Freda: Thanks for the kind words and here's a hearty and much heart felt "Happy Re-Birthday" to you; 111 pounds is a achievement well deserving of some praise; hopefully you achieve your next 43 pounds and achieve your goal without too much hassels or troubles Do keep up the great progress; I'm sure all your friends have said many wonderful compliments your way; my wife Linda really loves that; she has a new story almost every day where someone she doesn't know at work will say "Have you lost weight?... You look great!!! and she really does as I'm sure you do as well Keep it up ~George Revoir~

congratulations to all you wls people i'm just now starting my journey after 3 different Doctors and 2 yrs trying I finally see Dr Jeff Allen on Sept 10th hope my surgery date is soon I'm beginning to get impatient glad to see all the people on here that have had their surgery and doing great.!!!WAY TO GO!!!

Well fellow "losers" almost a full year has come and passed for me as well as those of you reading this; August 26th will be official date. I've lost over 130 pounds and could'nt be happier. I haven't looked and or felt so good since I retired from the Air Force almost 14 years ago. The second smartest thing I did in life was meeting Dr. Anez ( first of course was meeting and marrying the lovely woman who is my wife who found Dr. Anez for me) At present time I have zero problems; I can eat anything; but however I avoid the things that laid the "pathway" to my getting to weigh over 400 pounds; I do not even taste chesseburgers-pizzas-potatoe chips-gravies-pies-cakes-etc. And I never drink any beer ANYMORE; the German word for beer I learned translates to "liquid bread" so who needs it? I sure as hell don't When my wife and I travel now we order 1 meal and split it; ordering mostly large salads( she also celebrated one year after WLS on July 16 with 128 pounds lost and she looks FANTASTIC; down from a size 22 to a 10-12) We now eat on the order that we SHOULD HAVE from the beginning; there is NEVER the attempt to eat seconds and I am finally getting used to the idea that it is perfectly acceptable to leave food on your plate We enjoy outdoor activities that we never could before I really enjoy shopping for clothes now; at 53 years old and 6 feet 5 inches tall, I think I look real good now that I am shed the "spare tire" beer gut hanging off my front; I was a year ago a size 56 waist and now fit fine in a size 38 ( ok a size 40 in the "trim fit" ok) and check it out one extra large shirts instead of the three x shirts this time last year I was ashamed to be seen in my own yard without a shirt on and forget about anywhere in public; now I proudly take my shirt off and never hesitate to talk to others about the surgery and display my scar with pride; there is no doubt in my mind I would have been dead soon had I not got the surgery... so why not be proud ? We are going to Hawaii the first two weeks of September to celebrate (1) thirty years of married bliss together (2) both of our weight loss sucess together ( she's smaller now than her senior year of High School... VAvA Vooom!!!!) and yes I will be walking all over the place with pride no longer ashamed to be seen in public and I and my "bride" will be doing as many of the exciting fun out door activities as time will permit; I'm looking forward to taking a helicopter ride;( she says she'll pass on this as she hates helos) I could'nt before as they insisted I would have to purchase two tickets for MYSELF. My happy blessings to all of you fellow AUGUST WLS members; I really wish all of you continued sucess and MUCH INPROVED good health This is one LOSER who can wear that name with honor 135 down and going further God's Blessings to you all!!!

Thanks for all the words of encourgement and wisdom. I'm back on it again. I'm watching what I eat, walking more, and working out 2xs/wk at the YMCA. 50 lbs to go ain't looking bad at all!!!! And I promise myself to frequently contact this site. It's really a good feeling to know your'e not alone in this battle!

Hooooray Di, you are beautiful and I'm excited for your success. Best wishes sweetie for continued success on this amazing Journey.