I'm a lurker, chiming in a couple days late! My surgery 8/11/05. I had my one year chekc up yesterday. All is well. I'm the "model" wls patient, so they say. Ha! Good thing they don't follow me around on a daily basis! Like most of you have expressed, my weight has fluctuated in the past couple months. It's aggravating and I've mixed some things up, hoping to get it going again. I'm a teacher and I think being off and out of my regular routine has contributed to that. So, that's one reason I'm looking forward to the start of school this year (among others!). I started at 335 lbs. In June I hit 205, but since then, I have fluctuated up and down 10 pounds. It is scary, but I've gone over things with a fine toothed comb trying to find what it is that is causing my little gain, but myself and the Nut think it's just a matter of upping my protein by adding a supplement so I'm consistently getting 90g or more a day. So, hopefully, that will help. My stats: height: 5'7.5" age: 36 pre-op - 335 current - 210 pre-op size - 26/28, some 30 - pants and tops current - 16 (some women's, some regular....depends on the cut and store); mostly large tops, some xl...again depends on the store and quality of the garment. shoe size pre-op: 10wide current: 8.5-9...regular width Has anyone remeasured their height? I haven't but should. My doc told me that it's possible you could even grow taller...a bit. He said the weight compresses the discs in your back and as you lose, they aren't as compressed. I asked because when they measured me pre-op, I was shorter than I used to be, by about a 1/2 inch or so! I still sometimes have trouble seeing the changes. I know that in my mind, when I picture my face, it's the before face. So it wasn't until I put the two pics side by side on my computer that I was just shocked by the change....and that's just in my face! It's a strange phenomenon! Congrats to all! Hope you have an equally successful 2nd year in all that you do! Tina

Everyone here is just AMAZING! You are all losers and that makes you winners. If you look at the amount of weight we have lost and the changes in attitudes and behaviors, who could have imagined it just one short year ago. My blood pressure is down and I am off my meds, except for vitamins. If I don't lose another pound, I know that I am a winner at this whole thing. Prior to having this life saving surgery, I couldn't lose weight if my life depended on it. I have yo-yo'd for years and gotten bigger, not smaller. I really believe I was heading for an early end of my life. Now, I think I will be around for a long time. And, I am not embarassed to be seen. I will have a picture taken now. Hoorah! Eileen 337/209/160-170ish

Welcome back darlin! We missed our girl! ya back! Lori

Hi Tammy!! There you are! I'm so glad the weeding went well! I know alot of fun was had by all!! We were getting worried about you though!! But so glad your back!! Sister is walking arround the block now! And doing awsume! Me, I'm doing great! The scale is movin for me now! 190! 1 more stinkin lb. till im out of the 90s!! I go for my yr blood work on thursday. then go for my year check up the following week. I can't beleive a year has gone by! We all have done so great with this weight loss so far! I know I feel so proud of my self for comming this far! And I know everyone on this board has been there for me for the support that I have and need. And I do thank you all from the bottom of my heart!! Everyone have a great day! And Lets move it ladies!!!!!!!! And drink,drink,drink!!!! sheree 285/190/140ish or somewhere close!!!!

Some drs are arses. It's great to hear you consider yourself as a success. I think failure is only possible if we don't learn from this experience. If we don't change what got us to the surgery in the first place. Torrey (281/185/160)