It's all so clear, now...

Having this surgery was like having my kids...you really don't know what you're in for until you're on the other side and neck-deep in a new life! I just walk around and say 'WOW' alot. What a roller-coaster! Ten times easier in retrospect than I thought it would be, and I have soooo much more energy. It is so cool (no pun intended) to be able to withstand these deep-South summers minus all the extra weight I was lugging around. Just to be able to move, and feel lighter...I still do NOT have much of a handle on my self-image. I'm still in jeans and tshirts, alot, under the guise that 'I'm a laid-back kind of jeans and tshirt' person. I have yet to mentally and emotionally catch up to my new size, and that affects me in a number of ways. I will be going along through my day, not thinking about me, and suddenly realize that I just slipped through a small door opening, or sat in a narrow space, or pulled the seatbelt across my lap without having to extend it out. I shop for clothes and am mildly surprised at the way I react to the actual largeness of the 3x tshirts, 44DD bras, size 10 Granny Panties. I am not afraid, anymore. My slate is clean, my lab numbers are boringly normal, and I've got lots and lots of years and time and energy to live the life I've been waiting to live. I'd do it again today.

Dear Carla I am So VERY proud of you and the success that you have had !! Again CONGRADULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I want you to know I do believe that our July of 2003 was the year of Success !! the reason I say this is because every single person I have talk to that had their surgery in July of 03 some had problems and some did not.. But are all happy that they had this surgery and each and everyone say that they would do it again even the ones that had problems !! And looking at the sucess rate of the totals of weight loss for our month and year I would shout YES !!!!!!!!!!!! hugs Audrey

WOW!! You sound like me!!! I had surgery 7/22/03, 267#, size 4X clothes, and size 15 Granny Panties!!!! Today I am 135#, size 8-10, and size 6 Panties .... I truly believe that those of us who had surgery in July 2003 were BLESSED by a higher being. Perhaps it was our Obesity Help Angel Almost verbatim, I can recite what you have said. My lab numbers are great, I have phenomenal energy, and I feel FABULOUS!!! Congratulations to the WLS Class of July 2003!!! Rebecca 7/22/03 267/135/GOAL