I'm so glad to see you 10/03 buddies checking in!! I've missed you guys!! My all time high was 313, and today I weigh 143, for a 170 lb. loss. I've been successfully maintaining within my goal range of 140 - 145 for about 8 months now. I do watch it very closely...if I don't eat enough I slip too low, and if I snack too much I start to creep higher...so I weigh myself almost everyday to keep an eye on it. I once wore a size 26/28, and today wear a size 4 or 6. I had hernia repair and tummy tuck last November...which was far more challenging than RNY, but still worth it. I doubt I will ever have any more reconstructive surgery, but sure could use it! At the moment I suspect another hernia, in spite of the abdominal meshing. I see a doctor to check it out next week. Life is good, but very different for me. I got married to a wonderful man in April. I met him shortly after WLS and he's super supportive. I co-lead a monthly support group, which really helps me stay on track. I have found that I am more "fragile" since WLS, but it is still worth it by far. I've had Lyme Disease all summer, which has really diminished my exercise, which in turn causes me to be weaker...something I didn't need! I think I'm beyond it now and strengthening, though. I watch my nutrition very closely, and demand that my PCP watch my blood counts closely just to make sure all is good...and it always is!! It is great to check in with all of you. I think in some ways this is the hardest part of our journey...how to maintain our weightloss long term. I know I am having to fight bad habits trying to creep back into my life more and more. Just in the past couple of weeks I have tried small amounts of refined sugar for the first time, and have discovered I can tolerate them. In fact, I feel better after eating a small amount (less than a scoop) of regular icecream than I would if I ate the same amount of sugar free icecream (not worth the gas pain, in my opinion!). I guess that isn't bad as long as the quantity doesn't increase or become a frequent habit. So far I have the self control, but the future scares me sometimes! Kathy

Hello everyone, Yep, almost two years and feeling better than I did in High School. I started at a all time high around 525lb and the day of surgery weighed in at 397 with a BMI o**** Two years later, 3 surgeries and 6 tranfussions with 19 units of blood...2 times on the door step to the other side..... I'm down to 187 lbs with 17% body fat. I now fit into 29x34 levis Pre surgery I was in a 64 waist and a 6xlt shirt..My shirt size is now a small. With all that said....I'm sorry I waited so long to do this....I would do it again no matter what!!!!!! I actually struggle to keep weight on. If I'm not careful I drop 5-8 lbs in a week ( I don't have it to loose!) Lots of people ask me how they can have the success that I have been blessed with and My advice is to not be so carb concious but that dosen't mean chips, and junk, more fruit and natural carbs like veggies, in season fruits. I still eat a limited diet, not much red meat, NO REFINED SUGAR! A Little Alcohol, NO SODA! Slurppies are OK! I do not eat things like Hot dogs or to many processed foods. I try my best to eat things in their natural state, Like shrimp, chicken, some fish, My thoughts are that we now spend so much less on groceries why not buy that much better foods like shrimp, crab and so on. I am so happy to be a bariartic patient and feel bless to have another chance at LIFE Thanks for listening Shawn Stiner

Oh Michele, I'm so sorry darlin' I don't know what to say except I'll keep you in my thoughts as you deal with this issue.

Can't believe it is almost 2 years since we made that leap of faith together! I have lost about 125 lbs but am still struggling. Keep gaining and losing the same 5 lbs. I have decided to step up my exercise and am walking 1 1/2 miles 5 days a week. I am hoping that gets me jump started again. The doctor wants me to lose another 50 lbs. My tummy isn't bad, (it could be better), but my thighs are awful. The skin looks like melting wax. I doubt if insurance would pay for them, and I hate the idea of any more surgery, so I suppose I will just have to live with them. I can eat just about anything, I am lactose intolerant though. Has any one else had marital problems post WLS? I recently found out that my dh of 20 years has had several affairs since my surgery. I am wondering if the two things are in any way related. He says not, but I think it is too big a coincidence. Anyway, physically I feel wonderful. Mentally, life is a struggle right now.

i had my open wls two years ago and my incision never closed properly. since my surgery was done out of state i couldn't find a surgeon in california to look at me as soon as they heard the word "gastric". anyway, after a friend told me to see a plastic surgeon for a "scar revision", he opened me up and found at least four hernias, sutures that had rotted and a growing infection down to my abdominal wall. has anyone out there had a problem like this and what did you do about it? i'd gone to the er for pain, had ct's done and was told i was fine. this has caused major problems in my personal and business life. if i knew my body was fighting an infection it may have saved my marriage.