Hello Everyone, Im a newbie to OH.com

Hello Everyone...I'm new to OH and just wanted to introduce myself. I am 18 months out like all or most of you and wanted to say hello. I haven't updated my profile yet but I will. I had a great surgeon and belonged to another on line support group in CA but wanted to branch out nationally to see what others were experiencing especially those who had surgery around my time frame. I hope I can get some useful tips and offer some along the way and participate in some of the conversations and maybe make some good friends. I like to believe that I have released 102 pounds, not lost them because if I "lost" them I have the mental picture or thought that I just might find them again! LOL. I know that RNY/WLS is a tool...and with all tools we must learn to use them properly and correctly for them to work. I hope to get to know all of you better, and make some new friends! Thanks! Valerie

Welcome!!! I am usually a lurker but this site is great.I go to the main message board lot.Just ask any questions usually there is someone or a bunch of us that have some good tips or answers for you.Congrads on your weight"release" thats a great way of putting it.My tool works well for me too.I started at 216 and I weigh now 117-120.I fluctuate and its okay because I am happy with the way I look now.Took a while for my mind to catch up with my body ..always had to do a double take when I went by a mirror.Have a good Saturday I think I amgoing to hit up some of the good sales they are having this weekend.Shopping I hated it before (for myself) now I am like a teenager its fun and no more Lane Bryant for me ~Laura~

Hi Laura! Thank you for being the first to make me feel welcome. Yes I no longer shop at Lane Bryant or any of those stores. Actually I work downtown in my city and in an open mall and I had to buy a polo long sleeve shirt for an event, and they didnt have any for womens so I ended up buying a boys shirt, it was kind of cool, I never thought I'd end up wearing a boys size shirt..EVER..if you know what I mean. Isn't it a trip when you go in to a store and look at the closed circuit monitor or those big sized mirrors and you wonder, "who is that person"? LOL... I wonder if anyone has problems with anyone else saying..."you dont need to lose any more weight!"..I'm sure we have all that...I weight 156, I would like to weigh 145. I have always been one to look less than I actually weigh, no matter what my weight was. My brain still thinks I look like I weighed 2 years ago even though I am 18 months out...I wonder how long it will take before I realize that I look different, maybe because I'm the same person inside?? Well I hope you had a good weekend. Take care, Valerie

Welcome, Valerie!! This is a great group, you'll find lots of new friends here. Michelle

Hi Michelle...thank you very much for the welcome....I hope I find lots of new friends and get to know what everyone else is doing for their protien and learning what they are doing to keep their weight off...I have been reading posts from other sites and it seems that everyone has different "guidelines"..its interesting to me. Thanks and have a great Sunday and a great week! Valerie

hi valerie, welcome! and laura youhad surgery the same day as me, so i put you down as a friend list cause i thought it would be fun to find out more... we have the same stats it seems too.... anway, i lurk mostly too. kind of shy and private or both.. i dont know. mostly dont know what to say most of the time or afraid it comes off wrong on these boards. went to the dr.s last week and now he is saying i have lost too much??!! i am in the RIGHT BMI?! so i'm so confused. wtf?! i feel like i can just not win. i'm waiting on my blood work because of vets day noone called yet. like others on here i dump constantly, and i'm so tired all the time. i drink the right amount of water, i exercise all the time and get all the vits in. i just dont get it. i look good for my age... i guess?! i dont regret my decision, but sometimes i am scared at what the future holds. thanks for listening. Jess

HI Jess: I read your very short profile and you are brave to put what you did, I havent even put my profile yet...Im kind of afraid too..I dont know why and I'm usually pretty verbal, mouth and written! I would like to be friends with you, so please don't lurk and you can write to me anytime you want...my email add is [email protected] we can talk that way if you wish too. You are doing great...at your weight..sometimes our BMI may not be the right one for us, I guess, the government decides that for us I guess..who knows....I beleive it all depends on how you feel. Was this doctor your surgeon or your primary care? What kind of blood work did you have done? Are you checking on your B12 and iron levels for regular check up or something else? Regarding your dumping regularly, the only time I dump is when I eat sugar, I pretty much cut that out of my diet...I eat sugar free stuff but yes I do eat sugar and when I have too much I dump it. Also when I eat too fast is when I dump, I will admit it. But not on a regular basis. We are all scared...I have other medical issues I am trying to see if they are related to my WLS and it has taken me months to see if they are related and when I know I will post about them but I may be unique and it may not apply to everyone. I hope you write to me Jess. Please let me know how things are going for you because we all had surgery around the same time. I am concerned that if I continue to lose, will I begin to look anorexic a word that I never thought would fit in my life or vocabulary. I would like to have plastic surgery for a lift but then again I'm not sure if surgery is right for me at this time in my life anymore, ya know? Peace to you Jess and thank you for being brave and writing! Your new friend, Valerie

Hi Valerie.. thanks for the response! sorry it took so long. I could not reply from office today but did get your response I typically just write on here, and dont do the email thing. but thanks for your address. Had the 18 mo. check up and they checked iron and b levels and fasting choles. and not sure what else. I did not ask for a copy, and they said it was all normal. but I still dont feel well, and dumped again tonight. so i dont know what is UP?! he wants me to gain 10 lbs back! it is freaking me out. my bmi is 22 i think, my height is 5'1 and i weigh 120. would love to have a face lift, boob lift....lol but prob will never do any follow up surgery.... too chicken. too poor..... too busy working and supporting myself!!! maybe if i win the lotto and they let you have pain meds that are not dangerously addictive!! lolol thanks my friend, val and all others on here...... Jess

Hi Jess: I am glad your results are normal! Is your doc your WLS doc or your regular doc? It doesnt sound right you should be dumping so late in the game. I am sorry I ask so many questions, it is because I dont want to start doing that as we are the same date out. I hear you about surgery. I want to have my bottom half lifted. Lets go together and we can get a 2 for 1 price, as that way we can put our funds together from working and we can support each other!! LOL. Well take care, and please check with your doc why you are dumping. Are you dumping at certain times of the day or when you are eating certain foods or doing something in particular? I'd be interested to know.. Take care my friend... Peace :angel: Valerie

Welcome to OH Valerie! I think you find some very good info here! Sue McD