I keep forgetting to participate in the roll call until it is too late, so I am glad that it was posted on the 7th this month! I have my one year follow up appointment with my surgeon on Monday, so I will see if my blood work is normal. I am not always great with complying with vitamins and iron. I have lost 109 lbs since my surgery on October 27th, 2003, and wear mostly 10s now. I am fairly active, exercising 5-6 days a week. I have not done weights in a couple of weeks, and need to get back to that. I am very happy to be able to move in the world again. This surgery is the best thing I have ever done for myself. My original goal was 140 lbs but now that I am almost there I think I might want to go lower than that, since I am only 5 ft. tall. I haven't considered plastic surgery yet. I don't have a great deal of hanging skin. We'll see what the next few months of this journey brings! Tricia E. Bratton October 27, 2003 251/142/??

I have lost a total of 137 pounds so far. I really hope I am not done yet. I need to lose about 25-30 more to be where I want to be. I am scheduled for my TT on the 15th, so I am hoping that it will kick start the losing of pounds again. I am still losing inches but the goofy scales are stuck. I have been very lax in my exercise, but have stepped it up in the past 2 weeks. I am walking 4 miles 3 Xs a week and 2 miles 2 Xs a week. I do not have a problem getting in my fluids, but do have a problem getting in the protiens. I really hope that this week (before TT) I can be down another 8 pounds. I am off of all my meds except for the arthritis meds. No more thyroid med, cholesterol med, BP meds, diabetes meds. I am doing really well. I think the biggest changes has been in my attitude and in my marriage. It was never bad, but this has sure inhanced things a lot. HAPPY REBIRTHDAY EVERYONES. Peggy 326/316/189/160 highest/at surgery/now/my goal

I was actually able to participate in camp this year. I have been the crafts director for 7 years, but that is all I would do. This year I was in most meetings with the kids & actually did the nature walk which was a 1 1/2 mile hike through the woods. I felt so good doing that. Next year I WILL go horseback riding too. Peggy

HAPPY RE-BIRTHDAY ALL MY OCTOBER SIB'S!!!!!!!!!!! This month has been long awaited. I have lost a total of 93 pounds and am 8# away from NORMAL BMI. I am so excited I could just pee my pants... Last year i didn't have to be excited to "just pee my pants" it would just happen. RRRRRRRRrrrrrrr. I am so glad i am not having "THOSE" problems any longer . THe weight has been at a stand still for the last 3 months or so. I don't think i am "done" I just think i am taking a break or something because i am still loosing the inches. I fit into a size 8, but really i am a 10 and wear them well. That is a far cry from the size 24-26 that i started at. I can do "anything" that i am not scared of now. I still am getting up the nerve to jump out of an airplane with DH. I hope to do it in summer of 05. I am very acitve though i do not workout at a gym, i do participate in "the world" and that is a HUGE improvement over prior WLS. I am going to start on the PS side of things this month. I am thinking it will motivte me into submission Lol when it comes to breaking the rules of WLS. If you know of a great PS in my area please let me know. I am "just" getting started. Ya'll have a great month and get on the board. Judy 233/141/133

Hello fellow October 2003-ers! I'm doing well, not at goal yet, but 9 pounds from normal BMI!! I'm wearing size 8 jeans as I type this, but I'm actually really a solid 10 (LOVE these jeans, though, lol!). My exercise hasn't been great (probably attributing to me not having hit goal yet) but I have been doing really well with my eating. I stick to proteins and veggies, I rarely snack and when I do it's fairly high protein or generally harmless (a few almonds or some jerkey, or the more harmless snacks like Wow chips-usually 10 or so, which has about 50 cals--15 is a serving which has 70 cals--or I'll have a pickle). I'm actually getting better about my water, thanks to herbal fruit infused teas with Splenda, OMG, Celestial Seasonings Blueberry is to DIE for. I've never been happier and I'm so thankful I did this for myself. My marriage is better and I'm out with friends and family more. Thank GOODNESS for this life-saving gift!! Have a great weekend, all! ~Susannah 232/145/125