We need a new idea on thi...

We need a new idea on this site. So many of us dont post alot anymore. I read everyday but after what happened with someone last month I am sort of laying low. Where is everyone? Where did Sharyon Perry go. Where is Val and anyone hear from anyone else? I was reading another site and they did something I enjoyed reading. What are the pros and cons of this surgery? Name five pros and five cons. I will go first..... pros- 1-not having to take 100 units of insulin anymore. 2-feeling like a new normal person for the first time in 35 years 3-not being rushed to the hospital with celulitis 4-going into any booth in any restaurant and never having to study the booth and sliding right on in. 5- meeting all of you and having you for every question I have ever had answered at all times. I love you all and thank you,you are true friends cons- 1-getting scared because I dont know who to go for help if I ever get sick from the surgery. 2- worry from not getting enough vitimins and protein and having problems.What happens when we get old and forget to take everything we need. Its a daily job. 3-not knowing anyone who has had this longer then a few years except Sandy,and she has had so many problems. She had to have a reversal. Very scary. 4-Not being able to eat at a meal and sometimes I really want it.LOL 5-Having family members blaming everything on this surgery and people *****ally think this is the "easy way out" I hate that. This is so far from easy. Its the most committed thing I have ever done in my life. Would I do it again?In a New York minute.Best gift I ever gave myself. Thank God I met Dr. Curry. He changed my life/

Yes Dr. Curry and his staff is great. Michael

Nice to see you again Cindy. Wondered where you've been. I agree that we need some new topics too. I read alot but haven't posted much as I'm still pre-op.

Hi Cindy~~ I too am a "lurker"... I read the baord every day but do not post often. GOOD things~~ 1. Feeling GOOD again!! I have SO much energy 2. Being able to buy clothes in the "regular sizes" ~ WOW a heck of a better selection and better styles!!! 3. Fitting into places that I didn't in that I didn't fit into the last few years... amusement park rides... restaurant booths... those horrid turnstiles.... 4. Being able to sing better & longer... I have a lot more lung space with the fat gone LOL 5. Having strangers smile at me instead of looking at me with disgust... Bad things... 1. (The first few weeks) wondering if I would ever be able to eat normal foods again 2. Worries about vitamins and minerals... and my protien intake 3. Worries about eating as a guest at family or business functions (that they would not have any type of food I COULD eat - and people continuously asking me WHY I am not eating all of my food...) 4. Keeping the news that I did have the surgery from "some" family members... they highly disapprove of the procedure 5. not doing this whole thing five years ago!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And I agree... Dr Curry is the BEST!!! *** SEE YOU ON WEDNESDAY MORNING< DR C>>>>>**** ~Deb @ Indian Lake

Hi Cindy, Five Pros for me: 1. Feeling better about myself, knowing when I walk into a room, that everyone isn't staring at me. 2. Not having to "scan" a room to find a chair I can sit in without breaking it or not fitting into it. 3. Shopping in a normal clothing store and going from a size 12 shoe to a size 11! 4. Not needing a seat belt extender when I fly! Fitting into the seats at the stadium, theater, etc. 5. Not having to "hide" behind people when they take pictures, so everyone doesn't see how big I am. Five Cons 1. Having to purchase 2 whole wardrobes, so far. 2. Having to have blood drawn every 6 months - for the rest of my life. 3. All the saggy, droopy skin. 4. People who tell me I took the "easy" way out....yeah, right. 5. Knowing friends who would really benefit from this surgery and not wanting to "talk" them into having it - because it is a personal decision and you have to be ready to do it. Would I do it again....Oh yeah, in a heartbeat! It has been an awesome 10 months and 150 lbs! Happy 50th Birthday to me! Linda 367/216/?

What an awesome post! Got me thinkin-and I am at work! (Thinkin is not usually something I do much...lol) Pros; 1. Being hired for a job based on my abilities rather than passed over for a job based on my looks. 2. Stealing clothes from my 14 year old daughter...heehee. 3. Having energy. 4. Feeling confident enough to walk around with my head up. 5. Being able to eat in public without feeling that everyone is watching to see how much "that fat lady" eats. Cons; 1. Being afraid I will gain the weight back. 2. The cost of protein and vitamins is hard for me to justify. I work two jobs, 7 days a week and still don't have enough $ for bills, so I certainly don't have enough for special foods. 3. Worrying that this will backfire and I will get very ill or die. 4. Worrying my husband will leave me if I get "too thin". 5. Always having to be aware of my food-how much, what's in it, etc. Would I do it again? Yes. Rebecca R 254/150/145

Hi Cindy, I agree that it is hard to keep the board moving lately. After we have all lost so much weight we are all out doing things again. I love your post and want to play. PROS -Having normal clothes and getting to wear what I like instead of what fits me. -Crossing my legs and sitting like a lady my mom was always hounding me about -Having so much energy -Looking the best I have in my life -Getting to know the real me not the fat me CONS -Having more energy than my husband, he still likes to stay home. I want to go, go, go -Bat Wings (You know what I mean) -Not being able to eat and drink at the same time, really hard when we go out to dinner and every one finishes their meal and sits back to have coffee. I HATE THAT! -Reaching a new season and having nothing to wear again. Oh wait, that means I can go shopping. Move this to the PROS -Worrying about the holidays. I do not want to gain weight. The cons seem so petty now. I am with you Cindy. I would walk thru fire and crawl thru glass to do it again. You sound like you are feeling great. Interesting post. Deb

Hi Cindy, This is food for thought! no pun intended!! I rteally miss you guys. I feel very lost here in Washington. It is great to be near my parents and sisters family, but I had such a great support network there and I have no one here *****ally understands what this is like. I am trying to get hooked uyp with some others off of the Washington board, but you guys are truly the best. Name five pros 1. Better health: Sleeping without my CPAP machine, not running out of breath, not having my headaches from high blood pressure, not 2. Not being too embarassed to see my extended family (I actually live near them now) 3. Having energy to play with my kids and do the things I love like walking, biking, hiking, swimming 4. Not having food be in control 5. Not feeling like a total failure and not feeling like I am going to embarass my husband if I go to one of his employers social functions and five cons. 1. I get SOOOOOOO COOOLLLLLDDDD SOOOOOOO Easily!!!! 2. Feeling like people who know I had the surgery are watching every bite I take waiting for me to fail 3. Looking in the mirror and still seeing myself as a 320 pound person when I really weigh 156 or waiting for the ball to drop and failure to move in again. 4. Skin (need I say more????) 5. Sometimes wanting to eat what I know I shouldn't and wanting to eat for comfort and not being able to find a way to comfort myself.

Hi Cindy!!! I'm here. I really miss you!!! I hope you are doing well. I just started working a second job - which means I have A LOT more energy. So, I haven't been around much, but I miss you all very much. I think my weight loss is going well, and like you, I would do it all again in 1/2 second. Here are my thoughts. Cons: 1. The struggle I had deciding if it was worth the risk (single mother/who would care for son) 2. Hair loss 3. Protein/vitamins 4. Needing plastic surgery 5. Fear of something going wrong Pros: 1. I felt better instantly - no more CPAP, daily asthma meds, knee pain, back pain 2. Meeting wonderful people. 3. Being able to jog - it was only 10 feet, but 10 more than I used to do. 4. Being able to loose weight while learning to control my food addictions. 5. Being able to reach spots and see parts of m body I haven't felt or seen in ages.......I could go on all day (night) Sharyn 310/225/148