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My Tate 1984 Classmate Contact & Reunion Page
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PRE-SURGERY: 06/01/2001 329 lbs BMI 55 06/28/2001 341 lbs BMI 57 08/01/2001 325 lbs BMI 54 08/14/2001 321 lbs BMI 53 -20 lbs.POST-SURGERY: 08/21/2001 321 lbs BMI 53 08/25/2001 310 lbs BMI 52 -11 lbs. 08/31/2001 302 lbs BMI 50 -19 lbs. 09/14/2001 300 lbs BMI 49 -21 lbs. 09/17/2001 292 lbs BMI 48 -29 lbs./-49 total (1 month out) 10/01/2001 288 lbs BMI 47 -33 lbs./-53 total 10/08/2001 285 lbs BMI 47 -36 lbs./-56 total 10/21/2001 278 lbs BMI 46 -43 lbs./-63 total (2 months out) 10/29/2001 270 lbs BMI 44 -51 lbs./-71 total 11/12/2001 265 lbs BMI 44 -56 lbs./-76 total 11/22/2001 261 lbs BMI 43 -60 lbs./-80 total (3 months out) 11/29/2001 255 lbs BMI 42 -66 lbs./-86 total 12/13/2001 251 lbs BMI 41 -70 lbs./-90 total 12/15/2001 249 lbs BMI 41 -72 lbs./-92 total 12/28/2001 245 lbs BMI 40 -76 lbs./-96 total (4 months out) 12/31/2001 243 lbs BMI 40 -78 lbs./-98 total 01/01/2002 241 lbs BMI 40 -80 lbs./-100 total 01/06/2002 237 lbs BMI 39 -84 lbs./-104 total 01/10/2002 234 lbs BMI 38 -87 lbs./-107 total 01/19/2002 232 lbs BMI 38 -89 lbs./-109 total 01/23/2002 230 lbs BMI 38 -91 lbs./-111 total (5 months out)02/03/2002 225 lbs BMI 37 -96 lbs./-116 total 02/09/2002 224 lbs BMI 37 -97 lbs./-117 total 02/16/2002 222 lbs BMI 37 -99 lbs./-119 total 02/17/2002 221 lbs BMI 37 -100 lbs./-120 total (Yippee ~ 6 months this Thursday!) 03/05/2002 218 lbs BMI 36 -103 lbs./-123 total (Lost these 3 lbs. in the last week) 03/09/2002 215 lbs BMI 36 -106 lbs./-126 total 03/13/2002 211 lbs BMI 35 -110 lbs./-130 total 03/26/2002 207 lbs BMI 35 -114 lbs./-134 total (All 4 lbs. in the last week) (7 months out) 03/31/2002 201 lbs BMI 34 -120 lbs./-140 total 03/31/2002 201 lbs BMI 34 -120 lbs./-140 total 04/06/2002 199 lbs BMI 34 -122 lbs./-142 total (Under 200, Yeah!) 04/10/2002 197 lbs BMI 32 -124 lbs./-144 total 05/03/2002 192 lbs BMI 32 -129 lbs./-149 total (I was 8 months on 4/21) 05/06/2002 190 lbs BMI 31 -131 lbs./-151 total 05/25/2002 186 lbs BMI 31 -135 lbs./-155 total (9 months on 5/21) 05/31/2002 181 lbs BMI 30 -140 lbs./-160 total 06/01/2002 179 lbs BMI 29 -142 lbs./-162 total (no longer OBESE, now just OVERWEIGHT!) 06/21/2002 175 lbs BMI 29 -146 lbs./-166 total (10 months out & only 25 lbs. from goal!) 07/12/2002 173 lbs BMI 28 -148 lbs./-168 total 07/14/2002 172 lbs BMI 28 -149 lbs./-169 total 07/18/2002 171 lbs BMI 28 -150 lbs./-170 total 07/19/2002 169 lbs BMI 28 -152 lbs./-172 total 07/20/2002 167 lbs BMI 27 -154 lbs./-174 total 07/21/2002 164 lbs BMI 27 -157 lbs./-177 total (11 months out - Today!) 08/26/2002 160 lbs BMI 26 -161 lbs./-181 total (1 YEAR OUT on 08/21/2002!) 09/11/2002 159 lbs BMI 26 -162 lbs./-182 total 09/12/2002 158 lbs BMI 26 -163 lbs./-183 total 09/18/2002 157 lbs BMI 26 -164 lbs./-184 total 09/19/2002 155 lbs BMI 25 -166 lbs./-186 total 09/20/2002 152 lbs BMI 25 -169 lbs./-189 total (13 months out!) 10/12/2002 151 lbs BMI 25 -170 lbs./-190 total 10/18/2002 148 lbs BMI 24 -173 lbs./-193 total (14 months out ~ AT GOAL!!!!) 11/06/2002 146 lbs BMI 24 -175 lbs./-195 total (15 months out on 11/21) 12/06/2002 144 lbs BMI 24 -177 lbs./-197 total (16 months out on 12/21) 01/23/2002 141 lbs BMI 23 -180 lbs./-200 total (17 months out on 1/21) 02/15/2003 140 lbs BMI 23 -181 lbs./-201 total (18 months out on 2/21) 03/17/2003 139 lbs BMI 23 -182 lbs./-202 total (19 months out on 3/21) 04/10/2003 138 lbs BMI 23 -183 lbs./-203 total (20 months out on 4/21) MAINTAINING ~ AFTER 20 MONTHS 05/16/2003 139-143 lbs. depending on the day (21 months out on 5/21) 06/29/2003 139-143 lbs. depending on the day (22 months out on 6/21) 07/20/2003 141-143 lbs. depending on the day (23 months out on 7/21) 08/14/2003 139 lbs. - Almost 2 years out ~ 2 Year Anniversary ~ 08/21/2003 139 lbs. - Still size 6 & Doing awesome! 10/01/2003 141 lbs. 12/21/2003 147 lbs. (2 years & 4 months).. Am in tight size 6 & comfy size 8's.. I have NOT been good about eating & drinking properly... Too much junk food & I have to get back in the gym... BUT doing great & completely happy still!) 02/14/2004 150 lbs. 07/24/2004 145 lbs. (3 years out next month. Wearing size 8, still have all my skin. I am doing better about eating better. Food doesn't rule me anymore. That only happened in the last couple of months. Now I just eat to keep my body going properly. Still trying to be good about taking my vitamins. Some days are better than others. Couldn't survive without them though & the B-1 for my memory is definitely necessary!). Doing my own B-12 shots though!) 07/31/2004 134 lbs. Well, I realized the about a week ago that I was losing weight.. I have not had an appetite for awhile now & just don't want to eat.. and when I do, it is usually fruit or something really small. I went and bought scales today, because all my clothes were getting baggy & this week I now can wear the stuff that I used to wear at my lowest weight, and it too is roomy, but not too big, just not tight like before. I am at a new all-time low of 134 lbs. and that is weighing at night when I am at my heaviest & with no fluid pills today.... will weigh in the morning & see what that shows. 08/04/2004 131 lbs. 08/11/2004 128 lbs. ~ 3 Year Anniversary 8/21/04 ~ 128 lbs. Size 4-6 10/03/2004 126 lbs. Size 4 BMI 20 10/10/2004 Maintaining between 125-130 lbs. ~ 5 Years Out on 8/21/06 ~ 165 -178 lbs. Size 12-14 158 lbs. Size 10-12 9/30/06 Just to update, so other WLS patients don't freak out when they see the weight gain listed above: I have gradually, over the last year & 1/2, gained back some weight, which is normal, but would be minimized if I exercised as much as I should. But, I was too skinny at 125 lbs. and losing about 20-25 lbs. would be all I need to lose at this point. I am not complaining though, I am thrilled and still happy and healthy at my current weight/size. I would like to get back to a size 6-8, but if I don't, I will stay at this weight and be totally happy. I first gained about 20 lbs. in the fall/winter of 2004, which is normal for me for that time of year. I have developed some internal pelvic/abdominal pain that 5 doctors/specialists later have not determined the source of, which has contributed to my slow down in exercise and contributed to my weight gain. That and the fact that I still love to eat. I do eat more sensibly than I ever did before surgery, and luckily, I still dump, which keeps me in check. My internal problems have caused swelling in my abdominal area, and once surgery is done to figure out & fix my problems, then I figure that swelling will go down too. It is probably going to take surgery to figure out my problems, which may be more than one (endometriosis, major adhesions, or some kind of internal muscle problem). I take pain pills to make it through most days until they figure it out. It has been a very expensive year, medically, but thank goodness for medical insurance, flexible benefits and a job where I can take off to have surgery, go to the doctor, etc. This is by far the best place I have ever worked. The people are great and the benefits are good too. The insurance could definitely be better, but hey, at least I have it. And other than those internal problems, and I am healthy and happy and experiencing a great life now. :) 146 lbs. Size 6-8 5/06/07 144 lbs. Size 6 6/13/07 Now nothing major has changed in my health, I still have some health issues to get resolved. I am scheduling with an endocrinologist soon, since my thyroid is fluctuating and my parathyroid hormone is way off, along with my Fibromyalgia, and some of these other symptoms may tie in together... especially the lower abdominal pain. I still don't doubt that it may also be endometriosis, but will let that doctor refer me, once they do their tests. Am still unable to exercise, so losing weight was hard. I got up as high as 178 lbs. last year, when the abdominal problems got their worst. Then I went to my PCP for major migraines that I had been having much worse since surgery. She put me on Topomax and told me it may cause weight loss. I also stopped eating breakfast and lunch, and I go through McDonald's every morning and get 2 large sweet Teas and 1 Large Coffee and I drink them all day. I eat supper as soon as I get off work with my guy and whatever else I want that evening. Not eating as much has drastically cut down my portion size, along with eating healthier, and not eating as many carbs as I was before. I've dropped from the 178 down to 146 now over the last 6 months. I am sure the Topomax helped, along with changing my eating habits. I can tell on the weekend when I get off schedule and eat more, that I gain back a couple pounds, then during the week I eat more. Also when I don't drink the fluids, I hold fluids ALOT more, and gain. I still have to take my fluid pills, or I don't urinate. Been that way all my life. No matter if I drink fluids or not. The more I drink, the more fluids I hold without the fluid pills. They've tested me over & over and said everything works fine. Whatever!!!!! Either way, I am happy, doing great, and maintaining really well. Just have to keep the self control, which is really hard! BUT, it is do-able, just hard. Remember, we are addicts, food addicts, just like an alcoholic, or a drug addict, we are food addicts, for life. ~ 6 Years Out on 8/21/07 ~ 138 lbs. Size 4 Wow, how time flies. 6 years out. How life has changed. Now how I still have life, how I now have a life... just so many things! I have a great job that I like. I have a great man in my life who was meant for me and me for him.... My son is grown, in the Marines, married, soon to be home from Iraq for the 2nd time.... (Yay!) As far as my weight, I maintain a strict "style" of how I eat, so that I can control "gain back". It's just a system that I have developed that has worked for me. But it worked so well, that my guy FINALLY put himself on it, and he lost 35-40 lbs in about 3-4 months too, and now he's doing great and maintaining and down several clothes sizes and looking great too! He's actually smaller than he's ever been post-op, so see guys, after 6 years, YOU CAN LOSE, all you have to do is get that control back and take charge, change things up. And it's not really that hard. I've actually put it in writing in an email to a few people and considering putting it on a page on my site, but if some don't do it "responsibly" it could cause them health problems, like dehydration, anemia, etc. So I am hesitant to do so. The way we do it, we intake 6-=100 oz of water a day to compensate for fluids and flush our system and super hydrate ourselves, therefore causing our bodies to lose weight faster... along with all the other stuff we do, but if you don't do all of the water too, then you can forget it. Because the water and vitamins are the most important part of this whole deal. Oh yeah, and sleep. Your body needs proper rest here and there. As far as my abdominal problems, I have not been seen by a doctor YET, yes I know... but they have actually gotten better.... I am not taking the pain pills like before.... as long as I don't lift anything heavy, I don't "trigger" anything inside major, pain-wise. That, along with finding MIralax for the constant constipation, I am now, for the first time in my life, REGULAR!!!!! But, I can not miss one day's dose, or I will stop going, stop back up and by abdomen will blow back up again.... I had over 10 lbs. on me in my abdomen being blown up and hard as a rock from that problem. Soon as I found Miralax and it came out over the counter (I buy a 30 day supply at Sam's and mix it with Tropican Blast Fruit Drink 4oz. every night).... I lost 10 lbs. immediately.... my doctor thought I was sick.... I am going to have to explain to her when I go back what the deal is.... now that I've figured it all out.... I'm actually just becoming healthy again.... getting my weight under control and constipation problem fixed..... now I do still have some kind of female problem thingy going on there, as twice a month it kicks in with pain where I have to take the pain pills, but that is MUCH better than all day every day! SO, we are making progress!!!!! I still will need to go to an Endocronologist about my parathyroid hormone and my thyroid hormone levels I assume, but I go back to my PCP this month, and I will discuss it with her and see what she thinks, get her to re-do my blood tests and we will re-evaluate my stuff and we will take it from there. I feel much healthier, so at least that is a good sign. Still doing my own B-12 shots every 2 weeks myself. August 2007 - May 20, 2008 Maintaining 130-140 lbs. Size 2-4 (Will be 6 1/2 years out on 8/21/2008) 5/20/2008: Unbelievable how much has happened since the last time I posted. Been doing really well with maintaining, and actually losing more than expected again. Doc has actually had to reduce my thyroid medication. I have gone from hypothyroid to hyperthyroid, which is NEVER heard of! I contribute it to the MASSIVE doses of B-1 (SpringValley Brand from WalMart, 250mg/100 tablets per bottle $3.68)... we superdose them (6-8 per day, boosts your metabolism, helps your muscles, helps that short term memory loss that we all experience after... it is super great and nothing can compare.) I have gone from 3.0 to 1.25 Synthroid and they keep reducing it.... I don't know if they have stabilized it yet or not, we will see, but that is major, as I was told I would never get off my thyroid meds, that would never change. PROVED THEM WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!! :) LOL Had Hysterectomy and also found benign lump in breast in March so had that remove too, so 2 surgeries 2 weeks apart in March, then back to work within 2 weeks to work out a 2 week notice so could get packed and move. Last day at old jobs were 3/18/08. Hysterectomy took care of all of the internal pelvic/abdominal pain I'd had for 3 years (THANK YOU DR. ASHLEY DUKE AT BAPTIST SHELBY FOR HAVING THE GUTS TO MAKE A DECISION TO TAKE OUT MY UTERUS AND CERVIX WHEN NO OTHER DOC OUT OF A MULTITUDE OF SPECIALISTS WOULD MAKE A DECISION AND JUST LEFT ME IN EXCRUCIATING PAIN FOR 3 YEARS!!!!!).... COME TO FIND OUT I HAD THE EQUIVALENT OF ENDOMETRIOSIS BUT IT WAS NOT OUTSIDE OF MY UTERUS IT WAS INSIDE MY UTERUS, WHICH IS WHY NO ONE COULD SEE IT AND WHY NO ONE WOULD DO ANYTHING AND JUST LET ME SUFFER. SO NOW I AM PAIN FREE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 3 YEARS AND OFF THE PAIN PILLS.... SO THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I figured out what works for me food-wise, liquid-wise, and I stick with it. Everyone has to do that. You have to overcome your food addiction, your head hunger, and what drives your emotional eating. Every one of us are addicted, just like drug addicts, or alcoholics... we have an addiction, and after surgery we have to over come our demons and if we don't deal with them, we sabotage ourselves, exchange one obsession for another and sometimes, more often that not, those exchanges are not positive for many. Many suffer gain back after the first year or two or three. We experienced that, and had to get our butt in gear and get control again. It is very hard. You have to be very self aware and work on yourself. As long as you keep the chaos in your life, put everyone else first (as every obese person does, it is a trait we all have naturally), and not put yourself first, then you will have a hard time succeeding. All of your life you have put everyone else first, become used to failing, expect to fail, so will sabotage every chance you get, as you will fall off the "bandwagon" but you have to get back on and know that this will work for you regardless of that little mistake. We are going to make mistakes and guess what, "Normal" people eat those things and they are skinny and you will lose the weight too!!!!!!! Besides following the rules, a positive attitude is the key to success! Promise. Work hard, believe in yourself and you will do it!!!!! More soon !!!! BTW, Kevin and I got new jobs, relocated out of state, and are thrilled!!!!!! We got a 3BR, 2BA, 1500 Sq Ft apartment with a 2 car garage, 3 minutes from both of our jobs. No traffic!!!!!!! More money, beautiful city. He is quality control Engineer right now and fixing to go out in the field and will be making big bucks within the year! I got a raise and love my new job. Awesome people and place. Totally happy at our new place and move. And Pita the puppy, is no longer abandoned or sad.... she is the happiest puppy in the world (and spoiled too!). We get her groomed every month or so, and she's absolutely beautiful! She is playful and loves everyone. She goes out to eat with us at restaurants that let us take her outside to eat and they absolutely love her. She loves to go for rides in the trucks. She begs to go for rides! She loves people and kids and all the attention in the world. Especially trips to the pet store. She has gained 10 lbs. since we got her, the little pig! And that is with all her hair shaved off, except her beautiful tail! She sleeps with us at night, but has a special place at every window so she can look out and watch all the neighbors. She loves watching everyone day & night. It's hilarious. She is mesmerized. Kevin thought he was going to have to quit his new job and go to work for Penske, as she fell in love with the Penske truck and the ride and had an absolute blast on the trip. She wouldn't get out of the truck the entire way, except at rest areas to go walk where there were lakes. She loves water and lakes and ducks and birds. It's like she is experiencing life for the first time. It's so cool! :) More soon, promise... just busy at our new jobs and don't get much internet time lately. We are still unpacking and trying to adjust. We just started new jobs May 1st. But we SO LOVE IT HERE!!!!!! AND I GET TO SEE MY SON AND DAUGHTER IN LAW EVERY WEEKEND PRETTY MUCH NOW, WHICH IS WAY COOL!!!!!!!!!!!! January 10, 2009 145 lbs. Size 6 (7 years & 5 months out on 1/21/09) I go up & down between the range of 135-150 usually still.... I updated my journal page on the 2005 & after.... scroll down to 2009. Kevin and I just split and he is working in KY near his daughters and family and I am staying in Raleigh. I like it here. I like my job, the city, etc. My son is still in the Marines at Camp LeJeune, about to deploy to Iraq on his 3rd tour around the end of Feb probably. He turned 23 years old on Christmas Eve. I am very proud of him! We are supposed to get tattoos together before he leaves, but I am not sure I will have the money to do so, as the one I want designed (I am picky) may cost too much. I want to have it put in the small of my back above my tailbone, to avoid skin issues, in case I do have skin removed later. It is a natural looking Fairy with long dark flowing hair, sitting position, on an orchid, with bright cobalt blue wings... flowing ribbons covering her breasts.... and green vinery cascading out from the orchid out each side a few inches. Now if it can just be designed the way I describe it and provided my son with pictures of what I want! lol The coloring is beautiful. I have always wanted a tattoo, so why not? It won't be so big it is obnoxious, and no one sees my body, so I decided, just like when I did all my ear piercings, to do it. If I had my tummy tuck, I'd have my naval ring too, but I don't. If I had the money, I'd have a motorcycle and a boat again too. Lotta if's in there, huh? So I obtain what I can, and I work towards the things I have to do, and just deal with what life brings my way. Always have, always will. Live life to be happy, right? January 31, 2009 125 lbs. Size 2-4-5 (7 years & 5 months out on 2/21/09) On January 1st, I had gotten up to about 158 lbs, so I decided to get off the junk food and get back on track, so as you can see above, by January 10th I had already dropped to about 135-140 lbs (I fluxuate), but as of January 31, I have lost down to 125 lbs. That is 28 lbs in ONE month!!!!!!!! I have really worked hard to cut back, not eating much of anything, which is drastic, but I was determined to get the excess weight off and get back down to where I like to be. I have managed to drop it big-time, which is way cool, and goes to show that it CAN be done, even this far out in WLS life. It just takes control and will-power, which this surgery DOES give you, you just have to apply yourself and DO IT!!!!! I am back down in my size 4 and skinny jeans, even with my excess skin, even though I had a chance to have it removed, but had to give that up to move here to take a new job.... and am literally still (again) "skin and bones", but I like me this size, and this is where I want to be. I put on my old "high school pants" my super tiny ones that I never ever thought I'd ever fit in again, AND THEY FIT WITH EASE!!! That was unbelievable, because I was SO tiny in high school.... so that was a major mile marker for me. I can fit into a size 2 dress that I have, and it looks great.... totally cool again.......... and people say I look great... not anorexic or anything..... so I am not worried at all.... if I start looking poorly, then I will stop.... I am taking care of myself, taking my shots, vitamins, just had all of my blood work done and it all back great.... I am drinking tons and tons of water and actually cut back on my coffee and tea intake, which is weird for me, as I am a massive coffee and tea drinker... I still drink it, but just not as much. April 7, 2009 120 lbs. Size 2-4 (7 years & 8 months out on 4/21/09) I keep losing weight, and had set a goal of not to get below 125, as that is very small for me. But as of 4/3, I moved and since I had to do all of the moving myself (except the couch/bed/washer & dryer (dryer still stuck downstairs though), I moved & moved & moved tons of stuff for an entire week, then had to clean the old apartment for hours on end, which apparently burned alot off of me, along with not eating for a couple days at a time, and just drinking tons of fluids.... I lost 5 more lbs. And it seems that I have all but lost my appetite most of the time, except for in the evenings, I get a little hungry, so I eat something small, still staying away from all junk food at all times. No candy, no goodies, no pizza, no pasta, no goodies, period. I eat strictly protein, and every once in awhile, I will eat whatever I can find in the kitchen for supper. But the amounts are so small, it seems my pouch has shrunk back down from minimizing my food intake so much. As if I do eat much at all, it makes me sick. So I keep my food intake to a very minimum amount, and I am fine. I drink my tons of fluids a day, take my tons of vitamins as always... still super boost my B-1 from Wal-Mart and (oh yeah I have to give myself a B-12 shot this tonight), I do those every 2 weeks to a month, whenever I can remember.... I do my Dr. visits every 6 months, or if I need to go in more often I do, but my blood work has been coming back great, she did a full panel work-up on me about 4 months ago and I was super healthy, other than my blood sugar being a little low... like 63 I think, fasting... which is ok, as I get enough sugar in my coffee & tea all day to make up for that... lol All of my clothes are falling off of me... my size 6's I have to wear a belt to tighten as tight as I can and they fall off big-time... my 4's are fine, as they are skinny's, so I am ok there... because I still have all of my skin, as without it, I'd be even smaller.... some 4's are loose, and 2's fit well.... so needless to say I am very skinny, but I started eating more, and it didn't seem to matter, I didn't gain.. and I am not going back to junk food..... I will just continue to eat healthy and see what happens.. if I continue to lose, I guess I will have to force myself to eat another meal a day, but I am not hungry so that might be a problem.... I have been eating "lunch" some days, when I get hungry, which is usually a spicy chicken wrap from Burger King, without the sauce... and that fills me up, if I tear off part of the shell... I have no idea what my BMI is... I guess I will check that one day soon and see.... then post it up top along with my weight... hard to believe that in August I will be 8 years out. Unbelievable... I will try to update soon.... sorry I don't update as often as I should, just stay so very busy.. but I am trying to get better and I love hearing from you guys from all over the U.S. and I hope I have responded to everyone... If I have missed you, I apologize, please email me back and I promise to respond... I have been busy getting ready for the move and working alot, etc. I do try to respond to everyone, and sometimes it takes me awhile, and I go back in my emails and try to make sure I catch them all, but sometimes I might not, and not realize it. Everyone take care and post more soon. :) January 27, 2010 120 lbs. Size 0-2 (8 years & 5 months out on 1/21/10) I had my hard drive crash and was without a computer for over a month, so I apologize in advance to everyone that I missed and could not answer back that emailed me during that time. I just got my computer back, so I am working to catch up and contact everyone back that contacted me. For me, I continue to keep my diet on a strict regiment, as I refuse to gain my weight back. Next month I will be 8 1/2 years out, and have maintained the entire last year at a certain weight range, which is acceptable to me. I fluctuate between 120-127, depending on the day, but never let my weight get any higher. Eating very small amounts, and sticking to higher protein and lower carbs helps, no junk food, and my water intake is at least 100 oz a day. With that, if I do eat carbs, then they don't tend to affect me weight-wise, other than just making me feel bad/sleepy, etc. I do not exercise well, but do try to stay active when I can. I got laid off from work in November, and not having as much activity, I have still managed to keep my weight down, by keeping my meals to extremely small amounts, which helps me maintain my weight. I do have days where it seems like all I do is eat, but when I step back and look at my actual intake, it is still very small in comparison to most or "normal" people. In teaching WLS support groups, I have learned that all of us that become obese, tend to have a couple things in common. One, is some form of abuse as a child (either mental, physical, or sexual, in some way, shape or form). Once the "comfort food" is gone, then we have to deal with these things, or we run the risk of gaining back the weight. So that is first and foremost. Whether one chooses to seek counseling, attend support groups, or whatever, we have to deal with our past in order to have a future. The second, is we are caretakers of everyone else, and we tend to put ourselves last, and in doing so, neglect our own emotional needs and unless we change that, hiding behind others problems, staying "busy" in the drama of others, or whatever we do to sabotage ourselves. We are used to failing, but this is the chance to "fix" yourself, figure out what causes you to "binge" or "fall off the band-wagon" and recognize them, and correct the problem while you have this great gift/tool that allows you to actually succeed for the first time in your life!
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