Where are you in your journey

Well, I had my Rny on January 15, 2004.  So, I am over 3 years out now.  I am doing great.  I lost 141 pounds in 11 months and am in the maintenance part of my journey which can be hard sometimes.  But, so far so good.  I feel great and have had no problems.  I exercise 5 days a week at least.  I love it.  I especially like stepping and kickboxing.  I have so much more energy now and am able to do so much more with my hubby and kids.  Life is good.   I decided to do this post as there are so many new people on here.  There used to be a really active crew on here that talked every day and knew each other from luncheons and gatherings we have had.  Many of them have disappeared and many new ones have joined.  So, I thought this posts could get us aquainted with where we all are on this life long journey. Melissa

Melissa, I am almost one year out-the 14th-down 167 lbs and doing great! I do not exercize as much as i should, but trying to add more. good to hear from you. i too, hope that we can get more active here, teri

Good post Melissa--I really miss the daily posts ppl used to make.  Even if just to check in, it's nice to know there *are* people around to listen if you need them.  :)  I'm almost 16 months post-op RNY (revision, I guess you'd say...though there were two years between my having the band and going to the RNY).  I am at my doctor's goal for me and about 20 pounds shy of where I want to be.  I've lost 115 pounds total.  From a size 28 to a 14 (possibly a 12 after plastics!?)  :)  I'm less than a week away from having a plastics overhaul. haha.  and I'm scared to death.  In a different way, though, than for having WLS.  That I felt was necessity, this I feel is for me.  I haven't been on the exersize train as much as I want to be.  I have so much problems with rashes from my panni--and it rubs so much when I try moving around alot....even spandex bike shorts didn't keep it from bothering me.  I'm hopeful that after plastics I will be the athletic girl I've always dreamed of.  That, and be able to wear a swimsuit without crying. :) I'm really excited about an opportunity I have ot help with establishing a bariatric program at a local hospital.  Well, not that I'm establishing it, but I am going to be guest speaker to talk to the staff (i.e. nurses) on how to deal with pre-intra-post op WLS patients.  Seeing as I was one...twice...and I'm also a nurse, I think i have lots of insight to share.  If ya'll have any suggestions, let me know!   I have about 20 minutes to discuss with them what is important re: care of WLS patients.  I do plan to mention this website, too, as a resource for patients who may have internet access but haven't discovered OH. any imput would be appreciated! mary

Hey Everybody, I can finally post that I'm finally post-op I was banded on May 21, 07 and I can't add very much because i'm still in the beginning stages but I know I have a lot of bandmates and surgery mates and I wish you all well.  Towards excersing I walk sip walk sip walk sip.. you know the routine.

Congrats on your upcoming plastics.  I had plastics about a year and a half ago.  I had a tummy tuck, breast lift, and breast augmentation.  It wasn't too bad at all.  I am sure you will do fine.  The first few days are the worst.  Then after that it gets much better. The thing I would suggest you mentioning in your speech would be the psychological problems that many post ops have further out.  Like me for instance.  I have obsessive compulsive binge eating disorder and the surgery doesn't fix that.  Food has always been my outlet for fixing anything or avoiding feelings that I didn't want to have.  So, when I lost that outlet it was really emotional.  I wasn't expecting it and it was tough for a while.  I have had to have therapy and counciling.  I now lead a pretty normal life, but I think too many bariatric programs do the surgery and then turn people loose.  Many of the support groups are geared towards the preops and newly postop issues.  The people further out struggling to lose the last few pounds or struggling with compulsive eating issues often don't know where to turn for help. So, a support group that addresses these possible issues and then directs people where they can get help would really be an added plus to a bariatric program.  Good luck with your speech.  Let us know how that goes. Keep us posted after your plastics. Melissa

Melissa, How did you know that you had an obsessive compulsive binge eating disorder?  I am asking because I am finding that I want to eat all the time.   I am 9 months out, down From 250 to 138lbs (total loss of 112lbs) The more food I eat, the more weight I loose, however, I know that there will come a day when I will start to gain weight from eating all the time.  Even worse, I have found that I can eat sugar now and I CRAVE it all the time!  I so wish that I'd never added sugar back to my diet!   Here is what I've eaten today and it's only 1:30 PM!  On the way to work (6:00 AM) - 1 Large Naval Orange, at (7:30 AM) 4 small sugar free butter ring cookies, (9:30 AM) Reese's Cup!!!!!, (10:15 AM) 1/2 of a necterine, (11:30am) lunch - 5 bites of baked chicken, 2 bites of mashed potatoes, 2 bites of Keylime Pie...............Now, I want to eat again!!!!   What's your thoughts? Lorrie

First of all, I snack alot throughout the day--keeps my blood sugar steady....the only suggestion I have to what you mentioned--is that your choices tend to make you want more to eat.  (the oranges, butter ring cookies and reese's cup)  though they aren't horrible choices, they do have carbs that will trigger you to want more carbs.  if you substituted say a granola or yogurt or something instead of the sugars in the fruit/candy, that may help.  I tend to obsess about eating at times.  For a while there, I got to eating peanut butter crackers all morning (grazing) at work....when I quit losing, and went up two pounds, i realized what i was doing--and cut to only two peanut butter crackers over the entire morning and no other snacking.  within a week or so i'd lost the two pounds i was up.  Silly to worry over two pounds, but i failed WLS before and dont' plan ot this time. Just be aware of what you're eating.  What you listed earlier doesn' tbother me (but i'm no WLS food nazi...i think you should eat what makes you happy *and* healthy)... mary

Thanks Mary!  I'll take your advice.

Hi Everyone...  I am a pre-op... all of my paperwork was sent to insurance last friday (then the darn holiday... LOL). I have been researching and trying to have surgery since 2003, but insurance problems and what not has made me post-pone it. I am so excited to start my journey on the loosing side... I am hoping that BC/BS of IL doesnt take its own sweet time approving me for surgery. I have a twin sister who just had RNY on 4/30/07... so it is fun to watch her and learn from her mistakes. I would love it if we could all just check in everyday... nothing long just short and sweet.  We really need this board moving again. OH yeah...at my consult with my surgeon, he asked me to loose 20-25 pounds before surgery...arrgghhh... I am doing pretty good at that I am down 7 pounds (as of today).. he only requires a 10 day liquid diet so I know I will loose some there too. I look forward to getting to know everyone soon.

Hey Melissa!   We so need to get everyone together again soon!  I miss not talking you guys like we use to... It just isn't the same and I hate that!  I have not been as active as I use to be and I promise I will try to do better about posting, things have just been so crazy lately! I am one year out (May 22, 2006) with my RNY Surgery and I have lost 138 pounds... this has been a true learning experience for me and I am so thankful that I did this for myself as well as for my family!  I feel so much better both physically and emotionally.  I can do so much more now than I use to - I walked downtown with my husband the other day and I told him when we got back to work that I could not believe I walked all that way and did not get out of breath, that was so amazing to me!  I try to go to Curves as often as I can each week, but here lately I have had so much going on that I have slacked up on my excercising.  I have got to do better about that and get back into my routine!   I miss everyone and I hope that each of you are doing well! Marci