A new lease on Life

Hello everyone.... I have just come across the Obesityhelp N.H. forum tonight. This is a great site..I am not great on a computer so this might not even get through....I do so like talking in person...so here goes.. A little bit about me. I started life for the first time on Aug 8,1998. I had my gastric bypass on that day...WOW 5 years..can't believe where the time goes...I had my surgery in Boston as N.H. was not offering this at the time..I was the first person healthsource covered by insurance in the state for this surgery...I am so thankful that they did.. I am 5'7" and at the time weighed in at 349Lbs. Today I am still 5"7" (smile) however I am 154Lbs. I feel so wonderful and my health is excellent. The surgery is a tool...it is up to us to make all the pieces fit afterwards. I exercise 4/5 days a week (at curves..actually I work their one night a week so it keeps me faithful), I try to watch what I eat...but I love my sweets..and have to be careful not to have to many...I can't say that I can only eat small portions anymore for now I have a normal size stomach so I have to be very careful and that is where exercising comes into play...We have to keep moving....diet alone can't keep it off..I started right after my surgery walking..very slowly first and not very far..but gradually made it up to 3 miles a day by the second month. Life changes completely after surgery...I have much more self-confidence and I like myself now. I would love to talk to anyone and if I can be of help or if you have any questions please feel free to contant me. The one thing I know to be true..the surgery taught me what full meant for the first time in my life..All I knew was that I thought of food 24/7 and unless I was constantly eating I did not have to deal with anything..Food was my escape from reality..it was my comfort, and it took over my soul.. Today I am free of all of this..and Life is so much worth living again..Good luck and Good health to everyone. I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, Patti

Hi Patti, I enjoyed reading your message but the one thing that caught my eye was what you said "I have a normal size stomach" how can that be? If that happens won't we be right back where we started?

Hi Christine, Thanks for writing...Good guestion...When I say that your stomach grows back to a normal size I mean by that after a while your stomach will be able to accomadate more volume at one time..This take a while. I notice by my third year that I could eat more than before so I had be so careful not only what I ate but portion sizes also. The surgery like I stated is just a tool... this will be a life long battle.. The first couple of years your body is getting use to what you need..especially get in as much protien you can. After you first have the operation, your stomach can only hold about an ounce at one sitting. A normal stomach holds about 50 ounces of liquid/solid at one sitting. As your stomach adjusts to what you put in it, then it naturally gets larger with time..That being said, it is important to learn from past mistakes and stay away from your "red item" foods that help got us in trouble in the first place. Also I can not stress how important some type of exercise is...not only to keep our metabolism up but keep our body fat down. Keep up the good work. I know of some people that have had to have this surgery twice because they did not follow the nutritional protocal. If was so good to hear from you..lets keep in touch...Take care Christine. Patti

Hi Patti! I am glad you posted. It is great to hear success stories of long term patients. I am hoping to have surgery in August. I think about food 24/7 now and am having a hard time losing my pre-op weight. 20lbs. I joined Curves in March and have been doing really good. I like it very much. Congratulations on your weight loss! Please keep posting on NH message board. Nice meeting you. Chri

Hi Jellyroll, I am so sorry for not responding to you sooner but I have been so busy with graduations and work that I did not get on the computer till right now. First and formost congratulations on getting your date for surgery. Just think a year from now at least 100lbs. will be off you...just think of how you will feel and all the energy you will have!!!! It will be 6 years for me on Aug 8, since my surgery and yes I have kept if off except for about 5 pounds...I don't ever let myself get above that....but it remains a struggle...Food is always present and at this point since I have a "normal" stomach I can eat like a normal person, however that little demon inside me could still eat more. I go to curves at least 4 to 5 times a week, only a half and hour so that is nothing...It keeps me on track..plus if I see the scale go up..I just do low carb for a week and off it comes..I still love my sweets only this time in my life I CHOOSE not to eat them...I never want to go back to the hell I was living. Please keep in touch, I am here if you need me or if I can do anything just give drop me a note..Keep up the good work!!! Patti

Hi Patty. I am preop having surgery on June 22. Did you gain any weight back? I am so excited about surgery. I am having mine at CMC.

Hi Angie. I have a question for you. Are you using Dr. Gould or is it another surgeon? Thanks, Kristen

Hi Kristen. No i am not using Dr Gould. I am going through CMC's obesity treatment center. The surgeon's name is Dr Connie Campbell. I am very happy with the treatment center. They do everything there for you. And everything is done quickly. I started with them in March and got a surgery date on May 12. They do require you to lose 8% of your body weight before they will do surgery. Good luck on your search. Angie

Hi Angie, Sorry it has taken so long to reply back. I had my surgery in Boston. When did CMC start doing these surgery's? I am so excited for you and I will be thinking of you on June 22 and can be sure on that...As for your question, I have gained back around 5 lbs of the 206lbs. I lost. It still is a struggle to keep it off because I still would like to eat all the junk that I did in the past only this time I CHOOSE not to. I am in control. Thank goodness also that I keep going to curves 4/5 times a week. Exercise is the only method enabling us to really keep it off. Always remember you are in control....and you never want to go back to what you feel right now about yourself. That is what I always say to myself when I am tempted to eat more or something that will make me want start the cycle to eat... My son is going to start the process of ungoing the beginnings of the bypass program...I hate this for him, you would have thought I could have kept him from getting overweight....but no, so I will be there all the way for him...He is only 19 and misserable with his weight. He is going to college in the fall so we will work things all aroung that..I will keep you informed!!! Take good care Angie...I will be thinking and saying a prayer for you on the 22. Patti