Hey Melissa,

Missed you so much,---you were such an inspiration for me that first year, when i was heaving a really hard time emotionally having plautaed midway and not exercising (in retrospect, if it wasn't for this website and everyone's support, i would have probably have never come out of that helpless clinically depressed hell i went through daily when i was obese.) I still struggle but now it's more with exercise (or, to be honest, complete lack thereof) and not so much with overeating. Weirdly, i just weighed myself this morning and i'm down to 123, which to me is pretty close to goal. i'm 5'4 and was aiming for 115 but, to be honest, i no longer even think i need to be that thin...i'm happy just to stay in the 120s and to be able to stay the same closing size for more than a few months (instead of going up a size or two every months in my pre-wls days).

It's weird because i've moved from houston to pa and, other than my mom and aunt/uncle, people just don't know that i was ever fat..it's weird to hear all those "you are so lucky to be this naturally skinny and never have to struggle with extra lbs" comments and i keep assuming people are joking until i realize that there is absolutely no way for anyone to randomly guess, i'm not as genetically lucky as they think you guys appreciate the irony oh, and a date accused me of being anorexic recently because i don't always finish huge protions in a restaurant...i almost spit out my food laughing...apparently, he thought i was lying about my weight and that i looked too skinny, no more than 100lbs. i had to blink and step on a scale to make sure i was in fact a healthy 127. my 4 little surgery scars are fading but i made sure to point them out...apparently he didn't notice anything unusual the first few times he saw me naked... ironically, he is a shrink but i guess not the most insighfull in diagnosing imaginary eating disorders oh well, never been accused of been too thin before and i'm still screwed up enough to think of it as some type of f-ed up compliment

anyway, i'm rambling on and should get back to work but by any chance, can i ask for some free medical advise (i remember you are a nurse and, for some reason, i none of the doctors including my ob-gyn are 100% sure about a personal issue so i hope you don't mind.

i'd like to go back on birth control pill (haven't been on it since before WLS) and was considering seasonic (the one where you only get your periods 4 times a year.) but i really want to make sure that this or any other brand will be 99.9% effective or whether i still may be at a higher risk b/c of malabsorbtion or any other residual WLS-reason. i think 3 years post WLS i should be o.k. but, by any chance, would you happen to know for sure or have a recommendation?

thanks and hugs and kisses

Hope you had a GREAT Christmas Melissa and Happy New Years to YOU and YOURS!

Happy New Year to you as well Marsha! Much Love! 

Top Speed is 95 - but I was passing someone.
Cruising speed - 70/75
If I go any faster, my bike vibrates too much for my liking... Plus I can't look around when I'm flying, and I like looking around. : )