This was sent to me by a Dear Friend and I thought I would pass it on. We can get discouraged by a lot of things, not just with our weight loss journey but with life....it is all perspective. Love in Him, Joan M Bank Account A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with his hair fashionably coifed and shaved perfectly, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today. His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready. As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window. "I love it," he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy. "Mr. Jones, you haven't seen the room; just wait." "That doesn't have anything to do with it," he replied. "Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged .. it's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it. "It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do. Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away. Just for this time in my life. Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you've put in. So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories! Thank you for your part in filling my Memory bank. I am still depositing." Remember the five simple rules to be happy: 1. Free your heart from hatred. 2. Free your mind from worries. 3 Live simply. 4. Give more. 5. Expect less. What a great story which parallels one of my favorite Bible verses: Philippians 4:8 (New International Version)- Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.

I'm not at goal either. My body is strange.....but I can lose and then like weeks later i'm up 10-15 pounds, it's CRAZY!!!! This is usually around my time of the month, then afterwards, that 10-15 slowly comes back off. I want to get down to 150-160 not sure.

I have not been on the site for months. Either too busy or too depressed. If you want to know what that means feel free to check out some of the details on my profile, new version. The old wouldn't convert over so, it took a few months to copy and paste all the old postings into the new blog. But it's all there, just not under newer dates. In 13 months I have gone from 342 pounds (down 11 pounds pre-surgery), to 225 plus or minus a few. I've gone from a size 26/28 to a size 20. I've started taking Tae Kwan Do classes. I'm loving them and earned my first level belt in April (yellow). I hope to earn my next belt this summer. I am healthier and happier. I can run, buy stylish clothes at Target that look good on me, easily get down on the floor with my kids, fit into waiting room chairs, etc. I can't even count the ways this surgery has blessed me. I am so much more aware of the choices I am making exercise and food wise. Even when I make unhealthy choices, I know that I am doing so. The surgery did not, however, keep me from getting into one of the worst depressions of my life, or help me get into a healthy job that I can be proud of, or completely restored my self-esteem. In the past year I have learned alot more about who I am and what I can and can't do, irregardless of weight. I'm certain with time and more work I will get where I want to be in all areas of my life I am very thankful for the surgery. I look and feel better and have the opportunity to live a healthier, more normal life. Surgery has been a blessing, and I'm sure it will continue to be! Thank You Dr. S!!! Heidi L-S

Congratulations on losing 100 lbs! Isn't it just amazing? You're doing wonderful! Lizzie

Whoohoo Congratulations! Go Julia, go Julia, go Julia!!!! I lost a pound recently, I'm at 206 now. Funny thing is I've been losing extremely slowly now and everyone keeps saying oh my gosh how much more have you lost? I keep saying umm nothing? It must be redistrubuting or something. Lizzie