OK.. EVERYONE HAS TO RESPOND!

Ok my name is Parrish Wayne Nale but I go by Wayne and I am 40 years old. I have lived in Springfield Missouri for the last 15 years. I grew up in San Francisco and absolutly loved the Bay Area (too expensive to live there). I moved to Springfield to attend Baptist Bible College where I met my beautiful wife April. We have two boys, Micah who is 11 and Jordan who is 6. We are both very involved in our church where my wife sings in the praise team and I am the sound man. I love music and have a home recording studio. I just had my surgery 2 weeks ago and have had absolutly zero problems. As of 10:00am this morning I have lost 30 pounds. I choose to have this surgery because it was the ONLY way I could see to avoid death. I wanted to be able to play with my kids and my wife . My UBER goal is to lose a total of 300 pounds and get back to my 20 year old weight. Well there I am in a nut shell. Wayne

Well here goes my name is Harry I'm 45 years old I live in Maysville MO with my two kids 11 and 9 I'm a stay at home dad and I havent had my surgery yet but its coming on the 13th of this mounth. Main reason you had the surgery.. the reason I'm having this done is the quality of life . Right now I have none I just servive and I'm tired of it my knees are shot and blood pressure is way to high {fine with meds} I cant play with my kids like i want to and they wzant me too . the last two years i have been asstante coach for my sons Bantom foot ball team and It takes all my energy just to stand up . my doughter loves horses and i got her two of them but she cant ride them as i cant go with her and put the sadle on and her on . it just doesnt work . I havent been able to work becouse of all the stuff that is wrong with me . I dont want my kids growing up with that as there excample. What is the one UBER goal you want to achieve or HAVE achieved. When i was in my 20s I had a 56in chest and a 32 in waist. I played gulf and had a sex life . I want my life back.

I'm Jennifer. I live south of Kansas City in Peculiar, MO. (Kinda fits me too.) I'm 33 and have one husband of 12 years, 1 kid of 10 years (we homeschool), 1 dog, 1 cat, 1 house and 2 mortages! I am Pentecostal and am going to a new church that is small but I love. I sing in our worship service (praise team) and my hubby is a soundman too. (Hard job. Can't please anyone! ) I've been fat most of my life. I started gaining wieght when I was in upper elementary school. About 3-4th grade. (Just like my dd is doing now.) Jr High was absolute hell on Earth for me. High School was some better. I was a pretty normal kid and weight up until then. I'm still a pretty normal person (depends on the day and the person you ask). I have never been athletic but always wanted to be. I wanted to be George Brett when I grew up and be the first lady professional baseball player. But when you can't hit, throw, or catch, the dream dies! So I tried to play sports but always disappointed myself. Oh well. My hubby is great and married me fat and will love me thin too. He is of "normal" weight himself. Technically he is probably in the overweight category. I don't know for sure. He has put on alot of weight since we married. he's about 6'1" and 220-240 lbs. He can lose 20lbs by breathing out heavily. If he ever got to work out consistently he'd drop weight quick. He has a desk job and sits alot. He's always had good metabolism. It works very well for him. I just want the surgery to happen at this point. I'm getting kinda discouraged waiting for approval. But It will happen so I'm just waiting it out. My biggest Uber goal has nothing to do with weightloss. I want to write and publish books. However I imagine that losing weight will give me more confidence to attain and actually do that goal. I had a great book idea that some people had some intrest in. So I really need to get on the ball and explore that. I love to read and I'm TV addicted. (Time to put it downstairs again.) Other than that the weight goal I have is to be a size 16-18. I am a size 34 now. From what I see on these boards that should be no problem. I should get much smaller than that by working at it. My next mini goal is to get consistent with food journaling again. (Before surgery.) And then to get consistent exercise in. (Hate the E word.) Just want to thank you all for being here as I go through all this. Our Missouri board is great!

OK, my name is Jacqueline (Jackie for short) and as of Saturday I will live in Dexter, MO. I am one of five children and the only one with weight issues. I have never been married and have no children. The main reason I had surgery is because I turned 30 in July and wanted a fresh start on life. I am a nurse and being almost 300lbs made my job hard. I felt like my life was slipping away and I didn't even have major co-morbidities. I was very active when I was young with gymnastics and swimming, but puberty messed up my hormones and the weight came on. I wanted to be able to have children one day and enjoy them, so my goal is to maintain a healthy weight and go to Six Flags in the spring. I haven't gone in years because I was afraid that I wouldn't fit the rides, so I am counting the months until I can go. Jackie 292/280/210/?

Please list your name is so inclined or at least your first name: My name is Angela Sticht, everyone calls me Angie Area of Missouri in which you live or city if you don't mind sharing: Born and raised in St. Louis, still living there Age if you don't mind and any other personal data... like married/kids/?? I am 31 years old, I am married for the past 5 years, my DH is very supportive of the surgery. We have a 3 1/2 year old son and a Chow mix pooch named Princess. Main reason you had the surgery.. Health reasons, I am 31 and feel 50. I want to play with my son, fit in a booth comfortably, walk without my knees killing me. I want to be able to show my son how to eat healthy. At this point he will barely remember me at this size, and hopefully he will never be ashamed to call me his Mom! What is the one UBER goal you want to achieve or HAVE achieved. I would love to go on a roller coaster again and look good in a swim suit. I want to be able to just have fun and not worry about how much or far I will have to walk, or how long I will have to stand. I want to do what ever I want without hinderance of any kind!

My first name is Marsha Leann I live in Cushing Oklahoma i use to live in Belleville IL was very active on this board I am the middle child. i have a brother and sister.. I live with my parents because my dad fell almost 2 months ago and broke his shoulder and cracked his hip and i am off about to have surgery on my hand so helping them out. I have 2 wonderful nephews Noah & Matt I am 28 and will be 29 in Marsha/Engaged with a baby girl on the way and due in June. I work for an answering service been off for 4 months trying to get sugery for severe carpal tunnell. I have a wonderful wonderful supportive husband to be. Along with him I'm blessed with many weight loss friends from here. I had the chance to meet many and put together a conference and started a support group in IL which i had to pass down due to my divorce and moving back to Oklahoma. I wouldnt be were i am today without the love and support of family and friends My family history diabetes, high blood pressure. I myself have had problems with my blood pressure more then anything and my back, I also fought with inferility and now that i have manage to keep over a 100 pounds off I am Prego with my first child as i say is our little miracle. I can do so much more now. I can walk long periods of time i can get up and down with no problem. I dont have near has much pain in my body and i refuse to sleep all day i actually got a job i always wanted after i lost weight. Great Idea I tried for along time to get people posting and thought it was just me on why those that didnt. I set being selfish aside and reliazed that when you have this surgery you dont sit in front of a screen all the time and have our lifes back. Good Luck to all those that are having or have had this surgery the best i could have ever done all thought i have had some weight gain i would do it again Marsha Momma to be baby girl to be Sayge Elizabeth Due 6/22/06

Please list your name is so inclined or at least your first name...Rachael Area of Missouri in which you live or city if you don't mind sharing...St Robert, town outside of Fort Leonard Wood Age if you don't mind and any other personal data... like married/kids/??....I am 36 years old, happily married a wonderful young man named Jason, I have one son, Dalton, one step-daughter, Sarah, and one little girl on the way, Jaiden, she will be here in February. Main reason you had the surgery..I had my surgery to save my life and be able to see my children grow up, I have a strong family history of heart disease, diabetes, and had severe sleep apnea myself as well as PCOS. What is the one UBER goal you want to achieve or HAVE achieved.....My ultimate goal is to be able to wear my wedding dress that I have had preserved since 1988 when I was engaged and never got to use it, I want to have my church wedding that I always dreamed of....I want to see my children grow up and get a good education.... God bless Rachael

Please list your name is so inclined or at least your first name...Angel Area of Missouri in which you live or city if you don't mind sharing...Arnold Age if you don't mind and any other personal data... like married/kids/??....I am 43 years old. I am married and have been for 14 years. I have 4 children: 2 boys and 2 girls ages 11, almost 8 and two 6 year olds. My parents are elderly and in poor health and live a few miles away. I am pretty darn active but my weight has gotten so out of control that I am exhausted most of the time. My husband helps out a lot at home and we both have lots of chores. I have a very successful career as a Computer Engineer (so is hubby) so I am a bit of a geek. I cut back my hours at work 3 years ago to become a licensed foster parent...my 2 girls are adopted from foster care and have special needs, my older son is autistic and special needs plus my younger son is gifted. My house is always hopping, can be stressful but can also be wacky and rewarding. Main reason you had the surgery..I want this surgery to give me a chance to have a better life. I was to see my children grow and I want to be more active. When I am exercising, I love being active. I have fantasies of scuba diving and having a lap for my kids to sit in. What is the one UBER goal you want to achieve .....I want to fly in an airplane without worrying about my size, I want to not worry about seatbelts in cars and booths in restaurants and the stalls in bathrooms. I have never been a normal size and I believe if I get there, I'll fight to keep it. My BMI is right at 60. My surgery is Feb 9th at Barnes with Dr. Halperin. I am scared of failing. I've had 2 c-sections and 2 abdominal surgeries in the past. I know I can do this....I can't wait to be on the other side. I usually bristle at providing personal details but I think I'm going to need some help and would be happy to provide help. There - I have opened the kimono - can I go back to LURKING now?

Please list your name is so inclined or at least your first name Susan Martin Area of Missouri in which you live or city if you don't mind sharing Farmington, MO about 60 miles south of St.Louis and 70 miles north of Cape Girardeau. Age if you don't mind and any other personal data... like married/kids/?? I am 37 will be 38 in March, married to a wonderful man who is very supportive, I have a 4 year old step daughter, but have never met, (mommy issues), however my husband and I are foster parents, and will eventually adopt. I have had 9 miscarriages, so us having one of our own is doubtful, however, there are many children in the world who need love, and a home we can give them.. Both parents are alive and still married after 39 years, I have one brother who is married and has a 10 year old spoiled daughter. They all live within 10 miles of us. Main reason you had the surgery.. To be healthy....and as of 5 weeks out I have lost over 50 lbs.. What is the one UBER goal you want to achieve or HAVE achieved. and get creative ... lets share so we can get to know one another... To have 100 lbs off by my birthday in March.....

Hi all my name is Deanna but most of my family and close friends call me Dee. I live in the Ballwin area, which is a suburb of St. Louis (the west county area). I am 40 years old and have been divorced since October of 2004. The only good thing that came out of my marriage is my son, Cody, who is now 8 years old. Some days I just don't think I would make it through without him. We live with my mom. My dad passed away 11 years ago from a heart anurysm. I have 2 younger brothers. We all have weight problems and the problems that go along with the weight. My mom has high blood pressure and has had to have knee replacement. My one brother has congestive heart failure and the other has diabetes. As for the surgery, I haven't had it yet but I am doing everything I can to have it as soon as possible. I am so tired of not having a life and not being there for my son. I can't wait for the day that I can take Cody to the Science Museum or Six Flags or any of the other places he loves to go instead of having to ask someone else to take him because I can't walk. I also look forward to the day that I can get off of disability and go back to teaching. Once upon a time I used to teach early childhood special education and I can't wait until I can do it again. Deanna