WELL, my scale isn't too happy with me right now. I ate very well Monday through Friday, although 2 of my days were up to 2000 calories (still less than I supposedly burn, right?). Easter was lousy, and yesterday (Saturday) I gave myself a splurge day. Now, the reason the scale is angry is because I ate soup for lunch, and breadsticks and 2 slices of pizza for dinner yesterday...all of which have an extremely high salt content. I'm puffier beyond puffy! Yesterday morning, my scale said 228, which is down 3 from the 231 I had on Easter. Progress! Today, it says 230. Like I said, it's mad at me. The weather has finally straightened out, so I am going to EXERCISE, EXERCISE, EXERCISE in the great outdoors EVERY DAY this week, starting with today. DH's work schedule will change mid-week (to evenings), so I plan to have microwave meals for lunch AND dinner...see how that goes. Also, Six Flags opens next weekend, so I'm hoping DD and I will make it out there on Sunday...plenty of hilly walking. I hope everyone has a successful week. Weight loss is SOOOO hard! Pamela

I'd be willing to participate, but I don't know how much help I would be, considering I haven't lost enough weight to truly benefit from plastics. Sure, I'm saggy, but having surgery now won't keep me from needing it again, and I DON'T want to go through it twice! Pamela

I guess I'll go next: I'm Traci and the 3 year anniversary of my WLS is July 27th. I've done well with very little complications from surgery, but like many have struggled with wrong food choices after the "golden days" immediately post-op. Foods that I used to not be able to tolerate, I now can. I guess my body is adapting. Over the past year or so, I've gained back 10 lbs from my absolute lowest weight and I'm maintaining here. I'd prefer to lose another 20 lbs; or at least the 10 I gained back. I can echo the staying with the support because I truly believe that dropping off the support group radar was part of my downfall to weight gain. There aren't any real-life support groups within a reasonable driving distance for me, so online is my only resource. I re-joined some email groups and have come back to reading and posting a little here at OH. Life-long ongoing WLS support I believe is essential to the success of this surgery. Without it, it's too easy to slip back into old habits, or just make wrong choices all around. Exercise is still something I struggle with. Although I'm active (now running an in-home daycare) that my friend and I do full-time here in my home. One day we were doing our usual walking the floor and bouncing the infants to get them to sleep and we realized why we Grammy's were so tired - we're working out all day long!! I half-joked that if we bended our knees a little bit while we walked and bounced, we could get a glut and thigh workout. It's working!! LOL So we may come up with the "daycare provider workout" video. LOL So I guess I am working out - in a sense, just working it into my very busy daily schedule in a unique way. Next on my "to-do" list is plastic surgery. I really want/need a TT. One with the muscles pulled and perhaps a little lipo in the mid-section, which is where I carry all my weight. Having given birth to 7 children and then losing all this weight has made for some very sorry looking abs. Anywho, I'm rambling..... I'm really doing well. No complications. Traci

[posted with permission from OH - didn't want this to appear to be spam in any way] I know some Missouri folks post here, so I'm posting it in this July 2004 forum and the main forum - in addition to the Missouri board. Tuesday, May 1st two focus groups (6pm & 8pm) will be held with people who have had bariatric surgery. The subject is their surgery and understanding the thought process around having follow-up plastic surgery. * One group is WOMEN aged 35-49 who have had bariatric surgery and have NOT had plastic surgery to remove excess skin, etc. * One group is MEN aged 35-49 who have had bariatric surgery and HAVE had at least one plastic surgery to remove excess skin, tissue, etc. * Participants will be well compensated for their time, about 2 hours. * Location is a local focus group facility in St. Louis and Deborrah will give them the specific location when they call her. Deborrah Moore from DRSM Research Services will field calls from people interested in participating. Her number is 314-739-2177. She will do the scheduling and logistics, etc. When potential participants call for pre-screening, just tell Deborrah that Traci Knoppe referred you, so she'll know how you found out about the focus group. Since this is for May 1st (which is coming up quickly), please do not delay in contacting Deborrah for specifics on the focus group. Thanks!! Traci

Hi everyone Busyness abounds here at my house; thus my long-term absence. I'm doing well. Holding at 155 lbs, which is up about 10 lbs from my lowest maintained weight. My surgeon said this would happen, just not sure I like that it has happened to ME! Other than that, I'm doing well. I guess my two biggest bits of news are my one daughter is going to make me a grammy in August!! And my other daughter is getting married in July!! So we're busy with those big family events. Have a great week!