It has been an amazing journey, the past two years, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. Two years ago I had a goal. I knew my surgeon would perform the tummy tuck two years post-op, and I wanted to have lost enough weight that he would do it... and he DID! I am now 7 weeks post-op for the tummy tuck, down 104 pounds, and have never felt better. Another goal I had was to be able to walk across the room, and have men turn their heads for a second look... and that happens too! At least my husband says it does, but he is really the only man I am interested in motivating! LOLZ He told his barber I have the body of an 18 yo, and that I have him wanting to come home at nite. The barber asked, "But does she want an old man coming home everynite ???" The answer: YES, if he is the man I married and love. You see, he has had the surgery too, and we share more than just our marriage. We also share a way of life now that few couples share. I have so much to be thankful for, there is no way I could tell you all about it. I used to cry myself to sleep at night, upset about how I had abused my body with food, but unable to stop destroying myself. Now I sit in shock at how much food I see others eat who are overweight. I want to tell them there is another way... but it is not easy finding an appropriate way to share that doesn't make them feel bad about themselves. My mission in life is to share the goodies I now have so they too can have a higher quality of life. I went from a size 28 dress to a size 8 in two years, I tell them... and when they ask how, I tell them how easy it can be... IF they are committed to themselves because this is no panacea, just a tool that you can't get anywhere else. Some have listened, some have turned me off... some have results, and some have reasons. It takes a lot of courage to take this journey, as you well know if you have journeyed the same path I have. Pat Vanden Bosche Open RNY 12/5 01 - TT 10/20/03 239 / 135 / goal 135 - 5'1" Dr. Lloyd Hiler - Memphis, Tenn.

at almost 2 weeks from surgery I am amazed at the weight loss of others, I'm down 145pds, ,, keep up the good work

I reached the 100's, Finally. Down from 402 to 192 this am. I am so very pleased!!! 210 pounds gone. Sorry, I just had to share. =)

I am down about 120 lbs. I only weighed 300lbs so didnt have as much to lose as some. I am still experiencing diarria but am now taking a new antibiotic that will hopefully solve the problem. I guess I have some pretty hardy bateria in my intestines. I don't plan on having any plastic surgery. I have extra skin but nothing I can't live with. Including the original surgery I have been in the hospital 5 times. Twice for dehydration, once for a blocked colon and once for a incisional hernia. And I will have to go back some time around the end of summer for another hernia. This is NOT an easy solution for being overweight but I do not regret the surgery. Which, by the way, was BPD surgery NOT the Roux N Y. I can eat a NORMAL sized meal and do not risk regaining the weight by stretching out my "stomach pouch". Because of having the BPD, I no longer have sleep apnea, am no longer a type II diabetic and my heart condition is much more managable now. Its been a rough 19 months but they will give me many many more years on this earth. Rich Clark/07/05/03

Hey Eric, what a great idea. Thanks for all the hard work and effort you do. And on a personal note, you are such a Hottie ..... lol.