Hey, guys. It's been just a few days over four months since my surgery, and everything is going great. My shirt size is down from an XXXXL to an XL and my pants have gone from a size 48 to a size 34. I feel great. I presently weigh about 235, with just under 100 lost since surgery and 145 lost from my highest of 380 earlier this year. I don't weight myself very often, about once a month, so I don't notice any plateaus or anything. But the weight loss has felt consistent. Every week, people tell me that I just keep getting smaller and smaller. Gotta love it. I haven't even been recognized several times. I had some new pictures taken just outside my house earlier today. Check them out. Sometimes I still can't believe that's me. The best of luck to everyone, Chris

Hi Anna- I hit your blog to see some of the quotes. I particularly liked, "you make time for things you value." It hit me particularly strongly because I realized that for a long time I had been not taking time for myself (making exercise/healthy eating a priority). Since my surgery I've begun to spend more time "valuing" myself, and I've noticed some changes!!! Another point directly related to this is that if we don't value ourselves, it is likely others won't value us as well. To the point: During the time that I've been valuing myself more, I've found that my boss at work has begun to start recognizing my increased value. I got a promotion, and my career feels like it's started to take off. Some could say, "that's just prejudice to overweight folks." In my case, I have to believe that the true change was not just that I lost the weight. Rather, I had begun to value myself more, and it had translated into a new perception of me to my coworkers. --Dave 350/237/205

Glad you enjoyed the site! Fun to try on clothes BEFORE they fit, and this is the only way I know how! --Dave 350/237/205

I don't know if it's a 4 month thing but I went like 3 weeks with no loss! It stunk to say the least! I started really watching what I ate to make sure I wasn't eating too little (who ever thought I'd say that!) on www.sparkpeople.com and i****ches my proteins and stuff. I am still in the zone so I know the weightloss has to start up again! I have decided to weight myself only once a month so we'll see on August 16th - can it come here soon???!!!! Just stay the course - you are doing great!

I too have given up all bread except whole wheat totilias (I eat South Beach Wrap kits a lot and they have them in them but I don't eat the wrap as a wrap, I will eat the meat by itself then in a few hours, the tortilias, then in a few hours, the cheese, etc. they are only 250 calores). I also eat soups (I try to stay away from the high calorie and salt ones). I love wendy's chili (230 calories, carbs 23, fat 6.0) and Taco Bells Zesty Chicken Border Bowl. I order it without rice and with extra beans and I don't use the dressing that way it comes to, (370 calories, 43 carbs, 12 fat), I also order their pintos n cheese sometimes (160 calories, 19 carbs, and 6 fat). Those are my fast food standbys when they order out at work or when I get caught without food, which is very bad and I am getting bettr about it, I carry cheese sticks and protein bars now (snickers makes a low carb protein bar that is the bomb! but make sure you check the sugar grams as they make 3 or 4 different types and you want the one with the lowest). I try to stay under 10 grams of sugar in everything I eat, I got that tip from the book "Before and After" her website also has soft food recipes www.bariatriceating.com and I have some on my blog from her book and others, just type 'recipe" or "cook" in the search blog box at the top of my blog at www.luvsexytrstno1.blogspot.com Hope all of that helps you!