Wow.... I am having the same problem.... and I must say my family is not liking it at all. I can clean the room out....lol. In all seriousness it is very embarassing. I don't like to go out anymore because of it. I can't help it or hold it in. Never ever had this problem in my life. I had the surgery in Aug. 2006. Let me know if you find out any good solutions or if anyone has any - my email is [email protected]. Thanks

Fellow August 2006ers, I am curious how everyone is doing and wanted to wish you all the best. I do not come on here very often anymore as it doesnt seem many of you do either but how about a report of how everyone is doing? I am so happy with what I have done, I started at 303, went down to 285 before surgery and lost 100 in a year. However, since August I have not lost, in fact these past couple of weeks I have managed to put on a couple of pounds. I think I was so happy with where I was at I let myself get back to eating, snacking...and now with Christmas I have really been naughty! *&%&$^$&% I do dump a little on sugars and fats but not enough to make me stop! I am angry at myself for this, and know I need to get back to exercise and eating properly. But life as a normal sized person is great....I get so many compliments...I love going to regular stores to shop and find so many things to wear. I feel so much better about myself and have so much more energy too. So I guess this is a peptalk for me, and also wanted to see what the rest are doing and wish you all the best and hopefully we will continue with our goals in mind and meeting them and living our best life!! Live, Love,Laugh and LEARN! C

I just have no appetite at all. Some days, I could go ALL day without eating and never miss it. I don't do that, but I could. Instead, I watch the clock and eat by that. No hunger pains to clue me in when I'm behind either! I do NOT drink soda--not even preop. I do, however, go through a good bit of iced tea and that is contributing to my low iron. Sorry to hear about the pain from the DDD. Mine has been doing very well since the first 100 pounds came off. Now that I'm at 200 lost, I don't have much pain at all from the DDD. I have recently had a new bout with pain and give-out in my left knee (bone on bone, no cartilige left and major arthritis at times). I don't take anything for it and go for months without really feeling the need to. Then, suddenly and for no apparent reason, it gives me a fit for a while. This time, it went out on me and I slipped down my front stairs (picked a lovely time to go out!)... I busted my butt and my pride, but no real injuries. Then, for about a week, it acted up and gave me some pain. Now, again for no apparent reason as I've not taken any anti-inflammatories or anything, it has stopped again. I used to get cortisone shots in both knees every three mos like clockwork as that was as often as my ortho would do it. Now, I haven't had one since March and don't really feel the need till I have a round like this last one! All in all, I'm doing pretty good. I am down to 209 from 410 (201 pounds gone forever!). I'm still aiming to get down into onederland, but anywhere there will be fine. I set my goal at 185, but with excess skin, I'm not sure that is possible. We'll see where I land! I hope the appt on the 24th gives you a much needed break from the pain. Hugs, Lea

I still have no real appetite. Yes, I have occasional food cravings and I crave salty or sweet at times. But I have no true appetite for normal, every day eating. I could easily go for days without eating and stop only because I got weak. I do NOT do that, but I could. I make myself eat and get my protein in each day (100+ grams per day). I really think that I'd prefer to have the appetite and have to battle it at times... How about the rest of you?? Lea

I fret over what I am eating weekly if not daily. I am sort of convinced that I need 1500 cals a day just to keep my metabolism up where I burn fat as I wasn't losing much at my 1200 cal a day average this last 6+ mos and had been losing weight pretty much only the week after my period. The week I upped my calories, I lost 3 pounds in like 4 days... I'm thinking of making it my norm now. I eat 100+ grams of protein per day and all but 36 of that is from food. 36 is my protein hot cocoa that I start the day out with. And, despite the 100+ grams per day, my prealbumin labs were in the toilet, so it truly isn't enough for me due to the malabsorption factor. I need to work on upping the protein without upping the calories farther than the 1500 per day. With that said, I am 15 mos postop and have lost 198 pounds (410 start, 212 now). I am 5 foot 7 1/2 inches tall and aiming for 185 to 190 somewhere but will be happy with anything that starts with a ONE--even 199.5! After years of weighing at or near 400 pounds, 212 seems like heaven. Heck, I haven't weighed less than 250 since middle school which was from 1978 to 1981! Hubby told someone the other day that I was his "new girlfriend" and we've been together 20 years! LOL My surgeon prefers we get all our daily protein from food but does not tell us NOT to do shakes. He believes that the mixed amino acid proteins in various foods are better absorbed and more complete than what you get from shakes. But, I can't top 100 grams a day without some supplementation, hence my protein cocoa. What is your average daily calorie intake? Are you getting in some good, healthy complex carbs each and every day? Lea