WOW, I'm not quite 8 weeks yet (will be on Wed), and almost 60 lbs gone!!! I'm just plain amazed!! I'm down to a 22/24 (from a 28/30). Today was a series of WOW moments... we bought a kayak today (at hubby's insistance) and although I was ok with the IDEA of buying it and going out in it... I wasn't expecting to actually use it anytime soon though... The actuality of putting on a swimsuit for the first time since surgery... left me a bit shocked. It slipped on without a huge struggle, that was the shocking part... I was able to get into the boat without difficulty and even paddle it around a bit!! *I* got to participate in an outdoor sport!!! I wasn't even really over tired... it was awesome!!

Yesterday my family did our first "active" activity since Jodell and I had our surgeries. We went out with my dad in his ski boat to the lake for the day. I've lost 60 pounds since 2 weeks before my surgery, and about 70 pounds since my "life time high" which was the last time I went to the lake. I noticed such a huge difference in how much easier it was to get in and out of the boat, and the entire trip was alot more enjoyable than the last time I went to the lake. The 4 kids and Jodell really enjoyed themselves as well. I think this is a good example of the type of fun stuff we are going to be doing more as a family as a direct result of our having our surgeries. --Dave

i think the trick with the bullets for me is to find the least amount of water poosible to mix them with to make them palatable so i can drink them relatively quick. i don't see how some people can drink them straight. blehhhhhh.

Juanita, I know exactly what you are talking about, because I also have been dealing with ichy skin alot lately. Especially on my calves, legs, and some of my arms. I made up my own treatment, which you are welcome to try. My assumption for the cause of itching is that my body is having a hard time shedding the extra skin fast enough, as I'm losing weight so quickly. First, I use one of those shower poufs to really exfoliate the ichy areas. I use a lotion soap on the shower pouf. Then, after i'm all dry from the shower, I use some lotion on the dry areas. Several times I've taken an extra shower in the evening, and repeated the same process. It's helped so I don't wake up in the night iching. Sometimes I'll put lotion on again in the middle of the day. I'm an Arizona person, and it tends to be a dryer climate here than lots of other places. Hopefully this will help. --Dave

Hi Rita, Sorry for Being an OH slacker lately. I went back to work about a week ago, and seemed to have more time to post and respond before I went back to work. Jodell and I are also looking at more and more food options, and we are starting to get more comfortable with our new selves post RNY. Don't be so hard on yourself to meet pre-set goals for weight loss. I was losing weight like crazy for a while there, and things really slowed down for me. For a while I just quit weighing myself. It was tough because I was in the habit of daily weigh ins, but I knew if I just kept going by the rules, the weight would continue to come off. As for my personal weight loss update, I've now lost 60 pounds since 2 weeks before my surgery. Jodell has lost 30 pounds. She can relate to some of your frustrations with trying to compare yourself to other's loss. That said, 30 pounds is not "chump change" when it comes to weight loss. Almost none of my pre-surgery clothes fit without looking like I'm wearing a tent. They could now pass for "hip-hop" fashion because some of them are so baggy. I've got a few replacements, as I had to for work. Keep smiling, and remember that if you go by the rules, you will continue to lose weight! --Dave