ROLL CALL - Okay folks - time to check in with old & new friends w/a quick update! Photos...

Yeah!!!!! Tami's back. Long time no post and those posts are such an encouragement to all of us. You always know just what to sayand how to say it. By the way, you look GREAT. I'm so glad that you posted pictures, because I for one would never have recognized you if I ran into you at Superwalmart. God bless, and I am really glad to see you post. Perhaps you could repost some of those great ones that you used to post, like vitamin information etc. The little black dress looks great and you are a brave woman who looks great in it. My little black dress has sleeves down to the wrist to hide my flabby arms, but you're not hiding anything and you look wonderful. Amazing how far you've come. I used to go to your pictures and get inspired and look for you at PMRI because you were loosing so great. It is good to see the "finished project" God bless, Pastor Faye

So its true...we all have that little black dress with the sleeves! LOL I never did like black when I was bigger but I see a lot of it in my wardrobe now.....I really do want a red dress. Think Santa will bring me one for Christmas???? Hugs and Fleece Blankets Debbie

(FAYE) It is so good to hear from you!!! Thank you so much for all your sweet compliments. You are such a sweetheart, always have been. Yeah, those pics did show the arms and ummmm ... well, lets just say, they were a little revealiing!!! LOL I dont' generally post pics such as that, but figured that we as a WLS family can share things we might not generally share on the street with strangers - be it gas, food issues, or body issues! LOL At any rate, I will gladly try to pull up some of the research ... anything in particular you were interested in? Might take me a while though ... I have several trips in front of me, but will do my best to get them out there asap. Gosh lady ... it is so very good to connect again. Thanks so much for the prod ... I SO needed it and didn't even know it!!! HUGS to you!!!

Tami, Your post is so inspirational. I want to be like you when I grow down. I would be happy with your 4 plus 10 or a size 14. I must say I agree with being happy with what we have. I must say I am so much happier today then I was 17 months ago. If I don't lose another pound, I still feel like I am a winner. Somedays I look in the mirror and say I still look like I need WL surgery and other days I look and don't reconize myself. I truely know I have come so far. I am so much healthier. I have to put it this way!!! I felt like I was in prison in my body of fat at 368 lbs. At 220 lbs I feel like I am on probation. I refuse to violate and return to prison. My pouch is my probation officier. Will I let it help me or work against it and return. This is totally my decision and I have to take full accountability for my actions. Today is the first day of the rest of my life and I will make the best of it. I will not only do for others but do for myself. I have to tell all this week has been such a good week for me. I feel I have been blessed in so many ways and I have had nothing but good news all week. Today I spoke with a friend on the phone who I usually call when I am upset. I have been telling her for sometime now that someday I will call her with good news only. Today was that day and I didn't even realize it until we had talked for over an hour.Then I finally said remember I told you I would call you someday with good news. Hey this was the day. We both laughed instead of crying together. I have always said good things come to those who wait. I am tired of waiting for my ship to come in and finally, finally I am swimming out to meet it. I'm not there yet but I am swimming in the right direction and the waves can't pull me back in!!!!! See all lighter. Joanne

Joanne, You just keep growing! I am amazed how you have transformed. With all the things that go on in life you still remember you! That is aways such a good thing....You are more like Tammy than you know.....Your reflections on life are good. Continue the same road....its going in the right direction. Hugs and Fleece Blankets. Debbie

Debbie, Thanks for your kind words.Like most of us I haven't always thought of myself. It is so much easier to help and take care of others. It took me awhile to realize I was just as inportant as everyone else and only I can control things in my life. I can't change other people but I can change myself and how I react to things. I think it's a 50's thing with me. I have always said life begins at 50. Funny some people around me have a hard time with what I do for myself but you know what I created them as monsters. My life has changed so much in the last couple of years. I have had many of hills to climb but I am a much better person from it and can see so much clearer now. I will see all lighter for tomorrow is debbie's big day and we have to leave for D.C. at 3:00 a.m. Will email again when I get back in Delaware. Joanne

Joanne ... ahhhhh .,... thank you so much!!! I soooo understand what you are saying. I am still waiting for someone to come along and tell me it was all a joke. Sorta like Cinderella and the pumpkin coach ... Hang in there ... I think most of have decided that rather than wait for our ship to come in, us are still swimming and even if we have not made it to that ship, we are swimming toward the right direction. You are doing great!!! Keep up the positive attitude and keep those goals in the forefront!!! Hugs!!!

Hey there my friend. Been thinking alot about you and all the other oldies. size 4. WOW!! You look totally awesome. I think we need a get together and we need to bring out the albums. I have the group pic's that we took starting in Oct of 2003. We have all changed sooooooo much. Healthy Beginnings is having a Xmas party on Saturday, Dec 16th, if you and hubby can make it. Starts at 5pm. Let me know if you are thinking about coming I'll get more details out for you and anyone else that might want to come. It's really good hearing from you and knowing you are well. ((HUGS)) Elissa

(ELISSA) it is so good to hear from you also!!! I will check the calendar regarding the 16th and get with you if I can swing it. It sure would be nice to pull out he albums and reminisce. I so remember those first pics ... and that first meeting. Rob had just gotten out of the hospital and I was soooo glad to see someone who had just had surgery and lived to tell about it!!! LOL Rob did you ever know you were THAT important in my journey???? The fact that you and your wife were at that meeting gave me hope that I would make it through surgery also!!! BTW - thank you! And when we first all met, it was as if we were old time friends ... all the hugging and pic taking!!! Yeah, it was so nice to finally meet up with others who were on the same journey as I. Each of you really made an impact on my life, that I can't even begin to share it all. Thank you, each of you!!! Gosh I am getting all sentimental now ... oh great .. the tears are starting!!! You all are the best!!! And I have enjoyed traveling this journey knowing you all were right there with me, if not in body, in spirit. I have marveled at how much each of you have morphed, both physically and emotionally. It is a ride that can be full of some bumps but those bumps have certainly been easier knowing I am not alone. Whe knew that when I decided to have this surgery that not only would I lose a bunch of weight, but I would gain a bunch of wonderful, wonderful friends!!! Okay ... I am going to close for now before I get even mushier ... and those that don't know me will think me off my rocker, if they dont' already!!! *grin* Hugs to one and all!!!

Wow, I think I'm also tearing up. You have hit the three year mark. I still remember meeting you and Carla at that October meeting. I just mentioned your note to Kerri. She stills remembers how outgoing and confident you were within a week of your surgery. I didn't even remember that I had just had my surgery two weeks prior to that meeting. BTW. Thanks back to you. You have provided so much inspiration, emotional support, and nutritional knowledge to so many of us over the past three years (especially myself). I am forever in your debt. I hope that everyone that undertakes this journey has the opportunity to meet such a strong and wonderful group of friends. Congrats again on your three-year anniversary. Rob