Hello everyone!!!! I haven't posted on this website in ages. Since it will be a year on 08/16 I have to congratulate myself. I have lost 200 pounds!!!!! I started at 450 lbs that hot August day and now Im 250 pounds!!!!! Im a tall girl (6'0") so everyone tells me that I dont look like I weigh that much, I only want to lose like 30 moe pounds, but I know I will do it. Good luck to everyone and enjoy this month we all deserve it!!!

Hi - here is what you do: Email a request to [email protected] and put "century card" in the subject line, it can take over a week for them to add the card to your profile. Congratulations and welcome to the club! Donna

Lori- Thank you for telling me, that my mother isn't the only one. She issues of control- you know wanting to "control you" especially with food. All my life I lived with the negativity "boys will never wanna date you", "i wish I could slice off that fat" etc. Once I did ask her about it- what she said was, she learned from HER mother. She said "every knock is a boost". and I think of it quite the opposite. I made sure I brought up my son the way I wanted to be raised, and think I've done a good job. He has self insecurity- but knows he is loved. Not the way I grew up- and YES it does make you want to eat. And honestly- we fight all the time- because I am fighting to keep her off me, and its very defensive and honestly- I don't like fighting. And she is the type that has to have the last word. At least twice this morning before I left the house & after my son headed to the airport- I had to say in plain english to 'shut up". She is just as pushy as ever at 90 as she was at 60. I'm telling you. And I don't get the backhanded comments- she says she's happy she lived long enough to see this day (like I had the surgery for her- which I DID NOT BY ANY MEANS)..she tells me I look like a "large" now, to her that is a normal person. ( And I think to myself I'm so FAR from it) The ONE thing I do like- is that my cast off clothes can now be given to her. I am now smaller than both my son and my Mom (and it was the other way around) so now- she knows I am smaller than her- but she still makes issues over food. Its bad enough I've had my own issues with it (head hunger- how much etc) without adding her to the mix- you know? And yes- you are right- she is not going to change- neither one of our mothers. My brother can't understand why we fight all the time- she doesn't treat him that way- but she never tried to control him either..I thought the 'empty nest' syndrome would have been gone a long time already, you know? And suffice it to say- that my brother had planned to give me a small birthday party at his house- but because of my Mom taking issue with my sister- right before my birthday- he cancelled the party. She admits all the good she does 'goes down the drain' with the bad things she says- but it does not refrain her from saying anything. I have No CLue what my brother and sister will do when she turns 90 in September. I am the youngest and they are both in their 60s (yes you read right) . ANYWAY- thank you for letting me get this off my chest-I think I really needed to vent. I also blame my doctors office- the PA and the nutrionist- because they always kept saying 40-60gms is what you need- When I just found out- that 100/120 is more like it especially when you are exercising or carry are 'apple shaped' tummy like I was- and your body oxidises fat storage faster than someone who is 'pear shaped".. So hang in there Lori- I know as long as we continue to exercise- the fat ( notice I didnt say weight) will come off. Focus on your BMI..because the weight can stabilize but you can lose inches. And just so you know- my surgeons PA told me-that at 10mos or more out- losing between 8-12lbs month is acceptable. So this is why I feel like I am the new kid on the block with the protein- drinking and eating more- boosting myself with like 70gms+ day: One isopure (40gms) one scoop unflavored (26+) in yogurt and one Muscle Milk oatmeal (30gms). I'm thinking about switiching to 2 isopures a day..Anyway- thank you again..Im going to the gym later. Its my therapy I always leave feeling better than I arrived. Hugs, Donna

Donna my dear...{{{{big hugs}}}} to you sweetheart. Bless your heart! I was reallllly sad after reading this post. You have come so far on your journey! And it's still working for you, just a little slower than some people. I have a gal in my yahoo group who had surgery at 285lbs and has lost 90lbs in 3 months! Talk about depressing! But we can't beat ourselves up over it. We all lose weight differently. Some of us slower than others... and others who drop weight every time they turn around! I think we have all been struggling lately with our slower losses. And our emotions getting the best of us. We feel like things should be so much different at almost 1 year post op. I figured I would be at goal by then, but I am not. But I know the surgery is still working. Especially when I try and eat more than I can possibly fit in my small stomach... I don't have any dating advice. I have been with my husband for almost 18 years now. We have had our struggles and have split twice but manage to keep it together most days. I would not want to be out there in the dating world again and give you girls who are, LOTS of credit for braving it! Remember when you are feeling unloved, WE LOVE YOU!!! Seriously, I do love you. I know some people might wonder, "how can you love someone you have never met?" Well I personally believe it's possible. We give lots of love and support here and I hope that what I feel is mutual with us all. Take care you beautiful person! You deserve all the best life has to offer! Lori

Hi Donna, Wow! for turning 50 you look awesome!! I love your new picture!!!! You don't even look the same as before (I guess about 4 months ago shot is what I am thinking of). I can't believe that your imagine is so different. Beautiful!! Well, mothers can be the best at times and the worst! Your mom sounds so much like my mother, I had to do a double take at what was said. I believe they think that the observations they make will challenge us to do better. The only thing that my mom's negetive comments make me want to do is "EAT!!!" I don't know why they don't understand that the things they say can hurt the worst in our lives. I was always looking for approval from my mother and rarely got it from her. So now when she is negetive to me, I let her know that her comments do nothing good for me and to not say anything if she can't think of something positive. Sticking up for myself with her was hard at first, but I gotten to the point that I don't care if it hurts her when I let her know she isn't helping me. I figure, I'd rather her feel rotten for once and know what I go through then for me to try to hade the way she made me feel. I don't tredge up stuff from the past, just let her know what she said at the current moment isn't appreciated. I think our relationship is better for it. I also know how you feel about the clothes issue. I thought that by now I would be wearing a size 8/10 and I am just beginning to be able to wear misses size 16/18. It is very frustrating. I am in onerderland, but I am only 5'1" and my abdomen area is still huge to me. I have people telling me all the time that I look fantastic, but the mirror shows me something different. My head imagine of myself is better than this time last year, but I still feel and am fat. I see my surgeon on Aug 3rd (my one year post-op date) and I am not looking forward to it. Since my last visit, I've only lost 9.5 pounds. He will make me feel like crap about it too. I have had to be happy with where I am and hope and pray it starts to come off again. I know it will be much slower, but I do want to be able to get to a least 150. That is my new goal for myself. I want to be realistic...instead of dreaming of something that is unattainable. I don't know how else to react at this point. My body is so different than anyone elses that it can be very discouraging if I don't change my attitude about how this is working for me. A friend of mine who is 5 1/2 years out says I look fantastic. I guess I do, but like I said, I see what the mirror shows in this pre-plastic surgery state and it looks like fat to me. Oh well, just wanted to share how my journey is going and to let you know that we all find ways to manage the non-loosing issues and have poor self-image when we look at ourselves. I have to keep believing and thanking people who sees me different and trust that they are being truthful when they say how good I look to them. It is a real character builder for me, I'll tell you that. Well, I've written a book here...sorry! Hope you find something encouraging to you in all these ramblings. Take care and keep on strong in the journey!! Lori 293/197/150/130