Anniversary Question- 2nd Thoughts

Hello everyone, the month of festivities is almost coming to and end. We all have been having a great time. And we will continue to do so. I have a question to ask. Was there ever a moment since the surgery that you had second thoughts about the it? Did you have any regrets? Maybe many of you never had any. That is great. I had one in the first 6 months of the surgery. I remember going to a wedding reception. I just started eating soft foods. On the way home I felt so down. I saw people eating and drinking. All I could do is take out my water bottle and my sugar free jello. Many friends and relatives that did not know I had the surgary kept on trying to serve me food and drinks. I kept on telling them I was on a diet. They all got a big kick out of it and kept on putting food and drinks on my table. They kept on saying I was on a see-food diet. I felt a strong urge to call my doctor and ask him to reverse the surgery. Or I would close my eyes and say it is just a dream. I would yell at myself and say wake up. That is over now. I have never regreted it again. Now I am more skinny than many of them. I will never regret ever again. Thank you for reading. I know I wil read yours. God bless you and take care.

Dear Louis: First of all, let me say THANK YOU for sending those before and after photos of yourself. What an amazing change! You do not even look like the same person at all. I can see how you just glow with your children at your side....and they are so lovely. I know your heart is so full of love for them. You look handsome and healthy....and I hope you'll always feel that way. Yes, I did have some regrets in the first 6 months after surgery. I couldn't eat Chinese food, keep chicken down, and I was losing my hair---a lot of it at the time. But, I never thought of reversing the procedure. I just wondered if I had "butchered" myself for no good reason. Now, I have no regrets at all. I never question myself. I am thrilled with the way my results have turned out and how energetic I feel in my own skin. I feel healthier, and I know that I am. My blood pressure is down, my diabeties is under control (and gone!) I still have to take a handful of pills all day long, but they are vitamins, and I don't mind that. On a scale from 1 to 10, I feel like an 11! ~Laura P.S. Thanks again for the pics, Louis. It was worth the wait to see your smiling face!!!

Laura, we had just a one time regret in the first 6 months. Can you eat chinese food now? Chicken has always been my favorite meat. You don't just feel like an 11, you look like an 11. The pictures you have on your profile are amazing. You look great. Thank you for the compliments. Take care.

Thank you, Louis. You are always so generous with the compliments! I can eat Chinese again, in moderation. However, I really don't eat out as much as I used to. I have ventured out to different Asian restaurants that I didn't usually try before. I already loved Japanese, but now I am eating more Korean and Thai food. I have developed a taste for sushi over the last year also. So, as my body has changed, so have my tastes for good foods. I think it's all the fat and corn starch in the Chinese take-out food that makes me sick. I can eat it if it is prepared fresh and to order. My best experiences with Chinese (post-op) have been in Atlanta's Chinatown area. The food is wonderful in the market areas. If I had to pick one thing as my favorite restaurant-type meal, it would be a very nice cut of beef...probably a filet. I can skip on the salad and potato. I usually nibble at those. But, I love the bread and the meat----oh, and a good glass of merlot! ~Laura

Laura, I know this is not the cooking show, but I have 2 questions. How do you pick up a good sushi? I never had sushi in my life. My second one is what is merlot? I apologize if I don't know many things. Thanks for the response and take care.

Oh, sushi is wonderful. It is not (as some people think) "raw fish." Sushi is rather a style of rolling a special type of sticky rice in with vegetables, meats and spices....all rolled together into a long roll (usually inside of a seaweed wrap) and then sliced across into bite-sized pieces. The presentation is that you can see everything inside of each bite you take. I like my sushi with cooked shrimp or fish or just vegetarian. I can't eat too much of it, though, because of the rice. It fills me up fast! Merlot is like a dry version of a Cabernet Sauvignon (red wine.) I like merlot because it is not as sweet and it seems to be a little thicker. One glass usually satisfies me. There are so many varieties on the market; it is easy to want to try them all. I usually keep some at my house, but I rarely drink at home. When I go out to eat steak, that's when I usually order a glass. That's the cooking show for now! Good luck trying some of these things. You're not too far away from Chinatown in LA, right? Why not ask a friend you know (who might be of Asian descent) to take you out for a "real" Oriental meal....and teach you some of the ins-and-outs of REAL Oriental food! You'd be surprised at all the variety that is available! Some of it is fantastic!!! Most of it is very healthy too. Remember, sushi is Japanese, not Chinese. But, you can sometimes find it at a Chinese restaurant. ~Laura

Nope, not one regret. Not even when i woke up on a vent. I knew going into this that if i didn't do it i'd die. What i got out of wls is just amazing. Hmmmmm Laura got to see Your pics but not me? Not my feelings are hurt. Linda

Linda, it is payback time for not posting your new pictures. Just kidding. The part I am not kidding is where are your pictures? I am glad you had no regrets. It was just a one time situation. I probably would of had a big regret if I would not have done it. I had just lost my job of 15 years and I was becoming morbid obese. I probably be about 500 LBS. Did Laura tell you about the pictures? I e-mailed you the pictures also. Where are your pictures? Take care and have a nice day.

I also have to say...no regrets here! I'm thrilled with my weight loss and even more thrilled that 10 years after my hubby and I started trying to have children...our daughter was born! As a pre op I was convinced that I'd never be a mom...now...due to my weight loss (even the doc says so) I am finally a mom. I'm working now on getting back to my pre prego weight...so...my goal is 15 lbs to loose by 11/6 (when I go back to work). Thanks for asking these questions! Kristy Mom to Alice Kay born 7/31/06

Oh, congratulations to your family over the birth of your beautiful baby daughter! She is a sweet little bundle of love, I just know it. You look so great, and I appreciate your terrific post and all the awesome photos. You've made a fantastic transition into your thinner self.... ....I agree about the pregnancy. If I had lost weight BEFORE, there would have been a greater chance of me getting pregnant and staying that way. But, we adopted two fantastic kids, and frankly I wouldn't change a thing. You go, girl! ~Laura