Rebecca, look how tiny you are. You look amazing girl! as for the binging. i do it too. I also can't understand how I can fit that much in and eat again. I think it's a phase. I go through it at least once a month. STAY AWAY FROM WELBUTRIN! It will make you nasty as hell. I took it before surgery to stop smoking. It's awful! Erin 310/148/151 3 lbs. BELOW GOAL

Congratulations! I'm glad you have insurance coverage for this. I am struggling with saggy skin everywhere, but am not really ready to contemplate major surgery again, I still have this huge fear that all the weight will come back. (I have kept almost all of my old clothes, "just in case".) Let us know how your surgery goes, make sure and take some before and after pictures. Sheryl

Cynthia, what an incredible journey you have been on! Your "before" and current photos are a testament to the power of WLS, your own strength, and your faith. What a tremendous success story! And you're off all those nasty meds, no longer diabetic, healthy BP... you GO!! You truly have been released from the bondage of your own body, yes indeed, it is miraculous. Best wishes to you, Sheryl

Hi Vickie and others, I'm struggling with the same saggy breast, belly, arm, thigh, butt, even chin issues that everyone else is. And while it doesn't necessarily leave me feeling as anxious and depressed as you are clearly feeling Vickie, it does bother me, and I sure as heck with I had a magic wand to make it go away. What helps me is to remind myself WHY I did this: to restore my health. I was dangerouly obese, had high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high triglycerides, and had become diabetic overnight. I was going to die of obesity at a premature age, and miss being a grandmother, maybe even miss my own children going through some of the important milestones like graduating high school or college. So when I lament the shape of my saggy body, I try to think about the shame and humliation I felt when I weighed 299 lbs, and remind myself how lovely it is to fit in a theater seat or airplane seat. I think about my children having me alive when I'm 55, 65, even 75 or more. I firmly believe that, by having WLS, I bought myself an additional 10-20 years of life - and a more enjoyable life, not one where I will need to use an electric cart at the grocery store because I'm too fat to walk on my own. Yes, I have thought about plastic surgery. Yes, I am buying padded bras, and they have to be very full cup bras, or my saggy breasts pour out over the edges. Yes, I have to wear a full coverage bathing suit with lycra, or someone will see my droopy belly hanging out of the leg holes or breasts flopping out of the cups. Yes, it is hard to find pants that fit this new figure of mine. BUT...I am so much better off than before, and so are you. I do encourage you to try to find a therapist, talk to your surgeon's office and see who they recommend. And I encourage you to find out how you can, over time, save the money for plastic surgery. I'm sorry you are having such a hard time, just as soon as I find that magic wand, I'll send a zap of happiness (and firm skin) your way! Hang in there. Sheryl

Ok, I updated my profile and put a new 11-months-out picture at the bottom! I'm actually happy with a picture of myself for the first time in YEARS! Well, the batwing showing is pretty bad, but look at the rest of me! haha And... I'm fighting old demons again. I have an addictive personality. I've never done drugs and I drink very rarely, but I have a food addiction (dont we all??) and lately a shopping addiction! I swear, I'm so happy when I'm putting crap I dont need into my cart, but the minute I get it home I'm back to depressed again and worried sick how I'll explain away the money I spent... As for food, it's all I think about. I'm not eating too much junk, but as soon as I'm not full from a meal I'm eating again, I dont think I'm even giving myself time to get hungry. I weighed a bowl of cereal the other morning- 2oz cereal and 2oz milk- and realized I have been eating twice that every morning! First of all, how can more than that fit in, and secondly, how am I not getting too full and getting sick? I'm taking an antidepressant now, have been for years and years, and I'm going back to my doctor to get a different on. Anybody know if any of them will curb addictive actions? I want to think Wellbutrin does, but I'm not sure... Ok, so thanks for listening to me ramble and check out how hot I am! hahaha Rebecca