HI All, I'm so sad. I see my surgeon on 1/17/08 and I've gained 11lbs since my last visit. I sometimes feel like I am a failure. I've gone back to the gym and or Curves but I don't feel like i'm accomplishing things. I may go back to the diet I had to follow after having the surgery. I have 4 days to lose the 11 lbs. Other than that, hope 2008 is going well for all of you. Lisa J. in Mass

Hi everyone It has been a long time since I have been on here. Life is just so busy now that I just cant seem to find time. I hope everyone is doing wonderful. I love my life so much better. I do admit I still struggle with the old food demons from time to time and they do win sometimes. But life is great. I am holding right now at 150lbs. I am up and down from time to time with 10lbs. Those 10 just dont want to give up and stay away but thats ok too. Never in my life did I dream that I would only weigh 150 to 160lbs so if the 10lbs wants to stay thats fine. Hope everyone has a great New Year and take care, Mary

so glad i could help if any thing more i can do just let me no, Linda Youngblood

WOW - You ROCK!!!! CONGRATS on all your success!! Traci

I'm a little late at posting this but...here it goes! Before: 256 lbs After: 156 Current: 165 As you can see, I have gained some weight back. However, when I was at 156, my body didn't feel well and I didn't look well either. I still want to get down to 145 and I know that's just a number but I don't think my body will let me get there. I feel pretty good at where my weight is at now. I did get down to a size 4 at 156lbs..but I'm happy to be in a 5/6-7/8. I still have problems with body dysmorphia and I don't think that will ever go away for me. I try really hard not to let it get me down. Right now, healthwise, I'm battling stomach ulcers that are on my staple line. Those darned things are not healing and I go in for my third endoscopy December 10th..so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they have healed. The Gastroentoroloist has said that they are caused from restricted blood flow where the staple lines are and that it is directly caused from surgery in that area But hey..I'll take ulcers over diabetes any day!! The biggest things in my life that has changed are these things: 1)my health has improved *type II diabetes in remission since surgery, no more high blood pressure, no kidney problems, no heart problems, no edema!!! 2)I can participate and actually finish somewhere close to the front of the line in my physical agility testing at work. I can actually run/walk a mile and a half under 19 minutes..where as before I had to wear a heart monitor and walk only A MILE in 28 minutes. It's awesome!! 3)I'm not invisible anymore. I can actually go into Victoria's Secret and be waited on instead of ignored and stared at like I didn't belong in there. 4)I can go into any store and buy clothing. I love to shop and I love my clothes. It's just nice not to be limited to Lane Bryant! Or the plus size department at Khols and JC Penney. There are things that I still want to do with my body. I'm still thinking about Plastic Surgery to get rid of the extra hideous skin on my stomach and I'm in desparate need of a boob lift and perhaps a reduction. I got down to a 36C and now am in a 38 D. I'd be sooo freaking happy as a B!! I still struggle cutting out the crap in my diet too. I don't and haven't dumped on sugar and re introducing that back into my diet has been to ultimate mistake for me. My husband tells me to stop eating it and I say look..it's not that simple. It's like a really bad bad craving. I'm sure if I cut it out, I'd be back down 10 pounds. My weight has been pretty much holding steady where it is right now for a year. Kellie, It sounds like you have done very very well for yourself and I'm proud of you for doing so. This hasn't and won't be an easy journey for all of us. We just have to keep our heads up and keep plugging along. Good luck to you!!! Bridgett