Well, it is hard to believe. Today is my one year surgiversary. This past year has gone by so fast. It seems so surreal. I am down 127.75 lbs from my highest known weight. I never really thought that this would happen and now I am about 75 lbs away from goal. The weight loss has slowed down and it's a little frustrating, but according to Dr. Starr that will happen. The next step is getting rid of my panni and that will happen later than I really hoped as I need to get a job to get the money to do it. So, here's to hoping I get the job I have the interview for next week at Disability. Because of my panni, I am frustrated as well as I am still in a 24/26 bottoms and I feel like I haven't lost anything there. I know I have because I have finally found my old measurements and had mine recently taken. I have lost a total of 71.75 inches, with 25.5 coming off my hips. I just want to really see it. So, I have another consultation with another plastic surgeon at the beginning of August and we'll see what he says and I'll go from there. This is by far the best thing I have ever done for myself and would do it again in a heartbeat. I am so thankful for all the support I have gotten from my family and friends. I couldn't have done it without all of you.

Who would think a walk across the street could make such an incredible change in someone’s life? This is how I came to the first TOPS meeting at the end of March 2003. I knew I needed to do something about my weight, but it was always, “I’ll do something later.” Later became now. I had started looking at the TOPS website and found out there was a chapter that met at the church across the street from where I live. I knew of TOPS, as my mother had been her Chapter Queen when I was growing up. I can remember walking into the church hall and coming down the stairs. The current leader, Patricia Antonio asked me if I was someone, whose name I have forgotten, and told her no, but I was looking into joining TOPS. I didn’t know anyone in the Chapter, but I now consider the members of #ON1181, Niagara Falls, my extended family. Some of my closest friends are here. I struggled with my weight loss. At first, I was going outside of the meeting to get weighed, as I was heavier than what the scale went up to. I can remember going with Pat to a nursing home to get weighed on the wheelchair accessible scale and crying. Not tears of sadness, but of joy because I didn’t weigh as much as I thought. It was a start. I knew where to go from there. A friend, Lucy Zenga, was kind enough to bring me her scale from home so that I could get weighed each week. Over the next two and a half years, I floundered. I lost close to 36 lbs only to gain all but 5 lbs of it back. In November 2005, I decided that gastric bypass surgery was the only way the weight was going to come off. I was sick of struggling week after week, gaining and losing the same 5-10 lbs. I met with the surgeon, who changed my life. I had surgery June 26, 2006, and the rest as they say is history. There are some people out there who think that having this surgery is taking the easy way out. I am here to say, it isn’t. I came through the surgery with flying colours, but at three months out, I was lucky to keep food down. I wondered what I had done to myself. But I don’t regret this decision for one moment. I can climb the 3 flights of stairs to my apartment without feeling like I am going to pass out by the time I reach the top. I go to the YMCA and I am able to walk to it. I actually don’t mind it, I just have a hard time walking home again after a good workout. Clothes shopping is almost totally enjoyable! Who’d have thought that?! I am so grateful to be a part of such an amazing organization. My next goal – to go to Cedar Point in Ohio to ride the roller coasters this summer. I can’t wait.

A few things are happening for me this month. The first was the TOPS Provincial Recognition Days in Kitchener. What an amazing experience. I had a good time and things went really well. It was a little nerve wracking standing in the middle of the stage having someone read your story. The only thing was that they had edited a couple of things out of what I had written that I wish they hadn't. Oh well.

The next thing is that I see the plastic surgeon on Friday. It has come up pretty fast. I am not getting my hopes up though. I am afraid that he won't want to do the panniculectomy because I still have weight to lose. I don't know if I am being unrealistic about getting to 150 lbs. I will talk to Dr. Starr when I see him Friday as well.

The last thing coming this month is my one year surgiversary. Where has the last year gone? I was at my parent's house on the weekend and I commented that I hadn't had mashed potatoes in awhile and my mom laughed because I had so much of them after surgery. I am at a bit of a stall and it is kind of freaking me out. I will hit the same weight for the fourth time this week, provided I have lost. I am happy with the amount that I have lost, 124 lbs from my highest. I know I couldn't have done it without the surgery. I have gotten my life back.

I will post more after my appointments on Friday.