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I saw this quote on Facebook recently & didn't really give it more than a nod...at first.  Later, the words just kept coming back to me over and over again.  Why had this random thing struck such a chord?  Struck hard enough that I am sitting here tonight, posting about it.

So let's just break this down a little.  Just focusing on the last word "nothing"...this word has vast, deep, and wide ranging definitions.  What IS the "nothing" in this quote?  Emotional nothing, do you know what it feels like to be emotionally deprived?  Physical nothing, do you know what it feels like to be physically deprived?  Deprived of what - basic needs or material wants?  Stay with me, if you will, I'll try not to go through too big of a psychological worm hole.

"...because I know exactly how it feels to have nothing"...wow, powerful statement.  To have nothing:  no love, no shelter, no food, no companionship, or what?  If these words strike a chord in you, what is your "nothing" that you have felt?  I'll answer for myself.

Today -I CHOOSE to be giving, in a pay-it-forward manner (meaning I give to others freely with no hidden agenda in my back pocket), because I can relate to their situation...does not matter the situation...I can relate on some level.  How?...keep reading...

I deeply know real feelings of loneliness, desire for acceptance, the wish to have someone anyone hear my needs and my problems...but have no one to lend an ear...or at least I FELT there was no one to lend anything not even a shoulder.  (Trust me, I could go on & on about just how deeply certain "nothings" resonate within this bariatric body & mind!)

In my past life, I "gave", to fill my own void of emptiness.  In my old lifestyle, the "nothing" would have been defined as my own emptiness.  To the tune of 401-lbs.  Truth.  During this period of my life, I gave & gave & gave to others until there was nothing left to give myself.  I did this as a form of denial, self-rejection, a display of self-sabotage because I believed I was not worthy of self-love.  I was rejecting my emotional & physical needs, demonstrating an underlying belief that:  other people, other situations, were more important than ME - so I gave my attention, my time, my commitment, my loyalty, my heart, my blood-sweat-tears to many other's:  feeding their drama, causes, needs, desires, solving their problems first, above all else.  This self-abuse cycle was not filling any void or providing true gratification, so I turned to food.  Food GAVE me everything I thought I needed...and all the extra weight...right along with that emotional sheepskin.

Fast forward to my life now, the healthy fulfilled life I am rebuilding, and I say:  I CHOOSE to give, not because I have ANYTHING special, but because I know how to EMPATHIZE.  People just want to be heard.  They want and deserve to be validated.  In some ways, "giving" validates me, it still makes me feel good.  Difference is, today, I provide for ME first.  I am worthy.  I am important.  I am worth loving.  When my cup runneth over, there is plenty to share with others!!!

I love & hate this quote at the same time.  My career profession is Customer Service.  I am good at it to.  I spend 8 to 10 hrs a day "giving" to someone in one form or another, doing, pushing, striving to solve issues for other people and departments.  I CHOSE to build a career in Customer Service, so yes, everyday I "give".  But over the years, the WHY I make the choice to give continues to evolve.  No longer am I "giving" to hide from myself.  Today I give (my advice, my knowledge, my time, my silence, my hugs, my attitude, my drive), in hopes that I make a real difference in someone's day or their overall situation.  When I lay my head down at night, I am not filled with emptiness -that dreaded feeling of "nothing" does not loom over me.  I am filled with the knowledge & the belief that I am a good person at my current weight and I was a good person at my highest weight.  My loyalty & my heart now belong to ME, those are things I give to myself.

Well, folks, that's my rambl'n words for this posting.  Watch out for those Facebook "inspirational" quotes...they may very well spark a storm in you!!!

Not posting alot here...seems the further out you get...the less questions you have and the more time you spend getting out and involved in life again...what I mean is, I have moved away from the research and learning mode.  Now I am in maintenance and sustainability mode.

Year 1 = Honeymoon, losing all the time, loving it.

Year 2 = Adjusting to a new goal, no longer weight loss.  It becomes a goal of NOT gaining.

Year 3 = Living. Making good choices everyday!

Still maintaining a 200+ pound weight loss.  Speak motivationally at Weight Loss Seminars for my Surgical Group.  Have 1 official billboard up in Aberdeen-NC & soon to have 5 more up in other NC cities.  Pretty awesome!

A REALITY CHECK, PLEASE, DO YOURSELF A FAVOR & CLICK THIS LINK:

http://bariatricfoodie.blogspot.com/2013/03/will-i-really-be-able-to-maintain-after.html

 

 

For those who would be seeking surgery in North Carolina

For those who have had surgery and would be seeking a Doctor to visit

If you live in NC, you need to visit these two sites:
  **1st one is the main hospital website, the link is specifically to patient videos, mine is under Nicole Trembley
  **2nd one is the NEW website just launched, the link is specifically to the patient testimonial page, where my story is published - this is an excellent program with great staff and limitless resources!!!

http://www.firsthealth.org/Specialties%20&%20Services/Bariatric%20Center/hear-from-patients.asp 

http://www.ncweightlosssurgery.org/benefits-and-risks.htm#patient-testimonials 

Check them out!  Good luck to you, or congratulations to you, or welcome aboard, whatever the occasion, I am just happy to see you here!

 ...that I could not do comfortably...or at all pre-bariatric surgery...

Wear high heel shoes/boots
Sit in any public chair (picture a waiting room)
Take a bath in my own tub
Wear a seat-belt
Wear a belt
Wear a cami (one of my favorites)
Swing in a park
Climb through a jungle gym with my kids
Exercise for 20+ minutes
Sit in a booth
Sit at a picnic table
Sit in the backseat of any vehicle
Ride a horse
Mingle, blend in, at a club or any social event
Register a weight on the dr's office scale
Wrap a bath towel around myself
Push my kids in a stroller without getting winded
Carry my kids in my arms without getting tired
Share a chair (think 2 people in a recliner)
Wear clothes from the Mall (think Express or NY & Co.)
Navigate a public restroom (not one of my favorites)
Shop from the LL Bean catalog (still haven't done that yet, but at least I can!!)

I can do all these things plus a million more unlisted, thanks to a deep drive, will, and commitment to change my life.  Bariatric surgery was the tool, I am the success!!!

Lots of things, big and small, have happened since my 1yr milestone.  I have certainly been more socially active, been getting out and about more so now than ever, with my family of course.  And there have been a couple of girls nights out, but nothing too late.  I achieved a promotion at work.  I feel good about myself overall.  I have had a great time, enjoying my new body and energy level!!

The honeymoon phase is definitely over.  The burning question on my mind is:  how do to transition FROM losing massive amounts of weight, TO maintaining what you have left..AND being happy with the situation?  Answer:  Have not figured it out yet.

First 12 months, I lost an average of 13.5lbs per month.
Month 13, I lost 5.5 more pounds.
Month 14, I lost 3.5 more pounds.
Month 15, I lost 2 more pounds.

The path of weight loss is coming to an end, am I ready for that, honestly?  Answer:  I'm not sure.  I want to be ready.  I am happy with my current weight, my current clothing size, my current health status...BUT the scale still drives so much of my "measure of success".  When I stop loosing, will I consider that failure and completely sabotage myself right back to 395+ lbs.  OK, a bit on the extreme side, but can you see my thought process there?

So, how does a bariatric patient transition?  Somebody please send me an owner's manual.  Or am I writing my own everyday, everyday that I wake up and make decisions to eat "right" and exercise and stay positive and keep living the bariatric life?

My grocery list is still the same as what I posted before, I have added a few carb based options into my diet:
Kashi TLC Chewy Granola Bars (6g or more of protein & 6g or less of sugar varieties)
Kashi Snack Crackers (cheese & honey sesame varieties but never a whole serving)
The occasional bottom piece of a mcmuffin from McDonald's (only half of that bottom though)
100 calorie bag of popcorn (rarely indulge, but it's on my grocery list now)

Another question:  Now that most of my excess weight is gone, do I need more calories in a day just to maintain a healthy energy level?  During my 1st 12 months I barely hit 900 calories a day.  Now I can consume 1200 to 1500 in a day no problem.  I know one cannot survive forever on 900 calories a day, but I can't seem to be OK with eating more than that just yet.  In my mind, anything over 900 calories = weight gain.  So far, I've had no weight gain, but certainly a drop in weight loss.  Is it the calorie intake or is it the fact that I don't have much more to physically loose.  My body can't burn off much more fat, is that why I require more calories now?  Any of this resonating with you, are the feelings mutual?

I know how to eat, that part I am not completely obsessing about.  Can I eat more now, yes.  Do I want eat out of boredom, yes.  Do I eat out of boredom, sometimes if I am being honest.  Am I still focusing on protein at each meal, yes.  Am I still drinking 2 protein shakes a day, yes Mon-Fri.  Do I still eat 5 times a day, yes & sometimes 6 if I stay up late.  Has the hunger sensation come back yet, yes-if I am bored, no-if I am busy.

My success now is based on how I manage day to day:  calorie intake vs physical activity vs quality of food vs enough water.
No longer is my success based mostly on malabsorption and restriction of volume.  In essence, did I really learn how to manage food and life during those crucial 12 months of rapid loss?  Answer:  I know the rules, so yes I did learn, but nothing could have prepared me for this part, the ending of the weight loss.

I am not doing anything wrong these days, I'm just no longer loosing 10+ pounds a month and I am struggling with how to measure success now, if not in most recent pounds lost then what?  What will I be happy with measuring this year?

I am still exercising.  I have worked up to a 6 day/week routine, roughly 30 to 45 minutes a session, using a new at home DVD program.  Recently, say the last 2 months, I have cut back to 5 days/week, never less than 4 days/week.

And today, I had to finally take time to update the wardrobe.  My career clothes are just entirely too big at this point, again.  Went to a discount store and hit the motherload, not only in prices, but in realization of sizes as well.  I put on 12's & 10's!  Depending on the material.  Brought home 2 pair of size 10 blue jeans.  Brought home a hodgepodge of career pants for work anywhere from 8/10 to 10/12.  Can I get a WHHOO HHOOO?!?!?!  Retail therapy is always a great morale booster.

As I end this day in my life, I can truly say that I am happy with my food choices today, I am happy with my new found clothing treasures today, I am not happy that I missed out on exercising today, I am not happy that I just ate a few crackers and some cheese this late at night, I am happy that the scale is still moving downward - even if at a snails pace.  Notice that I am speaking only of current events - one of my daily goals is not to focus on what didn't happen in the past (which is done & gone), and not to focus on small details of tomorrow (which is not here yet), but instead to focus on this moment and the decisions made in this moment (that ultimately affects your future, which ends up becoming your past).  Isn't that how we stay on track, by making the right decisions now, by having the right attitude now.  My family doctor says that we stay on track one meal at a time, not one day at a time.

If my success, in my head, truly is measured on the scale then I know what to do:  exercise all 6 days a week, cut out all carbs except for fruit, and only eat 5 times a day - not 6 no matter what.  But that sounds like another "diet method" to me.  I am maintaining healthy choices everyday, I am not making extreme choices that put my past attempts at weight loss on a path to self destruction.  No, I like me now, and if 173 to 175 on the scale is where I float then so be it.  I will have to find a way to work through this transition phase without relying on the scale.

Bariatric surgery is a cycle of continuous change an evolution.  I regularly speak publicly about my experience to groups seeking to enter the program and the 1st thing I tell them, after stating/celebrating that I have lost over 220lbs, is that I am an imperfect person who has to decide daily if this is still the life I want.  Then I tell them that life post op may look easy but it can be just as hard as the life they live sitting there in an overweight body.  The Bariatric life requires motivation, dedication, commitment, willingness to change, and a deep drive to finally do something different.

At 15 months post op, these words are what's on my mind.  I am in transition mode, a chapter that is proving to be a bit of a challenge.  I want to be successful for more than just the 1st year. 

Today I celebrate 1 year post-op from RNY Gastric Bypass Surgery.

I have lost 210 lbs through this journey.

Am I the same person?  Physically NO, I am better.  Mentally NO, I am better.  Personality YES, I am the same, maybe even better...lol

Is the honeymoon phase over? Probably.

Will the dream end tomorrow? I hope not.

Does this day feel good? YES

What did I learn over the past 365 days?  Where do I begin to answer that question, is there a therapist around anywhere, deep breath, exhale, ok, I have learned a lot about myself from a medical standpoint and from an emotional standpoint.  "A lot" is a loaded statement, I have learned who I am at the very core of my soul and why I allowed a life of obesity to dominate most of my teenage and adult years.  I learned that taking back emotional control of my own life benefited ME as well as so many people in my circle, and provides a great source of motivation.  I learned to deal with feelings through other methods/outlets instead of numbing them with food.  I learned that it is possible to be genuinely satisfied with eating healthy food options.  I learned a new way of living.  I learned new planning habits.  I learned to exercise consistently.  I learned how to cook with fresh ingredients and found that I enjoy cooking very much.  I re-learned the feeling of adrenaline and the stomach drop effect you get when riding a roller coaster.  I re-learned what self-empowerment truly feels like, and it feels good.  I learned so very much this past year, and I know in my heart and mind, that I gave this process 100% of my devotion and attention, to maximize the benefits of the 1st year after RNY.

Today was a very normal day for me.  I participated in a yard-sale, made some decent money, worked hard before-during-after, went shopping at a thrift store, picked up my kids, visited some family, had a celebration dinner out with those closest to me, and came home to share my success on this forum.  Today was a day in my busy busy life and it has been a great day.  I am so thankful to myself, to my surgeon, to my insurance company, to my employer, to my family for this whole entire opportunity.  I am literally half the physical person I used to be and I could not be more happy at this very moment. I ate today just like I eat everyday: 5 small meals with the focus on protein.  I worried a little that we have not exercised as rigorously as we should have this week.  I planned out a grocery shopping list for tomorrow, better gear up for a big trip this time.  I pushed thoughts of laundry and clutter as far away from my mind as possible, for now.  What I realized is, this is who I am now and how I live, this is my life, and it is a much more active and focused life today and I hope tomorrow is just as good.

I have accomplished the goals my surgeon and I set:  to change my habits, to follow the bartiatric lifestyle plan, to live as healthy as possible both physically and mentally, to just live and not numb/hide/create barriers/suffer.

As I transition out of the "honeymoon" rapid loss phase, and into the maintenance normal everyday living and eating and exercising phase, I pray that I can keep this momentum going.  I know that keeping the weight off is a lifelong battle, that is why I focused on maximizing this 1st year post-op time.  For me, crunch time is over, the excess fat has been shed, time for some new goals, and plans to achieve them.

I'll be seeing you all on this forum, I'll be looking for advice and giving it when I can offer something valuable, I end this day with absolutely no regrets as to how I behaved and the results I achieved from Aug 2010 to Aug 2011.  My 1st year out has been highly successful, and I want to drive great results in my 2nd year.

Today is July 1, 2011
Just a few days ago, I reached 199lbs, WOW!

I'm still 2 months away from being at 1yr post op.
Total weight loss is 194lbs, WOW!

Last July, I was finishing up a 2nd consultation with my surgeon, getting ready to jump full on into necessary medical clearances.

I kicked this July off by downing a protein shake this morning, pulling a shift at work, grocery shopping with my kids, a 45minute session of Power 90, and topped it off with folding 2 loads of laundry.  Not to mention the countless small tasks accomplished in between.

Last July I weighed over 300lbs, could barely handle grocery shopping as all my excess energy was reserved for taking care of two small children, and I happily embraced each day of my life back then.  I am an eternal optimist.

This July I can do so much more, my energy is off the chart, my time is better managed, still chaotic with small kids in tow, but 150% better, being nearly half of my heaviest weight.

My mind has been opened in so many ways through this journey, it's hard to put it into words, to paint you a picture of the magnitude this reality carries.  I do not look back at myself or my life before and have disdain or contempt or judgment...I do however have sadness and empathy for the person in that body.  I am so proud of myself for taking back control of the food of the weight of the elephant in the room.

The weight was obviously brought on by food, the food was used as a numbing agent, I was numbing feelings and emotions and realities that were/are hard to deal with.  But guess what?  The layers of protection are gone and I am dealing with the root causes. I am moving forward with me, my life, my family.  Food is a fuel now, not a security blanket.  I still love to eat, I just eat smart now.  Still learning new things about food everyday.

I was super strongwilled and driven as a morbidly obese individual, successful, functional, educated, but I wore blinders, I failed to acknowledge there were underlying issues that needed to be given a voice.  Somehow, through the fog, I made a goal and forged a path, through Bariatric Surgery, to take the reigns back, start fresh, learned to take one day at a time, and 
here I am...less than 200lbs.  300's gone, 200's gone, 100's here I am loud and proud!

How empowering is that?  VERY!  This is a proud and well deserved milestone.

Who could have convinced me a year ago that I would be exercising 6 nights a week to an at home DVD program?  NO ONE!  This couch potato hadn't participated in 4 total hours of exercise since freshman year of high school.

Did I start 6 nights all at once?  HECK NO.  I started slow, 3 nights a week, in November.  At 12 weeks post op, I did what I could, and later on, I gave it all plus a little more.  Eventually I worked up to 6 nights a week.  I only invest 20 to 40 minutes/night.  Began by committing to 3 nights a week, now we do 6 nights a week.  AWESOME accomplishment!  Yes, there have been downtimes and breaks in between, but I jumped right back on the path again, and again, and again.

That drive is burning in me loud and clear, I am just truly driven for myself now, not so much for other people's goals.

Learning that making other people happy was not the key to happiness was a hard pill for me to swallow.  Clarification:  there was no one in my life just sucking me dry...more like I let my insecurities/shame/trauma drive me towards a deep focus on others perceptions, opinions, desires as a form of validation.  I fully recommend all WLS patients talk with a therapist, you can't do this journey alone, and having a non-bias professional help you see things from a different POV is priceless.

I have learned to focus on me, not in a selfish way, but in a self-loving-nurturing way.  Feed my body, mind, soul...and that translates into being able to provide MORE emotionally and physically for my family - they are my heart.  They have all benefited.  We eat healthier together, we get out of the house and do more activities together, we exercise together, we talk about everything together, we are together!!!  Stress in all our lives has gone way down, by me shining the light on myself, I have been able to take that light and shine it right back on everyone around me in a very positive manner.

So, 10 months in, I am feeling good, more than good, I am feeling alive and well.  This was the best decision I could have made.  I am thankful for the medical technology and the Dr who accepted me as a patient.  I am proud of myself for seeing this through and doing something different in my life.  I have no shame about WLS, the program has allowed me to save my own life.

The bariatric life is not easy street.  It takes DAILY commitment, drive, planning, consistency, and the ability to continue moving forward even when you can't see what is in front of you.  The protein requirements, water requirements, vitamin requirements, incorporating exercise, it's all a daily choice that is made every morning we wake up.

At any moment I am fully capable of going back to old habits pre-surgery...but today is not that day for me!

Here I am again, another urge to update.  I am 8 months out, down 172 lbs, one day I may have lost more than I actually weigh.  It took me 30 years to pack this weight on, and in 14 months it has melted away, and absolutely forced me to deal with the why's...I learned the how's during the qualification process...

I am still off of (5) food categories:  NO pasta, NO rice, NO white potato, NO bread, NO soda/sugar

My grocery list is basically the same, consisting of lean protein, whole grains, fruits, veggies, good fats.  I know how to eat now, as long as I stay focused on the reality of my emotions and my day to day life, eating right is not that hard.

Feeling, dealing with emotions, living in them, letting them have their moment, not eating my feelings to avoid, that is what can be, what is hard.

Vitamins, I am better at taking vitamins now, not perfect, better.  I am taking them on schedule 5 days a week, weekends are still totally random.  I am proud of myself for not giving up on the vitamins, I am more important than that, I am worth the effort it takes to get the vitamins in.

Exercise, still recruiting reluctant family members, we are all bored with the KettleWorkx DVD program...after 5 months...who wouldn't be?...so now we have incorporated a Toning routine from Dancing with the Starz into our plan 2 days a week.  We are getting variety, we are moving, I am not laying down the "bell" just yet.  I still manage to get in 3 days a week, even if I do it alone, which is a huge milestone for the most unmotivateable person in the world when she wants to be!

Exercising creates energy, I feel better, I want to do more activities, I feel better, I don't want to sit around and watch re-runs all day everyday on the weekends, I feel better, I like housework now & grocery shopping & social events & being outside!!!

Meal planning, I eat out, I eat in, I cook, I do what I have to do each day to get in at least 80g of protein - I actually hit about 1200 calorie daily intake now - don't know if I will ever be real good about drinking 80oz of water - I continue to set daily goals & make a conscious effort to surpass them, sometimes I do - sometimes I don't.  What I have learned is that failure is NOT missing the goal, failure IS going back to exactly what you did before & not continuing on with change.

I began therapy sessions at 6months post op, I did this for me, and it is hard work, but an investment in myself, an overdue investment.  The things a counselor can put in your face and validate for you is so very very healing and painful. This therapy, validation, self-healing, ownership, absolute truth, is part of my journey, a necessary journey, to get as much out of this short life as possible, and to be able to give back as much as possible.  What good am I to others if I am not good to myself?  I know how to provide for me on a practical need basis, I am learning how to provide for me on an emotional need basis...without food.

Time is moving faster than I can process, my 5 plastic totes of clothes left in the wake of 08.20.2010 are now gone.  Sold & donated, purged from my life.  I am already beginning to fill a new one up again.  The shield is coming off, the layers of protection are peeling away, I have to continue being strong to get to the other side of my former obese life.

I am so thrilled about the weight loss, my body image is just as great now, as it was prior to surgery, people who know me & see me say they can't even remember me being my heaviest weight, which is the greatest compliment in my opinion, those compliments tell me that my people know me, not my physical appearance, which was beautiful before as well as after.

What's happening is, I am having to deal with the why's...why did I get so heavy in the first place.  This is my painful part of the process, it hurts to be honest.  Nothing like some extreme WLS to force honesty upon yourself!!!

At this point, I can fly on a plane, ride a roller coaster, fit a zip-line harness, crawl through a jungle gym with my kids, fit into stadium seating, sit at a restaurant booth, wear a one size fits all t-shirt, ride a water-slide, in a nutshell I don't have to ask myself "Will I fit"?  If I don't loose another pound, I am OK.  If I gain a pound, oh no, not OK at this point.  Honesty right?

Daily reminder to myself:  we are given a physical tool, that works best the 1st 365 days post op, try to make the most of these 365 days.  I personally have 4 months left, we'll see what happens...

Big plans on the horizon:  whitewater rafting trip soon, among other things!

Wow, just 6 little itty bitty months ago, I had surgery!!!  To date, I am down 153 total lbs.

Of which 50 were pre-op, so since RNY have shed 103 lbs. - quite an accomplishment already.

I am still off of (5) food categories:  NO pasta, NO rice, NO white potato, NO bread, NO soda/sugar

What I have recently added to my food list is Kashi Go Lean Chewy Granola Bars, only the ones with 6g of sugar or less and 6g of protein or more.  Have also added a Kashi Go Lean Crisp Cereal, Toasted Berry Crumble.  Not even touching Wheat Thins at this point. ***UPDATE:  at 7 months post op, I did add in Wheat Thins, sometimes 4pcs, sometimes 8pc.  I don't take in a whole serving size***

My basic grocery list is:

Max Protein by SEI - all flavors
0% Milk
Hood's Calorie Countdown Chocolate
Any light Yogurt, tons of it, artificially sweetened
Grapes
Apples
Bananas
Peaches
Pears
Strawberries
Cottage Cheese - sometimes full fat, sometimes 2%
Block Cheese - all flavors - full fat - 1 oz servings
Deli Ham - not so much into the Chicken or Turkey
Roat Beef
Hamburger Meat - only 93% lean
White Meat Chicken
Wendy's Chili
Cashews
Almonds
Pistachios
Salad
Ranch Dressing
A1 Sauce
Eggs
Mushrooms
Carrots
Brocolli
Cucumbers
Red Onions
Eggplant
Red Bell Peppers
Green Beans
Navy Beans
Manwich Sauce
Spaghetti Sauce
Kashi Granola Bars
Canadian Bacon
Bass Farm Link Sausage
Kashi Crisp Cereal
Basically what you can find along the outter perimeter's of any grocery store - I believe in keeping things as simple as possible.

We are exercising - meaining me & whatever family member I can motivate at the moment - under the KettleWorkx DVD program, started on 11.23.10 using a 5lb KettleBell & have just this month progressed to a 10lb KettleBell & started back at the beginning of the DVD program.  Wow - the stamina you gain after just 4 weeks on this gig - I am now into 3 months and I feel good - it hurts - I hate exercising - but the energy benefits are phenominal!!

I eat out, I eat in, I cook, I do what I have to do each day to get in at least 80g of protein - still not much above 1000 calorie intake - still not real good about drinking 80oz of water - but setting daily goals and doing a little better that "the best I can do"!!

As unfortunate as it was that I needed to turn to WLS, it has been the best decision I have made for myself in a very long time.  My recent lab work came back with great results and my overall health is settling in on a great path.

Six months went by fast, I have 5 plastic totes of clothes left in the wake of 08.20.2010, although I do not believe I can loose another 100 lbs in the next 6 months - I sure do hope to hit it close.

We are given a physical tool, that works best the 1st 365 days post op, and I am trying (not always my best) to make the most of these 365 days.  I have less than 180 days left to shed as much as I can.  We'll see what happens...

Just created my profile today.  Will upload a photo soon.  Began seriously investigating RNY WLS in January 2010.  Attended an informational seminar in April 2010.  Went through the pre-approval process.  Had surgery August 2010.  Am currently 6 weeks post-op.  Lost 50 pounds pre-op on my own from Jan to August.  Lost 30 pounds post-op from date of surgery.  Total lost as of today is 80 pounds.  I take one day at a time.  Am currently scheduled to have gallbladder removed on Oct 20th - unless it sends me to the ER before then.  I plan to post my journey from April to August for anyone currently investigating the process, so they can see what is required before approval.  I did it in 4 months.  You have to make a choice to change your life before you get on the operating table.  Afterwards, you live your life in 2 week increments, for about 6 to 8 weeks.  Beyond this...it is all still a mystery to me...I'm a newbie.