HELLO YOU FABULOUS THIN PEOPLE! well we all made to the lighter side, with the help of a special angel and a great support system here on WLS! I would like to put out an offer to become an angel for somebody else that will be crossing over to the other side anytime soon?!? would be great to have somebody in my area, Tampa Bay, FL but will be an angel for anybody! If you know anybody who needs an angel, let me know ok? LOVE YOUR GUTS EVERYBODY!!!

it has been almost 3 years and i have lost 191 lbs. It was the best thing i ever did, my enery is high, myself esteem is high, everything is great. So many people i know have gone for this surgery now and i am so excited every time someone tells me they are going, it is such a great feeling, if i ever had to make this decission again i wouldn't even hesitate i would do it again, i am sorry it took me two years to decide, i wish i would have done it sooner.

Hi Rene, I know it's hard to believe 2 years!!! Congratualtions, I know how hard you worked to take the weight off. People don't realize what a accomplishment weight loss is.... be proud of yourself. I started out at over 300 lbs and currently weigh 132. I was down to 120 but have put on some; I am 5'7" so I didn't look very good at 120; everyone said too thin. I still get comments from people who think need to be about 150 but I found out I have a small frame ( WHO KNEW?!) I am amazed that under all that there was a small person. People who didn't know me when I was heavy don't think that way. They have a hard time imaging that I was ever heavy. I too have some regrets but this surgery has changed my life. I still have many self esteem issues...but I had those heavy or not. I know that I can deal with things better now, and I have more patience to deal with others. Laying around for 6 months recooperating has a way of putting your life in perspective. I had major complications from the weighloss surgery, feeding and drain tubes, open wounds, infections and fevers. I have the snacking urge also... I get it all the time now. Before I could care if I ate but know I just want want "graze" all day long. Also made an appointment with a plastic surgeon; I have scars too hideous to mention, the skin issue is bad too but I can live with it except for my tummy which looks like a war zone. The surgeon seems to think I can get approval for my tummy and breasts (or the lack thereof). It's amazing we are going through many of the same things...I have days I think that this is the best thing to ever happen and others that I would almost rather be heavy. I have lost friends, and family over this.

I had my surgery on November 10, 2001. I went from nearly 290 pounds down to 145 pounds. Since then I have gained 25 pounds up to 170. I never really stayed at 145, but stayed around 160, so I only feel that I gained 10 pounds. It is frustrating me so much. Like you I have not followed the plan like I should have. I have never excersized, and eat what I want regardless of how sick I get. I don't take my vitamins either. I feel so stupid and don't understand how I can do this to myself after all I went through get here. I truly feel that I never tried hard enough to lose weight before the surgery, my husband tells me I am wrong. But I continue to eat and sabotage myself. My husband says I look wonderful, but I still feel ugly. All I see is the skin hanging from my arms and stomach and can't stand to look to look at myself anymore. I snack all of the time, I realize that I am never really hungry, but just eat anyway. I have had to quit work in March of 2003 due to my heart condition and had an apparent stroke in September of 2003. Now my doctor says it wasnt a stroke, but maybe early MS, but either way, my left side is very week and I spend most days at home without ever leaving it. I know I don't have as much control of my life as I did before March 2003, but I have filled my days with food instead. Realizing all of this, I am making a commitment to stop the constant snacking. I am going to try to go back to liquids and protien bars and hope to give myself another start. I hope all goes well with you and thank you for posting your anniversary.

IT HAS BEEN 2 YRS TODAY SINCE MY SURGERY AND I AM DOING GREAT.I WISH I COULD SAY I WAS AT MY GOAL WEIGHT WHICH WAS 165 BUT I'M NOT.I AM AT 220 AND STILL TRYING TO LOOSE.I HAVE BEEN AT A STAND STILL FOR THE PASS 6 MO.I CAN'T SEEM TO LOOSE ANYMORE,BUT I KEEP TRYING.I DID GET DOWN AT ONE POINT TO 212 WHICH MAKES IT A 134 LOST,BUT I'VE GAINED 18 POUNDS BACK WHICH IS A 126 LOST IN TWO YRS.I CAN'T SAY I AM HAPPY ABOUT IT BUT I THANK GOD I HAVE LOST WHAT I DID. I THOUGHT THIS SURGERY WOULD OF HELPED ME A BIT MORE BECAUSE I COULD ALWAYS EAT SWEETS AND IT NEVER BOTHERED ME,WHICH WAS MY WEEKNESS,BUT IT DIDN'T TURN OUT THAT WAY FOR ME.IT DID HELP ME CONTROL THE AMOUNT I ATE WHICH I AM GREATFUL FOR THAT.I WAS ALSO A COKEAHOLIC AND AM FINDING MY WAY BACK TO IT TO THAT IS WHY I CAN'T LOOSE I KNOW.I DIDN'T GO TO COUNCILING AFTER MY SURGERY AND I THINK I SHOULD OF.I AM STARTING COUNCILING THIS WEEK AND HOPE IT WILL HELP ME GET BACK ON TRACK. I HAVE TRENDMONDUS AMOUNT OF ENERGY.I GO TO WATERAROBICS 2 TIMES A WEEK,I TAKE A LINE DANCING CLASS 1 TIME A WEEK AND I WALK 3 MILES A WK.PLUS I DO MY OWN YARD WORK WHICH I WASN'T ABLE TO DO FOR 5 YRS BEFORE MY SURGERY.I ALSO AM CAREGIVER FOR MY MOM WITH ALTIZHEIMERS.I FEEL SO MUCH BETTER,EVEN THOUGH I STILL HAVE A KNEE AND BACK PROBLEM.I HAVE 2 HERINATED DISK IN MY BACK DUE TO ALL THE WEIGHT I CARRIED AROUND FOR ALL THOSE YRS.WHICH I HAVE TO TAKE A STRONG PAIN MEDICATION FOR.I AM THINKING ABOUT HAVING SURGERY SO I CAN GET OFF THIS PAIN MEDICATION.IT MAY HELP OR IT MAY NOT. I HAVEN'T HAD ANY HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE SINCE MY SURGERY. NO SHORTAGE OF BREATH,NO SLEEP APNA .YES I STILL HAVE ARTHORIDSE AND BONE DEGENTIVE BUT IT IS BETTER WITH THE EXERCISING.I WAS SUPOSE TO HAVE A TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENT,BUT SINCE THE WEIGHT LOST IT DON'T HURT NEAR AS MUCH SO I'VE PUT THAT OFF.I CAN LIVE WITH IT AS IT IS NOW. I STILL GO TO MY DR.OFFICE ONCE A MO. FOR MY B-12 SHOT AND CALCIUM.I HAD TO TAKE PRESCRIPTION IRON MEDICATION FOR MY IRON LEVEL MYWAS LOW AT ONE TIME .MY BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICATION WAS LOWERED AND AM GOING TO SEE IF I CAN GET OFF OF IT NOW.I STILL TAKE MEDS FOR THE VALVE IN MY HEART SO IT WILL WORK PROPERLY.I'M STILL ON ZOLOFT FOR I'M WIDOWED AND DO GET DEPRESSED AT TIMES.I TAKE ALOT OF VITIAMS TO KEEP FROM GETTING COLDS.MY FAMILY IS VERY SUPORTIVE OF ME AND VERY PROUD OF WHAT I HAVE ACOMPOLISHED,I OWE IT ALL TO THIS SURGERY AND MY DR.I RECONDMENT HIM HIGHLY. I NEVER HAVE ANY PROBLEMS.I HAVE DUMPED 2 TIMES SINCE MY SURGERY AND I NEVER WANT TO DO THAT AGAIN!! IT WAS MY ON FAULT I ATE TO FAST AND TO MUCH.I HOPE I HAVEN'T STRETCHED MY STOMACH BUT I FEEL I HAVE SOME.I WILL NEVER GIVE UP ,I WILL ALWAYS KEEP TRYING TO LOOSE.THIS IS THE REST OF MY LIFE IF NEEDED.I NEVER WANT TO GO BACK TO THE WAY I WAS BEFORE.I RATHER DIE.THIS IS MY LIFE IS TIME GOAL.