Ainsleet

Holy Mackerel, who is that guy? Congratulations. How is your woman handling the new you? Is she OK when women flirt with you? Ainslee

SO glad you are back with us!! You look great. Just keep it up, slow and steady wins the race. Ainslee

Way to do it. Keep it up. you are looking good! Ainslee

I am 11 pounds away from goal of 140. Starting weight 240. 5 more pounds will put me into a size 8 pant. I am very happy right here at a 10 but Dr. wants me to go all the way so I have some wiggle room when I get on a maintenance plan. Which is hard for me to imagine eating any more than I do now. I get full fast, or don't feel well. I too will need a tummy tuck and MY ARMS. I have about 3" of ugly skin hanging. I am saving my $ for that, next year. Everyone is looking great!! If you feel half as good as I do about the weight loss, we are one happy group of people. Happiness brings peace, right? Ainslee

You are looking FANTASTIC. How many pounds to go?Ainslee

Every Doctor is different. Mine has me on 600 cals. And has since the surgery. I am 6 months out. I am still losing but do worry about what will happen when I go on a maintenance plan.

You look great. So much more alive already. The party is young.

I too had my 6 month weigh in and have 17 pounds to go to get to my goal weight. I feel very good here but know I have to go the whole way. I too have been feeling sick when I eat. I asked the nurse at my check in and my nutritionist who said it could be 3 (or more) Things. eating too much, too fast, drinking too close before or after eating. Guilty. Also, if you eat meat, make sure it is moist. Don't let people tell you that you are too thin. That is sabotage. Tell them you respect their opinion but please stay positive that this is all part of the process. Or something similar. I warned all my friends early on, that they were not to ever say that to me. It is mostly coworkers now. Hello and best wishes to all. Peace on our journey. Ainslee

I don't have a lot of advice because I didn't even realize I had to worry about this 18 month thing. I did have to stop my walking due to my knee, and it is what I did everyday. So I have been trying to get tot he gym to do non impact work. My motivation is how good I feel, how nice it is when people see me and give me so much positive feedback, and my WLS support group. I also have 2 reunions of old friends coming up in 2 months. Maybe get in touch with what makes you the happiest about your weight loss and let that be your motivation. Good luck and continue to keep us posted. Ainslee

You look fantastic. Congratulations.

Thank you for this. I will visit my gym for a workout plan. I was walking all the time but blew out my knee. I did talk to a trainer who said that working out wouldn't make the skin change much but the workout would work in many positive ways. He urged me to try it since I won't be considering surgery until next year anyway. Now, I just have to get going.............argh

Me too in all those places but I only care about my arms because I am not gong to be wearing bikini's on the beaches of Brazil, or anywhere for that matter!! haha

What are people feeling about the hanging skin? I find I am still not wanting to wear anything sleeveless because of all the skin hanging under my arm. I am thinking plastic surgery next year but for now??? Will lots of gym work do the trick? I am thinking about working on muscles in a serious way. Does anyone know if this will noticeably help? Thanks Ainslee

The most unusual thing happened recently. A woman I bump into on the train home sent me an email about a month ago, asking me if I had a sister who rode the same train. I replied no I didin't. Last night I had an ahh ha moment. I thought maybe it was me!! Today I am going to send her an email and ask if it looked like me only way thinner and longer hair?? I am LOL ing at the thought of it and that it didn't dawn on me sooner. Haha. I am enjoying this. Ainslee

Me too. I had to buy new work pants a month ago. SO I bought a 12, 10 and 8. I had to switch to the 10's yesterday. I am trying not to shop but I did need some clothes for summer. It is strange going into Macy's and not going to the women's size dept. I have to learn my way around all the other dept's. Ainslee

HAPPY BIRTHDAY. What a celebration. You are doing GREAT. Remember goals should be realistic. You are not a failure, but a successful motivated, beautiful person, inside and out.

I've never noticed any change in appetite with or without Omeprazole, but I definately get heartburn if I am not taking it.

Mark, thank you for your post. I feel like you wre taking the words right out of my mouth. I had my 99 day check up today and the Doc. said I was doing great. He thinks I MAY be at goal in 3 more months. I am down 55 pounds and try to stay on about 600 cals per day. I just bought a new pair of running shoes to walk in. I get in any where from 3-7 miles a day depending on number of hills and/or stairs. I was not going to buy any clothes until I was at goal but I have no more pants (from long ago) that fit now. I do have plenty of tops and sweaters that I am loving and feeling really good in. Although, I am THINKING maybe cosmetic surgery MAY be in my future. All my best, always....Ainslee

You look great, girl. And I know you are feeling it. Great job.Ainslee

I have been blessed with 3 months off after surgery. I am supposed to start work on the 8th but the way the forecast looks I won't start for 2 weeks after that. ANYWAY. I work with a very large group of people Some I really like, some not so much. Typical large group of very diverse people, ages, birth country, etc, etc. It is San Francisco! To my question. I have been trying to decide if I jsimply want to tell the truth about the surgery or not. Since these people have not seen me for so long it will be a dramatic shock to them. I am down almost 50 pounds (I weigh tomorrow). How did others deal with it and what, in any regrets do you have about it? I am inclined to just tell the truth. Experiences? Good, bad?

What a major change. How are people reacting that didn't know you had the surgery?

If anyone reads this book, let us know how it is. Called Never Goin Back, by Al Roker. http://www.npr.org/books/titles/170483410/never-goin-back-winning-the-weight-loss-battle-for-good?tab=excerpt#excerpt. There are excerpts in this link.

YOU are the apple of her eyes. I can tell.