I look back at my blogs and try to remember how I really felt. it is funny but I read where I couldn't wait for my first 100lbs gone and here I am today at 172lb wt loss and only 90 to go. My DS was on the 21 of July. how every I had Penni's surgery on the 21 of April.  I have had a few set back with 2 other surgeries.  High temps that put me in the hospital. and needed Nursing care for a while. But Today I am going back to work. walking like I did when I was 20.  Was Ordained as a Pastor.  Going on the complete my Bachelors degree in Christian Counseling, and Ministry. I sit on the Advisory board for Beriatrics at Methodist Hospital in Omaha, Holding wt loss meetings in our Church.  Running a sewing business. and doing my own house work. I can climb into my husband pick up and walk steps.  Life is great. I am teaching 2nd and 3rd graders in Church and writing my own materials.  Able to walk with ,my dog and keep up.  God has been so faithful in keeping His promise that He will never leave me or forsake me.  He has blessed me beyond what I could think.  I am going through cloth that are given me faster than what they are given to me. My doctor kids me about my cloths falling off of me. each time he sees me he tells me he sees a new Marvelle. and My Pastors wife tells me they are enjoying watching me melt away into a new person.
I am so thankful for the great support of my family. my church, and Dr Anthones staff. Also the new job that is Christ Centered. and finally reaching a child hood dream of becoming a Pastor.
If you are thinking about surgery. Go for it. It will help you in many ways.  God Bless you all
Pastor Marvelle Whitley

It has been 4.5 months since my DS  I have had some problems with healing and tunneling of liquids. I will have my 3rd wound vac put on this Tuesday.   I am down to 271 lbs a total of 127 lbs since March. Wow unbelievable.  It is a good thing that I was taught how to sew.  Making big cloths smaller has been interesting. esp when it comes to winter coats that I made last year.  taking them in 22 inches in the hip area and 20 inches in the bust.  Most of my cloths go to the Mission in the near by city.
I am looking forward to this Christmas when I know I will be over 1/2 way on my weight loss.  It has been slower for me than most with having to return to the hospital 2 other times with High fevers and a infection. 
I trust that God knows what to do and I trust that with His love and care I will soon very soon be healed and well on my way to a much smaller me. 
I think back to March and I cant believe I weighted 397 lbs. 
I feel great now I cant wait to see how I feel this spring.

I have lost 61 lbs as of today.  I am looking forward to my first 100 lb weight loss.
I find that I am now able to walk up to 30 min or more when shopping at my fav. dept store and
my ankles are not swelling as much as they use to.
I am almost healed from my first surgery where they removed my Pan-is and did Hernia repair.
My husband is so excited about the weight loss he keeps showing me out fits He would like to see me in.
And my youngest sister is giving me a wardrobe full of new cloths that she bought and never wore because she out grew them.  sizes 16 up to 24. when I am done with them I am donating them to anyone who needs cloths to get them through the time of weight loss so they don't have to put out a lot of money on cloths.
This week is closet cleaning time.. I have lot of cloths I hardly ware that are going to a neighbor who is over weight. and is in need of my larger cloths.
I just wish my knees would not hurt so bad.
Counting the days and min to surgery on the 21 of July  2010

I had hit an all time high of 393 lbs. and had water pouring out of the wall of my stomach.. My husband and Doctor agreed that I needed more help than what I was getting.. Dr Gary Anthone  was the Doctor that my Private PA said that would be great for me. so we went to a seminar and then the next day I had an appointment to Dr Anthone the next week.
At that time It was decided that I needed to have a hernia repaired and my pannis removed.. So I went through the test and in to surgery.  Here is it is going on 6 weeks.. My surgery was the 21 of April. and to day on the 28th of May I have lost a total of 55 lbs.  I had lost 10 lbs before my surgery because of the gross amount of water pills I was on.
Most of my med were stopped and I am on a wound pump.  I have some dicomfort but nothing that a strong pain med dosnt help me cope with.
I am looking forward to the Duedenal switch done before or in the month of August of 2010  Even though I have lost 55lb and down to 338 from 383 day of surgery and 393 at my highest weight. 
I have hopes of loosing another 25 to 30 lbs before my next surgery.