Hello all, I don't post much here, but I'm always lurking. Today, I need to post... Here I am....8 days to go to my one year anniversary. I'm happy to report I've lost about 90 pounds. I say about 90 because for the last month I've done nothing but go up and down the same 3 pounds or so. It scares me because that is exactly how I used to be before surgery. I have to admit, I've fallen off the wagon a lot over the last couple months....and it definitely shows! During the week and especially daytime I do really well with my food choices, but some evenings/nights I feel out of control. Weekends are bad for me too...maybe because they are unstructured...no regime like a workday. I've also been really bad with excercising...pretty much nonexistent for the last 3 months. Because of this, there are days I feel like I'm a failure...like I didn't deserve the surgery...especially when I read other peoples profiles who are so strict with their diet and exercise like crazy. The frustrating part is even when I was excercising 4-5 times a week, it didn't seem to make much of a difference as far as how I lost. I don't want to make excuses, but I have been under TONS of stress. I got married in July and have had nothing but problems with my ex-husband lately...to the extent of PPO's and court dates, I know the stress has been draining me, but I need to let go of it and focus on me. I'm nervous about seeing my surgeon next week. He's very nice and all, but I don't want him to be disappointed...I'm already disappointed in myself. I really only want to lose another 20-25 pounds which would put me at about 165-170...which would be great for me. I really don't think I could maintain anything less than that...shoot...lately I've had a hard time maintaining 190...let alone still losing more. I guess I'm looking for some words of encouragement, maybe a kick in the butt. I know what I need to do and I don't want to be disappointed in myself ( a lifelong problem of mine). Anyway...thanks so much for taking the time to read this. ~Stacy 282/193/170

I had my surgery and I am thankful each and everyday. It has been one unbelievable journey. I took advantage of the tool from day one and have been at goal for the last 3 weeks. I am proud of the way I look and I now dress and take pride in myself. I listed what I believe help me to be successful. 1. I took special care to stay away from bad carbs. 2. I still yet to add refine sugar back into my diet. 3. I take all of my vitamins and drink water faithfully. 4. I have done extensive exercise since November. For the first time in my life I am maintaining my weight instead of trying to lose weight. I now focus on healthy eating because it is easy to eat most anything now. I now ride with my husband on a motorcycle and roller blade, I turned into a gutsy 53 year old. I will get my blood results back this Thursday to see how my health is. I also vowed to weigh myself everyday and if the scale goes above 3 lbs above my goal, its back to basics for me. Life is Great again. Janice

Well... I have went from EXTREMELY obese to NORMAL is just 11 months!!! I cannot believe I have come so far in such a short period of time!!! I can't say that I am normal - by no means - I don't think my head will EVER be screwed on just right! But to all of you out there, thank you! Without the support of my family and peers, I wouldn't have come as far as I have. I have not yet met my personal goal, but I have hit the docs. I still cannot believe the scale when I see it!!! Well - I hope everyone is well... We need some more activity on this board!!! Jolene 280/149/...140 (Oh so close!!!)

I wrote a letter to my Governor about Morbid Obesity. I am sure some of you read it last week but I am posting it again because well I believe the more people that are aware and do something about this issue the more that will get done. I know a lot of you are post op as am I, but I still think that insurance companies need to pay for our after care programs such as nutritionists and exercise. Did you know that a lot of insurance companies will pay for treatment if you are aneroxic or bilemic but not if you are Obese. Is that not discrimination? I think We need to stand together and fight this issue and write to our local and federal officials anyway here we go with my letter again. Feel free to copy it and change it how you need it, or i Encourage you to write your own. Thanks Jenna Dear Governor Rendell: I am writing as a tax-payer, registered voter, and concerned citizen, in regards to the issue of the limited options for the morbidly obese citizens of Pennsylvania. The American Society for Bariatric Surgery (ASBS) defines morbid obesity as individuals that are over 100 lbs or more overweight. This term refers to the threat to health that of excess weight implies. Body Mass Index (BMI) is used as a guideline. Having a BMI of 40 or greater is considered morbidly obese. Lack of respect for the morbidly obese is an issue of concern. A survey of severely obese individuals found that nearly eighty percent reported being treated disrespectfullyc.this intense prejudice cuts across age, sex, religion, race and socioeconomic status.h (http://www.asbs.org/html/patients/rationale.html) Obesity is not identified as what it truly is: a multifactorial, chronic disease that leads to death and many health problems such as: ? High blood pressure ? High Colestorol ? Diabetes ? Higher risk of cancer ? Sleep Apnea ? Joint Reconstruction/Knee Replacement ? Depression/Anxiety ? Stress Incontinence ? Acid reflux Disease ? Edema Currently, many large health insurance providers in our state will not cover medical or surgical treatment: dietary counseling, exercise counseling, psychological counseling, medical weight loss programs run by physicians, and gastric bypass surgery. Most insurance providers will not include coverage for surgical treatment. (Highmark, Keystone, Select Blue, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Atena, Cigna, Medicare, and Medicaid) without demanding that patients prove that they have participated in a physician-supervised weight loss program for three to six months before surgery can be authorized. The catch twenty two is, the insurance company will not pay for the supervised diet. If weight is gained on the diet, they say the patient does not have the discipline to have the surgery, if it is lost, then they say they can do it on their own and donft need surgery. This is their scapegoat for not paying for the surgery. I do not understand why insurance companies will spend billions of dollars for obesity related diseases and illnesses, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, diabetes, joint reconstruction and replacement on knees, anxiety and depression, acid reflux disease etcc,. But they will not pay to fix the cause of the diseases and illnesses. It has been proven that gastric bypass cures or greatly improves all of the above mentioned, as well as gives the patient an 80 percent less chance of developing any type of cancer. The American Society for Bariatric Surgery (ASBS) If obesity is viewed as gpreventableh is not HIV or lung cancer from smoking even more gpreventableh? Yet, there is not a lack of access to treatment for either HIV or smoking-related illnesses. Itfs the same with drug addiction and alcohol related programs and illnesses. Would it not go unnoticed if HIV drug treatment was suddenly gnot coveredh by a health insurance group or if a self-insured employer decided that it would exclude coverage for that benefit? That would immediately be considered discrimination and they would be sued. If a self-insured employer EXCLUDES bariatric surgery or medical weight loss programs, are they not discriminating against their obese employees? It is estimated that about 6 million people suffer from obesity and related illnesses. The American Society for Bariatric Surgery (ASBS) That number is rising every year. Research shows that a child with a morbidly obese parent has a much higher risk of being a morbidly obese adult. THERE MUST NOT BE ANY OBSTACLES TO TREATMENT FOR THE OBESE, A DISEASE THAT THREATENS TO NEGATIVELY AFFECT THE LIFE-EXPECTANCY OF MILLIONS. I am an advocate for a group that is ignored, criticized and disrespected: the morbidly obese. I encourage you to do what you can, as my Governor, to see that insurance companies in our state are either forced to include coverage for obesity-related treatment -surgical and medical. Or that they are held accountable for the early deaths of those morbidly obese who are denied access to treatment. Research data indicates that the only effective treatment for clinically severe obesity is gastric bypass surgery. At the very least, access to this treatment should NOT be denied. The American Society for Bariatric Surgery (ASBS) My medical records will indicate that after having gastric bypass surgery these illnesses and diseases have either been cured completely or greatly improved: high blood pressure, high cholesterol (dropped from 272 to 148), borderline diabetic, sleep apnea, anxiety and depression, joint pain and right knee dislocation, acid reflux disease and stress incontinence. I have lost over 180 pounds in less than one year. I am the healthiest I have ever been in my entire adult life. I ask that others, who were like me, have the opportunity and advantage of this life saving surgery, which should not be considered cosmetic or elective. It is proven this method of treatment not only works but can save lives and save the insurance companies, billions of dollars in long term health care. Sincerely,

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