It's been a little while since I've visited the forums, but I wanted to check back and share some success! My surgery was July 31, at 350 lb, and as of today I'm at 292, which puts me at a BMI of 39.6, under the 40 cutoff for morbid obesity! I'm so excited! The last week I've bought some new clothes and it feels good to throw the old ones away, although I'm keeping a few for some before/after stuff. I'm right on the border of being able to shop at more "normal" clothing stores, and I can't wait. I'm eating pretty much everything now, nothing hurts at all and I feel as normal as I can, but if I try to cheat or eat too much, my body punishes me, and I like that. My old habits can't come back. My wife loves that we can share meals now because it helps her to eat less too. My 4-year old even out-eats me! It's really great. I'm so glad I made this choice to get the surgery. Even self-paying it at just under $20,000, I feel like it was the best investment I've made in myself. My next goal is to get a total of 100 lb down by the end of the year. I'll be ramping up the activity to help with that, and my caloric intake has been fine I think. Anyways, I'm typing this right before bed, and shortly after the period of time where I take my nightly sleep meds, including Ambien, so how it feels like I;m kind of all over the place. So I guess I'll end it with that. Good to see you all again!

Congrats on your weight loss and praying for your continued success

You got this stay strong I had surgery in January and I know what you mean by your body punishing you. I sometimes struggle by eating too fast. Hope that we both get over this, but at the same time maybe that will keep us on track I am down 120 lbs going back for check up this week!

God bless you sweet dreams and angels on your pillows!