6 3/4

That is my new ring size!  Before surgery, my rings were a size 9, and shortly after surgery, they went to a 7 1/2.  Lately, I was concerned about wearing them in the pool because they were so loose, so I went back to the jeweler.  The 6 1/2 fit better at the base of my finger, but was too hard to get over my now prominent knuckle, so I went with the 6 3/4, and I'm considering putting in the little sizing beads to help them not turn.  I should still be able to get them over my knuckle with those on.  I cannot believe the change in my hands!  I wore this same size ring when we became engaged! I have one ring that I bought when we were in Israel, and I will have to send it back to the jewelery designer to be remade.  Fortunately, I have a friend who knows the designer and it can me returned and resized that way.  I miss not wearing my ring with the Hebrew scripture on it!

Congratulations on your teeny fingers!  I've started wearing my wedding rings on the middle finger but I can't wait to get them resized next year.  I figure if they get too big for the first finger I need to get them resized pronto, otherwise I should wait as long as possible.  I am excited to be able to wear and 18in necklace without an extender! 

Woohoo! I think my ring finger is around the same size as yours.  My favorite ring, given to me by my best guy friend many years ago, is a 7 and it's loose.   I hope to get to a size 6 ring finger so I can start wearing my mother's ring, which was also my grandmother's ring.  She willed it to me because I was born in December and the stones are zircon with diamonds mixed in.  It's a beautiful ring, albeit a bit wedding-looking, but I could still wear it on my right hand.  My mother had bony girl hands, and mine aren't so bony, so I may have to cave in and have it sized. My hands have shrunk significantly since WLS.  Now if only my thighs would shrink!  Which scripture do you have engraved on your ring?  How long ago did you visit Israel?  I've never been, which is sad, considering I'm Jewish.  I almost went to live on a kibbutz one summer when I was in high school, but my dad talked me out of it by saying, "You want to spend your whole summer hoeing beets in the desert?"     I hadn't thought of it like that, I figured I'd be sitting on the beach getting a tan!  Kix

My Hebrew ring has Psalm 27:4 engraved on it -- actually a condensed version to fit the ring. It says "I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever" in Hebrew I ordered it from a man (Yonni) who is part owner of IDan jewelry (www.idanjewelry.com) while we were there.  He is friends with the pastor from our church.  My ring is like the gold and silver one the ring page.  I love wearing it! We went to Israel in April of 2005.  I would love to go back -- we fell in love with the land and the wonderful people of Israel! 

WOW!!  I am so impressed.  I presently weigh just shy of 345 and am going through the preliminaries for surgery.   I had considered a final weight of approximately 200 pounds but you have given me so mu*****entative that I see that it is possible to go even less.  Just hoping everything goes well for me and that I am able to have a successful surgery and results similar to yours.  Have you had surgery for excess skin or does your exercise take care of it?  Janice

Hi Janice, I have not had any excess skin removed yet -- but I have lots of it on my belly, rear and thighs with some on my arms.  I did get approval for skin removal this past weekend because I've had a severe yeast rash for the past 6 months on my upper stomach, under my breasts.  The dermatologist said that I need to have all excess abdominal skin removed, plus a breast reconstruction.  Hopefully, my insurance will agree, but I know they require at least 1 year from surgery and a stable weight.  I'm 8 1/2 months post op, and still losing, so we will see what happens. I'm just so amazed at the changes in my shape!  I was measuring this morning, and my once 36" thighs are now 23" -- 16" off of each leg!  My once 70 - 71" hips are now 42 1/2 and my once 49" waist is now 32 1/2!  I had my mammogram this morning and explained the the tech that things have really "gone south" on me and why.  She was so excited for my weight loss!    Once again, I need to think of new pants, even though I've only lost 20lbs since buying these, but I've lost lots of inches.  The only problem is that  my calf is still very large and I don't think it will easily fit in a smaller pant yet, but these are falling off my hips and sliding down.  I'm constantly pulling up my pants! The exercise definately helps to build muscle, lose weight and feel so much better and stonger.  I think it has helped my arms to have less sagging skin than I expected - my arms went from an 18" upper arm to a 12" upper arm, but I have so much muscle and very little saggy skin there.  I also find that as I try and build other muscle - mostly in my legs, I feel like I can do so much more and best of all, I can walk all day and be on my feet and not be in pain. My doctor first set a goal for me of 210 due to large muscle mass and bone structure.  He has now lowered that to 180, which is only 35lbs away.  I'd like to get there, and then remove the skin.  I probably have 20 - 30lbs of skin/tissue hanging off my stomach area, butt and thighs! Hang in there through all the preliminary stuff, and just keep in mind that you will do great with the surgery.  Start some type of exercise now so that you will be prepared.  Of course, I will recommend water aerobics!