Hey David...how 'er things? Did you guys move? I took my sister and another dear friend to Dr. Almanza this past Nov. and they both had the sleeve done. Sis has lost 25 lbs so far and friend 27! They are both thrilled. I've kinda' plateaued at a total loss of 95 lbs. Was fun to get to see Dr. Almanza and again and give him a hug and thank him for giving me my life back! Am scheduled for a tummy tuck Jan. 15th but doing it locally as I found a great Dr. that I REALLY like and he's quite reasonable. Jim still working back and forth in Taiwan but planning to retire at the end of September. Last Aug. we bought a 40 ft. motorhome in anticipation of lots of retirement travel. Hope you are also doing well. Hello to Karla as well.

Hi David! So good to hear from you again. Your last message said you were thinking of moving so I had wondered where you ended up! How do you like Texas? I've lost a total of 80 lbs. which is 20 shy of my goal but every few weeks the scales surprises me and goes down by another pound so I'm still hopeful of getting there. Some who know me and see me say I'm thin enough and need to stop, others (Jim especially) are really rooting for me to hit my goal. I get compliments left and right, even from total strangers so that makes me feel like a million bucks! Jim finished all 6 rounds of his chemo and during the ultra sound to get ready to remove his port they discovered a large clot in his carotid artery so he's be on shots in his belly twice a day and coumadine pills to dissolve it. He's also been doing daily radiation for a month and tomorrow is his last radiation treatment. Then we have to wait for 60 days until they'll give him another PET scan to see if everything is in remission. He's feeling pretty good except for tired more than usual. His hair is coming back in and is about 1/2 inch long right now, We're very hopeful that life will soon return to "normal" whatever that might be. Say Hello to Karla for me and Jim says hello too! Maybe someday we'll have to plan a reunion of sorts! Stay in touch when you can...Diana

Hey David! Great to hear from you! Yes, the one year anniversary has come and gone. I had mixed emotions...on the one hand I was disappointed that I haven't reached my "goal" yet...on the other hand I'm still pleased with all that I've accomplished during this year. Down almost 70 lbs. but it's been VERY slow going so I'm trying to readjust my thinking in case I don't GET to the elusive "goal". My health is so much better though I can't complain. We remodeled our kitchen and master bathroom so that gave me something else to focus on for about 12 weeks. Jim came home the weekend before Halloween and I've truly loved having him around for a change. The bad news is that his Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma that was in "watch and wait" mode is now active. He had a PET scan the second week of November and a biopsy 2 weeks ago and they called yesterday to tell him he needs to start Chemo! Go figure...just when life was beginning to look happy! He's still in denial and researching every alternative treatment he can find. Keep him/us in your thoughts and prayers if you don't mind. Where are you guys thinking of moving and why? I've been thinking more lately about getting the tummy tuck/makeoever thing, but Jim's needs will take priority. We had some portraits taken just before his biopsy and chose the proofs last weekend. I'll post some pics as soon as we get them back. Jim asks if I've heard from you aften, he'll love hearing that you are doing well. Stay in touch! Diana

Hey David! How ya' doin'? Haven't heard from you for a LONG time! How are you feeling and most importantly how are you losing? Mine has just been slow and steady, but that's fine with me as long as it keeps plodding along. Most imprtantly is that I feel so much better! Tons more energy, meds are almost non-existent now, fibromyalgia is almost a non-issue now too, & Jim says I don't snore anymore!!! ha! Getting tons of compliments from people. Hope this finds you well. Say "hello" to Karla and Adoree for me. Jim is in Taiwan. Went there about 3 months ago, came home for 10 days then back again...spent a week in China, but back in Taiwan now. He's interviewing people to hopefully replace him. He's told them he wants to be done with his involvement over there by the end of October. He says he wants to be home with his sexy new wife! This coming Tuesday we're starting a major remodel on our condo...gutting the kitchen and master bath and doing everything all new! Have you ever heard from anyone else that was there with us? The only one I hear from is Mariann...the(deaf) lady that had the lapband revision and was so sick. I email infrequently but I think she likes the fact that I have kept in touch. Send me an update. Jim asks If I ever hear from you. He enjoyed talking with you! Hugs, Diana

Hi - sent you a message a week or two ago - not sure you got it. My weight loss goes in phases - there were several (3 or 4) periods (week) that I didn't lose anything. So far I'm down 47 lbs from 321.4 to 276.6. I'm actually OK with this pace - I'm eating fairly good (what I want) but not getting the exercise I should. Hopefully when it warms up I'll change that. All for now - dave

Hello David! Just wanted to check with you to see if you also got a call yesterday - or anytime - from Dr. Betancourt (sp?) from Jerusalem Hospital??? My cell phone said "unknown" and I never answer unless I know who's calling, but he left a message and just said they were checking up to see how I was doing. I was kind of blown away as I supposed I would never hear from them again after surgery. How are you doing? My weight loss has been terribly slow compared to most that I read on this site. Not sure why because I certainly don't eat much but then I'm pretty sedentary too, so maybe that's the problem. Anyway, just saying "hi"! Hugs, Diana

Hey David...how's it going? Haven't heard from anyone else that was in Mexico with us, have you? I'm still losing, but lots slower than I'd hoped...about 1/2 pound every other day-ish. I know I'm eating too many carbs but can't seem to stomach protein shakes and it's very difficult to eat enough meat protein. I guess I have to be OK with it as long as it keeps inching down. Sitting all day in my secretarial job isn't helping! Jim was in Singapore for a week and now he's in Bangkok all this week, then back to Taiwan and hopefully home the first part of next week to stay through the holidays. Hope you guys have a wonderful Christmas and a great New Year! Write when you can! Hugs, Diana

Hi David, Glad to hear from you too. Sounds like you're doing extremely well and that's great! After 1 week post-op I was getting very weak on just the liquids so I started fudging and moved on to some soft foods pretty early, but I've done great! Am averaging just over a lb. per day lost - woo-hoo! Found I can't eat after about 6:00 PM or I get reflux, but that's OK - I can handle that. Am having trouble drinking enough but I've always been that way...and I got so sick of broth I almost couldn't stomach it! Give my "hello's" to Karla and Adoree and have them email me if they ever get a chance. diana.walker.utah@gmail.com . Jim left for Taiwan the Monday after we got home Sunday and he's already been in China for 5 days. Back in Taiwan now and due home Dec. 18th til at least after the new year. I told Jim I'd heard from you and he also said to tell you hello and he enjoyed talking computers with you. I've set goals...at least 30 lbs. down by Christmas...down 50 by Valentines Day...a new swimsuit by May... It would be great fun to have a "reunion" of sorts somewhere near the 1 year mark to see if we recognize ourselves. Stay in touch! Diana

Hi Diane - great to hear from you!
We got back to Albuquerque around 6:30 on Sunday, then promptly spent 4 hours stranded on a closed freeway in the middle of nowhere with 1/4 tank of gas - yikes.

I'm doing well. Don't know how much I've lost since surgery day, but I'm down about 25 lbs in the past 2 weeks. Down 1 size in pants and wearing shirts I couldn't wear in a couple of years - what a great feeling.

Stayed home during the week to re-cover. feeling pretty good - haven't been doing much cheating except for some cream of wheat for breakfast. Feeling pretty good. I've already cut my Type II meds in half and my sugars are tracking normal. My BP has dropped to a little below normal so I'm sure that I'll be cutting out some of those meds next week.

Feels great, eh? Karla is in Phoenix for the holidays and Adoree is in Albuquerque with her niece who had her tonsils out the other day.

Did Jim have to go to Singapore? Tell him I said hello! Let's keep in touch.

Dave

Hello David!!! Jim and I got home at 10:00 pm sunday evening and I was at work at 8:00 AM Monday morning! I can't believe how well I've done! No regrets whatsoever! I'm down 11 lbs. and am eating soft solid foods. I know we're still supposed to be on liquids but I got so weak I decided to try a bite or two and the rest is history. Say "Hi" to your "ladies in waiting" from Jim & I! Diana Walker

Thanks everyone. At the Vegas airport on last leg of journey home. What an excellent experience. Still feeling pretty good but a little tired. This will take a bit to get used to.

Congratulations!

Wishing you well for tomorrow! Just sleeved myself LAST Friday--"Piece o' Cake!!" LOL You'll do great!
Be Well,
Lori~

Much luck for you tomorrow! i will be there with Dr. A on Dec.1.

Good luck on your surgery tomorrow!