast and feel totallly miserable for hours, even if I ate only a couple of bites too fast. 17. Would you go through this again? *ABSOLUTELY!!! 18. BIGGEST FEAR now that 1 yr. anniversary is here... At 28 months, I don't have a biggest fear. This is my life and my lifestyle and I can hardly imagine doing it differently; everything I do to maintain my weight is within my control, and I know I am in control. I never reached my original goal of 155 but came to realize that my body was very well adjusted, well proportioned, healthy and happy at 167--and my PCP and surgeon also think it's the right weight for me. So that is now my goal-maintaining 167. My mind is happy now too that Im not constantly waiting to lose those last 12 pounds. Ann