I thought that I had lost as much as I was going to unless I really stepped up with the exercise because I had stayed the same for at least a month or so now, or even up a pound then back down a pound 135 or 136. I decided not to weigh every day since it wasn't changing so I went a week or so without and got on the scale just now and was at 132 that's 3 more pounds so I guess it was just a plateau, I hope the loss continues, my goal is 125 so thats 7 more pounds now. I guess I shouldn't be so excited over 3 pounds but I was just really surprised since I hadn't changed anything with my diet or anything. Well thanks for listening. Kelly

1) As your anniversary of your WLS approaches, are you getting excited as you look back at before and after? I think I've been excited through out this whole journey thus far. I am amazed at how quickly time has passed and how much I have accomplished in such a short time. It has taken less than a year to gain my life back...now that's a miracle! 2) Was this surgery all you anticipated, or are you a bit disappointed in your decision? This surgery is more than I anticipated. I was told I'd only get down to about 220 lbs. and this morning I sit here at 201.5 lbs. (sorry Kim* had to weigh) so I am quite happy. I guess the one thing I was not prepared for was all this hanging skin. I am not happy about having to, one day soon, pay for all the plastics that I need. However, I am never disappointed in my decision to have this surgery. 3) Do you look back often at this time last year? It's funny you should ask...I have a picture of myself on picture trail standing with my kids and DH. It was taken the weekend before my surgery when we were cutting down our Christmas tree, I am wearing a Winnie the Pooh sweatshirt (my favorite). I lost track of it in my room somewhere and actually thought I had donated it. With the weather being sooo cold (at least to me) I've been searching high and low for it. I found it over the weekend and have not worn it since last year. I put that sucker on and I could practically swim in it. It felt so good I wore it all weekend This year when we go cut down our tree I look forward to wearing it again, getting the same shot with me and my family, and posting it up next to my other one on picture trail to compare. So, do I look back often? ...Yes, If I dare forget where I came from how can I be proud of how far I've come?! 4)Do you have any comments you would like to make? Don't think many pre-ops come here so I won't comment or advise them. However, I would like to say that I am so grateful that I found O.H. in the begining of my journey. I remember being pre-op and researching the **** out of this surgery and being so scared. I feel I have found a safe-haven here and alot of supportive, kind, and wonderful people. The fact that we share so much in our successes and in our daily lives is a comfort to those (myself) who, at times, may feel so lost. Thank you, Diane

Good morning Lorraine! I hope you are doing well. Here are my responses to your Questions of the Day. 1) As your anniversary of your WLS approaches, are you getting excited as you look back at before and after? I will be very excited to have reached that one-year milestone (even more excited if I can get down to 159, a "normal BMI"). I look and FEEL like a completely different person. People who don't see me for several months at a time don't even recognize me. It's amazing the difference. I can't believe it myself, especially when I think about the inches lost around my hips, waist and thighs. OMG! 2) Was this surgery all you anticipated, or are you a bit disappointed in your decision? It has been so much more than I anticipated. Before surgery I was hoping and praying that by 18 months out I would reach 180 and that would be my "goal". I past that last month and my new goal is around 140. I am not disappointed with my decision at all and only wish I had pursued this surgery months sooner. I am happy as a clam. 3) Do you look back often at this time last year? Almost every day. I think last year at this time, I couldn't do this particular thing. Last year at this time, I was so unhappy and ashamed of myself. I would avoid people like the plague, especially visitors to our office. I would fake an illness just to avoid seeing them. Now, I can't wait to see people! It's a total 360. I also get sad when I look back because I think to myself, why Kim, why did you let yourself get so big? Why didn't you catch yourself before gaining almost 200 pounds in only 11 years (average of 18 lbs a year!)? The only answer I can give myself was that I had no "control mechanism" and I was always hungry and could eat large, very large portions of food and it wasn't a "failure" on my part. 4) Do you have any comments you would like to make? Just that, in my opinion, getting the maximum results from this surgery is not easy. I have worked really really hard to shed each one of the 179 lbs that I have lost so far. I watch every single thing that goes into my mouth and count calories (okay, I am not always perfect nor do I strive to be "perfect", I'm human!!), I exercise a lot and I battle with head hunger on a daily basis. I will need to do these things for the rest of my life as my body will gain the weight back if I overdo the calories and if I don't exercise. I never want to gain the weight back, never, never. I encourage people to lose as much weight as possible before the surgery. I didn't and actually gained about 5 lbs between my consultation and surgery (actually 10 lbs but was able to lose 5!). I think okay, if I lost 10 or 20 lbs before surgery I would be a lot closer to goal right now. Nothing I can do about it today but it's something I definitely regret and would change if I had to do things again. Have a great day Lorraine!

1) I don't know if "excited" is the word -- maybe "amazed" is a better adjective to describe how I feel as my 1 yr. post anniversary approaches. I am amazed at how good I feel, how I look, the fact that I have a normal Blood Pressure, no acid reflux and I could just go on and on..... 2) I am not dissappointed in my decision for the surgery. I think my results have been what I hoped for but never actually believed I would achieve them. 3) I still remember my fears of the surgery but I also remember my battle with the medical problems I feared would only get worse with time. 4) For any preops, I have always said that I could not help anyone with the decision for WLS -- that is personal but once the decision was made to have the surgery I could be that person's biggest encourager. Have a great day all! LuvitsunnyV@goal

Yes, this is new for me. I can eat whole wheat bread, Triscuits, and whole grain cereals without any problems. I can drink milk with no problems. But fresh fruit causes the cramping I get when I dump. And so does Jack cheese and cheddar. Cottage and american don't. Weird. So instead of fruit for my pm snack, I'm going to eat salad. Love my salad. Nona