***** Leslie - you have so much strength, you are a remarkable woman! Hearing about your challenges has humbled me tremendously. I get strength from you and hopefully you have and will continue to get some strength from us. Love, Sandy**** Sandy, you've literally brought me to tears. Thank you so much for your very kind words. Sometimes, I feel so overwhelmed, and I feel like I am falling apart. I feel like I am weak and just falling to pieces. And I wonder "why me". But then I remember that *I* shape my own future, and *I* am the one to decide how I live my life - disease or not. And you're right. It is better to gain the weight from 189 lbs than to gain it starting at 270. But I guess I'll never know what it's like to hit the century mark, but hey, that's okay. At least now, I will most likely be mobile for longer, and that's a good thing. Last night, I was really regretting the surgery. That's b/c I wanted to BINGE eat and drown my sorrows in food. I wanted to devour a cheesecake out of grief. If nothing else, this surgery has taught me how to deal with grief and sadness WITHOUT eating those feelings away (although I did have a single twinkie last night. And it was worth it! LOL LOL ) But today is a whole new day, and I am feeling better about everything. I do get strength from everyone on this board. We all have challenges in our lives - difficulties and obstacles we must overcome. And it's important that *I* remember that, so I don't drown in self-pity. ;) I still think this news sucks. But there ARE definite plus sides. I have a GREAT doctor. And he is very concerned about my well being, and that is very important. (When I was first being diagnosed with MS 8 years ago, I was told it was all in my head! What a moron neurologist. Now, my MS neurologist is one of the top MS specialists in the entire nation. He works with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society). Anyway, I am fortunate to have a sharp doctor that knew what to look for. My joints feel inflammed, but when I look at them, they just look like they always do to me. My rheumatologist could feel of them and feel the swollenness and my right elbow was even "warm" to the touch from the inflammation. So, my wonderful doctor is a plus. I know that I will most likely get approved for social security disability now, and that's another plus. Some people are never approved, despite being unable to work. And I can fully concentrate on my health and raising my girls - that's another plus. Speaking of my children, I need to take them both to a pediatric rheumatologist. My doctor said that the average person's chances of getting these forms of arthritis (that I have) are 1 in 100,000. But b/c of me, my girls' chances are 1 in 250. He said that they should be checked out. THAT makes me sad. My poor girls. I hope and pray they never have to know this kind of pain. Anyway, Sandy, your post has truly helped me. It inspired me to find my inner strength and continue to believe in myself. I see myself as weak and falling to pieces, but to know that someone else sees me as strong empowers me. It reminds me that I have more strength than even I realize. Thank you so much ((( HUGS ))) Leslie

My weakest spot is probably nibbling. On the days that I go too high on my calories , it is always due to popping in a bite of this or a bit of that between meals or here and there.

My surgery date was September 14th. I've lost 150 since then and another 45 before surgery. I am down 195 since last May.

Great thread - really helps me see that I'm getting paranoid for nothing. I had my surgery on 9/14 and so far I am down 98 pounds.

OMG I can not express in words how grateful I am for all of your support and ideas. I am currently drinking water. I think I have been really stressed lately and I was worrying about all the food stuff too...so every bad choice just seemed magnified. I work full time and go to school part time and have had major computer problems lately (viruses and spyware) and don't really need them as I have major assignments due et****ep watching very inspirational Oprah's which have showed of late and think that intead of having a 500ml bottle of water on my desk I'll have a litre one and I'm going to park by the parking exit at work (in the parking lot) instead of close to the (door) entrance. I'm going to do it step by step and one day at a time and get there!!! Thank you so much. Since it is possible to gain back the weight (not that that is going to happen to us! As we will fully stay aware!) I was just wondering how that is physically possible. Is there something I'm missing. As they say you can't eat sweets (that's not exactly 100% for me anyways). So I was just wondering if we (gastric bypass patients) were cut and made a tiny pouch - how can we possibly gain it all back?