Getting to know you.....

hi my name is stacy i live on long island new york.... my surgery was on july 9th 2004 i am coming up on 3 yrs i started my journey at almost 240 and my current weight is around 125 to 128 ...i work in a local supermarket bakery bahahahahahah,,,,,,, but am trying to get a job in the state hospital in stony brook in the dietary dept.... i have made a lot of weight loss friends due to these sites online ...one thing i have learned after the most important tool the surgery is SUPPORT and i have gained a network that i wouldnt give up for the world .....lisamarie and lisa s have been my backbone and support almost the whole way thru... i have also inspired many to have the surgery and most are having great results.... my advice to newcomers is to use this tool as if it were golden,,, its like getting another shot of life but like i said its only a tool.... i also have 2 beautiful boys who bring me nothing but joy..... 16 and my baby will be 14 in a week... im so glad that i was able to extend my life to see them grow up and become nice young gentlemen..........i have to stress that if your contimplating surgery please get a support group other then the sites online its great to meet people in person that can relate to us on a regular basis... i have had the oppurtunity to meet such wonderful people...... and create life long friendships .... i guess thats all for now Stacy

wholly sh-t! OMG... You look AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!! That wasn't the "before" you right? That's someone else right? OMGGGGGGGGGG... I can't get over it! and you were almost 240 before?????????????????? wholly crap! You look great.... But can I ask you -- since you've been out almost 3 years, how do you maintain the weight without stretching your stomach back out? Like do you feel like you want to pig out like you used to or do you have a sense of control that you can stop when you're actually full and not go overboard? My fear is that I won't maintain the weight once I lose it and that I'll stretch my stomach back out and gain all the weight back. I'm sooooooooooooooo scared about that. I guess I don't have any confidence in myself since I'm so used to pigging out and binge eating now.....

I AM my worst enemy i have gained a lot of control since the surgery since my fears are just the same as yours.... i had two little secrets that no one really follows when i tell them but ill give them up anytime anyone asks.... i used shelled sunflower seeds to stop the bordum... and no matter how hungary i am i alwayssssssssssss alwayssssssssss leave somthing on my plate and never take more then a portion...... it seems to be working .... nuts are my best friend i use and abuse them and i water load or propel load......... give your self some credit and look at the surgery as a do over and cherish your precious tool ...there r people out there that are struggling with insurance that cant have it done.. so if you can cheri**** ....... that about all i can say oh wait and get SUPPORT LIVE SUPPORT NOT JUST THIS BOARD Stacy

Hi all My name is Britt, I am 36 years old. I am HAPPILY married (to Paul) for almost 8 years now - We have three little girls (our princesses). I am a stay at home mommy. I live on Long Island. I am 4 months post op and 57.5 pound lighter and 35.5 inches smaller. I feel great and I am so happy with the decision that I made - to change my life. I have met SO many supportive people and learned so much here on OH (((hugs))) to you all! ~ Britt ~

Hello, My name is Vega and I am 33 years old, married for 10 years and I have a little girl who is 8. Currently, I am in the process of getting all my medical exams done. I did the blood work, the venous duplex, chest x-ray and EKG. I have appointments with the Psych and NUT on Friday and the Endoscopy on the 26th. Hopefully after all is said and done I get approved and a date.

OK my turn now , Been missing for a while but knowing I need to get back to my OH family for the love and support here I am Debra from Upstate NY, turned 41 last year and had my lap RNY on June 6th 05. I am down 125 lbs and only 25 to go until I reach my own goal of 135. I have to say that this has been one of the hardest things I have ever done but so worth the learning and growing! Every day you have to remember where you started and review what you have done so far or it can get away from you. Sometimes I wonder if I will ever be "normal", meaning this is something I will always have to keep in the back of my mind for the rest of your life and there are times when it seems like it is just to hard to keep going but that is when you stop and have to look back to see where you came from! This is so worth it!!! Love my new life and want it to just get better every day! I am married to an awesome, supportive man (Kelly) for just over 3 years now! We do not have kids but just our Fur babies (3 cats and 3 dogs). I have opened a Ebay store and I am selling replacement medical alert bracelets, ID tags and beaded jewelry. It takes so much time but so worth it and I can see if growing every day Well that is it for now... Debra P

Hi, I am Kier and I am 34 years old. I live in Binghamton NY. I am still single & do not have any children yet. I do have hopes for all of that in the future. I am teacher. I teach Middle and High School Spanish. Most days, I love my job. I had my open RNY on 1/18/07.So, I have only been back to work a couple of weeks. I am down 52 lbs and feeling great. I of course wi**** would come off faster, but I guess that is natural. Thank you all for all of the help and support I have received from this forum. I really do appreciate you all. : ) Kier

Hi Everyone! I'm Lisa and I am from Syraucse, NY currently I live in Cortland, NY (1/2 way between work in Ithaca & Family in Syr.) I am a General Manager of The Hampton Inn in Ithaca and currently working with my company on building another Hampton Inn just outside of Syracuse, NY when that is complete in August I will move back to Syraucse and oversee both hotels (I am CRAZY!). My starting weight was 235 and I had Lap RNY on 2/20/07 so I am just 3 weeks post op and down about 20 lbs. I wi**** would come off faster but I am happy. I have food challenges daily and I know that it will get better in time. I am single (maybe when I am thin and feel better about I will find Mr. Right!) I have a 4 year old black lab mix named Kayce and that's my only child so far. I hope to someday have at least one child but for now I spoil my nephew who is 10 months old. For fun I like travel and used to enjoy the wine tours but that will have to wait for now! I love sports and going to sporting events. Everyone on here has been such an inspitration and so helpful to me I wish to thank You all for that. If anyone is in the Ithaca / Cortland Area now and would like to get a small support group together we can use the meeting space at my hotel so we can meet face to face. I currently go to the once a month one with my doctor but feel that it would be helpful to have a wide aray of people to lean on!

WOW nice to see all the old timers and WELCOME to all the newbies. I love reading about you all.... Ok who is next?? LisaMarie

WOW nice to see all the old timers and WELCOME to all the newbies. I love reading about you all.... Ok who is next?? LisaMarie