I first want to apolgize to all of you who have messaged me and I've not responded. Been so covered up lately haven't had time t stop. I know that's not a good excuse but I'm glad I have the ability to move around and have THAT AS AN EXCUSE! LOL Still struggling with the  vitamin intake but have found 123 minerals that are amazing in helping me get the nutrition I need. Easy to absorb so I figured what the heck and sure enough it has helped me so much. Feeling absolutley wonderful! Just got back from a week  of helicopter tours, horseback riding, go karts, and golfing! OMG I"VE HAD A BLAST WITH MY MOM AND SON! AWESOME TIME! I have some pictures to post when i figure out how to get em on here. I just take my days one at a time and be thankful for every single one of them. May 15 is my 9 year anniversary out from weight loss surgery. and..............I'm here and still living my life and enjoying and have NOT gained it back! I'm so proud of it! It's not the easiest thing to do by no means. ANYONE who has HAD THE SURGERY KNOWS this. But I have more of a life now than I ever did before. My son and mom are so precious to me and for us to have the ability to go and be together is a gift that I cannot put a price on.  I never forget where I came FROM. I see others and I always want to reach out and just give em a hug and let em know it's okay, there is hope at the end of the tunnel. But It's really hard to see when you haven't traveled that road yet. I'm sure some people are offended if I approach them, but hell, I would have given anything to have had a friendly word or face when I was struggling. I think we could ALL USE A NICE SMILE AND KIND WORD no matter what or where we are in life. God bless every one of you that have supported me throughout my weightloss journey and I will do my best to update more often. Life is precious. Get out and enjoy every single day of it! I WILL NOT TAKE ONE DAY THAT I AM BLESSED TO HAVE FOR GRANTED! IT's a GIFT! ENJOY!

I am still doing well here. Maintaining my weight although always struggling with being anemic and getting in my nutrition. I am happier than I've been in a long long long time. I think the depression stays with you forever. I've never stopped having bouts with it.  Sometimes I get frustrated because I've lost all this damn weight and I still have huge arm, leg and boob skin that needs to be removed. It's like you dream and dream of reaching your goals and when you get to your ideal weight, for me I still can't wear shorts, tank tops or enjoy swimming because I look like a flying squirrel. *giggle* Seriously though I'm not sure if we ever find that place that makes us truly comfortable with our bodies. I'm so grateful to be thin and alive and fairly healthy for what I've come through. But on the other hand, It's a hard fight and I have to keep reaching down deep inside myself to get that strength to keep trying and keep fighting. I know I will get through it. I just want others to be aware that just because our weight is gone, other issues remain.  Sometimes the weight is just a good excuse not to deal with alot of other things. I'm not trying to get all "Dr. Phil" on ya or nothing like that.  It's just I always thought I would live a perfect life after losing weight and never thought about how many surgeries it would take to adjust my skin so I can appear "normal".  Thanks for letting me vent. I will update again soon. I have my son, Mother and the love of my life to help me stay strong and work at being "okay".

Hello everyone, Just stopping in to say hello and update my page.  I am maintaining my weight well and trying to experiment as always with different supplements and healthy things. I feel pretty good although I'm still very anemic and that is a constant struggle.  I crave ice like crazy.  I eat it all day long. But I guess compared to other things, I could be alot worse off.   I am planning to go on a bike ride from Minneapolis to Wisconsin next week so hopefully I will have some new photos to add. I'm still working on those before picts. I founds some I just have been too doggone lazy to go get em scanned to put on my profile. DON'T GIVE UP ON ME! 

 GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU and I wish you all the best.

Until next time, HUGS* 
LISSA

I got to thinking and I need to put some of my gawd awful before photos up so I can fully show where I've come from.  I have had several requests for more "before" picts and you know we all hide from cameras at that time but I'm working on them this week and hope to post them soon! Thank you everyone for all your support and kindness! Without it I would be lost. HUGS  

Just passing through with another update.  Maintaining my weight easily but always fighting to get those vitamins and supplements down. Ugghhhhhhhhh Somethings are never easy. I wanted to send out my profile to some talk shows and get some publicity simply to get the word out about our lifestyles as wls patients and the good and the bad so that these goobers that think we took the easy way out will realize this is a life changing ordeal and anything but easy. I know they just dont get it but sometimes you just want to shake some sense into them.  I really do want to stay successful and set an example for others by doing the righ things. it is hard however sometimes.  It is so easy to let those vitamins go and just forget about them but when I do that I get severely anemic and end up in the hospital for IV vitamins and sometimes some blood transfusions when I'm a couple of quarts low.  I am very blessed to have a super supportive group of friends and family and I just want to help others. If anyone knows of any support groups that I can be of assistance with please don't hesitate to contact me. I would love to help educate others heading down this path.  I travel the 11 southeastern states speaking at support groups when I can or when I'm invited. If I help even ONE PERSON it's worth it all.  Everyone needs a friend and I want to reach out and help those that feel like giving up because I am living proof you can do it if you want it bad enough. God Bless you all and please let me know if you have a support group I can visit and share my story to help others. I just want to give back to my AMOS family. You are NEVER ALONE! We must all pull together just like a family and take care of each other. God bless and I wish you all the best.. HUGS* TO ALL my wls brothers and sisters out there.