Hi Everyone

Here I am lurking again, have been so dang busy lately! I'm glad your all doing well, my year has passed since this wonderful operation, although I am a slow looser, at least I am still loosing...PHEW! Congrats to our own fairy angel Brandi, I believe she is finally on her way!!!! You know this dang surgery should be covered by all insurances, if they could truely see how wonderful and how much more healthy we all get. Surely they would rather paid for a surgery once than a lifetime of bad health. Our snow here in Eastern Oregon is melting too fast, I'm afraid the dreaded word drought is on it's way, so everyone please do a raindance for us! Well, I'm off again, I'll try to get my act together, it's all that extra energy I have! I'll have to strap myself to the chair!! Take Care Catherine

Great job Catherine! You have a lot to be proud of. You may be a slow loser, but you have lost a lot of weight. You feel wonderful, and so much more healthy. All of that fits together to consider things a success! What is that Dear Abby saying...something about considering where you would have been in this amount of time if you hadn't done what you did? Probably way up at your high weight, plus some. Like you, I am absolutely having to bite the inside of my cheek, wanting to say something to people I see in public that are so very much in the place I was. I just want so badly for them to feel better. I would have been absolutely mortified if anyone had said something to me at 325. I had to come to the point of addressing my morbid obesity in my own time. It took way more than I realized until after my surgery when the weight started coming off, to keep my self esteem and physical self going at that high weight. I realize that for each person, that is a balance of denial, courage, or whatever. I read that Dr. Patterson has to fight the same urge. The insurance injustice drives me crazy. Also, the endless barrage from the diet industry. It's fabulous that you have so much energy, and are feeling well at this one year point. Patty

Catherine, You've made such great progress! I understand feeling like it's coming off slowly can be frustrating but think of the "up" side to it....your skin is probably having a better adjustment than people who lose very rapidly. I'm losing at about an average rate but I've got the most awful looking Shar-pei legs! But, I'm just thankful for how much better I feel and look (with clothing on at least, lol). My ex used to tell me he'd worship me if I was a size 12. I told him my leg was a 12...go for it! Now at size 16, I can expect to make that mark...woohoo for me! Okay...rain dance done! I'll take any excuse to dance! Take care, Michele