Melissa41

Kim! look how little you weigh right now!!!! That's awesome. I bet you are excited and I think its time for you to share some before and after pictures. I am glad you are feeling better. I can't always log in and respond to posts but I always sit at work in meetings and read how everyone is doing. I appreciate all the updates and can tell you I have experienced almost all the same symptoms other have reported. I am really needing to buckle down and get rid of at least another 15 lbs. I'm not sure I am motivated enough to do the additional 30 I had first thought. I feel pretty good right now and most of my clothes are fitting me well. I feel like I throw up too often and know that can't be good for me. I have also had the acid reflux issues other folks have reported. I have been taking papaya tablets (sounds weird I know) and that helps a lot. Thanks for the updates. Please keep them coming.

Hi Ladies, I am sorry to hear about the struggles and weight gain. I am right there with you! Mostly, I have been at the same weight for the last two months. I'll gain a few pounds and then struggle to lose it. I'm headed in for a fill soon. But I am looking at all the tickers showing all the weight loss. And I think about what that means in clothes size! I bet most everyone has lost 3 clothes sizes! And I think about where I was at last year and will take the slow progress. Hang in there. I am trying to up my exercise. i am registered for the SF half marathon in October. I'd hoped to loose more weight before then. I'll walk a lot of it but its a good goal for now! xoxo Melissa

Kim, I hope the latest change is helpful! Its hard for me to believe its been over a year from my surgery. WOW. Its been a hard year. But I know I would be 25 lbs heavier rather than 37 lbs lighter if I hadn't gotten the surgery. For whatever reason....I just couldn't stop eating. Now it is hard but I am on a much healthier track. I just looked at everyone's progress and am so inspired. I just started exercising again and have a trip coming up in November that I'd like to be a bit thinner for....so my goal is 20 more lbs by Christmas. I appreciate all the stories and comments!!

Hi Long Lost Friends! I hope you are all well. And from the looks of the tickers it seems like the weight in coming off for everyone. I know it is slow going. I wish I had lost more and the 1 year anniversary date is coming soon. But I am so much happier today than I was a year ago. I feel like I am about half way to my goal. I just started exercising again and am feeling a new waive of motivation. I have had lot of trouble with getting stuck. I throw up way too easy! And I do miss the enjoyment of eating as others have said. it is hard. But worth the struggle. Best of luck to everyone!!

Hi Kim, Yes! I have days like that. I noticed I can barely eat anything in the morning. lunch is a little better but by dinner I am generally good. But there are times when I can eat something and then the next day there is no way! Its kind of odd. But so far so good. I'm almost at 30 lbs and I feel so much better. I haven't been trying that much lately but I am getting ready to buckle down for Spring. I am loving being a couple sizes smaller and would like to be one more size down this summer. Hope you are all well. Warm Regards, Melissa

Hi All, Congrats on all the success. I am pretty much staying at my current weight and up and down 2 or 3 lbs. I am trying to get motivated to make the push for the next loss. I have another fill coming up in two weeks. I am traveling for Thanksgiving so I have to wait longer than I probably should. Linda- I am so excited to hear about your trip to Disney!! Lucy- you look beautiful! And 40 lbs is just AMAZING. WOW. I am sorry to hear about the fill problems. Good luck with the liquids- that really sounds challenging but I know you can do it. Kim- I need to get more motivated about exercise. I am doing a walk/jog program and some weeks I am better than others. This week I have missed once already. I tried Zoomba but I just am not that coordinated! But it was fun. Enjoy your new jeans. Keep up the good work everyone! Melissa

oh no. I got on the scale and have gained 2 llbs. Yuck. I am going to call for a fill soon. And I need to get back to making sure I don't go the 1200 calories per day. Its just pretty hard! Kim- Happy Birthday to your husband! I hope you all have a big party to Celebrate. Best to everyone. Melissa

Hi Friends, I hope all are well! I have been looking at all of your ticketers and it sure looks like there is progress being made! I know it isn't as quick as we'd all like to see but it seems as if most have lost 20 or 30 lbs since July. That's pretty good! I am pleased to report I finished the Nike Women's half marathon in San Francisco last weekend. I participated in team in training and raised money for cancer research. It was inspiring to be with 30,000 other women of all shapes, sizes, and ages along the race course. I was SLOW but I ran a bit and walked, too. I posted a few photos on my facebook page. My full name is Melissa McCabe Gombosky if you'd like to friend me and take a look! Back to work today. I am already ready for the weekend! Keep up the good work everyone! Melissa

Hello All, Kim- that's great news about the hospital bill. its just such a big expense! And congrats to everyone's success. I am headed to San Francisco tonight to support a girlfriend who is running the Nike Women's Marathon on Sunday. I'm going to walk a short distance of the course and then be there at the end with her. I think the eating should be pretty easy because I generally stick to my plan when I travel. We plan to do a lot of walking and shopping tomorrow so that will be good. I am feeling pretty motivated these days! I am able to fit into clothes I wasn't able to before and its just wonderful. Keep up the good work everyone. Have a blessed weekend. Melissa

Linda- I am glad you are feeling better. It sounds like a pretty bad couple of days! Jeesh. You are ready for a stretch of good days. Kim- I hope you are enjoying your visit with your parents. Enjoy the family time! All is well here. We have two football games and homework to get through. We're having beautiful northwest weather so its nice to be outside this weekend. I am slowly progressing with my weight loss. I am now in the 180"s and don't want to ever move the other direction. The progress feels slow but when I look at the overall number I am pleased. Best wishes everyone!

And- I changed my photo so you can all see my 1985 look! That's me in the middle with the pink lace gloves. =)

Hello All! I am still plugging away. I am finally rid of the 2 lbs I had gained. And now I am ready to be in the 180 lbs. That's just one pound away now! I had my high school girlfriends come visit me to see the Madonna concert in Seattle. We had a blast breaking out our look from 1985! And it was great to be a couple sizes smaller than last time they saw me. All is well. I feel motivated this week and ready for the next part of this journey. Hope you are all well. Melissa

Kim, Glad to know you are feeling better. I hope the fill is putting you on a road to success. I feel kind of stalled. Remember I put on about 2 lbs a week or so ago and I am just right about at the same place. But I haven't really been trying too hard. I am struggling to find the motivation. I love chips, too and have no problem eating them! Ok. Keep up the good work. Keep me posted. Melissa

yes!! I vote for a new hairstyle. Maybe not too short so you don't feel naked. But just enough to start the transition to a new you. Very best of luck. What a great way for you to start Monday.

I didn't weigh myself either today. I did on Saturday and all was well. But yesterday I ate too much. I'm back on track today and writing down all I eat. That really does help me keep track of what I am eating. I hope to buckle down and get the next 5 lbs done. Thanks for the inspiration, Lucy. And a big contrats. That is fabulous news!!!

Kim, I am so sorry to hear that! it is frustrating when you are ready for the next step and you have to wait. UGH. I didn't weigh myself this morning because I need a little break from the constant thought of the scale. And i know if I am not down I would have an unhappy day. Instead I am just going to eat healthy and not stress. I am taking the day off of work today to just get caught up on house stuff and make a nice dinner for my kiddos. Its been a rough week! Keep up the good work everyone. This really is a process and some days will be great and others more challening. You can do it!

Oh my goodness!!! I have had a rough couple of days. I am in the middle of my busy season at work and I have such little tolerance for everone! And I usually eat to manage the emotion of it all. I really need to focus and get back to the task of eating healthy. But it is a struggle. I hosted a big fundraiser at my house tonight and the food looked just fabulous!! But I stayed away. I am hoping the scale is good to me tomorrow. wish me well. Melissa

I am right there with you, Kim. I'm up 2lbs. Not sure what the deal is but I am just moving forward and making sure I drink lots of Water today. One bright point for me is that I have to wear a suit to work today because I have a legislative committee hearing (boring) but I am more than one size smaller so I have cute options of what to wear (exciting!). I have been blending a chocolate Protein Shake with a half of a banana and tablespoon of powdered Peanut Butter. It is YUMMY. Lots of Protein and under 300 calories. And it fills me up!!! Other than that- life is good.

All is pretty good here in Washington. I am trying desperately hard to keep my calories under 1200. But that is just so hard. I did well at breakfast and lunch but am famished tonight. I am hoping the scale is good to me tomorrow. Will let you know-

Hi Friends! I had a couple bad days of eating and finally faced the scale today. I am up about 1 pound which i am not stressing. I just need to buckle down this weekend and get back on track. I am actually feeling pretty good. I have a group of five high school girlfriends who come visit me once or twice a year. They are coming on October 4 and I am hoping to be down a bit more by then. I am excited to show off my 20 lbs loss! Maybe 25 by then. We're going to see Madonna and dress up like the 80's when we were teenagers. I'm excited! Both my boys have football games today so I am washing game jersey's and making sure everyone is fed and ready. Looking fowrard to the day. LInda, how are you? I have prayed for you and your daughter's everyday. I hope you are experiencing the grace of God through the middle of difficulty. Keep moving forward. ok. Have a good one! Melissa

Congrats on the 20 lbs, Kim! That is wonderful. I am not having the best day of eating. I had already consumed 900 calories by 10 am this morning. I bought some Soup that was just yummy and I ate the whole thing! I've had some stuck issues the last couple of days and was just getting so hungry and couldn't eat anything. I feel fine now. Lets just hope I can manage the rest of the day wtihout wanting too many more calories. UGH. I hope you are all doing well. Perfect weather here in Washington. And I am not getting much work done!!

Morning! I am so happy to report I an another pound down! That makes a solid 20. I had such a difficult first several weeks but the last two have gotten a little bit easier. The second fill seemed to be the ticket for me. I feel restriction and it is helpful as I try to stay around 1200 calories. I know sometimes I am going over but seems to be working for now. January 4th is our big family trip so I am hoping to get another 20 off before that time. Have a good day everyone. And Linda- I lifted you and your girls up in prayer this morning. Hope today is a good one for you all. Best, Melissa

Linda, I will most certainly pray for you. And I will pray for your daughters, too. I can tell you my life is full of God's grace and answered prayer. We have had many struggles here at the Gombosky house. But we always manage to wak through everyday because of our faith. And being a few pounds thinner is always helpful. I am so happy to hear you are working out!! Keep up the good work. Melissa

Lucy, I think you can do it! That's a pretty ambitious goal but imagine how fabulous you will feel. That would be at least one size smaller for you! I am really feeling much more restricted after my second fill. I am not sure what triggers my being able to eat some things and not others. I could barely eat a cup of yogurt for lunch but them had no problem eating salad for dinner. And Linda, I am so happy they found your port. that sounds like a much better process. Kim- way to go on all your walking. That's such a good thing! I slept in today but will walk tomorrow- I am trying for M, W, and F. Have a good day everyone.