MAY ROLL CALL

Hello To All My Delaware Family.... First of all Tammy welcome back! Glad to hear mom made it home and I shall continue to keep her & you in prayer. Please stay in encouraged Secondly, not much has changed with my pre-op status. Had a EGD done the end of April. I think I made it through that fairly well....from what I can remember The doctor said I had a hital hernia but he wasn't concerned and he seen my stomach linning inflammed but no meds were given. Which I was pleased about Thirdly, I to still have to go back to Dr. Jones (lungs doc.) 5/22 to be cleared now I have my c-pap machine....which shouldn't be a problem there. I forgot about going back to him....lol Lastly, I am trying my best to QUIT smoking....haven't completely quit though....That darn STRESS! LOL P.S. I think I am turning into a support group "JUNKIE" I go to them 3x a month...And I a excited when those days arrive. I just love meeting new ppl and hearing the success stories....It's soooooooo cool. And one day I can stand up an say "Yes, my name is Shay and I am post-op and lost x amount of pounds"....."you wanna see before and after pics".......LOL! P.S.S. A special thanks to all you guys for your wealth of information, your warmth and kindess. ((((HUGS)))) Shay

Hi Tammy, You look great girl!! I am glad to hear things are better with your mom. Your family is in my thoughts and prayers!! As for me, I am down 109lbs in 7 months. I went and saw a plastic surgeon last week for a tummy tuck and thigh lift. I am now just waiting for insurance approval.... keep fingers crossed for me!! I have a lot of back aches now and it supposenly from the extra skin on my tummy pulling on my back. I am now wearing a size 36C bra compared to the 44D I used to wear and I can fit into a size 14 shorts. I am actually working outside the home a few days a week and it involves standing which I could have never done before. I found some new items I really like....MInute Maid Light Guava Citrus (5 calories per serving and 1 carbs) and also grape sugar free kool aid! I have also managed to have the energy to get spring cleaning started around here!!! Peace! Hope

Hi, guys and gals!! Thanx for the update on your mom, Tammy, and I hope everything goes well. I'll be praying for your family. This is actually my first roll call, as I had missed the others due to one reason or another. Soooo...a short recap...I am 6 months out (geez, has it been that long?!) and have lost 65 pounds and 6 dress sizes. I am now in size 18 jeans comfortably (no elastic waistbands!) and get this...tucking! Oh, my! lol I haven't tucked a shirt in years! What a feeling to 'see' my waist again. I moved into the category of just 'obese' a few pounds ago and now await the 'overweight' category. And since we're all sharing a little TMI...size SEVEN in panties. Can you believe that? I used to be 10+...and then I just shopped for the big mama bloomers (don't even think they had a number...) I am not having any trouble with the majority of what I eat, unless it turns out to be a little too greasy (the chill here at work one day). I try to stick with fish and chicken for the most part, but my latest 'fad', if you will, are soft burritos, sans the meat and lettuce. Just cheese, tomatoes, and sour cream for a quick breakfast or lunch. A friend of mine brought in a Weigh****chers Smart Ones one day and I was really impressed with the numbers. I want to say it was a Chicken and Rice dish (we were comparing it to my Michelina's (5/$5 at Food Lion). Anyway, the Smart One's had 15 grms of protein, 3 grms of sugar and 236 calories. She says they are on sale at ShopRite right now for $1.39 ea until Saturday. I am down to the wire with breaking the 2's...this last pound is hanging on for all it's worth, but I'm alright with that 'cause this too, shall pass. Then I can proclaim the 1's!!! Whoo-hoo! I haven't seen 1's in over 6 years... My butt and thighs are really getting small...and crossing my legs is habit everytime i sit...how great is that? The only uncomfortable thing that I have going on is the continued bone aches...almost like an achy, arthritis feeling. It moves around (like one day it'll be my left hand, right knee and left foot). Then other days it'll be both knees and my right elbow. Really weird. Nothing else. I take about 6 Tylenol a day to ward off the pain... I figured with almost 70 pounds gone off my frame my bones would be rejoicing! Maybe it's just my body 're-adjusting' to things as it redistributes weight. Like relocating it's solar plexis or something? lol Does anybody else have these kind of aches/pains? Anyhow, I continue to shop at the Goodwill for my ever changing sizes...btw, the one of Rt 40 has expanded and is huge! You can really find some bargains and some very nice clothes there. I'm finding that I don't even want to put my 20's back on at all (even in an emergency "I-have-nothing-to-where" situation) because they just feel too baggy!! I can't stand that feeling anymore... If I can grab a handful of material at the back of my thigh/butt, it's too big! lol We need to set up another make-over day with Elissa for our spring 'break-out' metamorphis! lol I'm ready to thin-out and cut my hair a little bit shorter for the summer and maybe even lighten it up some more. How 'bout the rest of you??? Hope everybody is doing well...I love hearing from you regarding your different stages and accomplishments...you truly are all just amazing and such an inspiration!! (((hugs))) -Karen

Howdy, Wow another month. My roll call. First though, it is just amazing to be here. It is also amazing to look back to attending my first PMRI GBS group meeting in July 2003 (back when it was free to attend) and being amazed by the success of all the people (Clint and Nicki in particular, others also but those two actually shared their stories with me. Clint had blond hair at that meeting). I walked (barely) out of the meeting dragging 340 pounds along and thinking that this is a group of people with lots of heart, and wear there smiles proudly. Now I am 7 months out (oct 6 2003 and 325 pounds) out and have lost 115 pounds since surgery (130 total). I am now doing my cardio three days a week at ACAC, 4000 strides on the eliptical and one mile (15minutes) on the stairmaster. On the off-days I am doing weight training on 15 machines, and actually squatted 400 pounds ten times in a row yesterday. (Boy am I tooting my horn). I am not taking any medications now since my blood pressure and cholesterol are normal. I am going to have another sleep study soon to find out if I can turn in my CPAP. I sort of like it, so not sure if I'll miss it or not. Just like Karen, I have moved into the category of just 'obese' and about ten pounds away from just being overweight. No bra or panties stories to tell, that anyone wants me to write about. Still need to reach that ellusive "199" pre-goal, but at least it is within sight. I have completed my "honey do" list so my wife is preparing a new one. It was just a wish list of things that bug us but never get done in the past but because I don't really enjoy sitting around anymore I usually try and get something done in the garden or yard everynight. Whittling down the list has become my obsession. Eating is definitely not a problem. I actually have an appetite now. I can most things, except Korean, greasy, or slopped on salad dressing. I abhor most protein bars. I have convinced myself that they are just too expensive and taste too much like cardboard. So I'll stick to my protein smoothies. Look to see everybody soon in your summer fashion. I did take Elissa's stones and buy some extras and have two weight jars. One of what is left, and one with what is gone. Put pictures on both to help remind me of progress. I am looking into attending the University of Penn Health System GBS meetings next month. I am also looking for a project manager job in the area if anyone has any contacts. My current work is getting in the way of looking for better employment. Enough (most will say too much) said. Hang in there. Share your success and I'll see you soon. Rob

I'm still plugging along.I have lost 92lbs and down to a size 16.Eating is challenging at times because food really grosses me out at times. Karen I was having problems with bone aches also and my PCP told me to up my calcium to 3000 mg a day,and the aches and pains disappeared It's challenging to get in that much calcium but it's worth it. Cathy