Congratulations Judy!!! you look great..I too had surgery last August 06 and I needed to lose about 95-100 lbs. I have 15 left to goal...I am size 8 Jeans and Medium tops. A year ago I wore stretch elastic waist Jeans.size 20-22.so I am thrilled...Sue.

I made it.. to a size 14... in 9.5 months whoohoo... I really want to get into a 10... I've posted a couple of pics on my profile take a peak....

Hello Everyone! I am now 9 months PO and loving life. I am down -120lbs since my WLS 08/06 and down -133lbs since Jan 2006. I am scheduled for my PS in November 07, my breasts will get the lift they need and augmentation as well as my tummy tuck & pub lift. I have a new job; it is stressful but seems to be a very positive environment. I have now moved into the "NORMAL" BMI weight range and am wearing size "8". My PS said when my excess skin is removed; I could be into a size 4/6. OMG! I have posted a new pic of myself on my profile if anyone wants to see my progress. I hope everyone is doing well and seeking happiness, as I am trying. God bless and keep striving for a healthier, happier you! Carrie

Hi Tanya, Thank you so much. It has been quite a wild ride. At times I see the thin person coming out and there are times I still think I am the fat girl. I guess it just takes time for the head to catch up with the body. To change so much in 10 months is just beyond comprehension. I see we share rebrithdays. Yes you are right I bought 3 more pairs of size 8's yesterday and still don't believe it. You are doing a great job on your journey as well. I peak over on the Texas board every now and again to check on how Tom and Que are doing and I saw that you were having some trouble a couple months ago. I see by your profile that you had surgery. Are you doing okay now? I know how hard it must have been to be flat on your back for so long. I do hope this find you feeling great. As for the girls I will have to go to victoria secret and see if some of their bras can work some magic for me. LOL Take Care and Keep up the good work. Patty

I recently posted a math question... According to my BMR (basal metabolic rate - the # of cals my body needs to maintain current weight based on bmi and activity level)... I was consuming much less than needed. Over the course of 8 weeks it should have resulted in 16 lbs of weight loss ...instead I got nada, zip, zerooonie... This was one of the great responses I received...hope it answers some of ya'lls questions too. A lot of the "Slippage in the System" comes when trying to get to exact numbers on Caloric Expenditure. Those categories of- Sedentary, Lightly Active, Moderately Active, Very Active, Extremely Active...? Unless you can "plug-in" to a monitoring device that gets an accurate and precise number read-out on "Calories Burned," the best that can be hoped for is 'somewhat close.' Somewhat close by 100? Or 500? A day? 2 days? The slightest variations add up quickly. Even if one is absolutely anal retentive about counting each step taken, each Perceived Exertion Unit, there remains the case of taking a 'fuzzy / poetic' description of energy expenditure, and attempting to 'describe it' with a number. Yes? Add one other... Muscles burn calories at different rates, even when exerting the same force. In much the same way that two fireplaces, filled with equal amounts of wood, may burn at different 'speeds' than one another. So many variables are at play. The composition of the material, the availability of oxygen (spaces between) etc, etc, etc..... Fairly Ok "Guess-timation" is about as "good as it gets." Then there is the "wiggle room" of water to deal with... There's an 8 to 10lb. volume of "wiggle room" due to water alone. And it comes into play a lot. This has to do with our bodies using glycogen for short term energy storage. Glycogen is not very soluble, But it is stored in our muscles for quick energy - One pound of glycogen requires 4 lbs of water to keep it soluble, And the average glycogen storage capacity is about 2 lbs. So, when you are not getting in enough food, (Like when you drop down to your calorie intake) Your body turns first to stored glycogen, Which is easy to break down for energy. And when you use up 2 lbs of glycogen, You also lose 8 lbs of water that was used to store it Voila -- the "easy" 10 lbs that most people lose in the first week of any diet. As you stay in caloric deficit, however, Your body starts to 'realize' that this is not a short term problem. You start mobilizing fat from your adipose tissue And burning fat for energy. But your body also 'realizes'---- (by way of your liver releasing hormones signaling low Cal intake) ---That fat can't be used for short bursts of energy - Like, to outrun a sabertooth tiger. So, it starts converting some of the fat into glycogen, And rebuilding the glycogen stores. And as it puts back the 2 lbs of glycogen into the muscle, 8 lbs of water has to be stored with it to keep it soluble. So, even though you might still be LOSING energy content to your body, (Thus showing negative Calorie load overall) Your weight will not go down or you might even GAIN for a while As you retain water to dissolve the glycogen that is being reformed and stored. Yes? The whole 'weight-loss' process is not a straight "Slide" down the scale. More like "Stair-Steps," (Down then forward, then down, then forward, etc... As your body cycles fat out of "deep storage" and through the Liver Into the muscles as Glycogen. The muscles and Liver can hold about a 3 weeks supply. This is why many people find that their "Stall" or "Plateau" Breaks when adding a bit of exercise And upping their water intake, or in the case of an "extreme exerciser," The total Calorie or Protein Intake, To signal the liver to let go of more Glycogen. Fear not, many people who are now enjoying life at a normal BMI Once had a few weeks or so of thinking- "...my weight loss has been awfully slow, has it stopped..."?