Ok, now I'm getting ticked off!... For close to 3 years (3 in Nov), I've been quite content... I never got to "goal", but my doctor and I were quite happy with my weight loss... My pants fit, my body felt like it was mine again and I am used to things being where they are now... My belly flops over when I lay on my side, my breasts, well, let's not discuss where they are, LOL... I was refused for plastic surgery, not "fat enough"... ROFLMAO... Now that's a first, for the first time in my life I'm not FAT ENOUGH!... Sheesh... But all this aside, I'm happy and actually coming to terms with myself and even my excess skin... Now, suddenly I'M CONSTANTLY HUNGRY!!!!!!!... This has been going on for the past 3-4 months now... I patrol the house looking for SOMETHING, ANYTHING TO EAT!!!!!... I eat a normal ("our" normal) dinner and not 10 minutes after I'm grazing or wanting to graze... I wake up and think of FOOD... I didn't do that BEFORE the surgery!... I'm constantly feeling hungry, or I should say constantly want to eat, perhaps not feeling hungry... But what I think it may be is I NEVER FEEL full, NEVER... I either feel nauseous for too much food, or empty, there is no "satisfaction" point of fullness... Is ANYONE else feeling this too?... I thought after a few years, I'd get SOME of this feeling back, but nope, nothing... Could this be because of menopause?!... I'm in the beginning stages of it... Well, really I've been in the beginning stages for about 3-4 years now! LOL... But I'm closing in on 50 so I'm guessing it's closer than ever now... Could this be it???... Any ideas?... Thoughts?... Anyone else feeling this way, or is it just me??... I'll be honest, the ONE good thing is my breasts are less like bags of rice and getting downright full again LOL... No, it's NOT a good thing to gain weight, but I'm trying to find a positive before I binge into oblivion!... Actually I've only put on 5lbs, but I know as well as we all know, that's how it starts!... INPUT WILLINGLY ACCEPTED... Thanks!!!

This is going to sound corny but here goes: My Dads birthday was yesterday and I had to work, so I took him to breakfast this morning at a local Diner. While I was sitting there I came to a realization. I know what is is like to be Fat. And now I know what it is like to be thin. And for the first time in my life I know what it is like to be me. I have done things my entire life that will keep the attention off of me as to avoid any one noticing that I was big. I would constantly wonder what people were thinking of me. Now I do things that I want and not what I think others think I should do. The Fat and low self esteem is no longer in the way. Life has changed in such a positive way for me that I thank God every day for blessing me with this opportunity to change my life. To go back to were I was would just be wrong. Thanks for allowing me to be a part of such an inspiring place. George

I had my tummy tuck last July and lost 20 lbs in surgery and it was painful for awhile but I am so happy and healthy. I would do it all again in a heart beat.

Wow it is great to see that I am not the only one that is A) been neglecting my compatriots and B) has gotten off track. It has been a while since I posted. I have lost as of my 2 yr aniversary in Nov 2005 210 lbs. I was feeling good at 234 and got up to 240 which I still was feeling good. I was able to maintain at that weight until recently (last few weeks) where I was starting to eat like the old days and have now gotten back up to 256. I am not feeling very good about that and as of today my primary dr said I should be 20 lbs less. I want to get back down to that weight again and now need to really put my mind to it. I have started to work out more this week by joining 24hr fitness. I am finding that I am eatting crappy food like I used to. I forgot how supportive this organizaton was. When I was doing well, I neglected to continue on with this great support system. I thought I can do this myself and did not need OH any longer. Wrong. I need you all and OH just as much then when things were going well-to share my experiences to help others as I do now to ask for support furing this down time. A side note. I went back to school after my surgery and am now an alcohol/drug counselor. One thing that I learned during my studies I would like to pass on as a hmmmm. The people who I work with who are addicted to drugs/alcohol, I found that I am going through the same withdrawl symptoms as they are. Our addiction is food. I need to work jsut as hard on my recovery program as the addicts that I work with. Just something I thought I would pass on. It felt good to get back into the "group" thanks for letting me share. So Debra, cheer up. We are in the same boat. We can do this together. Steve Londino.

I am now 5 days post-op from my hernia repair and lower body lift. Dr. Doollahb took off about 5 pounds but I still weigh the same on the scales. Must be the swelling. The surgery was about what I expected. Everything is ok if I'm sitting still. I borrowed a lift chair and it is a great help. Also bought a toilet seat extension at WalMart. Both of them make it a lot easier getting up and down. The doctor put in a pain pump which lasted 3 or 4 days and she removed it on my visit yesterday. My 4 drains are no longer bloody but are now redish and watery. Hopefuly she will remove them on my next visit on Monday. The skin on my abdomen is very tight and it's hard to stand up straight but she said it gets better. After all this, would i do it again? You bet! Gary Williamson open rny - 11-25-03 Dr. Overcash, Ocala, FL 297-176-192 (now)