Isn't life GREAT, Velvin? Congratulations, at working so hard to feel so good! I recently thanked my surgeon for using the gifts that he had been blessed with, and for learning how to do this surgery. He got emotional with me. He said that nothing is more gratifying, than knowing that you have helped someone live and enjoy life, again. Keep up the good work! Your WL Friend, Jane 362/230

I want to take this this to say that now i am in my 6 month i am 178 lbs and i fell great . I am playng golf and i work out every morning for at least and hour. I dont know what to say but Thank God for WLS and Hickory Surgery Group.

Amen Sister, I now weigh way less than the LIE I put on my drivers license and do not look much like it either. I think I too will have to have a shredder accident Tanya

Congratulations...and thanks for the inspiration. I still have a ways to go to hit that mark....but I will.

I still have very little appetite but I at least get hungry sometime now. I eat a Wasa whole wheat cracker for breakfast topped with some protein. For lunch, the same. For dinner usually a protein and veggies. What I am trying to do is up my veggies. I still cannot eat fruit well. I get sick on anything dairy so have become lactose intolerant...which I hear is not uncommon. I was lactose insensitive before surgery so am not surprised. I lose weight very slowly...about 4-5 pounds a month now but it comes off so am not unhappy about the slowness. I know other people lose more but many had more to lose to begin with. I had my surgery at 226 pounds and am now 162. Sure, I would like to be in my 130's by now but exercise is still limited due to the hernia and the three other surgeries. I love to exercise and always have so this being "held back" is probably harder on me than anything else but the surgeries. What I do try to do is make sure I get in my protein. I do a calorie count about once or twice a week looking at fat, calories, and carbs. I guess I eat about 800 calories a day on a good eating day. I sometimes will eat nothing but my protein drink if I am not feeling well....I get constipated easily because I take super iron pills due to the anemia from the surgeries. I think my weight loss is slower due to my exercise being limited though. I will get there. I still can't eat fruit, chicken, beef, or dairy. I can't eat carbs except the Wasa crackers which are only 20 calories and low in carbs too. They serve as protein holders really!