General Feelings

1. Overall, are you happy you had the surgery? ABSOLUTELY! This surgery was the best decision of my entire life and it was just for ME! 2 What has been the best outcome of this surgery? I've lost 130 pounds in a years time - being able to move around without pain and not have to sit down after moving around for 3 minutes (it's really tough to choose 1 best outcome ) 3 What has been the worst outcome of this surgery? Ulcers and looping intestines due to scar tissue (September 2006 sucked!) 4 Has the surgery improved your body image? At times yes and also no - I look in the mirror and see that I've lost weight - I don't see how much weight and I still feel as tho I look "fat" - other times I am so confident in the way I look and feel - it's very strange the way this plays with your head! 5 Has the surgery improved your health? Honestly - I wasn't in poor health before the surgery. I wasn't on any medications for anything - I was in pain and couldn't do much at 300 pounds - When I spoke with the anesthesiologist before he put me to sleep on Friday he said that I have the heart rate of an athlete now. So my answer would have to be...DEFINATELY! 6 Do you think you are ready for the next year, when the surgery is less important than your willpower? I THINK so...I have changed my entire mindset and lifestyle. I'm hoping that I can carry on with the way things are going...I will NEVER EVER EVER be the way I was again. 7 What is your biggest fear in the next year? I need/want to lose another 25 pounds - that scares me because things are going so slowly now. I wouldn't be completely disappointed if I didn't get there but I have a goal that I would really like to meet. 8 What is your biggest hope for the next year? To continue to exercise and not lose interest and determination! 9 Are you considering plastic surgery for anything? Am I? Oh yeah! I would love to have my "bat wings" taken care of - I would like a tummy tuck and to have the excess skin on my thighs just cut off but my surgeon won't even allow me to see a plastic surgeon until I am at least 18 months out and if the insurance won't cover the plastics or if I don't hit lotto - I don't see them happening...but I am definately considering! 10 What is the most surprising thing, good or bad, that you've gotten out of this surgery? Most surprising - my self confidence (good); resentment of my friends (bad) This was a great idea Michael...thank you so much!!! hugssssss....Linda

1> Overall, are you happy you had the surgery? Yes I am happy with the surgery. 2> What has been the best outcome of this surgery? Feeling and looking good. 3> What has been the worst outcome of this surgery? My extra skin. 4> Has the surgery improved your body image? Yes it has 5> Has the surgery improved your health? Yes it has 6> Do you think you are ready for the next year, when the surgery is less important than your willpower? No, I am very scared I will fail 7> What is your biggest fear in the next year? Gaining weight and not eating right 8> What is your biggest hope for the next year? Getting to my goal. 9> Are you considering plastic surgery for anything? Yes for a tummy tuck 10> What is the most surprising thing, good or bad, that you've gotten out of this surgery? I think to see my self as a normal looking person. Having to think that not everyone is looking at me thinking I am fat. Having people tell me I look better than my sister..(who is beautiful). being able to feel my bones... (yes i have them)

1> Overall, are you happy you had the surgery? Yes, Yes Yes! 2> What has been the best outcome of this surgery? I have the ability to physically do my day. I can walk, I can drive my car, I can do my job, I can do the hokey pokey with my students! 3> What has been the worst outcome of this surgery? I can't think of anything at all to describe as worst--maybe just that I have regret for my 30s and 40s when I was raising my kids and not able to really do much. 4> Has the surgery improved your body image? It's better. I still don't know where I fit in the continuum of bodies. I look at my family reunion picture and find that I am among the smallest instead of the largest. This is new and weird. 5> Has the surgery improved your health? Blood pressure down, mobility up. It's all good. 6> Do you think you are ready for the next year, when the surgery is less important than your willpower? I think my surgery is still connected to my willpower. By my will I walked into the drs. office and asked for help. By my will I did what he said to do, by my will I will keep doing that. 7> What is your biggest fear in the next year? That is spite of my new good eating habits, I will quit losing before I want to. 8> What is your biggest hope for the next year? To come to live in onederland--for the first time in my adult life. 9> Are you considering plastic surgery for anything? Not now. Old and wrinkled is better than old and fat for me. 10> What is the most surprising thing, good or bad, that you've gotten out of this surgery? There was a little person in me all the time. I have small shoulders, little wrists, short arms. I am small. Who knew? Thanks Michael for the time to reflect. I am above all...grateful. jeannie

1> Overall, are you happy you had the surgery? Yes, TOTALLY satisfied with the surgery. Would do it again a thousand times over. 2> What has been the best outcome of this surgery? The ability to be so successful with weight loss, issues dealing with food and the ability to get back to an active lifestyle: Running!! 3> What has been the worst outcome of this surgery? The saggy skin: Totally unprepared for it. I went from thinking of surgery to one month latter having surgery and not really knowing all about it first. YIKES< what a risk huh? 4> Has the surgery improved your body image? Actually, NO, I am really struggling with this as I continue to see myself as I was over 115 pounds ago. I think I need counseling for this issue. 5> Has the surgery improved your health? ABSOLUTELY< Although I was not in bad health, the pain from arthritus was bad and I was trying to avoid bad health in the future. AS it is, I have discovered a number of annoying issues since the surgery that require more medical attention since rapid weight loss. 6> Do you think you are ready for the next year, when the surgery is less important than your willpower? YES, I have a good handle on the whole NO SUGAR thing and Fried foods cause me terrible trouble. With not being able to tolerate those two things, I am good. 7> What is your biggest fear in the next year? The sagging skin will depress me so much that it will get in my way. 8> What is your biggest hope for the next year? Plastic surgery to begin reconstruction of this body I have helped ruin over the past 20 years!! 9> Are you considering plastic surgery for anything? Yes, January 8 for tummy and boob lift is scheduled with approval from my weight loss surgeon who said the extra two months wait until 18 months would not be such a big deal. I am excited and have been saving for this first round. IN Germany, They will not do a lower body lift so I will get a butt lift and thigh lift at my next surgery. I desparately need that one for sure. Then I will see where the body is and were the finances are. While I have enough for first round....second will have to wait until more money can be saved!! And if there is a round three? .... that would be inner thighs but I have heard such horror stories..I might do without that one. But what to do about sagging skin???? 10> What is the most surprising thing, good or bad, that you've gotten out of this surgery? Most surprising? I'd have to say dealing with people at a different level. People who I trusted with my personal life have broken my confidence with people I work with and now my business is OUT THERE!! I think that and the emotional ups and downs have been tough. SEEK Counseling, I say to myself!! So, thanks for this post, Michael, It has been most helpful to me. I always enjoy reading what you are up to and how everyone responds to you( I think we all have hugh respect for you and adore you!!) Best wishes from Germany, hugs, Jacqueline

1> Overall, are you happy you had the surgery? ~~I am thrilled about having had the surgery...best thing I ever did...besides marry my dh and have my babies! 2> What has been the best outcome of this surgery? ~~The losing the weight. I want to lose more, and have gotten off track..., but am committed to getting back on track! 3> What has been the worst outcome of this surgery? ~~ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!! 4> Has the surgery improved your body image? ~~Kind of...when my dh takes pictures of me, I can see the difference in my face, but when I'm looking in the mirror or see myself in clothes...I don't. I really see me sagging skin, though. 5> Has the surgery improved your health? ~~I think so, I'm off of bp meds...and don't think I'm at as great a risk for diabetes 6> Do you think you are ready for the next year, when the surgery is less important than your willpower? ~~I have to be...there is no turning back, and I refuse to gain the weight back. 7> What is your biggest fear in the next year? ~~Gaining weight 8> What is your biggest hope for the next year? ~~to have my plastic surgery and be (finally) in a size 14 9> Are you considering plastic surgery for anything? ~~Plastic surgery for me is a must...at least the total body lift...my trunk needs help so much, and I need some mass in my boobs...they are just flabby now! 10> What is the most surprising thing, good or bad, that you've gotten out of this surgery? ~~People telling me that I seem happier. I was always a happy person, but for some reason they see me as happier now! I am happy, and I am able to move around more and show people.

1. Overall yes I am happy about the surgery and I would do it again all over. 2. That my diabetes is gone forever!! 3. PUKING OF COURSE!!! 4. Yea I guess my face is smaller. 5. Yes Diabetes is gone no more shots or pills 6. I am there already struggling with WILLPOWER ISSUES 7. That I will gain back my weight and be a failure at this. 8. Hope that I will lose the last 30 lbs. 9. no really if I did it would be my boobs or arms. 10. How good I feel.

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? Depression is gone!! 3> What has been the worst outcome of this surgery? Can't think of a thing! 4> Has the surgery improved your body image? Most of the time...there are days I still see the old me. 5> Has the surgery improved your health? Absolutely! No more edema, congestive heart failure, blood pressure problems, joint pain. 6> Do you think you are ready for the next year, when the surgery is less important than your willpower? Im terrified,,,but will work this tool! 7> What is your biggest fear in the next year? That I wont lose any more weight,, 8> What is your biggest hope for the next year? That I will lose my last 30 pounds. 9> Are you considering plastic surgery for anything? Breast lift for sure! 10> What is the most surprising thing, good or bad, that you've gotten out of this surgery? Getting to know the person in the mirror. I wasnt prepared for the big change, I dont recognise myself and am not sure I like the way that person looks.... Thanks for the poll Michael!! We've missed you recently!!

1> Overall, are you happy you had the surgery? Yes I am VERY happy I had the surgery. Besides marrying my husband and having my child it is the best thing to ever happen to me. 2> What has been the best outcome of this surgery? Being HEALTHY in weight and BMI, being physically able to do anything that I want to do including playing with my daughter and being a fun Mom. Being able to find cute clothes easily when shopping and pull something off the rack and have it fit! 3> What has been the worst outcome of this surgery? The mental part of not being able to see myself for who I am now because of the fast change. 4> Has the surgery improved your body image? Yes and no. I never saw myself for who I was before, I never knew I was that big. Now I can't see myself for the small person other people tell me I am. I can usually see it in pictures, sometimes even in the mirror but I just don't FEEL it yet. I have major body image issues but I'm working on it. 5> Has the surgery improved your health? Yes very much. I can climb stairs without getting winded, I can carry my daughter long distances, I can chase after her, I can get up and down off the floor, I don't take any medications except vitamins, I can exercise without pain or shortness of breath. 6> Do you think you are ready for the next year, when the surgery is less important than your willpower? Yes I really do. I feel like I have my head in the right place and I think it has already been more about me and less about surgery since about 9 months. I will continue to do what I've been doing and I'll be fine. 7> What is your biggest fear in the next year? Taking a long time to get to my personal goal of 130 (8 more lbs) and by long time I mean 3 months or more, I'm not a patient person LOL. 8> What is your biggest hope for the next year? To reach my goal weight of 130 and then work on toning up everything so I can look like a really fit person. 9> Are you considering plastic surgery for anything? Yes I am getting breast implants in 16 days....Oct 13!! 10> What is the most surprising thing, good or bad, that you've gotten out of this surgery? The most surprising is probably my reaction to myself. The problem I have had getting used to the new me. But I do feel really great about myself and my success. I have had sooo many people tell me I should be the poster child for WLS. That always surprises me when I have "regular" people envious of how I look and/or asking me for diet and exercise advice but it makes me feel great!

Are you getting a lift also. I think all I need is the implant. I know the lift is alot more. I have lose skin om my breast that can fill up. What did your Dr suggest? Thanks barb