Greetings and salutations

Hello,

This is my first posting here.  I am 24, almost 25, live in Modesto CA, have lived here for almost 5 years.  I don't have many friends here still, but that's too be expected, as I don't like dumb people, and this town seems to have a ton :D,  I currently weigh 285 lbs or so, the last time I weighed myself, and actually have relatively normal self esteem.  But I want to lose weight.  I want to be healthier.  I often have this insane urge to go jogging, but I really can't do it.  I get so out of breath and so tired so quickly.  I have a gazelle that I use when I feel up to it.  I eat better and my weight just goes up and down.  I have finally reached a point in my life where I think I need help.  At the moment I have kaiser and they don't seem to care, and make me feel like being overweight is something that I have just not tried enough in my life.  I am thinking of switching to pacificare in october, with coverage starting in january. I have been overweight my entire life.  I hit puberty at 8 years old, and had DD breasts at that age.  I was 5'6 by the time I was 10.  I'm coming here to find support and information and hopefully to make some friends that will help me on this journey.


--Cherry

Hi Cherry and welcome to the boards. I am fairly new to these boards probably started my 1st postings in May. I was unsure what type of wls I wanted to kind of lurked for awhile. I have decided on the DS (duodenal switch) and am scheduled for the 14th of Aug. Good luck on your journey and I am sure you will meet many friends here.

Hi Cherry,

Welcome to the board!!!!  You will meet the greatest people here.  I am also kindof new here.  I had my surgery just over 4 months ago and it has been the best thing I could have ever done for myself.  I have never had Kaiser, but I switched my insurance when it was open enrollment to a PPO...only because I didn't wanted to go through all the BS.

Good luck and keep me posted!!!

Michele

OMG Cherry you surely made me laugh at the dumb people comment! Welcome to the CA boards btw!

I am the same way about people and often feel that I could be preceived as a snob because of it. I really try and give people the benefit of the doubt, but it is hard sometimes. Like yesterday I was in Ross for the weekly trip that two gals and I make, and I could not tolerate it in there....call it I didn't feel well or whatever, but it was full of dumb people! I had to leave!

I know what you mean about leaving Kaiser. A lot of people here have gone through BS to get their surgery when Kaiser should look at the big picture...thinner people have less health issues than people who are overweight.

I was not an overweight child although I did hit puberty young less the breasts...go figure! As soon as I left home at 18, I ballooned like there was no tomorrow and spent all my adult life fat. I did not have surgery until I was 48. I am now 54. Life has been good after surgery.

I would suggest that you do what you can do in terms of keeping yourself healthy, exercise when you can (I think it is great you do!) and look to changing insurance companies when you can. However before you switch, make sure the new carrier does have a clause for wls.

Stick around Cherry...there are quite a few people in your area who are on this site and they also have get togethers. This is a great place for support and information!

Hi Cherry...
I rarely post to this particular board (sticking mainly to RNY)...at least not since my very early days here, but I wanted to say "welcome"! Perhaps you would consider coming to the OH event in Sacramento later this month since you are relatively close. There should be plenty of support and information to go around...and as a pre-op you can never have enough insight and education about surgery. Anyway, if you decide to attend, it would be great to meet you.

~Suz

So what is the event?

Look up at the top of this forum page...there will be a sticky titled "OH Sacramento Event Promo Code and Details." That thread will give all of the info needed to attend the convention.
The event runs from Friday night Aug. 22 to Sunday Aug. 24. There will be many speakers and presentations, and of course it's a great chance to meet some of the "locals" from around the greater Sacramento area that frequent the OH boards. It should be a great time.

Welcome Cherry!  You will find this board full of wonderful helpful and encouraging people.  I am new and they welcomed me with open arms!

I too can relate to the Dumb People comment.  They used to frustrate me but now I just tend to mess with their heads.  It is one of the most challenging mental games I use to lead them astray without them really knowing it until I'm long gone.  My husband calls it a "Drive By" and sometimes he can hardly contain himself until we are out of range.  All this delivered with "dead face" and monotone. 

Anyway - welcome.  I am on the 2 week count-down to surgery and can hardly wait until I get healthier!

Hi Cherry and welcome!

You've come to the right place if you're considering surgery, this is a great place for support and encouragement and there are hardly any dumb people. ;)

I can't remember a time I wasn't fat, I don't think I knew I was overweight until I began school and the other kids told me I was fat. Since surgery I've lost a little over 100 pounds and even though I'm still in plus sizes, this is the smallest I've ever been in my life.

I always wanted to run too, but could barely climb a set of stairs without wanting to die. Now, I'm training for my first half marathon. I'm slow, but I still run....it's amazing.

You can learn a lot from just browsing through profiles of people here, there are some remarkable transformations taking place in the lives of people here...I hope you find inspiration in their stories.

:)