Dear Leanne: Thank you as well for your response to my post. Congratulations on all of your sucess. I will try harder on making sure I am getting enough calcium, I had never heard that before. Thanks Bridgette

Oh how I hate the plateau I'm on! I've been on this one for about 3mos now! I had my surgery 12/17/02 and I weighed 489lbs. I am now at 298, but I have approximately 135lbs more to go and I feel like it's never gonna happen. I know that logically if I adhere to my exercise program and watch my eating, it should come off, but I'm impatient for that goal weight. I am grateful for the strides I've made up to this point and appreciate everyday how much better my life is and how much more I'm able to do, but this plateau is driving me nuts and frustrating me!! Thanks all of you!

hi leanne i had my bypass surgery on 12/16/02 i was 290 i have a children all by c-section before i had the bypass surgery i alway said if i can get rid of this stomach i'll be alright so i had the bypass surgery and i had my tummy tuck on 3/15/04 i'm now 165 insurance did pay for the tummy tuck but did not pay for the tightening of the stomach muscle that was only 1300.00 not bad but you need to go to your insurance home page and find out if bluechoice hmo pays of tummy tucks but i've had documentation on the problems the Policy if Aetna to consider an abdominoplasty are the following criteria: Panniculus hangs to or below the level of the pubis; and The medical records document that the panniculus causes chronic intertrigo (dermatitis occurring on opposed surfaces of the skin, skin irritation, infection or chafing) that consistently recurs or remains refractory to appropriate medical therapy over a period of 3 months. Have had a few years of rashes and very dry skin under my stomach so now i'm flat as a pancake now all i need to my breast done and i'll be ok i'm still trying to get the insurance to pay for that.

Hello, my name is Bridgette, I had RNY on 12/17/2002. I have gone from 304 pounds down to 147 pounds or size 28 to 10 in the past 17 mos. The first 13 months post-op after leaving the hospital have gone very smoothly, exercise 4 times a week, 80 or more ounces water every day, 40 to 60 grams protein most days, no sugur,and no soda. At about 13 months, my weight started to stay at 145 to 150 pounds no matter what I did with my lifestyle. My goal was to be normal on the bmi chart, approx 135 pounds for my height of 5-3 and medium body frame. In reality I know I have done amazingly well, but in my mind I wanted to get to my goal. This seemed to be the begining of my frustration, at about 15 mos post-op I began experimenting, first with diet soda and found that I could tolerate it, now there is more soda then water. The next thing to try was small amounts of the sugur, which sometimes I can tolerate perfectly well in increasingly high amounts. I definitly can eat more in terms of volume in all types of food, especially at night. I have been consistent with exercise and protein. My weight has stayed fairly consistent between 145 to 150 pounds. I am really afraid that many bad habits are begining to sneek back in, such as emotional eating or eating because I am tired. I have attempted to put a stop to this by the use of a journal, meditating, trying yoga, seeing a therapist, using a perscribed med for anxiety(Lexapro), and purchasing a book for weightloss surgery patients called a mental health companion and begining to work through the exercises. I guess what I really need to know is am I the only person having to work so hard on this ? I forgot to mention I attend my surgeons monthly support group as well. Has anyone out there gone through a similar period of difficulty and if you did what has helped you the most?

WOW, you all are talking 0's, 2's, 3's wow, I can't even imagine such sizes. never ever, could I ? LOL Congratulations to all of you, you have done wonderfully. enjoy the new you, take care