Beautiful Brave Marchers!

Boy the board is picking up, isn't it? Everyone seems excited over their 1 year anniversary.....with good reasons! I wanted to give a blanket ((hug)) and to all of those I missed wishing happy anniversary to on their anniversary date. It seems I can just get on here to respond to posts about once a week anymore. I do lurk sometimes, but getting a chance to respond has become difficult. I really feel we are all brave souls to have taken the step that we did in order to have a better life. Most of us are thriving, some of us are still navigating our pouches and other health issues, while sadly, a few passed on due to complications of their surgeries. My heart still goes out to their families and it saddens me that anyone has to lose their life in pursuit of a better one. But that is the risk we all chose to take because we knew the life we were leading wasn't as full and would be shortened because of our obesity. Clawing our way out of it, is how I see this. Using every bit of grit and gumption we could muster, we swallowed the big pill of fear in order to come out happier and healthier. I know there are a few who mostly remain silent who might not feel like this was the right thing for them after all. For those of you out there, I wish you only the best and hope that you will find your balance. I know personally of one girl who has had a lot of complications and feels this was the wrong thing for her. I wish I could wave a magic wand and make her as happy & healthy as most of us turned out, but the best I can do is pray for her and let her vent it out. I would encourage any of you who are feeling down about your surgery to come here for support. You need to have your voice heard, and we need to be able to support you in that. I am off to go on a posting frenzy in a minute. I hope I can make it through the board without missing anyone, but if I drop off in the middle it's because something called me away...AGAIN! Dina (still in my final anniversary countdown and holding out for a few more lbs of loss before I call it official! )

Hi Dina- I started out with the same intention- to say happy anniversary every day until March came and left- I got to day 1 So much is happening right now its unbelievable! I still wish everyone the best on thier anniversary and even though it looks like I forgot- I'm thinking of everyone here - even while lurking! BIG hugs from me too!! I'm so proud and happy for all of us on our accomplishments this past year! Janine

Hiya Dinka!! Thanks for your response to my post! It made me smile I too will always consider you my wls twin as well. Once again...we are thinking the same way... there were sooo many times that your posts had me saying OMG I feel the same exact way!!! The whole tub issue was a big one for me. When we lived in the apartment I use to lay in the tub...(not even hardly fitting) I said in a little prayer... Please God just let me shrink in this tub!!! I just wish that each time I get in this tub I shrin****il I am at my goal size!!! WELP time went on and I GREW instead of shrunk. THen finally, without me knowing, God had already answered my prayers and I had my surgery! I finally started to shrink in my tub! But I never got to see my goal size in THAT tub as we moved into a house, but now the new tub I have I can sit and spin around and have so much room! So the tub thing was a big thing for me And wearing shoes!!! Ones that have a heel! I am not into the pumps yet as I still have too much weight on me in order to wear them comfortably...but other heels and shoes just in general I can now wear! I even went down 1/2 size in some and a whole size in others!!! Its wonderful! Just having clothes fit. Anykind of clothes. I was growing out of all the clothes in the plus size stores! They didnt even have clothes that fit me well in the plus size stores. I remember how crushing it was Now I can pick out so many things!!!! My heart goes out to all the people who have had complications. I just continue to pray that God gives them that special grace and mercy to get them through their hard times and that they begin to heal and can look forward to a happy healthy life. I wish I could wave my wand as well But God is watching over them which no wand can compare to that! I wish all our marchers all the best in life!!! Yay us!!!! This is our month!!! Elizabeth M

BY ALL MEANS, I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO ALL THE MARCHERS ON THEIR ANNIVERSARY DATE! YOU'VE COME A LONG WAY BABY!!! WE ALL HAVE SO MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR. I KNEW THAT THE SURGERY HAD RISKS INVOLVED BUT DID NOT THINK ABOUT IT THAT MUCH UNTIL RECENTLY A FRIEND DIED BECAUSE HER LIVER WAS KNICKED DURING SURGERY AND SHE DIED. IT WAS NOT WLS SURGERY, IT WAS EXPLORATORY FOR GALLBLADDER. I KNOW THIS IS RARE, BUT TO THINK THAT ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN IN SURGERY. I THANK THE GOOD LORD ABOVE FOR WATCHING OVER ALL OF US AND CONTINUING TO WATCH OVER US AS WE PROGRESS IN OUR JOURNEY. MY ANNIVERSARY DATE IS THE 11TH. I HOPE TO HAVE A COUPLE MORE POUNDS OFF TO MAKE IT OFFICIAL! MARCHERS, YOU ARE THE GREATEST! YOUR SUPPORT IS WHAT HAS HELPED ME MAKE IT THIS FAR. SOMETIMES WHEN I FEEL LIKE I AM THE ONLY ONE GOING THROUGH A PARTICULAR SITUATION, I DROP BY THE MESSAGE BOARD AND LOW AND BEHOLD, THERE IS SOMEONE THERE GOING THROUGH THE SAME THING. MY JOURNEY HAS BROUGHT MANY NEW AND EXCITING THINGS INTO MY LIFE. I ENJOY WAKING UP IN THE MORNING AND STARTING A NEW DAY. I ENJOY WALKING AND WITNESSING GOD'S HANDYWORK ALL AROUND ME. I ENJOY SHOPPING AND TRYING ON CLOTHES JUST TO SEE WHAT SIZE I AM IN NOW. I ENJOY NOT HAVING TO TAKE MEDS FOR DIABETES. I ENJOY BEING ABLE TO REACH DOWN TO TIE MY TENNIS SHOES AND NOT GETTING LIGHT HEADED. I ENJOY EXERCISE....CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? I JUST ENJOY LIFE IN GENERAL NOW. IT IS AMAZING WHAT A DIFFERENCE CAN TAKE PLACE IN OUR LIVES WHEN WE REGAIN IT!!! LOVE YOU ALL.

Hey Dina.... Like you, I have been trying to reply to all of the folks who have reached that 1 year milestone. I know that I've probably missed some too, But I would like to attach myself to your blanket HAPPY ANNIVERSRY to anyone I missed! As for you Dina, drop in whenever you can. It's always nice to hear from you!!! Be well!! Mike

Dina, You always express what I'm thinking far more gracefully than I can. You've been a rock here and a wonderful voice of reason. I'm so glad to have taken this journey with you. Big Hugs, Connie

I too don't get as much time these days to post let alone lurk. I sometimes feel bad because everyone on this board has helped me through some trying times this year and helped me mark all the milestones of this wonderful gift we have been give, yet I don't feel like I have even come close to returning the favor. My anniversary is at the end of the month so I still have a few weeks (and lbs hopefuly) to go. But thank you everyone for your love and for sharing your lives with me and everyone else on this board this last year. I truly count you as my family and I love each and everyone of you. Happy anniversary to all my brothers and sisters this month. We have come a long way together and this is only the begining of our new lives. Love to everyone, Leslie

I too am attaching myself to Dinka's blanket.... my what a BIG blanket you have! I can't say it any better than what has been said before me. So I say no more! L&H Gayle