Tanya, I am with you, sister. Being over 14 months out things are not nearly as easy as they once were. I find myself fighting the demons that got me fat in the first place every day. I am a stress eater... and am currently under a lot of stress... all I want to do is eat. I'm not hungry, just want something in my mouth. I don't have trouble with sugars, so I have a small candy bar or a few pieces of choclate every night. But one, becomes two... and I know where that is going to get me. I have the 5 pound fluctuation, and haven't lost below my lowest since October. I go back and forth between being happy with my results and being pissed at myself for not being at goal and still struggling with food issues. I really understand now that the surgery was just a part of the process. I still must face and defeat the forces of evil weight gain every day. And some days I win, some days I don't. I am glad to see that I am not the only one facing this... it's better to know we aren't alone. I have a few pre-op picures that I have on the front of my 'fridge to remind me of where I was and how I felt and looked. I AM NOT going back there again. I do have a good friend who is 2 years post-op this month. She did great for the first 15 months, then she started gaining.. she lost over 135 pounds and has added 50 back. She feels like shi*, her energy level is low, her legs and back are hurting again. I have talked to her again and again about putting the weight back on... and she just can't get remotivated to lose it again. That WILL NOT be me.... I refuse to let it be me. Hugs to you all and I plan on doing a weekly roll call to check in, keep in touch, support each other and let us know how it's going. Jacki K Surgery 11/04/2005 283/180/170??

Thank you Jenn I look forward to seeing you and Mikey and hanging out with you guys again soon

Ya'll have done GREAT! As of this morning, drum roll please...160 lbs. GONE! thank you, thank you! And my New Year's resolution to walk is going wonderfully well! I have so much more energy. I walk down to where my sister works almost every day.That's over a mile. I know it's doesn't sound like much to most ppl, but I have NEVER been into exersise... So I think I'm doing pretty good!...LOL!

Hey Tanya, As always I am RIGHT THERE with you on your post. Gosh all the things you mentioned are my ball and chain right now, those darn 5 lbs and my skin being the WORST. I must say I really don't worry too much about goal, since my Dr said I am so darn healthy and did so well it is up to me if I keep losing. I honestly think if I could get my PS, I'd be below goal. Not that I don't want to see 150, but I've been holding steady at 155 (give or take the 5) since fall. I want to add a few things that nobody wants to talk about... *The cost of plastic surgery...OMG it's horrific *The fight to get insurance to cover any of it...they MIGHT approve my TT, but I need the butt done worse, and that is NEVER approved which IMHO, just isn't right. I compare getting into my jeans to putting jello through a funnel! If I don't laugh, I'd cry! *The stinking (pun intended) gas that I still have...it started after surgery and never went away. YUCK! *The emotional changes that come about STILL at over a year out. I still go through the stages of being needy and wanting attention and compliments or through the stage where I still see obese me and nothing anyone does is right because I'm unhappy being "so fat". Yes, I know, I need a whole team of shrinks. ;) *How SO's journey with you is difficult too. I think it's been just as hard for my DH to adjust as it has been for me, if not harder because he could see me all along and he'd get so frustrated that I couldn't. I'm sure I could come up with a hundred others, but that will do for now. Christine

Hi Stephanie, I haven't been on the board much lately either. I've been at the same weight since October (168). I have 19 lbs. to my goal, and I started at 282. I feel so good that I have lost so much, but still get frustrated in not reaching the "number" goal I would like. I am exercising at least 3x a week, 1.5 hrs at a time, can't seem to fit much more in. I watch what I eat, but no so much that it is obsessing me (which may be my problem). People have stopped me at work and tell me I'm "wasting away", that I look "fabulous" and those compliments have kept me going. Just knowing that I went from a size 26-28 to a 14-16 is so uplifting. Keep up the great work, and I'll also be watching for any advice people have. DianeC.