JoyLove, I do not know how the buddy pairing-up works on this site ... but I'm looking for a buddy and like you, I had my surgery in '14 and I'm stalled at the 45/50 lb loss. I need to jumpstart things myself. Maybe we have the same struggles? I have not been following this site either --- so I was glad to see that when I logged in today, I found your entry - right away - which I could have written myself!