Hello from September 2005 board!
Hi all ... 
I'm Linda - I had my surgery on September 9, 2005...I walked into the hospital on the day of my surgery weighing 300 pounds - I now weigh 176 pounds. I have lost 124 pounds in a very short year. I am actually having trouble believing that a year has passed and what a year it's been! 
I thought I would give you all a small dose of encouragement - for those that have had surgery in the last 12 days - CONGRATULATIONS! 
and welcome to the losing side! - for those that are scheduled later in the month - don't be nervous - this surgery will change your life - COMPLETELY! I look back to 1 year ago and I am amazed at the change - I now work out at the gym 5 days a week and if I can't get to the gym I walk 3 - 5 miles at night after having worked all day long - my energy level is amazing. I have gone from a size 24/26 pants to size 12 - 2 & 3X shirts to medium & large .. I can shop in everyday stores! 
My knees and feet and back don't hurt anymore 
.. I don't get tired from grocery shopping .. I can carry the bags into my house without being out of breath..I can go downstairs to my basement to do laundry and RUN up the steps without even breathing heavy..I can touch my toes and tie my shoes and put my socks on (all things that weren't easy weighing 300 lbs) 
If there was one thing that I could tell you that I regret after having this surgery it would be not having it sooner.
Very important - you must be committed to this! This tool will allow you to lose weight even if you don't exercise...you won't lose as much as you may want to but you will lose for a while - your "tool" will work for you only as much as YOU allow it to...take full advantage of it. If you can't afford to join a gym then WALK - start small right away - I started walking around my block twice a day 4 days after surgery and I walked slowwwwwwwww...each week I would add a little bit until before I knew it I was walking a mile a day - then two - then three and so on...walking is a great thing...it gives you time to think, to reflect, to plan and to review or to just listen to music and be on your own - if you can find someone to walk with it makes time go even faster because you're chatting as you're walking! Exercise and eating healthy are the most important things you can remember with this surgery...they will turn your life around!
I wish you all the best and I sincerely hope you are kind to your tool and enjoy your life - be patient, everyone loses at different rates and as long as you KNOW that you're doing what your surgeon has told you...you'll do just fine! If there are ever any questions you might have feel free to email me - I will be happy to help in anyway I possibly can! 
GOOD LUCK!
Linda D.
300/176/160 (surgeon's goal)/145 (personal goal) 
I'm Linda - I had my surgery on September 9, 2005...I walked into the hospital on the day of my surgery weighing 300 pounds - I now weigh 176 pounds. I have lost 124 pounds in a very short year. I am actually having trouble believing that a year has passed and what a year it's been!
I thought I would give you all a small dose of encouragement - for those that have had surgery in the last 12 days - CONGRATULATIONS! and welcome to the losing side! - for those that are scheduled later in the month - don't be nervous - this surgery will change your life - COMPLETELY! I look back to 1 year ago and I am amazed at the change - I now work out at the gym 5 days a week and if I can't get to the gym I walk 3 - 5 miles at night after having worked all day long - my energy level is amazing. I have gone from a size 24/26 pants to size 12 - 2 & 3X shirts to medium & large .. I can shop in everyday stores! My knees and feet and back don't hurt anymore .. I don't get tired from grocery shopping .. I can carry the bags into my house without being out of breath..I can go downstairs to my basement to do laundry and RUN up the steps without even breathing heavy..I can touch my toes and tie my shoes and put my socks on (all things that weren't easy weighing 300 lbs)
If there was one thing that I could tell you that I regret after having this surgery it would be not having it sooner.
Very important - you must be committed to this! This tool will allow you to lose weight even if you don't exercise...you won't lose as much as you may want to but you will lose for a while - your "tool" will work for you only as much as YOU allow it to...take full advantage of it. If you can't afford to join a gym then WALK - start small right away - I started walking around my block twice a day 4 days after surgery and I walked slowwwwwwwww...each week I would add a little bit until before I knew it I was walking a mile a day - then two - then three and so on...walking is a great thing...it gives you time to think, to reflect, to plan and to review or to just listen to music and be on your own - if you can find someone to walk with it makes time go even faster because you're chatting as you're walking! Exercise and eating healthy are the most important things you can remember with this surgery...they will turn your life around!
I wish you all the best and I sincerely hope you are kind to your tool and enjoy your life - be patient, everyone loses at different rates and as long as you KNOW that you're doing what your surgeon has told you...you'll do just fine! If there are ever any questions you might have feel free to email me - I will be happy to help in anyway I possibly can!
GOOD LUCK!
Linda D.
300/176/160 (surgeon's goal)/145 (personal goal) 
That is AWESOME! Thanks for the encouragement!!!!!!! It is really greeat to hear the stories and experiences from a year out perspective! I am so glad about this decision and see even the small things are changing already, every day! I take it one day at a time, but am still excited about a year from now!
Congrats on your success and best wishes for much continued success!!!!!
Hey Linda ~~ Thank you so much for the encouragement!!!! I'm so happy for you and you really give me motivation to keep going. This period right before surgery must be the worst (except for the pain after surgery). Anticipation...... I have one more week and a day to go and I will begin my new life as you did.
Congrats on your great loss!!!!!
Linda,
Thank you for such encouraging words... I'm not quite a week post op and really healing amazingling quick, although the ab muscles are VERY loose... but that will get better I'm sure very soon. Down 7lbs already and the rings are so loose I'm almost ready to take them off for fear of losing them. I can't wait to see a year from now... I wish there was a fast forward button, LOL.
Congrats on your loss and the wonderful health you have now, I am SOOOO jealous!!!
Renee
Linda thank you so much for taking the time to post on our board. I love to hear success stories. I can't wait until the day my back, legs, kness, and feet don't hurt anymore. I used to love to shop, but now I can't be on my feet for long. It seems like I can't do much without a struggle lately. I just want that to go away so bad. But, I am having surgery on Sept. 20th!!!! I can't wait. I am ready to live free again.
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