General Feelings

Okay folks, its been a year of ups and downs for most of us. So how are we feeling? Are we sorry we had this surgery? Here's a short poll I'd like for you guys to seriously consider. See if anything about your friends and companions on this journey surprises you. 1> Overall, are you happy you had the surgery? 2> What has been the best outcome of this surgery? 3> What has been the worst outcome of this surgery? 4> Has the surgery improved your body image? 5> Has the surgery improved your health? 6> Do you think you are ready for the next year, when the surgery is less important than your willpower? 7> What is your biggest fear in the next year? 8> What is your biggest hope for the next year? 9> Are you considering plastic surgery for anything? 10> What is the most surprising thing, good or bad, that you've gotten out of this surgery?

I'll go first. 1> Overall, are you happy you had the surgery? I'm very happy I had the surgery and would do it again in the same situation. It was the right decision at the right time. 2> What has been the best outcome of this surgery? By far, the best outcome is the improvement in my health and my physical abilities to do more than ever before. I adore my canoe and my ability to go out and DO instead of sit around and dream. 3> What has been the worst outcome of this surgery? Strained many friendships and altered others perceptions of me. I'm still the same guy, just less of me. 4> Has the surgery improved your body image? Not really. I don't recognize the fellow in the mirror. That is unsettling. 5> Has the surgery improved your health? Without a doubt. 6> Do you think you are ready for the next year, when the surgery is less important than your willpower? No. I'm terrified of gaining the weight back. But I'm more ready to keep the weight off than of losing it. 7> What is your biggest fear in the next year? That I'll gain back 50+ pounds. 8> What is your biggest hope for the next year? That I'll finish canoeing the Flint River and get to start flying lessons. And go back to school and finish my engineering degree. 9> Are you considering plastic surgery for anything? I wasn't, but as my panni continues to sag, I'm starting to get some serious back issues. I'll probably have to have the panni removed to stay healthy and active. Luckily my legs and arms are improving. 10> What is the most surprising thing, good or bad, that you've gotten out of this surgery? I'd have to say how much I don't recognize myself, or my feelings anymore. I'm reacting in a weird ways to common stimuli. Oh... and the sex is great. When I get it.

Hi Everyone, What a neat survey. This is very interesting and I'm so glad we're doing well. 1> Overall, are you happy you had the surgery? Yes, totally happy! 2> What has been the best outcome of this surgery? Losing all the weight. Sure, it's small potatoes compared to others, but I've gave that view point up now and am just working on being me. I love the new me. 3> What has been the worst outcome of this surgery? Saggy skin and realizing I am not perfect and do in fact have an obsession with food. 4> Has the surgery improved your body image? Yep. I look in the mirror now, which is cool. Not for long, but just to make sure it's really happening. I almost look like a "normal" person now. lol 5> Has the surgery improved your health? yes, b.p., knees, back, apnea, lots 6> Do you think you are ready for the next year, when the surgery is less important than your willpower? Oh yea, I'm ready but scared. 7> What is your biggest fear in the next year? Not reaching goal or not losing anymore from here. 8> What is your biggest hope for the next year? That I reach goal (140) by my 40th b.d. in June and can run a 5k. 9> Are you considering plastic surgery for anything? No insurance, so that's out of the question. 10> What is the most surprising thing, good or bad, that you've gotten out of this surgery? how MUCH everyone thinks I've changed. I see it, but others see it more! It's pretty thrilling really. Went to my aunts last weekend which I haven't seen since May 2005. They all about fell over and bragged all over me. Fun stuff. My cousin said she was jealous, gee, of me? lol Life is good.

1 Overall, are you happy you had the surgery? YES! I couldn't be happier with the outcome from having this surgery. 2 What has been the best outcome of this surgery? Losing 129 pounds and looking thin again! 3 What has been the worst outcome of this surgery? Getting an ulcer this past summer. 4 Has the surgery improved your body image? Absolutely...My body shape is different now than it was before when I was a thinner person and this makes me happy. I'll be 43 on Monday. 5 Has the surgery improved your health? YES! No cholesterol, GERD medicine anymore. 6 Do you think you are ready for the next year, when the surgery is less important than your willpower? Yes, and no....I'm still in the surgery mindset, so, if I can keep this mindset, maybe I won't have issues with regain. I hope not! Food isn't as important as it was before to me. 7 What is your biggest fear in the next year? Not being able to lose my last 25 (personal goal) lbs. I've met my surgeon's goal in August. 8 What is your biggest hope for the next year? To still get in better shape physically and keep it up. 9 Are you considering plastic surgery for anything? Not at the present time...no money, plus, I was blessed with pretty good skin...If anything, my bat arms need to be done. I'm going to start really working out on them to see if they'll go back at all. My panni is ok. But, another 25 lbs may show that I may need a tummy tuck. My boobs are small and tiny, but droopy now...but, nothing a push up bra can't help! 10 What is the most surprising thing, good or bad, that you've gotten out of this surgery? Friends...support...self confidence...my life back Paula

I guess I'll go next.... 1> Overall, are you happy you had the surgery? Yes, very happy ! 2> What has been the best outcome of this surgery? I feel so much better than I did a year ago.... 3> What has been the worst outcome of this surgery? I have a hernia that is bothersome... 4> Has the surgery improved your body image? A little I can fit into smaller clothes now. 5> Has the surgery improved your health? yes, I was on BP meds, not any more I also needed oxygen at night. No more snoring.... I can walk without huffing and puffing and can keep up with the rest of the family. 6> Do you think you are ready for the next year, when the surgery is less important than your willpower? I am hoping that I am ready to keep up with my "tool" and not abuse it. 7> What is your biggest fear in the next year? Giving in to my "cravings" and gaining it all back. 8> What is your biggest hope for the next year? To get into "Onderland" 9> Are you considering plastic surgery for anything? Hopefully I can get my hernia fixed and a little extra taken off... 10> What is the most surprising thing, good or bad, that you've gotten out of this surgery? I'm still being amazed at all the things I can do.... Sandy

1> Overall, are you happy you had the surgery? Overall, yes very pleased with the decision to go through this surgary. Wish I had done it sooner. 2> What has been the best outcome of this surgery? I think it would be getting healthy and getting off alot of my pre-op meds. That until my Iron dropped I had an amazing amount of energy,Thats comming back. 3> What has been the worst outcome of this surgery? Honestly..It has to be the mental game I thought I was prepared for. I don't know who I am,I don't realy see who everyone else sees,I pick up cloths thinking they will be too small and try them on to see how long it will be only to find they are already too big. 4> Has the surgery improved your body image? Yes and No..I look at parts of me and think wow thats looking good(hands,feet,neck ,little things) Then I notice the hanging saging warped skin that used to be filled with pounds of fat and often feel worse then I did looking at myself pre op. 5> Has the surgery improved your health? Yes..I'm no longer concidered diabetic by my surgen or insurance, I'm off inslin and pills for that and off meds for high blood pressure, haven't used meds for asthma since November of lat year. I can walk,excersize,play and do many things I couldn't pre op wich comes from being helthier 6> Do you think you are ready for the next year, when the surgery is less important than your willpower? No not realy...I'm still only eating between 700-900 calories most days,I still see the person I was a year ago , and I feel like nothing is changeing even though I know it has. 7> What is your biggest fear in the next year? That this will work...no realy. I already feel I have no comfort zone and this and the skin will only get worse as I still continue to lose the next 100 or so lbs. 8> What is your biggest hope for the next year? That this will work...lol I want to lose the next 100 lbs,I want to get the plastic surgery to get the excess skin removed so I can do more ohysical activities, and most of all I want to have a child with my husband now that I know it is finally possible. 9> Are you considering plastic surgery for anything? YES!! I want this Panni GONE!! I also want to have the breast lift, and the inner thighs done, yes I have batwing skin but if I was told no surgery for that at this point I could handle it, that may change in 100 lbs though. 10> What is the most surprising thing, good or bad, that you've gotten out of this surgery? One of the good things is being able to walk in most any store and find something that will fit ,being able to run and play with the kids again, being able to walk till it hurst and know i'm building muscle and not hurting myself,and being able to do it again the next day...lol One of the worste is thinking I was prepared for the hanging skin and thinking that once I lost this weight I would feel better emotionally and I'm having a hard time feeling better about the attention I'm now getting when I venture out into the world.

1> Overall, are you happy you had the surgery? YES yes yes! Couldn't be happier! 2> What has been the best outcome of this surgery? Being off both of my blood pressure medicines! Being able to work out and run around. (I couldn't pick just one) 3> What has been the worst outcome of this surgery? It has put some distance between myself and a few of my firends/family members 4> Has the surgery improved your body image? Yes and no. I feel great but I still don't see myself as I really am, except when looking at pictures. 5> Has the surgery improved your health? Most definately! I haven't had heartburn a single time since my surgery and I used to eat a bottle of tums every week and my blood pressure is normal. 6> Do you think you are ready for the next year, when the surgery is less important than your willpower? I am praying I am. I feel like I have good habits in place so as long as I don't introduce any bad habits into my routine I should be good. 7> What is your biggest fear in the next year? Gaining weight (I'm scared to gain any weight at all, even though I know there can be a little bounce back weight) 8> What is your biggest hope for the next year? Losing 10 more pounds (and getting engaged) 9> Are you considering plastic surgery for anything? Maybe just a breast lift or something along those lines...not til after I have babies though 10> What is the most surprising thing, good or bad, that you've gotten out of this surgery? Faith. Having this surgery helped renew my faith in God. I believe this was a gift from Him. I definately appreciate Him and life in general soo much more now.

1> Overall, are you happy you had the surgery? ****OH, YES! the most wonderful thing I've ever done for myself. 2> What has been the best outcome of this surgery? *****freedom of movement, loss of hip and knee pain (mostly) 3> What has been the worst outcome of this surgery? *****some frustration with my overweight DH who doesn't want to do anything physical (except you-know-what). 4> Has the surgery improved your body image? ***yes, although I too have trouble recognizing that old woman with the wrinkled face in the mirror! 5> Has the surgery improved your health? ***I've always been very healthy, even at 282 lbs 6> Do you think you are ready for the next year, when the surgery is less important than your willpower? ****mostly. there are bad days when I graze all the time and I have to keep putting my self back on track. But I am hooked on exercise, so that helps. 7> What is your biggest fear in the next year? ***regain 8> What is your biggest hope for the next year? ****maintain 9> Are you considering plastic surgery for anything? *** boobs and batwings 10> What is the most surprising thing, good or bad, that you've gotten out of this surgery? ****that I was in there all the time.

1> Overall, are you happy you had the surgery? ABSOLUTELY! Best thing I ever did for myself. 2> What has been the best outcome of this surgery? My incredibly boosted self-confidence. 3> What has been the worst outcome of this surgery? My boobs didn't get smaller!!! Went from a 48DDD to a 38DDD. 4> Has the surgery improved your body image? Yes, it's amazing to see a face with actual bone structure and clavicles and shoulder bones . . . 5> Has the surgery improved your health? Yes, much more energy, lower cholesterol. 6> Do you think you are ready for the next year, when the surgery is less important than your willpower? No. I will never allow myself to become what I was. 7> What is your biggest fear in the next year? That the insurance won't approve my breast reduction. I can't stand the horrible back pain, it has limited my life. 8> What is your biggest hope for the next year? To have a normal BMI (which I will have if I lose another 10.5 lbs!) 9> Are you considering plastic surgery for anything? Yes, again for the breast reduction. I look like a freak. HUGE breasts, much tinier body. Why oh why do women get huge implants and make themselves look like this on PURPOSE??? 10> What is the most surprising thing, good or bad, that you've gotten out of this surgery? GOOD - The amazing reaction I get from people. I used to hear all the time I had a "pretty face", but now I get hit on left and right. Crazy! BAD - Surprisingly, I sleep pretty crappy now where I used to sleep like a log. It's a combination of too much energy and being unable to shut my head off. Before I was so heavy that I was naturally (or unnaturally, however you look at it) exhausted by the end of the day.

oops! So sorry, didn't mean to butt in front everyone! Was just trying to reply to Michael's list of questions and it happened.