GREAT SURVEY!

1. What is your favorite color? Purple 2. What color looks best on you? My husband says black or blue 3. How would you describe yourself? Dorky lol 4. What is something about you that many don't know? I met my husband of 7 years on the internet 5. What is your sport of choice to participate in and to watch? Participate in- Dancing LOVE IT!...To watch - Gymnastics 6. What do you enjoy to do as a hobby? Listening to music, dancing around the house with my daughter, biking, hiking, swimming 7. What occupation are or were you in? I am in Communications at our local Hospital 8. What was the highest grade or education you received? High Scool Diploma and Vocational Certificate for Health Careers 9. Are you right handed or left handed? Right 10. How tall are you? 5'1" 11. Do you have any children and how old? yes- 7yrs 12. Do you have a significant other and for how long? yes - 7yrs 13. Has your relationship with your significant other changed since having surgery? Not really 14. How long have you been morbidly obese? 7 years + some time as a teen/kid I would've been considered obese I think 15. How was your self esteem or how did you feel being morbidly obese? Awful 16. Anyone ever made fun of you or mocked you when you were/are morbidly obese? Always 17. Have you noticed a change within yourself mentally since having surgery? Not as much as I'd like 18. Since having surgery, do you speak of yourself in past tense about when you were MO in a negative way such as saying "when I was..." fat or a fat cow, pig, etc. No 19. What word or words would you use to describe yourself when you were MO or SMO? Very unhappy 20. Did you have any addiction pre-op? Food, food and more food 21. Do you discovered you have a new addiction post-op that you didn't expect? I am addicted to window shopping 22. Are you keeping your addiction a secret? No 23. Are you open about disclosing that you had or are having bariatic surgery to others? yes 24. Are you open about disclosing that you had bariatric surgery when asked how you lost weight? yes 25. What about being morbidly obese was the most difficult to deal with? Not being able to play with my daughter (which I still can't very well...err) 26. Since surgery, have you experience saggy, flabby or wrinkly skin? If you haven't had surgery is this something you thought about? yes and yes 26. Does the body skin issue bothers you and what concerns you the most about it? My underarms, inner thighs and belly flap 27. Did you have any co-morbs pre-op? yes 28. How many times or when do you weight yourself? every morning some times up to 3 times a day 29. Have you had a few, many or never had stalls/plateaus post-op? I've had a couple so far 30. When did you have your first plateau postop? About 2 months post op 31. What was your heaviest weight? Heaviest ever? 300, at surgery consult 250 32. What was your BMI when you had surgery? 43.5 Day of surgery 33. When did you have or having surgery? 6/21/07 34. What type of surgery did you or are having? Laprascopic RNY open or lap - 1st time or revision from (what type) 1st time 35. How many hours did your surgery take to perform? one and a half hours 36. How long was your postop recovery? Still recovering 37. What was the most difficult moment of your postop recovery from 1-12 months? If pre-op what do you fear about post-op recovery? Most difficult at first was not being able to sleep comfortably, now I can't drink with out 38. What did you dislike to eat or drink pre-op that you enjoy now? Nuts, juice, water chestnuts 39. What did you like to eat or drink pre-op that you can't now? LOVED PASTA! Can't tolerate it now and it doesn't taste good. I also tried rice today for the 1st time and that came right back up. There are lots of things 40. Have your taste buds changed since having surgery? Yes 41. Have you become intolerant to any type of food? Pasta, rice, milk (only out of a plastic jug) 42. What is your prefer vegetable and prepared how? Green beens, baby corn, carrots 43. Do you eat pizza and what is your favorite topping/s? I eat the cheese and toppings but not the crust usually 44. Do you eat bread and what type you prefer? Toast I've only had twice with PB and it was Ok nothing to rant about 45. What is your favorite topping on bread? cheese 46. What is your favorite sandwich? Haven't really had a "Sandwhich" yet 47. What is your favorite soup or stew? My favorite used to be Corn Chowder, I haven't tried it yet. But stew is really good! 48. Are you able to or have issues eating pasta or rice? Have major issues 49. What is your preferred dessert to eat post-op? Fruit with SF Jello and some Cool whip (like a parfait) or SF Fudge Pops 50. Do you have any type of sweets since being postop and what is your favorite to have? FRUIT I LOVE NOW 51. Do you drink milk and what type? skim, out of the carboard container 52. What is your favorite fast food place? Don't have one anymore 53. What is your prefer food on the go? Cashews 54. What is your favorite fast food place? Don't have one anymore 55. What is you favorite restaurant and what is your prefer dish there (appetizer, entree and dessert)? Country kitchen...SALAD! and they have good French Fries...I know I know I know 56. What is your favorite protein supplement, drink or powder mix? Yuk, they all make me sick now 57. What is your favorite high protein food? Turkey and Chicken 58. What is your favorite food or snack to have? Cold turkey or cashews 59. What food or drink do you dislike now that you didn't pre-op? Protein shakes...etc. etc. 60. What is your favorite non-alcohol drink to have or drink daily? JUICE!! 61. Do you drink liqour and What is your preferred choice? NO WAY JOSE! 62. Are you a social, occasional, weekend only or no alcohol drinker? None 63. What is your favorite salad? Regular 64. what is your favorite salad dressing? Ranch 65. Do you eat and how do you like your potatoes? LOVE POTATOES! Eat them anyway..with cheese is good 66. Which meat do you prefer chicken, beef or pork? Chicken 67. What is your favorite way prepared? Grilled 68. Do you have difficulties eating any meat? Sometimes hamburger and pork I just don't like 69. What favorite meal or entree do you like having regularly? Salad..is that an entree? 70. For what reason or why did you finally decide having your specific surgery of choice? My medical problems were climbing fast and I wanted a better life for me and my family

1. What is your favorite color? deep purple 2. What color looks best on you? i have no idea! 3. How would you describe yourself? caring with a strong maternal instinct. 4. What is something about you that many don't know? that i've had this surgery! i've only shared with the people i'm closest to. 5. What is your sport of choice to participate in and to watch? i love to watch football and i like to play softball, though i haven't in years. 6. What do you enjoy to do as a hobby? reading 7. What occupation are or were you in? i am a production planner. 8. What was the highest grade or education you received? some college. 9. Are you right handed or left handed? right 10. How tall are you? 5' 2" 11. Do you have any children and how old? 2 daughters, 24 and 22 years old 12. Do you have a significant other and for how long? yes, 26 years! 13. Has your relationship with your significant other changed since having surgery? nope 14. How long have you been morbidly obesed? off and on for years. don't know exactly. 15. How was your self esteem or how did you feel being morbidly obese? i hated it, struggled constantly and was much more angry in general than i am now. 16. Anyone ever made fun of you or mocked you when you were/are morbidly obese? probably, but i don't know about it. 17. Have you noticed a change within yourself mentally since having surgery? yes 18. Since having surgery, do you speak of yourself in past tense about when you were MO in a negative way such as saying "when I was..." fat or a fat cow, pig, etc. i spoke about myself that way while i was morbidly obese. i still do sometimes, but not as much. 19. What word or words would you use to describe yourself when you were MO or SMO? frustrated wraps it up pretty well. 20. Did you have any addiction pre-op? diet coke and coke zero. 21. Do you discovered you have a new addiction post-op that you didn't expect? yes, exercising of all things. i exercise 6 days a week, walk 3.5 miles 3 days a week and lift weights 3 days a week for 60-80 minutes. 22. Are you keeping your addiction a secret?nope 23. Are you open about disclosing that you had or are having bariatic surgery to others? i told the people i'm closest to, and some people at work. i haven't told most of my family because when i had mentioned wls last christmas i was heaped with negativity. but if anyone asks me outright, i will tell them. 24. Are you open about disclosing that you had bariatric surgery when asked how you lost weight? yes 25. What about being morbidly obese was the most difficult to deal with? remembering what it was like NOT to be morbidly obese. 26. Since surgery, have you experience saggy, flabby or wrinkly skin? If you haven't had surgery is this something you thought about? yeah, my arms and legs will get the worst of it, since i've always had bigger extremities. 26. Does the body skin issue bothers you and what concerns you the most about it? not yet. i expect to have some loose skin. i guess i'll have to see how bad it is down the road. maybe i haven't lost enough to really see the impact of it yet. 27. Did you have any co-morbs pre-op? yup, hypertension, tachycardia, arthritis, gerd...probably some i'm not thinking of. 28. How many times or when do you weight yourself? usually once a day, first thing in the morning, although sometimes i'll skip a day. 29. Have you had a few, many or never had stalls/plateaus post-op? i had one stall that was very discouraging. 30. When did you have your first plateau postop? i think i was about 3 weeks or a month out. 31. What was your heaviest weight? 223 lbs 32. What was your BMI when you had surgery?i don't remember. 33. When did you have or having surgery? 6/20/07 34. What type of surgery did you or are having? open or lap - 1st time or revision from (what type) i had lap rny gastric bypass 35. How many hours did your surgery take to perform? 2.5 36. How long was your postop recovery? i was out of work for 1 month, because i have short term disability where i work. i probably could have gone back earlier but i wanted to make sure i was ready. 37. What was the most difficult moment of your postop recovery from 1-12 months? If pre-op what do you fear about post-op recovery? i think it was the stall. i'm still only 3 months out though, so i don't know what else might crop up in the first year. 38. What did you dislike to eat or drink pre-op that you enjoy now? diet cranberry juice anc crystal light lemonade! 39. What did you like to eat or drink pre-op that you can't now? coke zero. i was seriously addicted before surgery. 40. Have your taste buds changed since having surgery? sweet things taste much sweeter, but that might be due to not eating much sugar anymore. 41. Have you become intolerant to any type of food? broccoli, which i love. everytime i've gotten sick post-op, broccoli has been involved. : ( 42. What is your prefer vegetable and prepared how?i like baked sweet potatoes, and spaghetti squash. 43. Do you eat pizza and what is your favorite topping/s? i eat it once in a while. i can eat 1.5 pieces. i like mushrooms, onions, black olives and sweet peppers! 44. Do you eat bread and what type you prefer? i eat bread sparingly, whole wheat or multigrain. 45. What is your favorite topping on bread? smart balance light spread 46. What is your favorite sandwich?tuna or egg salad 47. What is your favorite soup or stew? homemade beef stew with lots of sweet potatoes. 48. Are you able to or have issues eating pasta or rice? i've had whole grain pasta, no problems. i stay away from rice. it's too white, lol. 49. What is your preferred dessert to eat post-op? cheesecake, the same as it was pre-op. the difference is, i have a tiny piece and i don't go carb crazy like i used to from sugar. also, it's not on a regular basis by any means. probably once every 4 or 5 months. 50. Do you have any type of sweets since being postop and what is your favorite to have? i have just found fiber one oats and chocolate bars. they have 9 grams of fiber per bar, so that's how i justify it! 51. Do you drink milk and what type? i drink lactaid, which is a milk for people who are lactose intolerant. i drink the skim, but not that often. 52. What is your favorite fast food place? probably wendy's, although i haven't gone to any fast food place since my surgery. 53. What is your prefer food on the go? fruit and cheese 54. What is your favorite fast food place? see #52 55. What is you favorite restaurant and what is your prefer dish there (appetizer, entree and dessert)? i don't have a favorite restaurant although i have favorite dishes at all the restaurants i go to. 56. What is your favorite protein supplement, drink or powder mix? i don't drink them, i get all my protein from food. i never found one i liked. 57. What is your favorite high protein food? tuna 58. What is your favorite food or snack to have? lobster 59. What food or drink do you dislike now that you didn't pre-op? i don't think there are any. 60. What is your favorite non-alcohol drink to have or drink daily? diet ocean spray. 61. Do you drink liqour and What is your preferred choice? not yet. 62. Are you a social, occasional, weekend only or no alcohol drinker? was an occasional drinker before surgery. 63. What is your favorite salad? calypso coconut shrimp salad from 99. 64. what is your favorite salad dressing? poppyseed 65. Do you eat and how do you like your potatoes? rarely eat white potatoes, but sometimes i make the tiny red bliss potatoes, i microwave them, then brush them with a mixture of olive oil, garlic powder, italian seasonings and chili flakes, sprinkle with shredded mozzarella cheese and bake them in the toaster oven til the cheese browns. the family likes them a lot, especially my son-in-law. 66. Which meat do you prefer chicken, beef or pork? beef 67. What is your favorite way prepared? grilled, medium rare. 68. Do you have difficulties eating any meat? yes, any meat that is over cooked makes me sick. 69. What favorite meal or entree do you like having regularly? baked stuffed haddock. 70. For what reason or why did you finally decide having your specific surgery of choice? nothing else worked and i was desperate. my insurance covered lapband and rny, and i went to a seminar intending to have lapband. but during a subsequent support group i attended, i heard from people who had had both surgeries. one woman who had a lapband really hit home with me. she had lost a minimal amount of weight and was back to eating junk food. i decided to have the rny and hope that i would dump. i did at first, but not so much lately. however, i am much more determined knowing that i made such a drastic change to my body and i don't want to fail again.

1. What is your favorite color?RED 2. What color looks best on you?RED AND BLACK 3. How would you describe yourself?CONSERVATIVE AND FUNNY 4. What is something about you that many don't know? BRUTALLY HONESTY 5. What is your sport of choice to participate in and to watch? NONE ICE SKATING 6. What do you enjoy to do as a hobby? DANCING 7. What occupation are or were you in? CREDIT AND COLLECTIONS 8. What was the highest grade or education you received?12 WITH SOME COLLEGE 9. Are you right handed or left handed? RIGHT 10. How tall are you? 5'7" 11. Do you have any children and how old? I DAUGHTER 10 12. Do you have a significant other and for how long? YES AND 15 YEARS 13. Has your relationship with your significant other changed since having surgery? NOT REALLY 14. How long have you been morbidly obesed? MY ENTIE LIFE 15. How was your self esteem or how did you feel being morbidly obese? IT SUPRISINGLY HIGH AND STILL IS 16. Anyone ever made fun of you or mocked you when you were/are morbidly obese?YES 17. Have you noticed a change within yourself mentally since having surgery? YES 18. Since having surgery, do you speak of yourself in past tense about when you were MO in a negative way such as saying "when I was..." fat or a fat cow, pig, etc. NO 19. What word or words would you use to describe yourself when you were MO or SMO? HAPPY GO LUCKY 20. Did you have any addiction pre-op? SHOES 21. Do you discovered you have a new addiction post-op that you didn't expect? SHOES 22. Are you keeping your addiction a secret? NO 23. Are you open about disclosing that you had or are having bariatic surgery to others?YES 24. Are you open about disclosing that you had bariatric surgery when asked how you lost weight? YES 25. What about being morbidly obese was the most difficult to deal with? FITTING IN PLACES 26. Since surgery, have you experience saggy, flabby or wrinkly skin? If you haven't had surgery is this something you thought about? YES YES 26. Does the body skin issue bothers you and what concerns you the most about it? YES AND WHAT ISSUES IT WILL CAUSE, AND FITTING MY CLOSE 27. Did you have any co-morbs pre-op? NO 28. How many times or when do you weight yourself?EVERYDAY 29. Have you had a few, many or never had stalls/plateaus post-op? YES SEVERAL 30. When did you have your first plateau postop? THREE WEEKS 31. What was your heaviest weight? 270 32. What was your BMI when you had surgery? 46 33. When did you have or having surgery? JUNE 28 2007 34. What type of surgery did you or are having? 1ST RNY open or lap - 1st time or revision from (what type) 35. How many hours did your surgery take to perform? 4 HOURS 36. How long was your postop recovery? 3 DAYS 37. What was the most difficult moment of your postop recovery from 1-12 months? If pre-op what do you fear about post-op recovery? GETTING UP AND MOVING 38. What did you dislike to eat or drink pre-op that you enjoy now? NOTHING 39. What did you like to eat or drink pre-op that you can't now? POTATOES BEER SODAS BREAD CHICKEN TURKEY 40. Have your taste buds changed since having surgery? YES 41. Have you become intolerant to any type of food? STARCH/CARBONATION 42. What is your prefer vegetable and prepared how?GREEN BEANS REGULAR COOKED 43. Do you eat pizza and what is your favorite topping/s? YES SUPREME 44. Do you eat bread and what type you prefer? YES ALL 45. What is your favorite topping on bread? GARLIC BUTTER 46. What is your favorite sandwich? BOLOGNA AND CHEESE ON WHITE WITH FF MAYO 47. What is your favorite soup or stew? STEW 48. Are you able to or have issues eating pasta or rice? I AM ABLE BUT NO MORE THAN A TABLE SPOON 49. What is your preferred dessert to eat post-op? NONE 50. Do you have any type of sweets since being postop and what is your favorite to have? YES SUGAR FREE PUDDING 51. Do you drink milk and what type? NOPE 52. What is your favorite fast food place? NOTHING AT THE MOMENT IT JUST DOES NOT MEAN ANYTHING TO ME ANYMORE 53. What is your prefer food on the go? WENDY'S CHILI 54. What is your favorite fast food place? DON HAVE ONE (CAN'T REALLY FOCUS ON ONE) 55. What is you favorite restaurant and what is your prefer dish there (appetizer, entree and dessert)? NONE 56. What is your favorite protein supplement, drink or powder mix? NONE THEY ALL HAVE AN AFTER TASTE 57. What is your favorite high protein food? TUNA 58. What is your favorite food or snack to have? SUGAR FREE PUDDING 59. What food or drink do you dislike now that you didn't pre-op? GRAPE WALMART BRAND SUGAR FREE WATER 60. What is your favorite non-alcohol drink to have or drink daily? ICE TEA 61. Do you drink liqour and What is your preferred choice? VODKA 62. Are you a social, occasional, weekend only or no alcohol drinker?OCCASIONAL 63. What is your favorite salad? ANYTHING WITH BALSAMIC VINEGRETTE 64. what is your favorite salad dressing? BALSALMIC VINERGRETTE 65. Do you eat and how do you like your potatoes? NO 66. Which meat do you prefer chicken, beef or pork? BEEF 67. What is your favorite way prepared? COOKED UNTIL TENDER 68. Do you have difficulties eating any meat? CHICKEN 69. What favorite meal or entree do you like having regularly? WENDY'S CHILI 70. For what reason or why did you finally decide having your specific surgery of choice? OVER ALL HEALTH

glad you aren't keeping that shoe addiction secret! LOL a woman after my own heart! judi

1. What is your favorite color? Blue 2. What color looks best on you? Coral, Red 3. How would you describe yourself? Happy 4. What is something about you that many don't know? I have hip bones! 5. What is your sport of choice to participate in and to watch?Is walking a spor****ch Nascar races 6. What do you enjoy to do as a hobby? Sal****er fish 7. What occupation are or were you in? SAHM was i the insurance industry for 18 years 8. What was the highest grade or education you received? some college 9. Are you right handed or left handed? Right 10. How tall are you? 5'4" 11. Do you have any children and how old? Leo IV 23, Kristin 17, Doug 16 12. Do you have a significant other and for how long? My soulmate Leo 8 years 13. Has your relationship with your significant other changed since having surgery? It couldn't have gotten any better 14. How long have you been morbidly obesed? 10 yrs 15. How was your self esteem or how did you feel being morbidly obese? I hated it. I started to avoid social situations. 16. Anyone ever made fun of you or mocked you when you were/are morbidly obese? My daughter's friend made a comment that she didn't know I was that fat. 17. Have you noticed a change within yourself mentally since having surgery? Yes. I have self confidence back. 18. Since having surgery, do you speak of yourself in past tense about when you were MO in a negative way such as saying "when I was..." fat or a fat cow, pig, etc. Yes, when I was big... 19. What word or words would you use to describe yourself when you were MO or SMO? In denial of my weight 20. Did you have any addiction pre-op? besides food? 21. Do you discovered you have a new addiction post-op that you didn't expect? No 22. Are you keeping your addiction a secret? nA 23. Are you open about disclosing that you had or are having bariatic surgery to others? Yes 24. Are you open about disclosing that you had bariatric surgery when asked how you lost weight? yes 25. What about being morbidly obese was the most difficult to deal with? not being able to walk w/o being winded 26. Since surgery, have you experience saggy, flabby or wrinkly skin? If you haven't had surgery is this something you thought about? nope- I've got good genes 26. Does the body skin issue bothers you and what concerns you the most about it? NA 27. Did you have any co-morbs pre-op? many 28. How many times or when do you weight yourself? I weigh each morning 29. Have you had a few, many or never had stalls/plateaus post-op? just one 30. When did you have your first plateau postop? last month 31. What was your heaviest weight? 242 32. What was your BMI when you had surgery? 41.5 extremely obese 33. When did you have or having surgery? June 6 2007 34. What type of surgery did you or are having? LAP RNY 35. How many hours did your surgery take to perform? 2 36. How long was your postop recovery? in hospital 3 days 37. What was the most difficult moment of your postop recovery from 1-12 months? If pre-op what do you fear about post-op recovery? I had a pulled muscle in my abdomen 38. What did you dislike to eat or drink pre-op that you enjoy now? nothing different--I loved food 39. What did you like to eat or drink pre-op that you can't now? Bread 40. Have your taste buds changed since having surgery? no 41. Have you become intolerant to any type of food? bread 42. What is your prefer vegetable and prepared how? spinach, broccoli, green beans 43. Do you eat pizza and what is your favorite topping/s? just a bite 44. Do you eat bread and what type you prefer?I can't eat it 45. What is your favorite topping on bread?none 46. What is your favorite sandwich? can't eat sandwich 47. What is your favorite soup or stew? Healthy choice Ham and Bean 48. Are you able to or have issues eating pasta or rice? No rice, I've tried a little macaroni and cheese 49. What is your preferred dessert to eat post-op? SF fudgecicles 50. Do you have any type of sweets since being postop and what is your favorite to have? Nope--too addicting for me 51. Do you drink milk and what type? yeppers, 1% 52. What is your favorite fast food place? don't have one 53. What is your prefer food on the go? chili or protein bar 55. What is you favorite restaurant and what is your prefer dish there (appetizer, entree and dessert)? don't have one anymore 56. What is your favorite protein supplement, drink or powder mix? Nectar Tea and Unjury Vanilla 57. What is your favorite high protein food? cottage cheese 58. What is your favorite food or snack to have? I never feel hungry so I don't have one. I eat to live now. 59. What food or drink do you dislike now that you didn't pre-op? 60. What is your favorite non-alcohol drink to have or drink daily? Tropicana SF lemonade 61. Do you drink liqour and What is your preferred choice? haven't tried any yet 62. Are you a social, occasional, weekend only or no alcohol drinker? was an occasional/social drinker maybe 3-4 a year 63. What is your favorite salad? any 64. what is your favorite salad dressing? RAnch, or balsamic vinegrette 65. Do you eat and how do you like your potatoes? mashed w gravy 66. Which meat do you prefer chicken, beef or pork? all of them 67. What is your favorite way prepared? beef- grilled med rare, chick & pork in a crock pot or roasted 68. Do you have difficulties eating any meat? only if it's dry 69. What favorite meal or entree do you like having regularly? Chicken in the crock pot 70. For what reason or why did you finally decide having your specific surgery of choice? I needed something restrictive, was afraid of a band wearing away at my stomach.

1. What is your favorite color? All shades of purple 2. What color looks best on you? Black (although I haven't tried much else, black is "slimming"!) 3. How would you describe yourself? A worry wart 4. What is something about you that many don't know? I'm very open minded 5. What is your sport of choice to participate in and to watch? Baseball 6. What do you enjoy to do as a hobby? Play computer games and read trashy romance novels 7. What occupation are or were you in? Customer service 8. What was the highest grade or education you received? In college now 9. Are you right handed or left handed? Right 10. How tall are you? 5'2" 11. Do you have any children and how old? A son - 21, a daughter - 20 next week. 12. Do you have a significant other and for how long? My husband, will be 6 years next month. 13. Has your relationship with your significant other changed since having surgery? We've become closer. 14. How long have you been morbidly obesed? 25 years 15. How was your self esteem or how did you feel being morbidly obese? Self esteem? What's that? 16. Anyone ever made fun of you or mocked you when you were/are morbidly obese? Yes. 17. Have you noticed a change within yourself mentally since having surgery? A little, but I still have lots of work to do. 18. Since having surgery, do you speak of yourself in past tense about when you were MO in a negative way such as saying "when I was..." fat or a fat cow, pig, etc. No, because I'm still fat...so it's present tense. 19. What word or words would you use to describe yourself when you were MO or SMO? Fat, large, huge, big, beached whale, lardass (I was very self derogatory, although I've stopped now.) 20. Did you have any addiction pre-op? Yes...food. 21. Do you discovered you have a new addiction post-op that you didn't expect? Still the same...food. 22. Are you keeping your addiction a secret? No. 23. Are you open about disclosing that you had or are having bariatic surgery to others? I'm open, yes. Because I'm proud that I've done something about it instead of just whining about being heavy like I used to do. 24. Are you open about disclosing that you had bariatric surgery when asked how you lost weight? Yes. 25. What about being morbidly obese was the most difficult to deal with? Not being able to do simple things, and having my husband do them instead. It made me feel a LOT older than I was. 26. Since surgery, have you experience saggy, flabby or wrinkly skin? If you haven't had surgery is this something you thought about? Oh yeah, my chest has headed south baby. Wing flaps are in place and my inner thighs are floppy too! 26. Does the body skin issue bothers you and what concerns you the most about it? Just the chest area. I used to proudly display my endowments...and now....they hang around just above my belly button. So yeah, it bothers me :p 27. Did you have any co-morbs pre-op? Yes, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. 28. How many times or when do you weight yourself? Every morning. 29. Have you had a few, many or never had stalls/plateaus post-op? Had quite a few stalls, in one now as a matter of fact. 30. When did you have your first plateau postop? About 3 weeks post op. 31. What was your heaviest weight? 316 pounds 32. What was your BMI when you had surgery? 57.6 33. When did you have or having surgery? June 22, 2007 34. What type of surgery did you or are having? Open RNY open or lap - 1st time or revision from (what type) 35. How many hours did your surgery take to perform? Less than 1 36. How long was your postop recovery? 2 days in the hospital, felt alot better after the first week at home. 37. What was the most difficult moment of your postop recovery from 1-12 months? If pre-op what do you fear about post-op recovery? Those first few days are the worst. They make you cough and it feels like it's ripping you apart from the inside. 38. What did you dislike to eat or drink pre-op that you enjoy now? I hated cottage cheese, and I love it now. Nothing else has changed about my likes/tastes since surgery. 39. What did you like to eat or drink pre-op that you can't now? Chinese food and the occasional chick drink (white russian or pina colada). Also brocolli, just won't agree with me now. 40. Have your taste buds changed since having surgery? I wish. 41. Have you become intolerant to any type of food? I wish lol. 42. What is your prefer vegetable and prepared how? Squash/zucchini 43. Do you eat pizza and what is your favorite topping/s? Specially made pizza, mushrooms and bell peppers 44. Do you eat bread and what type you prefer? Not much, if I have any, it's whole wheat and toasted. 45. What is your favorite topping on bread? Low fat cream cheese, or I can't believe it's not butter light. 46. What is your favorite sandwich? Roasted chicken breast from Subway. 47. What is your favorite soup or stew? Cream of mushroom soup...really haven't had stew. 48. Are you able to or have issues eating pasta or rice? I can't eat sticky rice, but the non-sticky stuff is ok in small amounts. 49. What is your preferred dessert to eat post-op? A home made cheesecake thing I modified from a friend's recipe. 50. Do you have any type of sweets since being postop and what is your favorite to have? A few, but I watch the sugar grams (under 10 grams only). See cheesecake above. 51. Do you drink milk and what type? Mostly soy mil****asionally skim milk. 52. What is your favorite fast food place? Subway 53. What is your prefer food on the go? South Beach snack bars or Proti snack bars. 54. What is your favorite fast food place? uh, Subway still 55. What is you favorite restaurant and what is your prefer dish there (appetizer, entree and dessert)? Outback Steakhouse. Rack of lamb, YUM. (haven't done this since surgery though). 56. What is your favorite protein supplement, drink or powder mix? AchievOne 57. What is your favorite high protein food? Chicken or shrimp. 58. What is your favorite food or snack to have? Genisoy snacks or South Beach snack bars. 59. What food or drink do you dislike now that you didn't pre-op? Sadly, nada. 60. What is your favorite non-alcohol drink to have or drink daily? EAS protein shake 61. Do you drink liqour and What is your preferred choice? Not anymore. 62. Are you a social, occasional, weekend only or no alcohol drinker? Pre-op, only occasionally. Now, none. 63. What is your favorite salad? Garfield's has a cranberry walnut salad that is AWESOME. 64. what is your favorite salad dressing? raspberry viniagrette 65. Do you eat and how do you like your potatoes? Usually mashed, or baked, but not often. 66. Which meat do you prefer chicken, beef or pork? Chicken 67. What is your favorite way prepared? Slow cooked till it falls apart 68. Do you have difficulties eating any meat? Anything that is dry. I've been sick on dry chicken, dry fish, dry hamburger. Not at all if it's juicy though. 69. What favorite meal or entree do you like having regularly? White bean turkey chili, we do it once a week. 70. For what reason or why did you finally decide having your specific surgery of choice? It took me a while to realize that I really wasn't going to be able to do it the old fashioned way. I kept trying and failing, or succeeding short term but not long term. Once I got to 40 years old, I realized if I couldn't do this in the past 20 years, I wasn't going to be doing it ever. Hence, surgery or die.

1. What is your favorite color? GREEN 2. What color looks best on you? LATELY CHOCOLATE BROWN 3. How would you describe yourself? FUNNY 4. What is something about you that many don't know? I AM RE-FINDING MY FAITH. 5. What is your sport of choice to participate in and to watch? VOLLEYBALL, BOWLING 6. What do you enjoy to do as a hobby? WHO HAS TIME FOR A HOBBY? 7. What occupation are or were you in? RISK MANAGEMENT 8. What was the highest grade or education you received? BA IN ORGANIZATIONAL MANAGEMENT 9. Are you right handed or left handed? RIGHT 10. How tall are you? 5'9" 11. Do you have any children and how old? SON 23, DAUGHTER 17, DAUGHTER 13 12. Do you have a significant other and for how long? MARRIED FOR 19 YEARS 13. Has your relationship with your significant other changed since having surgery? NO, EXCEPT WE ARE DOING MORE THINGS TOGETHER. 14. How long have you been morbidly obesed? 15 YEARS(?) 15. How was your self esteem or how did you feel being morbidly obese? I HID THE EFFECT ON MY SELF -ESTEEM VERY WELL. BUT I KNEW I WANTED TO BE SO MUCH MORE TO MY KIDS AND DO A BETTER JOB AT MY WORK. I KNEW I WAS ONLY AT 75% IN THESE AREAS, WHICH MADE ME SAD. 16. Anyone ever made fun of you or mocked you when you were/are morbidly obese? A FEW LOOKS. 17. Have you noticed a change within yourself mentally since having surgery? SOMETIMES. I FEEL MORE 'CAPABLE' THAN I HAVE IN ALONG TIME. 18. Since having surgery, do you speak of yourself in past tense about when you were MO in a negative way such as saying "when I was..." fat or a fat cow, pig, etc. NO. I AM PROUD OF WHO I WAS THEN, AND STILL AM NOW. 19. What word or words would you use to describe yourself when you were MO or SMO? HEAVY 20. Did you have any addiction pre-op? PROBABLY FOOD 21. Do you discovered you have a new addiction post-op that you didn't expect? PROTEIN DRINKS! IT'S LIKE LEAVING THE HOUSE WITHOUT MAKEUP...I JUST CAN'T START MY DAY WITHOUT A PROTEIN DRINK! 22. Are you keeping your addiction a secret? NO 23. Are you open about disclosing that you had or are having bariatic surgery to others? PRECIOUS FEW PEOPLE KNOW...BUT MANY ARE BEGINNING TO GUESS. I AM PRIVATE UNLESS I AM CLOSE TO SOMEONE. 24. Are you open about disclosing that you had bariatric surgery when asked how you lost weight? NOPE... 25. What about being morbidly obese was the most difficult to deal with? IT LIMITED MY POTENTIAL. 26. Since surgery, have you experience saggy, flabby or wrinkly skin? If you haven't had surgery is this something you thought about? MORE FLAB DAILY! DEFINATELY SEE SOME ADDITIONAL SURGERY SOMEDAY! 26. Does the body skin issue bothers you and what concerns you the most about it? SOMETIMES IT BOTHERS ME. MOSTLY WHEN I'M BEING A 'WIFE' TO MY HUSBAND, IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. I FOUND I CAN CLOTHE MYSELF TO LOOK FINE, BUT THE NAKED PART...OH, MY! 27. Did you have any co-morbs pre-op? NO 28. How many times or when do you weight yourself? MONDAY A.M. 29. Have you had a few, many or never had stalls/plateaus post-op? IN 2 SEPARATE WEEKS I LOST NOTHING. BUT USUALLY THE FOLLOWING WEEK WAS A BIG LOSS! 30. When did you have your first plateau postop? 8 WEEKS 31. What was your heaviest weight? 333 32. What was your BMI when you had surgery? 47 33. When did you have or having surgery? 6/25/2007 34. What type of surgery did you or are having? open or lap - 1st time or revision from (what type) OPEN RYN 35. How many hours did your surgery take to perform? NO IDEA; I WAS ASLEEP 36. How long was your postop recovery? 2 DAYS IN THE HOSPITAL, 2 WEEKS AT HOME. 37. What was the most difficult moment of your postop recovery from 1-12 months? If pre-op what do you fear about post-op recovery? I THOUGHT I WAS HAVING A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN ABOUT WEEK 2. THOUGHT I HAD MADE THE BIGGEST MISTAKE OF MY LIFE HAVING THIS SURGERY. EMOTIONS WERE RUNNING WILD! TURNS OUT I WAS DIFFICIENT IN HORMONES. GOT A HORMONE SHOT AT THE DOC AND TURNED A VERY BAD CORNER. 38. What did you dislike to eat or drink pre-op that you enjoy now? PROTEIN DRINKS 39. What did you like to eat or drink pre-op that you can't now? HAMBURGERS 40. Have your taste buds changed since having surgery? FER SURE! 41. Have you become intolerant to any type of food? CHICKEN, PORK CHOPS, DENSE MEATS 42. What is your prefer vegetable and prepared how? SALADS 43. Do you eat pizza and what is your favorite topping/s? SELDOM EAT PIZZA, BUT CAN SCRAPE THE TOP OFF A SAUSAGE/MUSHROOM SLICE AND EAT THAT. 44. Do you eat bread and what type you prefer? NOT OFTEN. A CRACKER WORKS OKAY -- RITZ 45. What is your favorite topping on bread? N/A 46. What is your favorite sandwich? WHO EATS A SANDWICH? 47. What is your favorite soup or stew? LENTIL 48. Are you able to or have issues eating pasta or rice? NEITHER ONE WORKS FOR ME. 49. What is your preferred dessert to eat post-op? SUGAR FREE TAPIOCA 50. Do you have any type of sweets since being postop and what is your favorite to have? NOTHING BESIDES THE TAPIOCA PUDDING OR SF POPSICLE. 51. Do you drink milk and what type? 2% 52. What is your favorite fast food place? TACO BELL 53. What is your prefer food on the go? PROTEIN DRINK AND NUTS 54. What is your favorite fast food place? TACO BELL (STILL) 55. What is you favorite restaurant and what is your prefer dish there (appetizer, entree and dessert)? I HAVEN'T A CLUE SINCE SURGERY. WE MUST BE SAVING A TON OF MONEY SINCE JUNE...WE DON'T GO OUT ANYMORE! 56. What is your favorite protein supplement, drink or powder mix? UNJURY CHOCOLATE OR VANILLA POWDER 57. What is your favorite high protein food? SEE #56, AND CHEESE 58. What is your favorite food or snack to have? CHEESE 59. What food or drink do you dislike now that you didn't pre-op? CHICKEN 60. What is your favorite non-alcohol drink to have or drink daily? WATER 61. Do you drink liqour and What is your preferred choice? VODKA 62. Are you a social, occasional, weekend only or no alcohol drinker? OCCAISIONAL 63. What is your favorite salad? GREEN, WITH MEAT AND IMIT. CRAB 64. what is your favorite salad dressing? NEWMAN'S ORIENTAL -- YUMMY! 65. Do you eat and how do you like your potatoes? BAKED OR BOILED IS FINE. 66. Which meat do you prefer chicken, beef or pork? PASS 67. What is your favorite way prepared? AGAIN, PASS 68. Do you have difficulties eating any meat? YES! LUNCH MEAT IS OKAY 69. What favorite meal or entree do you like having regularly? MY HOMEMADE PINTO BEANS 70. For what reason or why did you finally decide having your specific surgery of choice? I WAS GETTING LESS AND LESS MOBILE. I DIDN'T GET TO DO SOME THINGS THAT THE REST OF MY FAMILY WAS, AND THE KIDS WERE GROWING UP FAST. I COULD SEE MYSELF BECOMING ONE OF THOSE WOMEN THAT SPEND THEIR LIFE ON THE COUCH...THE WHOLE COUCH... AND THEIR FAMILY HAS TO WAIT ON THEM. I WANT TO CHASE MY GRANDKIDS SOMEDAY AROUND THE PARK!

"life on the couch - the whole couch" -- LOL! Funny, but sad to get there.

Cleo ... thanks for reading my post. It is amazing to make this life altering decision in my life. I was definately at the cross-roads...pack it all in and just be fat and old, or make the big change and fight age by becoming more healthy. It is so great to have you, and others, on this journey too!

1. What is your favorite color? lavendar like everyone else. I had my office painted a dusty lavendar with clear coat put on in a diamond pattern - sounds ugly but I love it! 2. What color looks best on you? none? dusty rose probably 3. How would you describe yourself? introvert 4. What is something about you that many don't know? i am an open book 5. What is your sport of choice to participate in and to watch? love tennis 6. What do you enjoy to do as a hobby? read, antique, shop! 7. What occupation are or were you in? CPA 8. What was the highest grade or education you received? Bachelor's 9. Are you right handed or left handed? right 10. How tall are you? 5'4" 11. Do you have any children and how old? no kids 12. Do you have a significant other and for how long? married 24 years this Nov 13. Has your relationship with your significant other changed since having surgery? we are closer, he had rny 1 year ago and has been my trainer/support this summer 14. How long have you been morbidly obesed? forever 15. How was your self esteem or how did you feel being morbidly obese? lacking 16. Anyone ever made fun of you or mocked you when you were/are morbidly obese? yes 17. Have you noticed a change within yourself mentally since having surgery? not yet 18. Since having surgery, do you speak of yourself in past tense about when you were MO in a negative way such as saying "when I was..." fat or a fat cow, pig, etc. i am more realistic and vocal about still being fat since it no longer feels like a permanent condition. when i was home in june we lined up for a family picture & i wound up in front and made a crack about putting the fat lady in the front row. usually i'd have just suffered in silence. they gave me a baby to hold and hide behind! 19. What word or words would you use to describe yourself when you were MO or SMO? still am, professional but fat 20. Did you have any addiction pre-op? food 21. Do you discovered you have a new addiction post-op that you didn't expect? not yet. i've always shopped and eaten, don't expect that to change 22. Are you keeping your addiction a secret? kind of hard to hide fat and clothes! 23. Are you open about disclosing that you had or are having bariatic surgery to others? yes, too much so (3 clients sent me flowers in the hospital. it was sweet but I felt like an ass, obviously i blabbed too much!) 24. Are you open about disclosing that you had bariatric surgery when asked how you lost weight? oh yeah 25. What about being morbidly obese was the most difficult to deal with? feeling uncomfortable in my clothes (or out of them!) 26. Since surgery, have you experience saggy, flabby or wrinkly skin? If you haven't had surgery is this something you thought about? haven't lost enough yet 26. Does the body skin issue bothers you and what concerns you the most about it? I'm sure it will, may have to take out a loan for a tummy tuck 27. Did you have any co-morbs pre-op? sleep apnea, knew diabetes was probably looming, this was a preemptive strike 28. How many times or when do you weight yourself? every morning-i am a scale ***** 29. Have you had a few, many or never had stalls/plateaus post-op? lots of stalls, i seem to be one of the "lucky" who lose for 2 weeks, don't lose for 2 weeks. I'm learning how my body works but it sucks 30. When did you have your first plateau postop? 3 weeks 31. What was your heaviest weight? 295, the life insurance nurse weighed me in at that, i was sure her scale was wrong 32. What was your BMI when you had surgery? 47 ish 33. When did you have or having surgery? 6/26/2007 34. What type of surgery did you or are having? open or lap - open RNY 1st time 35. How many hours did your surgery take to perform? about 1 1/2 hours (took out gallbladder and cut vagus nerve too) 36. How long was your postop recovery? i stayed in hospital 5 more days. normal for my doc is 4, i spiked a fever on day 4 had to stay one more day. 37. What was the most difficult moment of your postop recovery from 1-12 months? If pre-op what do you fear about post-op recovery? so far fairly smooth 38. What did you dislike to eat or drink pre-op that you enjoy now? nothing yet, i am a chicken, have never tasted cottage cheese 39. What did you like to eat or drink pre-op that you can't now? love fruity frozen drinks. would kill for a sweet pear margarita. i'll live though 40. Have your taste buds changed since having surgery? don't know 41. Have you become intolerant to any type of food? don't know 42. What is your prefer vegetable and prepared how? green beans 43. Do you eat pizza and what is your favorite topping/s? haven't tried real pizza, we make the crustless one a lot. sausage 44. Do you eat bread and what type you prefer?haven't tried bread 45. What is your favorite topping on bread? used to be peanut butter and honey (did i mention i'm fat?) lol 46. What is your favorite sandwich? haven't tried bread for awhile but love the grilled veggie and chicken on crustry bread 47. What is your favorite soup or stew? love italian wedding soup, haven't tried it post op love campbells vegetable beef 48. Are you able to or have issues eating pasta or rice? have only tried a tiny bit of barilla spaghetti, no problems 49. What is your preferred dessert to eat post-op? sf fudgesicle or bomb pop! 50. Do you have any type of sweets since being postop and what is your favorite to have? haven't gone there yet 51. Do you drink milk and what type? doing lactaid fat free. did some calorie countdown chocolate, yummy 8g protein! 52. What is your favorite fast food place? Wendy's for the chili (they should run a wls special, we keep that place going!) 53. What is your prefer food on the go? pure protein bar, jerky 54. What is your favorite fast food place? Wendy's 55. What is you favorite restaurant and what is your prefer dish there (appetizer, entree and dessert)? Red Lobster: crab legs, baked potato, caesar salad (no more of their yummy cheese bread though!) 56. What is your favorite protein supplement, drink or powder mix? currently the IDS cinnamon vanilla in my coffee 57. What is your favorite high protein food? any fish 58. What is your favorite food or snack to have? i'm currently hooked on Nature Valley Roasted Nut bars, a little high in fat but I've been using it on meat laden days when I have room, tastes like peanut brittle but it has to be a meal substitute, 180 cal for the peanut, 200 cal for the almond - YUM! 59. What food or drink do you dislike now that you didn't pre-op? none 60. What is your favorite non-alcohol drink to have or drink daily? wyler's lemonade (pink and regular), and coffee 61. Do you drink liqour and What is your preferred choice? haven't tried it post op 62. Are you a social, occasional, weekend only or no alcohol drinker? very occasional preop 63. What is your favorite salad? Outback has a chopped bleu cheese salad to die for! haven't tried it post op 64. what is your favorite salad dressing? bleu cheese (again, i'm fat). Ranch and caesar are good too 65. Do you eat and how do you like your potatoes? baked potato maybe once a month. one potato is good for 4 meals but usually gets thrown after 2 66. Which meat do you prefer chicken, beef or pork? yes 67. What is your favorite way prepared? broiled or grilled 68. Do you have difficulties eating any meat? so far so good 69. What favorite meal or entree do you like having regularly? i love broiled fish/shrimp and shrimp ****tail 70. For what reason or why did you finally decide having your specific surgery of choice? after hubby had his last year and i gave it one more year on my own. lost 15 lbs last summer gained it all back plus during winter/tax season. I knew I was looking at diabetes and god knows what else and he feels great, has tons of energy, and it is so easy for him to get dressed in the morning now that he is fit. so, i went for it