Hey December babies... we need to get this board rolling!

1) How has this surgery changed your life? I am able to play with my kids. I can keep up now, and I'm no longer winded. That's the most important part. Instead of wanting to go do things...I'm actually doing them. I look at people now instead of averting my eyes, I smile a whole lot more. And summer is no longer my worst enemy...I'm actually enjoying the heat and sun! And little things like painting my toenails, shaving my legs, etc is easier. Sex is better too! 2) What type of exercise do you? For now, walking and sex...I need to reschedule myself to find gym time. 3) Do others around you think you took the "easy way out"? Those that actually have seen what I go through do not. Maybe they thought that at first, but now see otherwise. Most others don't know unless I decide to share with them. 4) Do you have any pets? I have one cat...his name is kitty. 5) Is the summer moving fast for you? (it is me!) Unfortunately yes. 6) How far until your reach your goal weight? I keep changing my goal weight. I try to remember what I weighed before I gained it all, which was around 120...but I know I'm going to have skin issues, so I say 125 would be a good weight. That means 55-60 more lbs to go. 7) Seems many of us are slowing down this month or on stalls. Anyone not? I've been slowing down since month 3...I think with making sure I'm very careful with carbs, I've been able to boost the loss, but it's still slow going. I'm making a priority to increase liquids and exercise though. 8) Anyone water loading? I've only recently heard about it, but don't know exactly what it is or how to go about it. But if it works, I'd definitely be interested.

1) How has this surgery changed your life? I have more confidence. I walk more upright. I look people in the eye. I do soooo much more with my kids and husband. I don't sit on the sidelines watchingmy life roll by. I am sooo blessed to have a tool like this. 2) What type of exercise do you? I do cardio at the gym 2 days a week and strength training 3 days a week. On the weekends I play with the kids. 3) Do others around you think you took the "easy way out"? No one that is close to me has said that cuz they saw what I went through to get the surgery and what I have to do to use my tool correctly. 4) Do you have any pets? A lab/pitt mix named Copper and a gray cat named Toby 5) Is the summer moving fast for you? No, It is going the right speed. I am headed to Colorado for the month of July with my kids. 6) How far until your reach your goal weight? 20 lbs to reach my goal and 19 for my drs 7) Seems many of us are slowing down this month or on stalls. Anyone not? I finally got rid of the few pounds I gained (had to be water, did no cheating). We need to keep eachother motivated. I have a week or two each month where I don't lose then back on track. I have averaged a couple pounds a week. 8) Anyone water loading? I tried it, it does work but takes a lot of thinking I think. I just found out wha****er loading is and it kinda scares me. I don't think I will try it. My hunger keeps preety much under control just trying to keep up with 64 oz of water a day.

Hi All...here my answers... 1) This is a weird one for me. I guess I can get through the day easier. As far as energy, I'm still working on that. My husband says it's easier to put his arms around me! 2)I do a mix of walking and crosstraining. I am currently in PT to work on a lower back problem so I am limited in what I can do. My husband and I are training for our first 1/2 marathon in October. 3) No way. But if they do think that, they aren't telling me, and I respect their opinions. 4) We have two mini-dachschunds...Natty and Daisy. 5) Summer is really no different than any other time of year. 6) I'm down 90, 40 more to go. 7) I hit my first stall last month, but I've been doing the plateau buster diet and it's working wonders. I was stuck at 222-224 and in four days i'm down to 220. 8) What's water loading? I get between 70-100 oz a day. Joanne

Hi there Joanne! Water loading is when you wait till 1.5 hours after you have eaten and then start sipping on water for the next 3 to 3.5 hours then 15 minutes before you eat you drink as much as you can to fill your intestines so that you aren't as hungry between meals. It is interesting, it does work. But I do think it takes some thinking.. I seem to be too busy to sip sip sip and then go oh yeah, let me pound the water down 15 minutes before I eat, I donno. You are supposed to space your meals 5 hours apart using this method.

(1) Wow...how has it not changed my life....the surgery has given me a new lease on life, I am more active, outgoing, healthy... (2) I walk on an outside track and go to the YMCA. I walk on the treadmill and do the weight machines. Oh yea... chase after my kids (3) No. I really do not tell people unless they are really close friends. Primarily I just say that I no longer eat bread, rice, pasta, sweets and do not drink anything bu****er, diet v8, skim milk, etc.... Those who know me see how my diet and exercise has chainged. (4) We have 1 dog. (5) Summer is moving pretty fast. It has been filled with camps, tball, cheerleading, etc. (6) I have 72 pounds to go until 135 (7) I am losing about 10 pounds per month. I stall for a few weeks and then will lose the 10. (8) I am no****er loading.

1) How has this surgery changed your life? Oh my I can get out of the bathtub by myself. I can also get on the floor and lay with my grandkids. I can dance, walk. Amazing the difference 2) What type of exercise do you? I really lack on this one. i can walk 2 miles a day but I a really lack on this. 3) Do others around you think you took the "easy way out"? No way, I did this to get healthy, both my parents dies before the age of 65 4) Do you have any pets? yes dog 5) Is the summer moving fast for you? (it is me!) yes 6) How far until your reach your goal weight? I have 35 to go started @ 231 weigh now 157 7) Seems many of us are slowing down this month or on stalls. Anyone not? I finally got rid of the few pounds I gained (had to be water, did no cheating). We need to keep eachother motivated. 8) Anyone water loading? I tried it, it does work but takes a lot of thinking I think. I have a hard time getting the water down that I need to. Have a great rest of the week everyone!

1) How has it not changed my life would be a better question..I feel soo much better about my self and feel I am a better mom to my kids as I am getting healther 2) I walk and excerse in the pool BUT soo need to up my excersing 3) I honestly do not care if anyone feels this way as I think I might have thought that way once and now I realize there is NO EASY way. 4) We have a dog named MAXIE 5) YES, I can not believe my kids go back to school next month 6) 77 pds to go....I have been losing SO SLOW the last few month 7) Come on scale. MMMOOOOVVVEEEEE 8) I need to up my water