ROLL CALL!

OK Ladies & Gents~ In the spirit of getting this board moving I am jumping up and insisting on a roll call. I think I am going to do this weekly, say on Mondays. Who is with me for getting this board hoping again?! I will ask for your progress and then I will ask a question of the week. OK so everyone post your progress and then tell us what one thing you did pre-operatively, to help prepare yourself for your journey, which was most beneficial. Resident big mouth Wiccan.... Jamie M. aka Lady Autumn

OK, for me I am doing pretty good. I am almost 6 weeks out and my weight loss slowed down a bit this week. I was on my "cycle" last week so I lost very little. Then this week I tried my hardest to get my protein in without protein drinks or bars but I still can't do it. I am simply not able to get in enough portion sizes. So back to the bars and drinks for me for a bit longer. I am so glad that I was finally cleared for real food, it makes my options so much more appealing! And the BEST part... I am in a 16!!!! Before surgery I was a 24! Let's see, the single most benefitical things I did prior to surgery? I got a good night's rest and the next morning we rushed to the hospital so that I had extra time to ready myself. After they got me all preped I sat quietly in my room with the light down low, held my hubby's hand and sat in quiet meditation. I took myslef to my Astral Temple, stoked the fire there and asked for the Lord & Lady to give me the extra strength I would need to make it through surgery safe and sound. After about 20 minutes hubby helped to bring me out of meditation (my meds were kicking in) and I felt grounded and centered. After surgery I came out of recovery in record time and I felt wonderful. I had very little pain and was able to get up out of bed within several hours and I was walking that night! Brightest Blessings for a Wonderful Day~ Jamie M. aka Lady Autumn Weight- 257/220/146 BMI- 44.1/37.8/25 Height- 5' 4" lbs lost: -37 Surgery Date: 1/19/05 My WLS Journey Site: home.bellsouth.net/p/PWP-LadyAutumnsWLSjourney No matter what size, we are all Goddesses inside!

Yeah!!!! I am happy now! A weekly roll call sounds fantabulous! Unfornutely I am still pre op so what I am doing right now is trying to lose 10% of 309 pounds that i weighed when i went to my nutritionist. So trying to lose 31 pounds before March 22nd. So far so good! And BTW yes that is my tongue sticking out! lol Darlene

Hi, it's me again. I just got done answering your post on the pagan board. The most beneficial thing I did pre op was walking as much as I could handle. It helped me build up some strength and take off 9#. Barbara...aka Reverend Crow

MM & BB all!! What a Splendid Idea!!! I had my surgery on 2/4/05, I am going for my one month check up with my surgeon tomorrow. I was 252.5 pre op, and I weighed myself today.. I am at 227.5!!! wow, 25 pounds in 25 days.... I was having probs getting enough protien as many of the drinks I tried were ICKY! I also tried a non-flavored protien powder from GNC... it tasted and smelled like spoiled milk ICK! So I am back to the Atkins shakes, at least they taste ok...lol I was not getting in enough exercise... walking in this ice and snow??? forget that.... I just put on my 'Enchatress' CD and dance I will get clearance tomorrow to return to CURVES. then the weight loss will pick up! I can't wait to get back on "real food". It will be nice even to take a couple of bites of something besides baby food ~ oh yeah... I LOVE to cook! (I guess that is how I got fat in the first place) I am so happy I had WLS! I can't believe how much different my body looks already! I am in an 18 down from a very tight 22 I am looking forward to this summer... it should be a HOOT HUGS and BB~~ Deb

You and I must be sisters in fat.... I was 257 before surgery and now I am 220. I am only 2 weeks ahead of you and I LOVE TO COOK as well! LOL! However I know it wasn't my cooking that made me fat b/c I have always cooked healthy, it was the last of portion control, the addiction to carbs, the lack of exercise, genes, and the eating out all the time. I have probably5 or more low carb cook books and I am SOOO loving cooking again! When you get your clearance to cook again, you are gonna find a whole new world! Brightest Blessings for a Wonderful Day~ Jamie M. aka Lady Autumn Weight- 257/220/146 BMI- 44.1/37.8/25 Height- 5' 4" lbs lost: -37 Surgery Date: 1/19/05 My WLS Journey Site: home.bellsouth.net/p/PWP-LadyAutumnsWLSjourney No matter what size, we are all Goddesses inside!

I know where you are coming from, Jamie!!! I too ate WAY too much and didn't exercixe enough. Portions were my downfall... I could eat an entire meal at a resataurant and a big ol dessert!!! I have purchaed a few lo carb cook books too! Hubby is on Atkins and doing well (he only has about 40# to shed) I am also tying to re-write some of our favorite dishes to be lo carb, lo fat. a great cook's challenge!! I am still addicted to watching the food channel!!! LOL I am so amazed that I do not have that knawing hunger anymore. oh, Jamie, you said you travel OH 33 up to MI from time to time??? Russells Point is on Indian Lake, I am sure you pass right by here, we live just a few blocks off of 33! If you are headed up this way, let me know! HUGS ~ Deb

These days I hit 1-75 since my folks live just on the other side of the OH/MI border in 1-75 How far is 33 from 75? Jamie

Jamie Russells Point is about 15 minutes off of RT 274 (it is just above the Anna exit on I-75 ) 274 runs right into RT 33 and that takes you to Russells Point hope too meet you someday!! HUGS ~Deb

Congratualations on your loss so far. Great Job! I sympathize with the snow, we just had a noreaster come in. As fast as my son could shovel the snow would be right back again. Darlene