Let's CONGRATS to our WLS Christine D!

Hi Everybody Since I won't be on Ct message board this weekend so I want to put this for Christine D. Tomorrow will be Christine's 1year anniversary since she had this surgery. Let's put support and CONGRATS words to her since she have been support and honest to all of us on Ct message board!! Christine, Happy Birthday Happy Birthday !!!!! I can remember I met you first time at WLS Picnic Party last year and I look at you now. you look Amazing You have been be there for all of us and being so honest about your food/excerise log . I am so proud of you and keep your tools up I hope you will go shopping tomorrow to buy nice spring clothes for your 1 anniversary present and go out to celebrate with your BF and your friends somewhere this weekend. CONGRATS on your 1 year anniversary!!! Have fun this weekend! Hugs Kathy k

Aww, how nice of you to think of me! I don't know what to say! Have a nice weekend!

Christine, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO YOU MY DEAR. ITS YOUR REBIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You have come along way sweetie, and you look absolutely marvelous. Your such a beautiful person inside and out. I am so grateful to know you and to have had the opportunity of meeting you last year at the picnic and seeing you again this year at the gala. Thank you for always being so supportive and caring to me and everyone else here on the boards. Can't wait to see you this year at the picnic. My best to you and keep up the good work. Hugs KimC

Thanks you so much! I already told the bf to save the date for the June picnic. It will be a great time and I can't wait to see you again!

Hi Christine, Congrats on your first anniversary!! You have done such a great job and most of all you are so respected because of your honesty on the boards. I hope to see you at the picnic this summer - not sure I will recognize you!! I don't know if you remember but I did meet you at the picnic last year. Keep up the great work, your inspiration and support to everyone is wonderful! Have a great week-end. Hugs, Nancy

Of course I remember you! It was nice to meet you as well and I am so glad to hear that your persistance has paid off and your insurance is willing to pay for lap bands now. You are made of very strong stuff! Many people would have given up the fight but you hung in there, thats amazing!

Congrats Girl! You know how to get it done and have done an EXCELLENT Job! Bless You and Many Years of Great Health and Stunning Beauty! Julio

Thanks Julio, you flatterer you! Thanks for all your help and I am trusting that Dr. Barajas and her group will treat me well.

Thanks again everyone. I had no idea what to say earlier when I saw this post so I had to take a moment to think. lol The best example of what this surgery has done for me was this morning. I woke up late, so I had 20 minutes to get ready. I put on a pair of jeans that I bought for $5 at Goodwill in a size 10 and an XL top that I bought for $3 in NY. I walked into my closet and among several pairs of shoes decided to wear my new sneakers, which are a size 10M. I was in a rush so I tied them standing up. When I looked at my clock, it read 6:25. My bus stop is a block away at 6:28, so I ran down the street to meet it. When I got to the bus stop I was a bit winded but I made my bus. A year ago my daily routine would have taken me 45 minutes at best on a good day. I had many cute outfits but I wore a size 28, all bought at places like Lane Bryant, which was usually a bit expensive. I had 3 pairs of shoes, all plain, b/c at a size 12W there weren't too many options at the average shoe store. I avoided shoes with buckles or that tied b/c of the struggle to get around my tummy. If I had looked at the clock and saw that I had 3 minutes to get to my bus stop, I would have considered that a missed bus and waited another 15 minutes for the next one. I would have collapsed of a heart attack if I had run down the street so the thought wouldn't have even occurred to me. It has been the little changes in my daily life that have made this the best decision that I have ever made. I have lost at least 152 lbs (I got rid of the scale Kathy K!) and am assuming that I am about done losing, which is cool with me. I am happier and healthier than I have ever been so I am not going to let the numbers get me down. I am so grateful to all my OH friends: Deb Marcus, Kathy K, Julio, Kim C, and all those who have supported me and helped me to feel a little less alone on this journey. Thank you. -Christine D. lol I just remembered that about this time last year I was seriously considering ***** slapping the woman who was taking my pre-op blood. She couldn't find a vein (fat arms + small veins = ouch) and was trying what I call the "excavation method." She just kind of dug around with a needle until blood emerged. Thank god for this surgery that I don't have to go through that anymore.

Wow Christine what an inspiring message - a true "upper" to read! Now you can take for granted what "thin" people have always taken for granted - because you're one of them now - physically anyway! So the blood tests get easier when you lose weight? I have very small veins that move and it is a nightmare - now I have one more thing to look forward to.......... Congratulations on such a wonderful accomplishment in your life! You look absolutely beautiful - thank you for your help along my journey! Best Regards, Tammy