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Dec. 2003,
In High School I weighed 156lb and in the following 17 years I have gained alot of weight. I now weigh 315lb. I'm not happy with myself and I have tried every diet you can imagine. I have tried every exercise there is, joined health center, gyms, water aerobics. I just never get the results that I want and need. I have high-blood pressure, already had my gall-bladder taken out, I have hydeal-hernia, reflux and my ankles, knees and back hurt all the time. I'm ashamed of myself! I've been researching the Gastric Bypass for about 2 years now and really been praying and I think I'm ready!

June 10, 2004, I've finally finished all the tests and seeing different doctors, like the Dietician, Neurologists, Pychologist. The surgery scheduler called and set a date for me, which is July 1st! I can't believe it, it's so close!

June 15, 2004
I have 2 weeks and 2 days till my surgery. Count Down to the new thin and healthy me!

June 22, 2004, 9 MORE DAYS! Wow I can't believe it, time is flying. In less than 2 weeks, I'll be having surgery, I'm kinda scared, but I know I'm in the Lord's Hands, He has my life! My stomach is feeling kinda jeetery. I have soo many thoughts going through my head. Thoughts of how I'm going to feel when I get home, how my stomach is going to feel, am I really going to fill sooo full, like I just ate Thanksgiving Dinner? Wow, by only eating 2 ounces of food, I just can't imagine. Then I keep thinking about my kids and husband, when they eat and I can't eat and what they eat that I can't eat! Am I going to regret this surgery that I'm about to have? On the other side of my feelings is a feeling of relief that I'm going to lose my weight and be able to keep it off, and by following my doctors instructions. I'm going to be able to tie my shoes, or seat in a chair without being squished! I'm going to be able to wake up in the morning and my back not hurt any more! Praise God! I am excited! I can't wait!
My pre-op appointment is 1 day before the surgery. I live about 45 minutes away from the surgeon and hospital, so they made only 1 appt. for me and then I go in the following day for surgery. I have my mom coming to stay with me for about 3 weeks, and my whole family is going to be at the hospital, my In-laws, sister, sister-in-laws and some cousins and probably my Pastor from church. I AM COVERED IN PRAYER!

June 24, 2004 Just 1 more week. Last night I received a phone call from the Financial Advisor at St. Agnes Medical Center. She was calling to tell me my 20% of the cost of the hospital. $1785.00 is my 20% and then she told me that the Doctors office e-mailed her with my total out of pocket expense, which was $10,000.00 WOW, when she said that amount I almost fell off my chair. She thinks they might have made a mistake, because she has never seen anyones out-of-pocket this much before. So I have called the doctor's office 2 times today, I'm waiting for the billing department to contact me. I'm praying they made a mistake and I won't owe that much money.
I'll post later, Bye!

July 1, 2004
Today is the big day. I'll be going to the losers side! I have 4 1/2 hours left. I'm really excited and can't wait to see and feel the changes that are going to be happening. Right now, I have a peace that is surrounding me, I don't feel any anxiousness or nervousness. Praise the Lord. He has me in his hands! My mom, sister, nephew, kids, and hubby are going with me to Fresno. All of my in-laws will be coming a little later. I thank the Lord that I have lots of family behind and loving me! I'll post after I'm on the losing side:)
My Weight 315 pounds
My Measurements
Arms - 17.5 in.
Legs - 28.5 in.
Hips - 67.5 in.
Waist - 60.5 in.
Shoulders - 56.5 in.
Chest - 47 in.

July 4, 2004
I'm on the losing side Now! I made it through surgery. The feeling in recovery isn't good! I was in the hospital for 2 1/2 days, because I didn't have a BM and Blood Pressure was really high! They put me back on my Blood Pressure medicine, which is a diuretic (water pill), now Blood pressure is fine. I'm still really sore and really don't know how I'm suppose to feel when I'm full, It's a weird feeling. All the nurses and staff at St. Agnes Medical Center were awesome! They took really good care of me. My post-op appt. is on Wed. July 7, 2004. I'll write later.

July 6, 2004
Still feeling awful, I don't know how I'm really suppose to feel, but I think I have alot of gas in my back on the left side mostly. Everytime I try to drink water, it hurts, so I put alittle crystal light in it and it does a little better. Tomorrow I see the surgeon for my Post-Op. I have some questions for him, I want to know if I'm getting enough liquids, because I always feel light-headed and sick to my stomach, I try to walk around as much as I can, but I'm really weak. I'll find out some answers tomorrow. Bye for Now.

July 9, 2004
Sorry, I didn't write after my Post-op appt. on July 7, 2004. I went and saw Dr. Higa. When I stepped on the scale, I couldn't believe it, it said 294lbs. WOW!!!! That's 21.5lbs in 6 days!!!! I really don't feel it, but some of my friends say they can see it, especially in my face. Anyways, I asked the doctor why I was feeling light-headed and dizzy sometimes, it's because my blood pressure pill is a diuretic (sp?) and I was trying to put fluids in my body and the pill was taking it out. So he took me off my BP pill. I'm feeling alot better, I'm really taking in fluids now, and I think the pouch isn't holding onto the fluids very long, cause I can drink more, not more in one drink, but more in a couple of minutes apart. I'm eating soft foods now, anything that I don't have to chew, I can eat. I've been eating Taco Bell Pinto's and cheese and mashed potatoes, soft boiled eggs, tomato soup, smashed banana, applesauce, yogurt. Everything is tasting great! My mom is here with me for about 3 weeks and she bought me some Chocolate Non-fat, sugar-free ice cream and I just had some with mashed banana in it. WOW was that great! Gotta Go, Post later!

July 19, 2004
Today was a 3-week post-op appt. I lost 3lbs. That makes it a total of 24.5lbs in 3 weeks. I'm doing pretty good. Still eating some soft foods, because the seem to do better than solids right now. I'm eating applesauce, yogurt, refried beans, broccoli, squash, eggs,but they don't do very well, I always have pain after. I don't think I'm drinking enough liquids, because sometime I'm still alittle dizzy, and that's not because I'm a Blonde :) The doctor said as long as I'm drinking 24 oz, but she would prefer 48oz or more, but it's ok for now. I can start my vitamins. Which will be 1 Calcium chewable, 1 b-12 dissolvable, and 2 children's multi-vitamin. I'm usually feeling sick to my stomach alot and hopefully that goes away soon. I wasn't very happy with 3 lbs in 2 weeks, but I know I have to use the surgery as a tool and not just sit around and expect all my weight to disappear. Gotta go, I'll post later.

August 1, 2004
Today has been 1 month and I haven't weighed myself yet, so I'll post that later. I have had lots of trial and error with food. My pouch doesn't really like meat, especially meat that I have to chew up. Or I'm probably not chewing very well. I have been throwing up alot. I tried meatballs and that came up, I tried Catfish filets and that came up, I tried turkey deli meat and that came up.... so I'm back to doing soft foods, like tuna, refried beans, mashed potatoes, boiled veggies. All this stayes down. Well, I just did my measurements and I can't believe the inches that have come off so far!!! WOW!!!! Here they are!
Arms - 16in - lost 1.5in
Legs - 26.5in - lost 2.0in
Hips - 60in - lost 7.5in
Waist - 56in - lost 4.5in
Shoulders - 49.5in - lost 2.0in
Chest - 45in - lost 2.0in
Weight - 283lbs - lost 32 pounds
It's amazing, Praise the Lord I'm losing lots of inches!!! Bye for now!

Aug. 13, 2004
Well, it's almost school again. I've been busy down at the school trying to get the office ready. I work as a school secretary in a private christian school. I haven't weighed myself, I think I'll do that once a month and do my measurements once a month. I see the doctor on Sept. 20th for my next appointment. I'm still eating soft foods, everytime I try food that you have to chew, like different meats, they don't stay down. So I'm still eating lots of tuna, chicken that comes in a can, and you mix it up like tuna, broccoli and zucchini, baked potatoes, soups. I'm also drinking a protein shake that I found at the GNC store. It's chocolate, takes pretty good. I bought some protein bars, that I eat for breakfast and I made blueberrie muffins, my favorite and I eat those for breakfast.
All of my clothes are getting loose. I've had lots of people say that I'm looking really good. When I look in the mirror, I still see Karen, the really big person, so when people tell me, it feels good. God has really helped me heal really fast and I feel great. My incisions are healing and starting to shrink. Well, I better go, I've got to get to the school and try to finish. Today's Friday, and school starts on Monday. My son is starting High School this year, I can't believe how time flys. They grow up toooo fast!!! See you later.

Sept. 7, 2004
I know it's been awhile. On Sept. 1, I'm down 45 pounds. My weight is now 270lbs. I never thought I would see the 200's again. I think when I hit 300, that was it, I'll never get the weight off, it's just tooo hard! I thank the Lord all the time for Doctors and the wisdom that the Lord has given them. I am very blessed to have had this surgery. I'm feeling alot better, my back doesn't ache anymore and there are some things that I can do now, like tie my shoes without sitting sideways on the sofa and my shoelaces being tied sideways. I can walk through a turnstile (sp?) without turning sideways.:) I went and bought 3 pairs of shorts and a shirt. I'm down from a size 3x in my shirt to a 2x and my shorts went from a 30-32 to a 24-26. WOW!!!! I couldn't believe it!!
Well, here are my measurements for 2months:
Arms - 15 1/2" Lost 1/2" Total 2"
Legs - 26" 1/2" 2 1/2"
Hips - 60" 0 7 1/2"
Waist- 56" 0 4 1/2"
Shoulders - 48" 1 1/2" 3 1/2"
Chest - 42 1/2" 2 3/4" 4 3/4"
It's sooo amazing to see the inches coming off, especially on paper and I have been taking my picture each month. I haven't developed them yet. My eating is still pretty much soft foods, I do really well with those. When I try to each more solid meats and things, I usually throw up! It's not fun! My liquids are getting better, I'm drinking about 50 ounces a day. Well, I better go, see ya later!

Sept. 18, 2004
I had an appointment with my primary care physician yesterday. My blood pressure is still normal and I'm taking no medication for it after 13 years of taking medicine. WOW! I'm down to 264lbs, so that a loss of 51 pounds. I saw my doctor for cramping in my hands and a tingling sensation that happens in my arms and legs at different times and in different situations. First, she said the cramping is probably due to calcium defiency and the tingling and numbness, is probably a pinched nerve and so she is setting me up with a Neorologist to have my nerves tested. I'm having all my blood levels checked to see what vitamins I'm low on. Other than that, I feel great and I can see the weight coming off. To me it's not alot yet, but everyone tells me that they really can see the difference. I did buy 3 pairs of shorts and 1 pair of pants and a top. My shorts and pants are down from a 30-32 to a size 22-24 and my top is down from a 3X to a 2X. I haven't really been exercising, I'm pretty bad at that, I'm really lazy and am always finding excuses not to go for a walk. We live way out in the country and when I do decide to go for a walk the mosquitos are out and they really bite me up! I do have a exercise bike and my husband bought the BowFlex, but I'm still not using them. I really need to motivate myself and start a routine. Pray for me about the exercise!! I'll update later!:)

Sept. 20, 2004
I'm down to 261, that's 54 pounds gone forever! I can't believe it. I started using my treadmill. I walked for 15 minutes, at least it's a start. I have it located in my front room, so I can watch t.v. at the same time. I'm still struggling with the way I eat my food, I want to eat like everyone else, but that doesn't work! I have to take a bite and then do something and then take another bite later and try to eat for about 1 hour. If I rush it too fast, I end up throwing up all the food, I just ate. I have to remember to slow down!!

Oct. 1, 2004
Today is my 3 months anniversary on the losers side. I'm down to 250 pounds, WOW, it's so fast. That is a total of 65 pounds. My inches are:
Arms - 14.5 Total Loss 3in.
legs - 24.5 Total Loss 4in
hips - 58.5 Total Loss 9in
waist -53.5 Total Loss 7in
shoulders -45.5 Total Loss 6in
chest - 41 Total Loss 6in
This is a total of 35 inches in 3 months.
You know, I have some people saying, I took the easy way out, but it's not easy! It's sounds easy, wow the weight is just falling off, but it is a whole new lifestyle. I struggle alot with wanting to eat anything and eat like everyone else. But you can't. You have to change! You have to change the way you look at food. It's not about the enjoyment or the taste, it's about the health of your body and what your body needs to survive. I feel really great, my back doesn't ache anymore and I have lots more energy. I am walking my trendmill every night, except weekends. After the treadmill, I go into the other room and work out on the BowFlex. The BowFlex is an awesome machine, it works out every muscle in the body. I have mainly been working out my arms, legs and stomach.
About the mental part, when I look in the mirror, I still see that fat lady, or when I look at my body in the mirror, I still see that big, fat body. But when I put on my clothes, they are just hanging on me, like big bags, so I know there is a big difference, just my mind is not seeing it. Well, the Lord is good. Always Good. He has kept me going, eating the right things, and always bringing back to mind, when I get frustrated about what not to eat, or what to eat.

Nov. 1, 2004
Well, today is 4 months since I started my journey on the losing side. As of today I am down 76 pounds. I now weigh 239, I am just amazed at the amount that has come off. But, still to this day, when I look in the mirror, I still see that fat person, or when I look down at my body, I still see all the fat and then I get disquisted at myself, and I have to stop and say look at how far you've come, you are now weighing 239, in the 200's not the 300's. Also, my clothes have gone from a 3x to a XL. My pants have gone from a 3x(28-32) down to a XL(20). My body is feeling really good, my back doesn't hurt, my feet and ankles don't hurt and I have lots more energy, and I walk faster. I can keep up with my hubby! Sometimes, I'm amazed at how I eat now, I pick at my food, so that I have little pieces to put in my mouth, and before I would eat big bites and chew a few times and finish my food in about 5 to 10 minutes. Now, it takes about 45 minutes to 1 hour to eat about 2 to 3 ounces of food at one meal time. I have taken bites of chocolate candy, cupcakes, cake, and it doesn't affect me, but if I eat all of it, then I do get dumping, which doesn't feel very good. I haven't thrown up in awhile. I'm starting to pay more attention to the food in my mouth and chew it all until its liquid in my mouth. Well, to the measurements, here they are:
Now Total Lost
Arms 14in. 3.5 inches
Legs 24in. 4.5 inches
Hips 55in. 12.5 inches
Waist 49in. 11.5 inches
Shoulder 45in 6.5 inches
Chest 40.5in. 6.5 inches
These are Total inches lost since July 2004. WOW!!! God Bless All and see you later. I will get a picture of myself of the 1st of every month. :)

Dec. 2, 2004
Yesterday was 5 months since my surgery. I'm still amazed at how fast the weight is coming off and how good I'm feeling and how I'm feeling about myself. I'm starting to see the difference, even though sometimes when I look in the mirror, I still see that really fat woman. Those times are when I remind myself to remember the size of clothes I'm wearing now. My shirts/blouses are XL and my pants are 18 or 20 depending on the kind of pants. When I eat, I'm in awe!!! at the way I eat now, it's not about eating as much as I can and having everything because I like the taste. It's about eating really slow and enjoying every bite that goes into my mouth and also, it's about making the right choice of food to put in my mouth that will take up room in my new pouch, and that food better be the best nutrition with vitamins and nutrients that my body needs to survive and live healthy. I am now making better choices about what I eat. Instead of those two bites of hamburger or fried food, it's veggies or fruit! WOW, what a big difference!!! Well, here is my weight- 315 to 225. That's 90 pounds in five months!!! Here are my measurements:
Arms 13.5 inches Lost a total of 4 inches
Legs 22.5 inches Lost a total of 6 inches
hips 53.5 inches Lost a total of 14 inches
waist 48 inches Lost a total of 12.5 inches
chest 38 inches Lost a total of 9 inches
shoulders 45 inches Lost a total of 6.5 inches
I have lost a total of 52 inches all together!!
I thank the Lord all the time for giving Doctors wisdom and knowledge to perform and perfect a surgery like this. I will always be thankful to Doctor Higa, who did an amazing job and I know the Lord was involved in the whole operation and everything that is following!!! God Bless You all!!!!

Jan. 8, 2005
It's a new year and a new and healthier body for me. I'm down from 315 to 221 and feeling much lighter :) I'm doing really good with all kinds of foods. Hamburger is still one of the foods that I have a hard time with. I'm having trouble getting enough Calcium in, because Milk makes me sick and I don't like cottage cheese, I do eat alot of cheese, I put it on about everything I cook. I did my measurements, not much of a change, but that will change. I'm not much of an exerciser, but the doctor keeps telling me, I need to exercise, that is part of the program, but I'm really lazy!
Here's the numbers!
Arms 13 inches down .5inch
Legs 22.5 inches down 0
hips 52 inches down 1.5 inch
waist 46 inches down 2 inches
shoulder 45in. down 0
chest 37.5 inche down .5 inch
It's still coming off, Praise God I'm already more than half way there! Update Later! Take Care and God Bless You All!
Thank you to everyone that has supported me and is still supporting me, I LOVE YOU!!!!!

Jan. 15, 2005
Today I Hit the Century Club!!! 100 pounds gone FOREVER!!!

Feb. 13, 2005
It's been 7 months, I can't believe it, how time flies. These past 7 months have gone by really fast. Now I do see the change in my weight and when I look in the mirror, I can really see it, but I still have about 55 more pounds to go. I am down to 212lbs, WOW, it's sooo unbelievable. I'll be putting an updated picture. I think the weight is slowing down and so are the inches. I'm trying to keep the exercise program going, but it is really hard. I have almost a whole gym in my house, but I'm not very motivated to get on anything and exercise, I keep thinking, maybe if I join a gym, I might go, but I've done that before and it only lasts a few months and then I start making excuses about why I'm not going. The exercise part is the hardest part for me now. I've gotten the eating part down, pretty good now. I can eat about 4 - 5 oz at time. Which is probably about 500 - 600 calories a day. I've been slacking off on the water. My body is always cold now and I don't want to drink cold water, so I try to drink Tea, but that is really too much caffine for me. Here are my measurements now:
Arms 12.5inches Lost 5inches total
Legs 22 inches Lost 6.5 inches total
Hips 52 inches Lost 15.5 inches total
waist 46 inches Lost 14.5 inches total
shoulders 42 inches Lost 9.5 inches total
chest 37 inches Lost 10 inches total

The numbers are amazing to me!!! Gotta Go Love Ya All!

March 12, 2005
I have finally hit the numbers below 200. I now weigh 196! This is an awesome accomplishment! It has been a tough road, but I would never change my decision. I'm very happy that I decided to do this surgery. God has been with me through it all and has been my strength! Praise God for the knowledge that He has given doctors!
Here are my totals. I have lost a total of 119 pounds. This is amount could easily be another adult! Wow, I was carrying around another person on me! God did make our bodies to endure alot! Thank you Jesus, you kept me alive for your purpose!!!
Here are my measurements:
Arms 12inches total loss = 5.5inches
legs 21inches total loss = 7.5inches
hips 49inches total loss = 18.5inches
waist 44inches total loss = 16.5inches
shoulders 41inches total loss = 10.5inches
chest 35.5inches total loss = 11.5inches

I still have about 50 more pounds to go! See you later! Don't forget to check out my before and after pictures!

July 7, 2005
Well, I hit the one year mark on July 1, 2005. I can't believe it's already one year ago that I had the surgery that changed my life. I don't remember being overweight that many pounds, so everytime I look at old pictures, I'm just amazed and feel very blessed to be alive and doing so well. God has had his hand in this whole procedure that has changed me for the good. I am now weighing 178 pounds. When I got married 17 years ago, I was weighing 205 pounds. I am amazed that I weigh less than when I got married. WOW!! It's also been a long and hard road, that is going to go on for the rest of my life. I would rather live eating just a little and enjoy life than eating alot and not being able to enjoy life the way that I am. I feel like I am living again and can do things that I haven't been able to do in years. We bought Great America Season Passes, which is an amusement park with lots of roller coasters, and we have gone about 7 times already and I ride every ride they have, because for years I was too big to get on the rides! We just got back from Yosmite National Park, and I hiked for 4 hours, which I could have never done before. Praise God!!! I haven't measured myself, I'll try to do that tomorrow and get the total measurements for one year. Gotta Go! Take Care and God Bless Everyone that has supported me and is still supporting me!!! I love you all!!!

Feb. 14, 2006
It has been a while since I've updated. Well, I am now weighing 160lbs. This Friday, which is my birthday, Feb. 17th , I have an appointment to see a Plastic Surgeon.
I haven't measured myself, I will do that and update later with the numbers, I will also get back and let you know what happened at the Plastic Surgeon's. God Bless and thank you for all your prayers!

May 3, 2006
I have seen 1 plastic surgeon and he was very excited for all my weight loss. He said he would do a tummy tuck, thighs and a breast lift. The surgery would probably take about 10 hours. I also have 2 hernias that he would repair at the same time. The insurance will probably pay, because of the hernias.

June 27, 2006
I went and saw another plastic surgeon, because I had a funny feeling about the first one I saw. I like to look into the different surgeons and see what they all have to say. The first surgeon I saw, I couldn't find any information on him, couldn't read anything about him, or what other people had to say about him. The second surgeon I went to see is Dr. John Burnett in Fresno, CA. He is on the Obesityhelp.com website, he has been in the paper. He trained other surgeons in plastic surgery. He told me different then the first surgeon I saw. I have set my surgery date for September 13, 2006 with Dr. Burnett. I'm undecided about having my breasts done. I was thinking about having a lift with implants, but I'm not sure. The insurance only pays for the excess skin to be removed, not the tightening of the stomach muscles or breasts or thighs or anything else. The cost for the breasts is $7,000.00 and to have my thighs done is $6,650.00. I'm financing $11,500.00 for the procedures, either the muscle tightening ($4,000) with the breasts, which is a total of $11,500.00 or the muscle tightening and come back 4 weeks later for my thighs to be done. I don't know if I want to have it all done and finance $6,650.00 more for my thighs or just use the breasts money to have my thighs done. I have been asking everyone what they think and get different answers from everyone. I just keep thinking about the money. If I decide to do all 3, then it will cost me $18,150.00 total. I will get back and let you know what I have decided.

July 7, 2006
Today I called 2 more plastic surgeons. I want more opinions. You know you want the best doctor that you can find and also, you want to try to get the insurance to pay as much as they will for all the procedures. I have an appt. next week with another surgeon that is closer to my home, we'll see what he says. Take care everyone and God Bless You!

August 28, 2006
I did go see another plastic surgeon, he was nice and said I looked really great and that I seem very happy as I am. I am very happy with myself, but I still want to get this hanging skin off of me. I won't be having him do my surgery, because he doesn't repair hernia's, which I have two of them that need to be repaired. I called another surgeon, but he does not bill any insurance companies, he only deal with private paying patients. I am going to have Dr. Burnett do my surgery and praying alot for wisdom for him and for the Lord to lead his hands. My Pre-op appt. is September 5th. I'll let you know what happens. I am getting a little nervous and my mind keeps going over the procedure of what I'm going to be doing. Should I do my breasts, should I not? God Bless to you all!

Oct. 20, 2006
Well, I went to my pre-op for PS and decided to have a Breast Lift and Implants and my Tummy done with the muscle tightening. My surgery was September 13, 2006 and lasted about 5 hours. I was in recovery for about 2 hours and then stayed in a hotel down the street from the Surgery Center, because my surgery was in Fresno, CA and I live in Atwater, CA, which is about an hour and a half away. I went in and saw the surgeon the next day to make sure everything was ok. I was pretty much out of it from the medicines and the pain was really bad. My insurance didn't pay for a pain pump and if I wanted it, it was an extra $300.00, so I decided I could handle the pain. The pain was as high a an 8 on a scale from 1 to 10, 10 being the worst pain ever! If I would have known the pain would have been that bad, I would have paid the extra money! I thought this surgery would be easy, but it hasn't! It has been pretty rough!!! I'm still out on Disability, since Sept. 13th and I will probably stay on until the end of November. Two weeks after surgery, they took out the first drain tube and I had started running a fever with chills. The doctor thought it had nothing to do with the surgery. I ran a fever with chills for almost a whole week, I got dehydrated and turned white as a ghost. Thought I wasn't going to make it. Then on the 7th day of the fever and chills, I was praying and told the Lord whatever is wrong, You are the Great Physician and you can heal. I told the Lord I wasn't ready to leave and wanted to see my children grow up and get married and have children. Then when my family got home, I got up to use the restroom and when I came out, there was a pretty foul smell coming from me, so my husband helped me take off my body suit and my belly button was oozing with green yuke and really smelly!!!!! Everyone left the house, except for my husband and mother. God popped the poison ball that was in my belly. (This is what I say God did!) My color came back to my face and the fever and chills went away. WOW!!! What an experience. My primary doctor saw me when I was running the fever and did a blood test and then put me on antibiotics and then the next day I saw the surgeon and he pushed most of the yuke from my belly and said that it was a pus pocket that the drains didn't reach and so it found its way out through the belly button. He put me on another antibiotic. I am doing much better. My belly button is still a little wet with drainage and my skin is really tight, I still can't stand straight up, but I am working on it! Praise God I made it through and I am almost on the other side! I now weigh 155 lbs. This is just amazing to me! I will try to update with new pictures. Love to all of you!