Mary- you are so NOT a failure- youve lost so much weight already!. I had RNY on Nov 20 '03. Started at 285, but Ive only lost 85 lbs so far...& Ive stopped losing. So I know how it terrible it feels to see yourself as a failure. Only we really arent. My diabetes is totally in control, and my gerd is gone. I can now excercise (which I didnt do in the first year of losing...big mistake...hoping I can reverese the "damage" and start losing again). It is so easy to fall backinto the behaviors we all had before surgery. Dont think well, if thin folks can snack, so can I. Cos we will always be in "remission", and we must always be vigilant. So snack wisely! I guess it means accepting the new healthy lifestyle for good, not just while we are losing. Mary, dont beat yourself up (that's usually my job!), youve done great, and all you need to do is take some time out to reflect and appreciate the tool youve been given. You'll be fine. Good luck! Tami

Surgery was 11-19-03 and weight on that day was 345 pounds, highest known weight was 355. I did hit 165 for a brief moment but for the most part have been hanging at 175, so basically a 170 pound loss. The weight goes down a couple of pounds and up a couple pounds for the last couple of months. I wear 8-10s for the most part and feel pretty darn good so I know that I am not a failure. The surgery was the best thing I ever did. But.... over the past few months when "normalcy" has returned and I find that I can eat more and tolerate darn near everything I am not following the rules. I know I can lose another 20 pounds so my BMI would be normal, not overweight. I snack, I drink alcohol, I make "wrong" food choices and I can't seem to help myself. Mentally I am telling myself that I had this surgery to be "normal" but I know that is just a cop out to give me permission to eat what I shouldn't. But then I tell myself thin people snack so.... I do get protein in, but way too many carbs... What's the maximum of carbs that we should consume in a day anyway? Does anyone know? I know I need to drink plenty of water and exercise and I have let that go by the wayside too. I know what to do but can't seem to get the motivation to do it. Some days I just want to crawl into bed and not get out. I'm frustrated. I know I'm not a failure but I feel like one everytime I put something in my mouth that I know that I'm not supposed to. I guess I'm just looking for support and maybe to see if others have the same problem. I know what needs to be done but just can't seem to do it. Sorry this was long, guess I just needed to vent.

Im now 14 months out and only 5lbs from my personal goal, woohoo me. The charts say I should be about 175ish at a high but Im thinking I remember 180 being a very happy and healthy weight for me. My goal was to hit 200lbs and then after doing the body lift Id be real close to the 180ish I want to be. So...now Im starting the process for the plastic surgery. Charlotte nov 26th 2003 375/205/???

NOt getting it at all sounds like a treat about 7 months post op i was getting it every 2 weeks for 3 months. That was horrible but my dr also told me it was the whole estrogen thing.

HI I wen through what you went through. I had the same pain the Dr. could not find anyting and he had to do exploratory surgery actually one day after my year anniversary date. I did have a small hernia but after the surgery healed i was still in pain and it was moving all around my arms and my lower chest. It was horrible. Turned out it was my gall bladder.. Had that out two weeks later and now im good as new The up side the month of pain and surgeries I love 30 lbs.. The bad news now that im better im stalling again : (.