HI MARY LOU GLAD TO HEAR YOUR DOING GOOD, I AM ALSO DOING GREAT NOW A SIZE 8 IT IS SOOOOOOOO MUCH BETTER MY ENTIRE LIFE HAS CHANGED. IM FINISHING MED COLLEGE IN BILLING AND LOVE IT. I AM 51 SO THIS IS ALL NEW TO ME, I CANT SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THIS SURGERY I WISHED I HAD DONE IT LONG AGO . GIVE ME A YELL CATHY IN ILL

I am down 138# so far, from 320 to 182. My clothes are 14's, but getting a little large. I still have 22# to loose and when I went in for my 1 year check-up with my surgeon he told me that I needed to loose those last pounds before 15 months. Evidently, at that point my body will establish a new set point and loosing after that time will be viery difficult. He also was thrilled with my progress and had me show him my license so he could remember what I looked like presurgery. My life is so much better since the surgery. I am off most of the meds I took before. My joints are no longer painful. I take the stairs at work and other places and am rarely out of breath. Shopping is more fun, and I buy clothes in both the juniors and misses departments now (even if I am 56). My 24 year-old daughter and I are wearing the same size in many things. My husband (who was worried and not terribly supportive about the surgery prior to it) is thrilled with the new me. I am more outgoing and more confident. I have a new job where they never new me heavy and I love that my coworkers reactions to me and my work are based strictly on my capabilities not my weight. I can eat almost anything, but have to remember to chew very well for heavy foods or ones with skins (like apples). I still get periodic bouts of dry heaves and diahhrea, but if that is my trade off for the rest I will take it in a minute. Congrats to everyone else that has successfully made it to one year. For those of you considering surgery my advice is decide what you want out of the rest of your life and if you think surgery is right for you, go for it. I waited until I was 55 and my only regret is that I did not do it sooner. Julie in Maple Valley, WA Pre - 320 - 9/23/03 Now - 182 - 10/5/03 Goal - 160 - soon I hope (definitely before 12/23/03)

We have the same anniversary - I am down 90# with 58 to go. I started at 292 and am at 202 now - Can't wait till I get to the 100# mark... Congratulations on your loss - your doing great! Hugs, Jennifer - MN

Well it has been one year today, and I feel wonderful, I have lost 120 pounds and I feel like I am a new woman. God Bless Dr. Adam Naaman, without him and God, I feel like I would not be here in the world today. I am getting around like I am 20 years younger than I am. I turned 50 this year and it has been a wonderful journey. I just thank God each day, more than once, that he helped me to get the surgery and saw me through it. I have not had any problems at all, and I owe that to God. I hope each of you that are thinking about the surgery, consider it carefully, it means giving up a lot, but I was so ready that I don't feel like I gave up anything and that I gained a whole new outlook on life. Thank you and hope all of you succeed in your journey. God Bless. Debra Gardner

Thank God I am not alone. But it doesn't make it any better. I am in a 9 month slump. I have been fluctuating 5 lbs lose, gain, but still 60 lbs from goal. I have lost about 80-85 lbd but I am still feeling very frustrated. I abandoned my support group because I don't want to hear what I need to do. But after reading some of these replies, I know what I have to do, I just have to do it. Emotional eating, carbs, sugars, sodas, that is all of my mistakes. At first I felt reborn that I didn't have to give them up altogether as I initally was prepared for, but now just after my 1 year anniversary, I am in sorrow, wishing I had an adverse reaction to all of these things that I can tolerate. I know protein is the key, exercise is the key, and also taking those taboo foods and ditching them is the major key. I am open to anyone who wants to be my sponsor during this low time in my journey. Please email me at [email protected], I don't know how I got to this page and don't know if I could get back. I hope we can help each other before we give up on this whole thing. Thank you.