I have been remiss in posting lately. It just seemed like I was reading the same 10 questions over and over and it was getting boring.

But knowing that my journey from surgery to goal is going to be more like 2 years than 6 months I thought I need to build up a better support system than I have.

So many people responded to this forum that I thought we really need to keep it alive.

So to those of you who started out needing to lose over 200 pounds- How are you doing today??

What are your current challenges, successes or goals?

I am exactly 4 months out. I should go weigh today-I don't own a scale so I go to my PCP's office to weigh. My current goal is to have lost 100# by my 5 month anniversary. Even if I don't make it I will be close.

I tried on a dress i wore to my daughters wedding 10 years ago and it fit-but a little too tight. I am hoping to surprise her and wear it Easter Sunday! I haven't worn a "dress" since then. I wear skirts and big blouses-so this will be a shocker to every one. I even bought a new shoes to wear with it.

I just ordered some new clothes this weeks (going from a 6X to a 5X still doesn't mean shopping in regular stores). Don't want to spend a lot on interim clothes, but neither are there options of buying used.

I'm just so excited to FINALLY be able to feel like I've lost some weight. The scale says I have, and my energy level says I have, but my clothes were so multi-size that there was no difference.

Anyways-things are going well. I find myself over doing it some days, and sometimes forgetting that I need to take it slow (today I vomited for the first time-ate my Breakfast toooooo fast because I was late-and it all came back up) of course that only made me later.

Otherwise things are going OK. Even when I do "indulge" the amounts are such a small percentage of what they were before.

Still so happy I did this. Already it has changed my life so much. I just feel so much better about myself and while I still only have the energy of a 70 year old-6 months ago I only had the energy of a 90 year old. So still improved.

Plus I can PUT ON MY SOCKS WITHOUT HUFFING AND PUFFING! That alone is worth the surgery!!

Looking forward to hearing from all of you...

Hi, Debi... thanks for posting. I started at 367.8 and lost quite a bit before surgery. Since my surgery in late January, I have lost 28 pounds (doesn't seem like much for 8 weeks), and am now down to 294.4. (Yay! Under 300!!) So I'm down about 72 pounds all together. I'm down 2 sizes now, and wore brand new "skinny" jeans today to a party! For the first time, I got positive comments. I had only lost 2 pounds this month and was feeling pretty down, but when I got on this morning I had dropped another pound, so I'm praying my stall is over. I find I can easily eat 1100 cals per day with my Protein drinks, but I can also easily keep it at 700-800 if I'm strict with myself. I'm learning what I can and can't do.

It's great that you're doing so well! I have quite a few clothes that fit me at a 5X (Catherine's size 34-36), and will have a TON of clothes in a 4X pretty soon. I have a huge wardrobe of work, casual, and dress clothes. I was going to sell most of them on e-bay, but if you're interested, just message me. I know how hard it is to find clothes in that size! I wore those sizes for a long time and have always bought beautiful clothes. Many of thems till have tags! So let me know if you want to find out more. Prices will be reasonable.

Sorry this is so long! I, too, like the idea of getting a team of long-termer's together. This isn't going to come off overnight!