Gibson

See, food poisoning isn't ALL bad? =) Yay for you!!!!!! That's an awesome milestone!

My short term goal is under 300. That's 31 pounds away and I would LOVE to be there before my surgery in late February. I know it's possible if I can stick to this liquid diet.

Wow, I'm very encouraged by all the success that has already been posted here. Keep up the good work, guys!

Gee thanks JOHN, now I have an ear worm! I just got approval on Friday and I've been jumping through hoops since May. I hope things come sooner for you than you anticipate!

Yay Michelle!

I'm still waiting to find out what a cassoulet is along with bigmarathoner. I'm such a rube.

Mac, from what I've read on the boards the process varies wildly from person to person. Some people are STILL jumping through hoops two years later and then there are situations like a friend I work with (whose husband has MUCH better insurance than I do!) that was immediately approved. My insurance required six months of supervised visits to doctors and dieticians. Nov, Dec, and Jan have basically been wasted by inefficient/incompetent people who can't remember to fax things! =P (Oh, and I'm not talking about MYSELF this time!) =P If I had to guess an average time though, I'd say you would be considered a "fast track" guy. Yay for you!

Well thank you Anna! That's encouraging to hear! =) One thing I've noticed about a lot of your pictures here is that even while you were heavier you were out there living life. My problem has always been that I never do things because I'm "too fat" and I've been waiting until I'm "thin" to do fun things. Maybe you girls can inspire me to live life while I'm on my way down! =)

Good for you, Ruby! I love your name! =)

That is so cool! I hope you keep us updated since I'm too DUH to enter a virtual world anywhere!

Hey bonnie! I went through about a six to eight month period about a decade ago when I was an exercise addict. And....that was that. lol I never did it before and I never did it after. However, I'm hoping a little of that addiction transfer happens after I can't eat all the time and I can get back into the swing of things. There is a YMCA about 40 minutes from my house and I'm going to join it after I heal from the surgery. Also, I've set a very small goal for myself of at least fifteen minutes of something a day for the rest of January. It beats nothing! bonnie, is your husband going to go with you when you have the surgery? Do your sons know you've decided to go forward with it?

Yay for you!

I'm so happy for you! (And I love your Cookie Monster avatar!) =)

I am just ITCHING to add my name to this list! Three more hoops to jump through and I'm with you!

bigm, Hey...I'm all for joining a "Rockin' Body Tour"! I'll even be a groupie if I can't be in the band myself! =)

Yeah, I'm scared of failing. That's what I do best. However, I am also feeling optimistic for the first time in well over a decade so I'm hopeful! bonnie, come to us for support. We'll be here!

Congratulations!

I have an unnatural fear of undercooked pork. And clowns. Not undercooked clowns, of course, I don't care how they are served, CLOWNS ARE EVIL!!!!

Dang. You are all so pretty!!! *afraid I'll be the only ugly February bandster*

Ok, these are really weak goals but it's definitely better than couch potato status. I pledge to do fifteen minutes a day of SOMETHING every day left in January. Baby steps!

Oh yeah, I'm definitely doing the "Farewell to Food" tour as I heard someone else call it. I was afraid I wouldn't get approved because I had gained 2.4 pounds in six months. It was a miracle that it wasn't FIFTY!

Welcome! I'm happy for you!

Congratulations!!

I like Deuces Wild and Feb Zepplins!

I'm very sorry about your recent losses and hope that 2008 is your best year EVER!!!!