Well, folks, this is the last book of the trilogy. Tomorrow, I'm headed home to Alabama for what I hope is my last round of plastic surgery. It's at least the last major round.

In case you're new to the forum, my history is that I lost 200 + lbs in 18 months of being banded. I had a TT with BL in March 2007. After that time, much to my amazement, I lost 60 more lbs. I then had a lateral thigh lift (outer thighs) and brachioplasty just 6 weeks ago, in Novmber 2007.

Tomorrow, I'm headed home for surgery on Thursday. We're doing the inner thighs (medial thigh lift), small breast implants (when I lost the extra 60, I really lost a lot of volume -- went from a mid-D to a small :confused:, and a mons lift with a port replacement to give me a low profile port.

Anyway, I'll keep you posted as I get home from the hospital. Unclear whether that will be Thursday late or sometime Friday -- depends on how I tolerate the anesthesia this time. In any even, I'll post more from the other side!

Julie you are looking fantastic girl! I hope you feel better soon.

Julie - You are looking great. Thanks for the update.

Julie.......you look phenomenal! You are sooo inspiring girl!

Hey Julie, you look beautiful! You need to just sit back and enjoy all that you have accomplished! I want to say how much I admire your honesty! I think it helps all of us to feel better knowing that we all go through some hard times and bad days. You do not sugar coat everything which I think is important for those of us that may contemplate having more surgery. Cheers to the beautiful you on the inside and outside!!!

Hi, Julie. I've just read your history and all I have to say is... Wow! Congratulations to you, Julie! You are an inspiration to me as I'm sure to many others. I have a lot of weight to loose as I begin this journey. I'll be banded on March 12. I'm excited about loosing the weight (which I truly believe I will do with the band) and I also know I'll be going through the plastic surgery procedures you're going through and again, I'll say that you are my inspiration.

God bless you and good luck to you on your thight lift! I look forward to hearing your updates!

Again, Congratulations and thank you for your inspiration!

Thanks for easing my mind Julie. It doesn't surpise me that you're feeling depressed. You seem very goal-oriented. When one is that kind of person, one tends to feel a letdown after meeting a goal.

I've often thought the reason I gain weight back after losing (more than 100# three times in my life now) is that all the small goals met along the way are so satisfying. Once ya get there... then what? OBVIOUSLY life is not then wonderful and trouble-free. In fact, a whole new set of problems tends to appear.

I'm really glad you've got your Marathon goal. Just make sure you have something important to look forward to after it. I got to my goal weight and ran a 10K on Catalina Island for my 40th bday. It was an absolutely wonderful experience. So wonderful in fact that I felt it couldn't be surpassed and within a week had stopped running and gained 80# back within the next year.

Thank you again for all your sharing.

Kare

Julie! You look awesome!! Im happy you are runnning again... Good job! Thank you for showing us your pics... you really do look wonderfull!

Julie: Thanks for letting us hear from you. I have been on antidepressants off and on through the years and when you need them you need. My internists actually recommend them at my last visit because I have so much anxiety right now. I think it's temporary due to my upcoming PS and DD's wedding in May. It really scares me to think about going back on anti-depressants because of weight gain. How has your experience been with this aspect of it? Take care!

Julie,

Thanks for sharing. You look awesome!! I say that is an incredible amount of weight. I really hope I have the same success as you did!!

julie,

you look absolutely stunning!

You look positively fantabulous Julie! Your skin looks so smooth, you heal very nicely. Your dad does awesome work.

Yes, now it is time for you to be proud of your accomplishment and enjoy life and all it has to offer.

Hugs and thanks for the update...........

Julie. Glad your doing well, You look fantastic. Thanks for sharing your journey. I really helped me prepare for my own PS.

Karey,

I've never gained weight from antidepressants. I lost a couple of pounds on Welbutrin (felt like speed). I just went on birth control pills and I worried about gain from that, but I held steady last month and this month doesn't count because I'm down about 15 lbs from the worst flu imaginable (I call it the plague). I'm not changing my ticker because I'm sure it'll settle back in when I'm well enough to eat more than 4 tablespoons of grits and 2 sips of OJ at a time!

Julie: Losing 15 pounds from the flu is not a good weight loss plan! Your poor body has just been through too much! The first time I used Wellbutrin it was like a ray of sunshine came down from heaven and helped me find way way back into life. I couldn't believe what a difference it made. I had terribly post-partnum depression after my fourth child. I tried it again a couple of years ago and it just made me hyper and more irritable. It's amazing how that works. I think you have your new lifestyle down well or you would have gained a little with the birth control and all. Your doing great, if you can just get healthy! I rooting for you. You're a sweet heart! Take care!

Hope you get to feeling better soon Julie!