POLL TIME!

Shelli~ What a great idea for a post!!!!! Date of surgery: 8/04/04 Weight day of surgery: 352 lbs Current weight: 219 lbs Total lost since surgery: 133 lbs Goal weight: 185 lbs Pounds to goal: 34 lbs. Starting size in clothing: 30/32 Current size in clothing: 14/16 Starting shoe size: 12w Current shoe size: 11 I am just so very grateful to God for this amazing surgery! I want to shout it from the rooftops and share my journey with anyone that could be helped by it...This surgery has given me my life back. There is no way to describe how I feel. Normal clothes, lots of sincere compliments, increased self esteem and confidence..IT'S ALL GOOD!!!! Blessings Rachel T.

Date of surgery:8/4/04 Weight day of surgery:548 Current weight:350 Total lost since surgery:198 Total lost since highest weight (if you lost weight for your program as a requirement):198 Goal weight:250 Pounds to goal:100 Starting size in clothing:6XL shirt, 68 waist jeans Current size in clothing:2XL shirt, 46 waist jeans Starting shoe size:13 Current shoe size:13 Any other comments you want to add about your journey:It wasn't always easy but I'm glad everyday that I did it!

Thanks Denise! This is a great idea. I don't post often due to time constraints, but I love keeping up with all of you fellow August babies. I consider you family! Thanks for all the support you give! Date of surgery: 08/12/04 Weight day of surgery: 278 Current weight: 188 Total lost since surgery: 90 Total lost since highest weight (if you lost weight for your program as a requirement): 102 from highest of 290 Goal weight: 125 personal; 140-150 doc (I'm only 5'1" so that seems high!) Pounds to goal: 63 personal; 38-48 doc Starting size in clothing: 24W/3X Current size in clothing: 14/L Starting shoe size: 6.5W or 7 Current shoe size: 6 or 6.5 Any other comments you want to add about your journey: This is such a blessing to me. I'm amazed that this new way of living already feels normal. I don't miss the old ways as much as I thought I would. I still have major body image issues and have trouble seeing myself as others do, but I am beginning to feel the wonderful sensation of "normal." It's so nice to buy regular clothes and to know that I'm not automatically the heaviest person somewhere. That feeling, even more than the pounds lost, is incredible to me. I keep thinking that I still have 100+ lbs. to lose and am always shocked that I don't have so much. For so long, I've just wanted to weigh in the 100s and "only" have 50 or so to lose. Now that it's a reality, it's hard to break out of the old thought processes! Granted, weighing 188 at 5'1" is still too heavy, but it's a heckuva lot closer to where I should be than 290 was. Hooray! Take care, friends, Kathryn

What a great idea for a post!!!!! Date of surgery: 8/04/04 Weight day of surgery: 352 lbs Current weight: 219 lbs Total lost since surgery: 133 lbs Goal weight: 185 lbs Pounds to goal: 34 lbs. Starting size in clothing: 30/32 Current size in clothing: 14/16 Starting shoe size: 12w Current shoe size: 11 I am just so very grateful to God for this amazing surgery! I want to shout it from the rooftops and share my journey with anyone that could be helped by it...This surgery has given me my life back. There is no way to describe how I feel. Normal clothes, lots of sincere compliments, increased self esteem and confidence..IT'S ALL GOOD!!!! Blessings Rachel T.

Date of surgery: 8/24/04 Weight day of surgery: 283 Current weight: 189 Total lost since surgery:94 lbs Total lost since highest weight (if you lost weight for your program as a requirement):108 lbs Goal weight: 150 lbs Pounds to goal: 39 lbs Starting size in clothing: 30W Current size in clothing: 14 / 16 Starting shoe size: 9W Current shoe size: 8 1/2 or 9 Any other comments you want to add about your journey: What a wonderful tool that we have been blessed with! I thnnk god every day for the way I feel (and I'm not looking to bad these days either LOL)

Garsh i read your note about your legs and thought i have that problem sometimes at night not all the time but i have been going to a chiropractor which it took along time to find one i trust . But it really helps .I think something gets pinched or pressure on it . When my legs go numb it is really hard to turn over even because they are like dead weight so you try to flip yourself over.Usually once i move it starts to go away but if i go to the chiropractor then it doesn't happen for along time but it is scarry when it happens you feel paralized.Well hope you are doing better . Vicki

Date of surgery: 08/03/04 Weight day of surgery: 282 Current weight: 180 Total lost since surgery: 102 Total lost since highest weight: 102 Goal weight: 135 Pounds to goal: 45 Starting size in clothing: 28-30 or 3-4X Current size in clothing: 16-18 Starting shoe size: 8W Current shoe size: 7M Any other comments you want to add about your journey: Glad I did it. ---- Leslie -102

Date of surgery: 8-4-04 Weight day of surgery: 327 Current weight: 195 Total lost since surgery: 132 Total lost since highest weight (if you lost weight for your program as a requirement): 132 Goal weight: Docs goal 177, anything below 220 is a bonus to me. Pounds to goal: 18 Starting size in clothing: 26-28 Current size in clothing: 14 Starting shoe size: 10W Current shoe size: 8 1/2

here is my info: Weight day of surgery:241 Current weight:165 Total lost since surgery:76 Total lost since highest weight (if you lost weight for your program as a requirement):85 Goal weight:150 Pounds to goal:15 Starting size in clothing:22 Current size in clothing:10-12 pant,med top Starting shoe size:11 Current shoe size:10 a 2 week cruise threw me out of sinc in early march. i am now back on track and losing again. ellin

Here we go: Date of surgery: 8/30/04 Weight day of surgery: 286.5 Current weight: 180.5 Total lost since surgery: 106lbs Total lost since highest weight (if you lost weight for your program as a requirement):116.5 Goal weight: At initial goal weight of 180 new goal weight of 160 Pounds to goal: 20 Starting size in clothing:28 heading back to 20 Current size in clothing: 14-16 pants shirts XL - some large depending on maker. Starting shoe size:8 1/2-9 w/orthotics Current shoe size:7 1/2-8 w/o orthotics Any other comments you want to add about your journey: I am loving this journey, despite being able to feel pretty much every pressure point when sitting or laying down. I am learning to dance - have learned that country swing dancing is a total blast! Still learning but loving it. I am a beautiful person - I was told this before but didn't realize it. I am more confidant than before, am having fun in life and learning to just LIVE!!! My surgeon and his staff are AWESOME! LOVE THEM! Thanks Northern Colorado Surgical Association & Dr. Pettine!