Hey there Deborah, and Congrats on your TT. I had surgery 10/25/04 and had a starting weight of 292. I am at goal, at 151 for a total loss of 141 lbs. I just had a tummy tuck, breast lift and augmentation about 3 1/2 weeks ago. I can hardly believe my eyes when I look in the mirror. It was all out of pocket, and it was the best money I have ever spent. I too may be able to wear a bikini after all. I am hoping to get new pics including before and after ps this weekend. I have had sooooooo many highs and lows on this journey of self discovery, that it would take days to list them all. My biggest wow...for the first time in my life, I really do like the way that I look, and can really feel like I am a worthy human being in this world. It may sound corny, but I have ALWAYS hated myself, and I'm soooooo glad that I don't anymore I hope that everyone else out there is doing great, and that you have all found what you are looking for as well!!! Gina

hi there getting awefully quiet in here. i just got back from my tummy tuck and im sore but ill get over it. Anyoe else have a tuck yet if so how did you make out. How is everyone doing? Are you at goal...soo close you can taste it or are you struggling? How much is everyone down now its been a year a half siooo lets see where we are all at deb oct 22nd 2004 starting 183 now 145 things done tummy tuck things to do need my girls back things im thinking about thigh lift Biggest wow moment ....today tried on a bikini not a tankini even with my bandages on from the tuck that was done a week ago my eyebrown went up....you know what i think im going to be able to wear a bikini ...imagine that..i couldnt until today Lowest moment prolly mid way took a bad heatburn and gall stone attack was feeling weak and a lil ok well alot of self wallow actually said to hubby i wish i had not had this done im soo freaking frustrated,,,,good thing it lasted all of a half hour. looking forward to healing from the tuck and getting the girls done. I look like a discovery channel case boobs look like string beans when i bend over its like there is no more umpppf behind em just skin and that is it. Used to be a 42 dd now 34 b if i rollem up and slap em in the holster. Im thinkking 34 FULL c put some vavuuum wow into em :P~ anyways enough a bout me WHAT ABOUT YOU whats going on guys!!!

Spent the weekend at a Healthy Living Class for bariatric patients. It was extremely emotional and intense. Here are just a few things I learned or liked the expression: Absolute Favorite: Change occurs when the pain of where we are is greater than the pain of change. To run a mile still only burns 100 calories - the same as if you walked that mile. See me, Hear me, Approve of me Obesity is a disease. Obese people have less receptors to release dopamine. We released our dopamine by eating. Stress and negative emotions deplete serotonin which causes us to not be centered or calm. Lack of serotonin can cause you not to sleep at night. Obese people have huge Hummuculous - the bigger the hummuculous the larger the BMI. Neurons that fire together wire together. 1/3 of the population is overweight 1 out of 50 people are morbidly obese Skinny people are mutants 1 pound of body fat = 3500 calories SSRI: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitar Exercise is the number one predictor to keep weight off If you or someone you know is diabetic and they go into a diabetic coma - the only way to help them out of it immediatly is honey under the tongue. Sugar, orange juice, and other sweets will not work. Warm liquids supress hunger Just the thought of food causes insulin levels to rise which stores calories We think 1000 - 2000 words per minute in our brain You cannot take care of others if you cannot take care of yourself Co-dependancy - more focused on on others which can cause health problems, diarreah, you are a worrier. You are accountable for your own relationships. Just by drinking 2 quarts of water can burn 100 calories Caffeine stimulates hunger. Anti-depressants and caffeine together confuse the brain. You cannot heal what you do not acknowledge What other people think of me is none of my business. Amygdala - center of fear memory Stress constantly depletes serotonin - stress suppresses appetite (accute stress) - get a burst of Cortisol and you eat. At the time of death every endorphin in your body is released. Your body will do whatever it takes to survive. Mindful Eating -- This works. I didnt believe it cause I never practiced it but I am now and it works. If you have your food in front of you cut it up into as many peices as you can. Eat very slowly and taste the food - even put fork down if you want. I promise the longer it took us to eat the fuller we got on a lot less food. They suggest one "quiet meal" a day and they suggest it be breakfast.

Hang in there. We are going to always struggle with our weight, because the surgery did not fix our brains! Just stay focused and if you need help, seek it out now. Support group, individual theapary, whatever it takes not to go or look backwards. Keep up the good work and don't be afraid to ask for help. This is not easy, but YOU CAN AND WILL DO THIS....

Curtis, Good luck to you on your upcoming surgery! I hope that all goes well! I am just 12 days post op from a tummy tuck, breast lift, and augmentation. I am still really soar, but I can't believe that flat stomach I see in the mirror is mine. It really is an exciting feeling to know that the extra skin is gone. Subconciously I still keep wanting to tuck it into my pants, but it's no longer there.lol Best wishes, and I hope you get the results that you are looking for!!!! Gina