Hi Lori, I just read your reply and I'm like you. I dread going to my doc appointment on the 11 of this month. Because the last time I saw him, he made me feel bad about not loosing enough weight at the time. And this was back in April. I had only loss 16 pounds and 3 months and he said that was not enough. Well I had an appiontment schedule july 13, but I cancel it because I still hadn't loss enough weight be his standards. Since the last time I saw him I have loss between 16 to 18 pounds and I'm afraid thats not enough for him. If only I could get down to 184 by the August 11 I would be so..... happy that nothing he'd say would faze me at all. I weighed 189 this morning and it seems like the scale want go any farther down than 188 for me. I don't know what I could do to get the scale to move down by the August 11. I only need to lose 5 more pounds and that will be 100 pounds for me too. My goal is 160ish but I don't know where he wants me to be. I'll let you girls know what happen after my appiontment. Congrats to you on your weight loss and keep up the good work. Take care !!! Carolyn Jc C. 284/189/ 160-ish!!!!!

Hey Connie, congrats, girl! You look wonderful and the journey has been worth it. My anniversary is Thurs and I am not looking forward to it. I see my surgeon who has the wonderful (not) habit of making me feel awful about myself and this time I've only lost 10 pounds since I last saw him. He is going to be abusive again as usual. I know I said this the last time, but I come to the conclusion that I won't put up with his sh**t this time. I will not be back if he treats me like I'm not doing this right. I'm not like everyone else, so quit trying to make this journey of mine like everyone elses. That's what I want to say to him...have wanted to say to him since last october. Well, I should have made this appointment for a different day to celebrate, but I didn't because I thought I would have lost 100 pounds by now. I am only 5 away from it, but that feels like 50 to me right now. I too appreciate all of the responses from our August buddies. They have helped me get through the depression and hard times that come with the journey...like now. But I will try to remember that I am doing something I have never accomplished before. I post to let you all know how it goes on Thursday. Think of me and say a little prayer that I'll be strong and tell him off if I need too. Thanks, Lori 293/197/150

Hey Torrey! I can say that I have met my goal for my one year anniversary. I wanted to lose the first 100lbs by my 1 year anniversary. I have done that. I have lost 115lbs. I wanted to be in a size 12, done that (size 8-10 depending on the style). Wanted to feel better about myself, I definitely accomplished that! I wanted to be close to goal, I am almost there. I have 16lbs to my first goal of 150. I am thinking I might decide to go to 140 though. So 26 more lbs and I am there. I am happy with my progress. Things could be going faster in the weightloss department, but I will take any loss I can get at this point, be it 1 or 10lbs. So yeah, I made most of my goals and am completely happy with it! Lori 281/166/140-150

Connie! {{{hugs}}} I am so glad you are feeling better about things! It's hard to not get down on ourselves. I do it too. Especially lately. I feel so blah and tired and just not motivated. But I think it's other stresses in my life that are causing it. I too would be completely satisfied if I didn't lose another lb. I feel so much better about myself most days. I am not afraid to be seen by people I know. I used to hide if I ever ran into someone from HS. My husband and I went to his 20th reunion on Saturday and had a blast. I knew alot of the people he graduated with. And for the first time in forever, I wasn't stressed about seeing them. I felt good and looked even better! There was a guy there that was always madly in love with me. He is married with baby #4 on the way. He just kept staring at me. He eventually came up and told me that I was looking good. He made my day! And I actually met one of his classmate's husband who had surgery last June. We had alot to chat about!!! And this goes out to all of you: ANYTIME you need support, love, an ear, a shoulder to cry on, I AM HERE FOR YOU ALL! I couldn't have done it without ALL of you there to support me. Congrats to us! We survived our first year AMAZINGLY! Looking forward to the next one! Love you all, Lori

Eileen I just wanted to say Thank You and you don't even know how much! I needed to hear this again today. I'm always so busy in constant motion or doing something- and now my house is clear- my son is away for 2 weeks and my mom went home, so its just me and the cat Even though I got home late from work (10pm) it was too late to hit the gym- but I did get in my gym clothes and then headed to the food store- go figure..I bought a lot of healthy things, including yogurt- s/f ice cream, lots of propel and diet iced tea,fruit, my day ended at 2am. I just had that energy, you know? And thats what you reminded me of, today. A YEAR ago, especially with humidity(like today) ,I couldnt walk from the parking lot to the building, without being out of breath . When I would food shop, sometimes I would have to sit down because I was winded or my knees hurt, after 2 hrs -even the gym- I had to hit the hot tub for my joints, after 30 mins. Isn't it funny how we get to feeling so good, in such a short amount of time - and we have to remind ourselves how difficult it used to be? I love being outdoors- even yesterday in the 90s. This morning its already 87 & humid, and Im Okay.. for now! LOL Its supposed to reach 110 today. AND thank you about the clothes. I still think there is some conspiracy going on- at the stores. Originally I bought mens workout pants for sizing and XL womens tops.. I just bought a great Prospirit top- in L and thought ok this will fit- Tried it on and its too big- its stretchy soft- so I forget to gauge my size..I keep thinking Im still big- and even though the scale is NOT moving- I discovered the inches are going down- they are moving somewhere! Today I put on a pair of my sons sz 38 Khaki shorts to wear-they are an inch too big in waist - last time they were snug- And I was surprised. It shows all the hard work we do- and Ive been focused on ABS now- is really working. I guess its just that our fitness levels are so greatly improved our bodies really can't metabolize the way we want- ALL the time. When you think about it- Im surprised our bodies haven't been 'shocked' by the short time in which we've dropped weight- you know? We are all walking around feeling mighty good- compared to some people who "diet" and feel tired and crappy and return to food. So we are very lucky in that way. Its Ok for me to purchase size M tops now. Thank YOU for reminding me. Yes I have pictures that are not yet posted. I honestly didn't know how big I was. I didn't even know my sister had pictures, I avoided them. You know we all had that split mentality- how we looked to everyone- and how we THOUGHT we looked? NOW, that image is improved and better. I can't stop admiring how I look in the mirrors, in windows walking by and I keep looking for that reflection. We have moved from the invisible fringe to being active in our lives, from existing and accepting what we watched, to actively participating in our lives. Thank You again, Eileen for making me notice that. And for reminding me, its a process, we are works in progress. I should have a shirt with a hard hat on it, that says Under Construction. LOL What really gets me- is how saturated with fat my body must have been, you know? Like you said- we are relatively very close - age/ weight/ height - and I think- how the hell would this have happened without surgery? Last week Oprah rolled out 35lbs of fat on a red wagon..and I sat there saying- MINE is 3+ wagons- HOLY SH*T!! How did I fit that in my body, you know? It was eye opening, thanks for reminding me. I wish I knew what to tell you about your kids. I have just one, and some days wish I had more and then Im thankful its only one. We are close, and opposites in many ways. Yet I can see the good influence I am on my son. I have just squeaked by his weight - and he is learning a lesson about his own. He just doesn't understand how easy it would be for him- at 21- to drop 30lbs. At 24 I dropped from 215 to 175- in 6wks- and that was my first introduction to fitness at Ballys. Everyday I was at the gym. When I got to 175 I chastised myself for not reaching 145- had I given myself more time- I probably would have. Now at 25yrs later I will get there. I think of my time at the gym as being "in therapy" or "rehab". It sounds funny- but here is why: Without it- Im not focused and will proabably make bad food choices. It accomodates me- that if I do make a mistake- I can return and work on getting healthier - mentally and physically. Its a learning experience, and teaches me patience; allows me to take out my aggression when Im mad at the world, and helps me to heal, and soothe my mind and body, after working out. I find some inner peace, and feel stronger. I become more defiant and more confident when I go regularly. When Im away from it- the longer I am away- the more difficulty I find in coping with stress and life. Its the one correlation that I've stuck to for 3 yrs at Ballys- which expires in Sept. So thank you for reminding me about that - I will continue to rededicate myself as I go -and this is only ONE year post surgery. If I can stick with exercise (& lower fitness) for 3yrs- then the next several years- will only make me better and stronger than I am today. SO! Eileen, You may not have found the exact words, but your kindness and compassion have reminded me of all these things, as we move forward into our anniversary month- and I thank you many times over. I feel better. I need to learn to tone down the emotional colors in my palette. Not to be so anxious ( I think that also makes the scale stick) and enjoy my place in life. I have two weeks vacation from being Mom- and I will enjoy that freedom. Thank you for being such a great friend. (i'm sorry I wrote such a book) Hugs Donna OH YEAH - HAPPY BIRTHDAY