Hey Trish,

Have fun at the ballgame. I am in the middle of getting scheduled for my second Iron infusion...the first one didn't raise it enough...but I am holding out hope this one works.  Funny, I don't have symptoms.  

We are a unique group of women, aren't we?

Yay Susan,

I was hoping you would surface. . . now we just need a few more, Jan? Karen, well actually all 3 Karen's. . . Margo, though I do see her on FB and she has her hands full these days. . . 

Susan, you know when I was a support group leader, I felt the same way, can't be a hypocrite about things, but after 5 years of doing it and my life getting so busy, I got tired of it all, what I know now is I was suffering from depression and just wanted to curl up and be left alone. . . though my life was busy too, I am also high functioning, most of the time, when depressed, however, I eat my way through it, then the rest of the story I already told and after Frankie died, I started a new job and between the stress and the grief, that was held at bay because I needed to perform at my new job, free lunch and my desk right outside the cafeteria, well, here I am 35 lbs regained, that on top of the 20 that was already gained, from my lowest point and so I am 55 lbs. heavier than I was in 2009, but I know I can lose some of this, I never got below a size 10 and really that was a Ralph Lauren 10, so really a size 12, but I loved me in size 12/14 and I want to be there again, I will and I can.  I am facing my demons and I am not and never have been a quitter. . .I am cooking and bringing my food more often these days, because that is what worked for me, I am walking and getting up from my work station more often and next week we will be in our new state of the art, premiere "green" building, with an on site, 24/7 gym (small that it is), but they will offer classes and even personal training, though the gym is free and classes, personal training is a premium price, so probably not going to do that part, but we will even have onsite bicycles we can check out, for free, to ride around the area, so I have no real excuses, so long as my back holds up, as this past year has found me with lots of issues there, but for now things are good and I am living in the now and hope to lose 10 lbs. by end of September, if more happens, great, but I make small goals and that works best.

Glad you popped in and I am happy that things with your business are well and heck, we're all of an age where we can talk!

Come back, at least from time to time!

Laureen

Jeannie, I have thought of you often, but thought your were in Qutar.  I've even been bragging about you!  You know, my WLS friend who got her PhD and is making the big bucks teaching in the Middle East.

Susan,

I am so glad you are posting. I agree that accountability is the key and the place to become accountable is in a support group. We all find ourselves in various levels of regain and when it hits, we just have to make a decision if we are going to fall victim to the "WLS doesn't work" syndrome or are we going to take the bull by the balls and get it under control. I chose to get it under control and have worked tirelessly doing the few things left that I can do. 

I miss Annette and Nettie and a few of the others who have since passed. 

Last year, I found my skinny jeans had this mushroom top flowing so graciously over the waist, and I actually caught myself trying to figure out a way to let them out enough and then I said, hell no...I refuse to go there again. I got my butt in gear and dropped a few pounds so that my jeans weren't cutting my circulation off and decided to lose another fifteen that I had gained to be more healthy and, as it turns out, I wasn't more healthy. I like being gaunt or not so gaunt but not so chunky either. You are so right about it being a different journey and outcome for all of us but I am like you, I refuse to eat sweets because I am afraid I will get to the point where I can eat them and I would gain a hundred pounds in no time. I drink diet cokes but one a day...I write every single thing that goes into my mouth in my fit diary and I make sure that I stay under 1200 calories and it works for me. 

I am so glad you are doing well...we really need to meet up for coffee or tea or wine.  I've missed you. 

Okie Dokie.....better late than never, right?

I'll hit my 10 yr anniversary in September and I still don't regret a moment.  I don't drink soda, eat ice cream, a lot of pasta, or much in the way of junk food, but I do still have a piece of dark chocolate a couple of times a day, and probably a weeeeee bit more wine than I should....lol

But, that being said, I still wear a size 6-8, and as of this moment, have on a pair of capri's that are in their 4th summer.  Crap!  Who knew you could wear anything more than a few months before they were too tight!!! I owe a lot of my success to being the post op support group leader at our local Center of Excellance for 8 of the last 10 years.  Hard to tell people what to do if you're back up to a size 26.  So, I'm grateful for the accountability, for sure!

I have also had a small bowel obstruction that wasn't found until it was almost too late.  My surgeon, same guy that did my RNY, trusted his instincts and did an exploratory surgery to find it.  The bowel had started to necrose so it's a wonder I made it out alive.  

Two and a half years ago I opened my own salon....just me in a salon suite situation and I couldn't be happier.  Not that I didn't enjoy who/where I worked before, but there were "issues" with differing philosophies in the work place, so off I went.  I pay a REDICULOUS amount of rent, but my suite is mine, all mine, with no one to tell me what I can charge or how I have to be.  If I want to drop an occasional F*** bomb, it's my place and by damn, I do.  Good for the soul, I say.

My husband had RNY two years ago and lost right around 100 lbs. Same surgeon, same rules, not quite as compliant as I am.  I find lots to find fault in what he does, but have given up the fight.  His journey, his outcome.

I think of Amy and Annette often, especially Nettie.  Such a sweet soul.  I've probably told my husband a dozen times how he'd love Philly, and would love for him to see it someday.  

Ok....that's it as I've gone on long enough.  Lots more to say, but gee, there's a big surprise....lol