Hi Everyone! The Beckley WLS Support Group meeting will be held on MONDAY, Aug. 14, from 7:00-9:00pm at Raleigh General Hospital on Harper Road, Beckley. Our meeting location is in the Education Center (annex building on the Kroger side of RGH). Entrance is at the top of the wheelchair ramp. Guests are welcome and everyone is encouraged to attend! CLOTHING EXCHANGE: We will now have a clothing exchange at each meeting! You are welcome to bring any clothes that no longer fit you and take home some that do. As you lose out of them, bring them back and exchange them for others! You do not have to bring clothing to take clothing, and bringing clothing is not required. Restaurant cards for Dr. Shin and Dr. Stickler's patients (as well as some other area doctors - email us if you need one for your doctor) will be available for anyone who needs one. Don't forget to bring a recipe (or two...or three) for our online group cookbook (or you can email them to us), a "before" picture (if you have one), or even bring some "before" clothes! You can view our monthly calendar by visiting our support group website at http://www.geocities.com/beckleywlssg/ The 2006 meeting dates are also listed below. Looking forward to seeing you Monday! Beth ------------------------------ 2006 Beckley WLS Support Group meeting dates (all Monday meetings): August 14, 2006 September 18, 2006 October 23, 2006 November 13, 2006 December 18, 2006 If Raleigh County Schools are cancelled due to weather the day of our meeting or the following day, the meeting is cancelled also.) ------------------------------ If you would like to receive an email-reminder for the Beckley WLS Support Group Meeting, please email us at [email protected].

Sorry for the mistake Mary. Most of the information also applies to females too, we just tend to see it with greater incidence in males. Daniel L. Stickler, M.D. www.medabolix.com

Curt, Plateaus are not uncommon at this stage, especially for men who tend to lose faster but plateau sooner. Nine months is about the time I see the men start on a step wise pattern of weight loss - no loss for two to three weeks and then 3 or four pounds in one week, then nothing again for several and so on. The key is to figure out whether you have dropped into a stepwise pattern or a true plateau. Ways to kick the plateau: watch the carbs - try to keep below 100 grams a day, increase the protein, and increase exercise but focus primarily on resistance training with weights. These techniques seem to work well most of the time in my practice. Other areas to look into are thyroid hormone levels, testosterone levels - especially your free testosterone level, and sometimes it can be as simple as a slight nutrient deficiency such as L-carnitine (if you don't eat a lot of red meat). Good luck with it and I hope this helps you find your answer, Daniel L. Stickler, M.D. www.medabolix.com

I had my surgery in December of 05 and have hit a plateau. I've lost apporximately 94 pounds but nothing since June of this year. Could four surgeries in the last year be the reason? I am getting discouraged.

hey Melissa, Thanks so much for your message, I read your profile and feel so encouraged about my WLS, I am now 42 lbs post op, I feel like I've slowed down but not sure why. I keep a log of all I eat and I am not eating too much or the wrong foods. Right now I am struggling to get my insurance to pay for Celebrex for my arthritis pain. I have not been able to walk or exercise but 1 day in 2 weeks. I feel like this has slowed my weight loss down. Right after surgery I was walking 3 days a week. It's a shame the insurances try to dictate everything you do. You look great!! I can't wait. I have met my first goal of being under 300.....my next goal is 275.....I can't wait to even get there.