Count Down for Tanya

You go Susann!!! tell the ex to kiss your skinny lil a$$ now!! him and his bigger woman! youre a very strong woman and im proud of you!! And youre beautiful so IF you want another man im sure they will be lined up!!! jen

Thanks Jen, you are so sweet. Gotta work on my self-esteem befoe I get back out there! Why do we always feel like we are still huge???? Susann

Susann, I agree with Jen... You shake that skinny little a$$ in front of that ex. He never deserved you! You go girl Julie

Thanks Julie. You guys are so sweet - and great for my self-esteem! Susann

I CAN KINDA RELATE TO #6 ... NICK'S EX HAD GASTRIC BYPASS, LOST BETWEEN 60 - 80 #s & WAS IMPROVING HEALTH WISE & EVERY OTHER WAY, BUT, BUT, BUT ... BEING A VERY MANIPULATIVE, CONTROLLING PERSONALITY, SHE FOUND OUT THAT AS SHE GOT HEALTHIER, EVERYONE EXPECTED HER TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY TO DO THINGS THEY USED TO FEEL THEY HAD TO DO FOR "POOR, SICK L***A" (her name, not a curse word). SHE DIDN'T LIKE NOT BEING THE CENTER OF ATTENTION DRAMA QUEEN & SABATOGED HER OWN SUCCESS. SHE'S NOW THE SAME FAT, UNHEALTHY, CONTROLLING, MANIPULATIVE WOMAN SHE WAS BEFORE SURGERY ... BUT HER HUSBAND LEFT HER, 2 OF HER CHILDREN & 5 OF HER GRANDCHILDREN WON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH HER & SHE'S ALONE & MISERABLE ... SO, WHAT DID SHE GAIN? I DIDN'T MEAN TO, BUT TOWARDS THE END, MY HEALTH ISSUES (brought on by obesity) WERE CONTROLLING OUR LIVES & NICK WAS HAVING TO DO SO MANY THINGS FOR ME THAT I COULD NO LONGER DO ... (EYE OPENER) ... I DON'T EVER WANT TO BE LIKE "H-E-R", SOOOO, ANYTIME I GET LAZY OR WANNA CHEAT, I PICTURE HER & HOW SHE USED WEIGHT/HEALTH TO FORCE HER FAMILY TO WAIT ON HER HAND & FOOT & I JERK MYSELF UP & MAKE MYSELF DO IT RIGHT. I WANT TO BE ACTIVE & IN CONTROL OF MY LIFE, NOT HAVE WEIGHT & HEALTH PROBLEMS CONTROL ME, NICK & OUR LIVES. NO PIECE OF CANDY OR CAKE IS WORTH GIVING UP THAT NEW-FOUND POSITIVE CONTROL! GOD BLESS YOU ... DAWN & NICk

Great post, Mary! Here's my two cents: 1. My daughter always says I am "hot" and I think she means it! 2. I have more energy now and actually enjoy exercising (most of the time) 3. Believing that I can go to the beach this year and not be thoroughly embarrassed by my body. 4. My feet don't hurt as bad in the mornings when I get out of bed. 5. I feel younger, act younger, and hopefully look younger! 6. I have met great people that I otherwise wouldn't have met. Have created wonderful friendships that I know will last a lifetime. 7. Cooper River Bridge Run 2007 - need I say more?! The list goes on for me but I'll keep it at seven. Good luck, Tanya! I'll say my prayers for you!

1. I feel better and even on my most tired days, still have more energy than I had before 2. My confidence level has soared 3. I can run around with my daughter and we have fun 4. What restaurants we are gonna eat at no longer takes up most of my vacation planning 5. I can buy clothes almost anywhere and even get nice things off the SALE rack 6. My boobs stick out farther than my tummy 7. My hubby and family are proud of me There are tons more, but we don't have all day.

First of all Tanya...I am scooting over to make room for you on the "Loser's Bench" and I will be praying for you for your surgery and quick recovery. Now for the seven reasons: 1) I am so grateful not to worry that I will be the biggest persoon at any function or if there will be another larger person so I don't feel so bad. Sad I know 2) I can buy clothes in the misses petite section and they fit w/o trying them on. I love Hamerick's.... 3) My daughter and I go walking at the Riverwalk in COlumbia and I can powerwalk! Me yes Me! 4) My husband stares at me all the time and when I ask what? He says you are so pretty and thin..he calls me skinny now. 5) I know I will be able to enjoy my Grandchilren in Colorado more now and be able to go to the places they want to go w/o embarrassment. They see me on Skype (video cam) when I call them and say "You go Nan!" 6) I know my life will be better even at 60 then it was at 35 when I had my accident that made me gain weight. 7) I have a passion for the Lord and His people now and want to serve Him by helping others that are Obese. And...I am grateful for the new friends I have met through having this surgery and pray that I can be as much a blessing as the new friends have been to me during this past year! In Christ's love, Joan M

1. I AM OFF 29 DOSES OF MEDICATIONS A DAY ... YUPPERS, A D-A-Y! 2. ALL MY CO-MORBS ARE GONE - EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM ... NO MORE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE OR CHOLESTEROL ... NO MORE DIABETES ... NO MORE WEIGHT BEARING ARTHRITIS ISSUES ... NO MORE SLEEP APNEA ... NO MORE REFLUX, GERD OR ANY OTHER DIGESTIVE DISTRESS ... NO MORE (HEART) JAW PAIN WHEN WALKING ... NO MORE FLUID RETENTION (ANYWHERE FROM 10 - 15 #s OF FLUIDS) ... NO MORE ... NO MORE ... NO MORE ... (a ton more medical/physical problems improved but these are the biggies) 3. S-E-X WITH MY HONEY IS SUPER FANTASTIC ... ANY TIME, ANY PLACE, ANY POSITION! 4. NICK IS SO PROUD OF ME ... OFFERS HIS ARM TO ME, PUFFS OUT HIS CHEST & SHOWS ME OFF ... TELLS ME I'M HIS HOT MOMMA ... HE'S ALWAYS LOVED & ADORED ME, BUT THERE'S A SPECIAL SPARK IN HIM NOW! 5. PEOPLE WHO HAVE KNOWN ME FOR DECADES DON'T EVEN RECOGNIZE ME NOW ... COMPLIMENTS GALORE ... ABLE TO LOOK GOOD IN ANY TYPE OF CLOTHES ... 6. NICK'S & MY DREAMS ARE COMING BACK & GROWING ... BEFORE SURGERY, EVERYTHING WAS OVERSHADOWED BY MY MEDICAL ISSUES, BUT NOW ... HOPE FOR OUR FUTURE IS ALIVE & WELL 7. MY HEALTH & LIFESTYLE CHANGES HAVE ENCOURAGED NICK, MY PARENTS, OUR DAUGHTER, OUR GRANDCHILDREN, & SOME FRIENDS TO MAKE CHANGES FOR THEMSELVES ... THAT IS AN HONOR TO KNOW THAT YOU HELPED SOMEONE ELSE! GOD BLESS YOU ON YOUR JOURNEY, MS TANYA ... DAWN & NICk

1.) I don't get winded just going to the mailbox. 2.) I can cross my legs now. 3.) I am fitting into clothes I haven't been able to wear for years. 4.) I can get into "other positions" 5.) I am proud of myself. 6.) The Cooper River Bridge walk. 7.) I am able to look others in the eye without looking away now. 8.) I can fit into the booth at restaurants. 9.) I have the most awesome friends now. 10.) I actually have a life now and don't want to stay locked up in the house. 11.) My back doesn't hurt all the time like before. 12.) I don't gasp for air when talking. 13.) I make better food choices now. 14.) I like the way I look in a skirt. 15.) I crave water now, I never drank it before. 16.) I notice over weight people more, and want to help them. 17.) I can go to the gym and work out. 18.) I danced. 19.) I worked in my back yard without a shirt. The men do it... 20.) I put my health first now. 21.) I can put a towel around me, and tuck it in. 22.) I can weed my garden without squishing my lungs with my belly. 23.) I can go braless. 24.) I crave fresh fruit now. 25.) The seat belt on an air plane buckles easy now. 26.) I don't feel so insecure that I have to "ask" to go somewhere or stay over night at Susan's or my sisters house that lives out of town, I just do it. 27.) I can clean house with out running out of air. 28.) I can walk the dog again. 29.) I can walk around shopping again. 30.) I can polish my toe nails on my own again. Oh snap...that's a few more than 7, I'm new at this.