Having lost weight myself after decades of diets that didn't work, I know the thrill of seeing the changes happen. Ain't it just the best feeling to start the day with?

For me the best part was taking a scalpel and cutting the stitches on a kilt waistband that had to be made smaller - I've lost 12 inches off my waist from when I decided to wear my own made kilts. (The power of the kilt?)

BMI is not actually all that important to an individuals well being, percentage fat and - possibly - waist measurement, (but really only relative to what it once was), are the things to track to judge your progress particulalry if you increase lean weight.

I'm not 'up' on weightloss surgery. Is the gastric bypass reversed once you no longer need to lose weight or is it a permanent thing?

As of this morning I weigh almost exactly the same as you, but still have a long way to go to be in the 'normal' range - as I am almost a foot shorter than you - see? not over weight but under tall. So far so good though.