Hiya Diane, Congratulations!!! WOO HOO - you are doing fantastic!! Keep up the good work! God bless you and keep you, ~Andrea

Hi Sandra, I have been away and havent seen this until now. I guess today is the day one of them is being deployed. I am praying for them and for you. I have never been in your position so I have no real idea how you feel but I can imagine. I think the person who suggested getting involved with other wives and mothers from their units is a good idea. A friend of mine - her husband was in a Iraq for a year and just returned this past Christmas. They had been married for 9 months when he went over there - although he was away in training for 4-5 months of that 9. She was very involved with the wives and family memebers of his unit doing things to raise money and other things. It kept her strong and helped her feel like she was doing something and still connected. What was good for her too is that she was able to talk wtih him most days. I know that they also provided counseling for the wives and family memebers as well. As far as maintaining your regimen and not blowing your hard work I think that exercise is going to be very important. Physiologically, exercise releases endorphins and that is a mood elevator. Also, for me, the more I exercise, the more I want to eat right because I dont want to waste the hard work I did. Again, praying for you, your husband and your son. God bless you and keep you, ~Andrea

Diane, Fantastic news you are a member of the century club.. My husband is there already and i am close behind you. Isn't it a great feeling to be able to move so much easier? My first goal was to bend over and tie my shoe without having an anysurim (SP?). lol Well, I want to do the happy dance for you

Hey Y'all...this is my first time posting to this board so I wanted to give a big shout out to everyone!! 1. What was your total excess weight (highest weight - ideal weight or goal weight)? Highest 247 Ideal 130 Goal 140 2. How many lbs have you lost?? -84lbs and -112 inches 3. What % of your excess weight have you lost??? 79% (i want to lose 95%) 4. What new thing have you tried or added to your life that you never dared to before??? Water aerobics, shopping again...for cute stuff, dating, letting people take pics of me again. 5. How has your life changed since surgery???? I am getting out and meeting people more. I have also just started dating the most wonderful guy... 6. What surprises you most about your new life?? The reaction on everyones face when they haven't seen me in a while. People keep telling me I am melting away. I just love the compliments!!

Hi Sphinxy one, I'll give this a shot, although I am actually going to be 8 mo out on Friday, not 9. 1. What was your total excess weight (highest weight - ideal weight or goal weight)? 170# 2. How many lbs have you lost?? 144# (40 of this prior to my surgery) 3. What % of your excess weight have you lost??? Total lbs lost divided by total excess weight and multiplied by 100. 85% 4. What new thing have you tried or added to your life that you never dared to before??? (can't wait to hear details about some of those positions people : ) I guess I would have to say wearing more form fitting clothing and I started a support group. I am getting way out of my normal safe zone meeting total strangers. I am also going to the OH event in Cincy. Going to a convention with a bunch of people I have never met in person is definitely something I never would have done in the past. 5. How has your life changed since surgery???? i have more energy, I eat healthy, I am no longer the fattest person in the room, I don't limit my experiences based on my body size anymore. 6. What surprises you most about your new life?? I am actually succeeding at making life long changes in my habits, I no longer view food as a friend, I now look at my problems head-on and deal with them in a healthy manner. My husband is acting all ga ga over me (tee hee hee.. I love this one!)