Steph, You go get your praise on girl!!! I'm gettin mine on too!!! Congratulations for reaching your one year anniversary and getting the victory over food and it's impact on your life. You've got something to truely thank God for. Never forget from whom your blessings flow! Love ya bunches! Lori

My weight loss Twinkie! For so long we have been neck and neck, but you being just a bit taller had to stop the weight loss while mine has continued to fall. Thank you so much for thinking of, commenting, and just in general being there for me over the last year. So many of you on the Jan. board have touched my life and I thank you especially Suz for saying many of the things I have thought but not been able to express and for just being you. Happy Surgiversary dear...may 2008 be an even better year for you! Be proud to be who you are and stand tall lady!!! Lori

Stephanie congrats on an amazing year! You look fantastic girl! Woooohoooo!!!

Its my surgiversary!!! I can't believe it has been an entire year since I had my laproscopic RNY surgery. But it has been...on January 31, 2007 I was blessed with the opportunity to have gastric by pass surgery and God has truly watched over me during this year. I know it was HIM and not me that got up at least 4 days a week (mostly 6 days a week) to work out, when I used to not work out at all. I know it was HIM and not me that turned down breads, rice, pasta and potatoes and junk foods for almost an entire year when I that is all I used to eat..all day everyday. I know it was HIM who keep me from grazing and only eating my three meals a day with no snacking in between for almost 12 months.....this last month was a challenge but I remembered that whatever a man thinks, so he is...and I know I am more than a conquering thru Christ and am back on track! God is so good and I am so thankful for this wonderful journey I am on. So what has changed in the last year???? Well most noticeably would be my Highest Weight of 327 pounds is now..drumroll please...........164! I weigh just a few moments ago and also this morning at my doctors office I was 163 with my clothes on! That makes me half the person I was a year ago!! Aint God all right? Or stealing from Cookie's page...EXCUSE ME WHILE I GET MY PRAISE ON!!! Using my highest weight of 327, I have now lost 163 pounds since Dec 14, 2007. Also, I used to wear a size 26/28 even though I should have been wearing the next size up....and today I bought a size 8 pair of slacks and a size 8 skirt and they both are kind of big. Who would of thunk it? I mean, my hope chest pants were a size 14 sweat pants which are way too big. I am going to take a picture in my old jeans when my daughter gets up in the morning to post on line. Next I would have to say my life style.....my goal has been to work out 4 days a week but I have consistently worked out all year about six days a week. And I enjoy doing it! I was blessed to get three months free at the YMCA with my surgery and the two trainers I worked with were awesome! Dave and DJ ROCK! And then I was blessed with a job in 2005 that paid for my WLS and we have fitness center on site. So I have no excuse not to work out. EXCUSE ME WHILE I GET MY PRAISE ON! Of course there is the complete change in my eating habits! I cant believe how I went from eating all day everything and eating it til it was gone to being able to control my portions and make healthier food choices...I know it was God and not me! EXCUSE ME WHILE I GET MY PRAISE ON! While everyday is not the best eating day for me, I have way more good days than not so good so I will not complain.

Suz - I don't know how you do it with school and kids. I would be exhausted and probably eating fast food all of the time!!! I bet you are tired. We should all plan to meet one day. That would be a blast!!!! Seriously, how fun would that be? Same goes for you, if you are ever here in MI look me up! I'd love to be in Cali right now though. Woke up this morning to schools closed and tempatures below 0!!!