Lets Get to KNow each other.....

Hi everyone.I am sorry I havent been around much lately but life has kept me busy... I know I posted this a few months ago and It was great because we all got to tell a little about ourselves. Sometimes its hard to place faces with long profiles. Just a little about yourself that you would like to share. I will start..... Hello , my name is LisaMarie. I just celebrated my 35th birthday this past July. I am the mother of 4 beautiful children ages 14, 11, 4 and 3. I am married for 12 years next week to the man I have been with since I was 15!!! I am a registered nurse and just recently returned to work 2 months ago. I had my weight loss surgery last Halloween and have lost 85 pounds. I had my surgery here in NY at St Vincents Hospital. I have to say it was the best thing I ever did for myself and my family. I am now wearing a size 4 jeans, I am 127 pounds at 4'11". I have so much energy and feel so good. I have also made many friends on this board, some of which I have been able to meet up with and hang out with. I hope to meet many more. I havent posted a whole lot lately just really busy with life but I will be around much more when the weather starts to get cold....... It is just an amazing journey. This surgery has changed my life! I have many pictures in my profile for anyone who is interested...... Ok now who is next???? LisaMarie

I'm next!! I'm Celia Luna, and I have been having a very very hard time losing the last 20lbs because I refuse to get back on track exercise, drink water and eat well...but today I decided I would get back on track so I hope I really do. I have 4 children, 13 year old boy a 9 year old boy and 7 year old twin girls. I work for AT&T the phone company as a customer service hispanic rep. This surgery is the best thing that has happened to me I have lost 70lbs and am so grateful. I love this board & have met amny of the people on the California board. You can see my pics on my website sitekreator.com/gordis Celia

I'll be next Lisa Marie Hi Lisa Marie, I m 43 and had my surgery Oct 17, 2005 am 5'4" and have lost about 125#'s and wear a 12 - 14 size. My hubby (of almost 20years) and I have been blessed with 2 kids. Our 18 year old daughter who we take to college for her freshman year tomrrow and our 16 yr old son who is awesomme but couldn't be more different than our daughter. I am also a registered nurse. I had my surgery for most of the same reason that you all did but my true motivation was that 5 years ago I was diagnosised with Multiple Sclerosis. At which time I was put on steroids often and high doses but I also had a huge dose of "what does it matter anyway" and gluttened out big time. I figured at the very least the weight loss will make it eaiser to get arund and it has done that wonderfully. Unfortunatey my disease still runs at will but everyday I can get up and move my arms and legs the rest is all bonus. I have to admitt that, with the exception of the last 2 weeks, I have found the diet almost easy to follow but the exercise part I simply physically can't do. I find these boards my mainstay in terms of support and am grateful for everyones input. thanks - Ann

I'm next Hi my name is Jane. I am a stay at home mom of twin daughters who are 8 years old. I have been married for 9 years but I have been with my husband since I was 18. I am 46 years old and I have been obese my entire life. Never ever have I been normal. I had my surgery Oct 17th. It was the best thing I have ever done. My highest weight was 311. I am done to 160-164. I have lost roughly 148lbs. I have stayed the same for almost 8 weeks. I think I'm done losingand that is ok. My life has changed so much I do nothing it seems the same. I have so much energy. I work out but I love to jog. Working on running a 5K by Thanksgiving Morning. I can run a mile and a half. 10 mths ago I used an electric chair at times to grochery shop. I have gone from a size 28 to a size 12. I went from a 48DD to a 36C. I went from size 14 underwear to a size 6. Feel free to look at my pictures on my journey page. Thanks Lisa this was fun. NOT ONE REGRET. STILL WAITING TO WAKE UP AND THIS ALL BE A DREAM SO SCARED THAT FAT PERSON WILL COME BACK. JANE

Hi, I'm Heather (and I'm very quiet on the board here .. due mainly to 2 small wonderful *oh but what a handful children*), I had my surgery on the 6th of October. In a lot of ways it's hard to believe that it's only been 10 *almost 11* months since surgery. The pain and the chore of getting liquids in post-op are memories that I have to dig deep to find. I've struggled with the weight loss emotionally. Everyone in my life has told me to stop losing *the comments started 4 months post-op.. I don't think I had broken 190 or size 16*. At this point, I'm still technically overweight and haven't even lost 100 pounds since surgery. But, I try to think of the comments as a blesssing. People care enough to say that I need to eat and they are honest in their opinions. A lot of co-workers didn't believe I really needed the surgery pre-op and I told them I carry my weight evenly and that hides SOME of the excess weight. But, come on .. I was big and my life was suffering because of the exhaustion, hypertension, pcos, and infertility. If this surgery did nothing other than get me off two of my three blood pressure medications I would have been happy. As it is, I'm off the medications, I'm wearing a size 8 (GAH! They're getting lose), I was promoted to a new job (I really have to attribute some of this to the weight loss), and I'm more confident with who I am. But, in the end emotionally... Being called Olive Oil is just as bad as being called Big Drawers. Gah.. I'm not trying to offend anyone. This is the one part of surgery that seems to be "irritating me at this point of my journey". I'm looking forward to plastic surgery, possibly baby #3 eventually(before plastics but not until 18months post-op), remembering to always eat PROTEIN every two hours, and the ability to laugh off other people's comments. I do try to read often and think of you all when I hit a goal or setback. HUGS and Congrats to everyone! We've made it this far!!! My stats highest weight/pre-op consult/surgery morning/today/goal 277/263/257/163/150

Hi LisaMarie, I guess I'll be next. My name is Kellie Rubesne and I had RNY gastric bypass on Tuesday, October 25, 2005. I've been overweight since I was a child and it only got worse as I got older. I took no responsibility for my weight problems, but just acted as if it didn't matter. So much so that my highest weight as 409 pounds. Ouch. As I got older (I'm 38 now, soon to be 39), I realized that it DID matter and if I wanted to actually LIVE my life, I needed to take action. After several years of trying to lose weight on my own, I decided weight loss surgery was for me. I live with two great women - we've been fast friends for over 12 years now and I couldn't imagine my life without them. I have two cats - Zandar, age 9, and Delilah, age 20. I lost another cat, Phoebe, very unexpectedly in May and my heart is still very tender over her loss. I have a great, understanding, loving family (Mom, Dad, 2 sisters, 7 nieces and nephews) and they have been super supportive of my decision to have WLS. I have a great job as a corporate attorney for an insurance company. The work is interesting and my co-workers are fantastic. I actually enjoy coming to work every day. Okay, well almost every day The company has two great fitness centers, so I can work out during lunch or after work. That makes it easier to stick to my exercise habits. The only other thing I would say about me is that I have a great outlook and positive attitude. I was like that even when at my heaviest - nothing can keep me down for long. I think my positive outlook has really helped me be successful with WLS. My personal saying is "They'll pry my rose-colored glasses from my cold, dead hands..." Not that I don't see the negative things that happen in the world, but I choose not to let them drag me down. Anyway, that's me in a 5-minute nutshell. Who's next? Kellie Lap RNY 10/25/2005 396/242/150-165?

Hello Everyone! My name is Erin Silar, soon to be Erin Crane. I am getting married on September 21st, 2006 to Brad. We have been together since Feb. 4th of 2003. I have no kids, but 2 soon to be stepsons 12 and 13 years old. They live back in Idaho. We do have 27 reptiles ( mostly water turtles ) and 2 dogs. I am from Lisburn, PA. But I have a Mechanicsburg address. I work for Dayton Parts as a receptionist/switch board operator. I have been there for almost 1.5 years. I love Jeeps. I have a 2002 fully loaded Jeep Wrangler Sport. I also love to kayak, walk, travel, shop(especially now that I am in a a size 4/6). I am into Museums, aquariums, bars, clubs, just having fun. I am extremely outgoing and make friends very easily. I had surgery on October 25th, 2005 at Hershey Medical Center. I have had no complications, except to have my gallbladder removed ( which is no big deal). I have lost a combined total of 160 lbs. I am currently 1 lb. below goal! I a currently in a size small/medium shirt and a size 4/6 pants! I am also 5'8". Anything else, just email me and ask, I just can't think of anymore...lol. Erin 310/150/151(below goal)

It is so nice to get to know each other in a little more personal way then reading long profiles. I know there have to be lots more people here ,,come on dont be shy! Who is next??? LisaMarie

hi - I'm heather, 31, and the happy wife to a army man of 4 years and the proud mom to my 20 mth old little girl. We live in Germany right now, but I had my surgery Oct 3, 06 in Columbia, SC ( My daughter and I went stateside to be w/ my family while my DH was in Iraq for 12 mths).... I started at 278 size 26/28 (bra 48D) and today weigh 142 lbs..in a size 10 (bra 36DD) I feel good, and although I need to get more liquids and protein in, I feel really good. I'm hoping to go talk to my PCM soon about plastics ( breast reduction/tummy tuck) as we move back to the states in April, and it is much easier getting plastic surgery covered over here..... Life is good!