Freakout

Okay, first things first, great to meet a bunch of you this past Saturday at PMRI... That said, I've been thinking a lot about what Gabrielle (I think that's her name) had to say and realized something, my "high end ideal weight" is 160 lbs... my current weight 346 lbs, That means excess weight of 186 lbs. If I follow her little rule of averages, I would lose 60% of my excess weight in the first 6 months post-op... that would bring me down 112 lbs to 234!!! Okay, this weight seems good to me as is, but then with the continued weight loss and the probability of getting down to 80% lost by the end of the first year would take me down a total of 150lbs to 196lbs... I don't know why but this is suddenly a frightening concept to me... I've seen this done by people before, I know how rapid the weight loss can be, but still the idea of losing THAT much weight so quickly is rather terrifying to me... although when I think back I gained it that quickly too (medications, not a pretty story). Could I really be back to the same weight I was in college by this time next year? Okay, some words of comfort are needed here, something like "No, it's not just you, this is pretty intimidating" would work! LOL Love you all Rachel

Rachel I didn't meet you Sat either! Bum-Mer. I would have intro'd myself if I had known you were there. And here it is..... "No, its not just you, this IS pretty intimidating" lol. But for real, it's a great ride, enjoy it. I'm coming up on one year and am thankful for what I've lost, but hoping that I can take it further. Dianne

Well Dianne, we'll just have to make a point of meeting next time... I'm fairly sure I noticed you because I noticed everyone... lol... but I'm guessing if you're a year out you're the one who was wearing the orange halter top and standing near the doorway? If not, oh well, I'll catch ya next time!

LoL No halter tops for me. That was Debbie, she looks great! I was in the front left-hand side in a flowered top and I may have asked too many questions of Gabrielle. Dianne

Rachel, I believe we met this saturday, but i have to tell you i am not worried at all. When i got out of the hospital, mind you i was in their for 5 weeks, i lost 65lbs in a month and half. Today i went back to see Dr. Peter's, a full month later and i didnt lose an ounce, i was so upset with myself. He wasnt too concerned, so remember, not everyone is going to lose what they think they want too. I would be happy losing another 75lbs. if its in the cards for me, but right now i am enjoying my weight loss. Like i tell my friends, worry about it when the time comes. Keep your chin up! Sincerely, Kenn

Thanks Kenn!! Yes we met on Saturday, at least, if you're the guy I'm thinking of, I only met two, one was named Joe, the other was sitting with my mom and angel.. lol... okay mom is Bonnie and angel is Gigee... at least, last I heard lol I think the numbers are what threw me so badly, I know I was healthy before my weight gain, and I miss it so much. I miss exercise, walking, running, weight lifting (yeah I know, I have to limit that one forever) But I am dying to get back on my bike and riding, I want to be able to walk and not feel like dying after a few feet... I hate this weight! Okay I'm pepping myself back up, probably a good thing considering that I had myself so scared earlier today that I wanted to quit. Well, I'm feeling better, the numbers had me a little worried but now I'm okay. I am excited again, scared, but excited... and looking forward to seeing what will happen with this. I think I will do fine with it since I'm already a healthy person in an unhealthy body... at least, that's what the nutritionist said. I'm ready for this, I'm already working on recipes for when I'm off pureed diet and hoping to find some guinea pigs here if you're willing... my nutritionist and I brainstormed a lot of ideas and came up with some pretty good ideas for high protein/low carb goodies that are thought of as unhealthy that can be turned into a great healthy snack for gastric patients... when I get them figured out (I experiment with cooking/baking) I will be sure to let all of you know and try really hard to get samples to you! Let me know if you want to be a tester! Okay, I'm off to read more posts... thank you all for support and love! Huggles Rachel

HEY RACHEL SWEETIE SENDING ((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) IT WILL BE FINE YES IT IS KINDA WEIRD LOSING WEIGHT THAT FAST BUT I AM NOT WORRIED ABOUT IT FOR I WANT TO LOSE THIS WEIGHT.AND HONEY IT'S GONNA BE WORTH THE WHOLEEEEEEEEEEEEEE RIDE.THIS IS WHY YOU EAT AND DRINK PROTEIN TO HELP YOUR BODY STORE IT AND WHEN IT'S TIME TO STOP WELL THE DOCTOR OR Gabrielle WILL BE THERE TO HELP GIVE ADVICE ON HOW TO MAINTAIN YOUR WEIGHT SO KEEP THIS IN MIND AND YOU HAVE ALL OF US ON HERE AND WE WILL GIVE YOU ALL THE SUPPORT YOU NEED.HUH I THINK I'M LOSING TOO SLOW AND DOCTOR SAID IT'S PRETTY GOOD AND THEN KENN HE LOST TOO FAST BUT THEN HE WILL START TO LOSE IT SLOW AND THIS SHOULD BE FINE BECAUSE I FEEL IF I LOSE IT LIKE I AM I GET TO EXERCISE AND HELP TONE UP THE EXTRA SKIN LOL.ANYONE ELSE THINK THIS IS WRONG LET ME KNOW BECAUSE I SURELY DON'T WANT TO TELL ANYONE SOMETHING WRONG.SO RACHEL IF YOU HAVE ANYOTHER CONCERNS ASK THE DOCTOR OR POST IT ON HERE OK.KEEP YOUR HEAD UP OK.TAKE CARE YOUR FRIEND AND ANGEL BONNIE

Thanks Mommy!!! Your grandkids are dying to meet ya! Rachel

Rachel, I can't remember when I lost as much as I did with this surgery....I gained it so much easier...I think my gains were even bigger than the losses with this surgery. I lost majority first six months but you have slow periods with no loss...No one talks about them much but they do occur. Your body is adjusting all the time. I am glad you are thinking about the decision...its good to be prepared. Debbie

Thanks all of you... I KNEW this was drastic, I KNEW that this would be a major change, but at the same time, I don't think that the reality of that much loss that fast had hit me yet. I did gain weight rather quickly, the first 100 lbs in 4 months. I was "thin" before that at 180 lbs... okay, Iwas healthy at 180 and healthy is my goal... :D Now, if I make it down 80% then have skin removed, I'd be the same size I was in HS... THAT is a little scary to me... I am build differently than a lot of people and know that if you drop the last # of my weight you will have my clothing size (I don't konw why that works, but it does) so at 180, I'm an 18, at 346, I'm a 34... I don't think my bones will ever let me below a size 18, but guess I'll find that out soon enough because I am NOT leaving this up to the surgery alone! Thanks for the encouragement, I appreciate it! Rachel