Hi Lashawn, My surgery was one week after yours and I weighed 330 on 7/23/03. Today I weigh 153 - 160 and it varies from day to day but my size 10s continue to fit, albeit some days tighter than others. I understand your concern about your progress, or what you perceive to be your lack of success. I would feel the same way. For me, I didn't get sliced and diced to feel anything less than totally successful in this endeavor. Please do not take this as a, (what do they call it?) a, flame? It sooo is not. It is just me telling you I care about where you are....and I feel a lot of empathy for you. Recently I had a bout with drinking and scared myself silly. It was sooo very easy to get off track and focus on the wine and Mikes' Hard Lemonade rather than on protein. For 7 weeks I totally ignored my pouch and my needs nutritionally. Yikes. So, believe me when I tell you I understand how easy it is to "get off track". But, gurllll, you did not let some doc go inside you and cut your gutz up to lose 96 pounds did you? I didn't. I took this drastic measure to get to a healthy weight and be active and get a second chance at a life that totally sucked previously. I was so freakin miserable fat at 330 pounds I wanted to die. I don't want to die today, and after my temporary insanity with drinking, I am totally back on track and pray daily that I don't lose this ever again.....though knowing me I will. But, ultimately there is no one that can help me but me. And the same goes for you. Lashawn, honey, 96 pounds is nothing to scoff at....it's a lot of extra weight to shed and good for you! But at 287 you and I both know you are not where you want to be or could be. For me, and this is only for me, I had to learn to love me enough to allow myself the freedom to take care of me the way I would take care of someone else. I kicked my own butt and I exercised daily.....I gagged on that liquid protein "crap" until I would puke but I knew I had to get it in. I don't know darlin', we are very "special" people us morbidly obese humans. I just try to remember that I didn't get to 380 (at my highest) by being really tightly wrapped. We have issues or we would not have ever gone under that knife (or probe LOL) and those "issues" (FOR ME) were the "sh*t" I had to deal with before any semblance of success was going to be mine.......I pushed and pushed and pushed and I succeeded in WLS, but then I lost my feeble little mind and I have acted out to the nth degree as a post op. It's the issues - for me it's the stuff I don't know that I don't know that holds me back and the stuff that trips me up.....I understand that after the drinking.....thank God that's over for now....I just sit in amazement and wonder what will come up next with the future layers of the onion I continue to peel, that onion called Jeannie. When I know I'm off track I know it's an internal thing going on and it would be in my best interest to check inside and really be honest, rigorously honest, with myself........what is happening in my world that isn't "good" on me. Is there a relationship that makes me miserable but I won't admit it? Am I telling a lie to myself or to someone else? Am I slacking on my responsibilities to my job or family? Do I feel good about myself and if not why not? What am I beating myself or someone else up about? Many questions I have to stop and ask myself. When my hand reaches for that English Muffin instead of the boiled egg....what am I feeling right that second? These are just some things from my experience.....if any of them sound familiar good......and if not....just ignore my silly self and I will send you good luck wishes......I do know coming here and asking the question had to help some......it always does me when I get honest on some level and say - wow - help. xoxoxox

I had my surgery July 15th 2003. I have lost 96 lbs in 2 years!!! I now weigh 287 lbs. Although I feel great and look pretty good, this can't be it. I have gotten way off track. I still don't eat much. Just probably the wrong stuff. And I exercise at the very least twice a week. I was told to get and try the southbeach diet. I would love some, get back on track, reminder responses. I have just completeley forgotten what to do.

Hi Cathy, I hate to swallow pills too. I have to take most of them at one time or I forget. Here is my regimine based on MY Labs: In the Morning 3 Trinsicon (Iron) 2 Vit C 500mg In the Evening about an hour or more before bed Dry A & D Dry E Zinc 50mg 2 Tri Boron 3mg (for calcium absorption) 2 Biotin 1000mcg (for hair loss) Magnesium 250 (if not already in Calcium supp.) Dry E Super B - Complex 2 Fish oil 1200mg 2 - 4 Calcium Citrate 250mg ( I only take 2 at a time throughout the day when I remember to take them) 2 chewable multi vitamins ( I can take the swallowable ones but I like these) I also take Vit B 12 shots weekly. This keeps my level around 600. I take all these supplements based on my labs. You should always have complete labs drawn and monitored when taking vitamins. Jen Layman

Hey Bonnie, I chose my own goal, I was actually looking at my BMI. I wanted it to get to normal instead of overweight. Now I'm trying to maintain the weight that I am at right now. I thought I would get to maybe 165, I was really surprise when the weight continued to come off, I actually got worried just for a moment because it looked as if I wasn't going to stop losing. I would like to get rid of my excessive skin at my stomach, it's not as bad but I know it's there....my insurance won't cover it...but I'm grateful for the surgery so if I never get rid of the excessive skin I'm okay. I have lost 2 of the lbs. I wanted to lose by drinking more water. I'm really happy and content with my weight loss, especially since it will be two years this month.

Hey Deana, Are you drinking your water? I think it plays a big part in our weight loss along with exercise. Don't give up, I know it's hard but you can't give up, I will be praying for you.