Hey Family, I just wanted to say Happy 6 Month Anniversary to all of us who had surgery 11-18-04!!! I am so proud of all of us. I have lost 74 pounds to this day and I look forward to many more. We have done such a good job, so I will do the for all of us!!! Cathy 287/213/135

I have been reading some posts with questions and concerns about getting to goal etc. I saw this website on another post on the main message board - thought I would share www.halls.md/ideal-weight/body.htm Just add the http:// Interesting how we can get caught up in the numbers and lose focus on the goals that focus on health?.... Then I thought there were a number of questions I would have 1. Who set your goal weight? - your doc, you?, weight charts, BMI charts?? How was the goal for you determined? Or do you even have one? I looked up on this site and saw what an ideal weight for my height was and took my goal partly from there - just as a number (knew he would ask the question) - did not expect my surgeon to say that was at all reasonable -- had to interrupt him to ask if that was a reasonable goal. He was not flustered in the least.... i was!... he said that 145 was perfectly reasonable. 2. At what point would you be satisfied with your weight loss?? at goal, within 5?, 10?, 15? lbs of goal??? When you achieve certain goals other than a weight?? Anything under 200 lbs is gravy for me!!!! Under 160 is dream land..... To achieve 145 is something I will have to see to believe!!!! I am well on my way to my health goals.... off all BP meds, feel more comfortable in my skin, move about in the world much better. Just waiting to feel better and not so dragged out tired, and weird labs. 3. Did your doctor tailor your surgery according to your weight loss goals??? In other words.... more bypass if you wanted to lose more weight? RNY vs other surgeries?? open vs. laporoscopic??? Yes, my doc bypasses based partly on how much you weigh and how much you want to lose - but focuses on distal bypasses because of his past experience with weight regain. His partner now does all the surgeries but does both proximals and distals. We talked about other surgeries, but he was quite frank about what he recommends, what he will do, and why. My understanding is that distals can only be done "open" at this time, but I am sure as technology and skills advance that will change. Just wondering how it worked for others???????? B

At what point do they say you go from Obese to overweight? I am 179 right now and I don't know what the gauge is for this. Thanks Mama Maria

I so understand how you feel about what you see in the mirror. I am now in a size 8 petite and can see the difference in pictures, but when I look in the mirror I see a fat person. I have been told it is called dysmorphic body image and plagues many of us. I hope someday I can see what everyone else does Tee 278/161/145

CONGRATULATIONS SARA: I DON'T BLAME YOU FOR COUNTING EVERY STINKING POUNDS I DO TO. YOU ARE DOING FANTASTIC KEEP IT UP. ALWAYS WHOOPI