Hello, all I had my surgery Sept. 24, 2003. Dr.Sapala assisted by Dr. Kerry Kole done my surgery. I lost 30 pounds before they would do surgery and have lost 108 since surgery a total of 138 pounds. PHOTO'S CAN BE SEEN AT http:/hometown.aol.com/angeleyes2249036/index.html Would enjoy posting with all of you.

I am in your shoes and will start seeing a therapist tomorrow. I dont know how else to do it since my kids & hubby dont feel like they should be punished since they dont have the "problem"

Oh ladies...you are so not alone. We all want the loss RIGHT NOW. My coworker did her surgery one month before I did, I don't know what she started out at exactly, but she is at goal. I don't think she was bigger than me or much smaller even. I stopped hanging around with her because I felt coworkers were comparing me to her and looking at me thinking..."ok..what's YOUR problem?" I felt like SUCH a failure. The sad part is, my withdrawal from her was not her fault, and I have felt badly about it and have gone back to make amends. I constantly cringe when I see people that know I have had the surgery. I don't know if there "oh you look great" is genuine or them just being kind. I went to a planning meeting for my 25th high school reunion the other weekend...they all gave me compliments, but one lady did email me and say she was so envious of how I looked. Sometimes my mom comments on my loss, sometimes not. My son is in Florida and has not been home since I had my surgery (he is in the air force). I think he is coming in for a visit soon, but I was hoping to see him in mid summer when I had had more time to lose some more weight. I guess the real test will be what he says. Although I do not know if it will make a difference to him, most of my family has failed to comment on my surgery or weight loss. My daughter has NEVER mentioned my weight loss at all...until the other night...while trying to lay her head in my lap she kept moving around and couldn't get comfortable...I said.."what in heck is wrong with you?" She sat up and said..."what is that? It's HARD!" Well she poked my side and I realized she was talking about my hipbone. In all her 20 years I have never had a hipbone sticking out. I rely on good, close friends to be honest and the people from the OH boards to be able to converse with about the good things, bad things or just plain off topic things that I need to get off my chest. Do not give up and do please use the OH sites for encouragement and support. We are all on the same journey here, some of us just have vehicles that will just only go so fast for us. Call us the slowbies if you have to. If I did not have post ops that went before me and have the same slow lose problem, and didn't document it here so I could see I was not alone, I would REALLY be depressed. It will happen, just have to work the tool. I feel better than I have in 20 years. I can sit in my office chair and actually not have thigh hangoverage. I can't wait to get on a plane and belt up without an extender and have plenty of room left to wiggle my hips in the chair without touching my seat mates. I just got me some hiking boots, fixing to try them out Tuesday evening on a local trail, and I have signed up for a softball team. Make a list of the things you weren't able to do before...make a list of things you want to be able to do in the future. Keep that list visible and check things off as you accomplish them. I think you will see..even now from your before list, you are really doing GREAT! P.S. We are ALL human and have our falls from grace. Don't let anyone say they don't. Mine was Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs and Milky Way Bunnies. *HUGS* Mary Beth 283/209/150

I hadn't posted in quite some time because I was just not making any connections with anyone. I felt that I was just going about it all wrong. today I came in expecting the same thing and I'll tell you, I have found that we are ALL in the same boat. I am currently struggling with the comparison thing and have lost a total of 75lbs since sept 24th. It's so hard not to compare. I guess it's because we want to hit the 100 mark. I am just happy that I don't get stuck in turnstiles anymore! and That is how I remind myself to be happy and proud of myself. Everyone here at one point or another, including myself has said "We are all different and weightloss varies from one to another" but how many of us are willing to truely accept that for ourselves. My surgeon has become my nemisis and I hate going to him for follow ups because he compares me to everyone else and insists that I have just given up on the whole thing because I am not walking 3 miles daily. recently, I was met with devastating silence when my cousin, 2 months out from DS has already lost 60lbs and I, only 75, of course she tried motivate me by asking me what I FAILED to do! How are we supposed to feel proud when the very people we go to for support react to our varied weightloss in such a negative way? I am prone to depression and this has been quite a journey for me emotionally. I know that I shouldn't worry about others opinions but, I do. I hate that the consensus is that if you have not yet lost at least 90lbs by 7 months out you are doing it wrong. I'm doing what my dietician tells me and being human, I slip up from time to time. I feel terrible enough as it is that I haven't lost more but this is me and I can sit in a booth, I can tie my shoelaces without holding my breath, I can walk a mile without getting winded, I sleep like a baby and I feel wonderful! thanks everyone for reading, I just had to get this off my chest.

HELP!!!! I find that I am REALLY going sugar and carb crazy. I want chocolate, candy, bread ect. If I don't really pay attention I find my hand reaching for things to eat. My stomache is not hungry...but my brain sure is craving. Does anyone have any suggestions? I don't keep the "trouble" foods at home, but there is a stock pile of them at work that co-workers and my boss bring in. HELP!!! I need a good kick in the butt or a major burst of wheel power. I know you guys are the ones to offer suggestions and help on this problem!