happy to help

I'm new - not sure if I'm doing this correctly or not. I hope everyone here will be accepting of me and my desire to help. I'm actually a Personal Trainer in Redmond, Wa. I was invited to participate in both the Gastric Bypass and Lap Band Support groups here at Evergreen hospital and have been with them for 5 months. Everyone there has my email and knows they are welcome to come to me with any questions. I just wanted to extend myself to you as well, let you know I'm in your corner cheering you all on in your journey! I will try to get on as often as possible.

Welcome to the Washington board!!  Looks to me like you're doing this right!!    Thanks for offering yourself as a sounding board or question answerer!!  It's so nice to have different professionals to have available.  Thanks again and I look forward to seeing more posts from you!

Thank you for your support, are you a bypass patient?

I'm not (I didn't select the Dr. that is on my profile and don't know how to get it off) I do not have the same experiences you have. The experiences I have with this are the clients that have had the surgery also lap band sugery as well as the 5 months I've been attending the support groups. I have learned so much, and love being there! Just to tell you a little about me - cause I fear I'll be lumped into a stereotype of Trainers, which I'm not. Although I have not struggled with weight to the the degree that you have, I've had other challanges and hardships. 8 and 1/2 years ago I found myself single with 4 kids after 10 years of marriage - lost my house, car and job. After 7 years of doing it on my own - I'm now remarried and have 6 kids and a career - I understand "busy" and I understand "difficult" I guess I have a more realistic view and understanding of the challenges we face to take care of ourselves when there are already so many other demands put on us. I understand that affording a Trainer isn't in everyones budget - but I want to bring the knowledge and understanding to as many people as I can and this is one way I can do that.

Thanks so much for your offer to help.  Be warned you will probally start getting lots of questions!  Welcome to the board and yes you did do it right.

All do everything I can! Thanks for the warning! : ) I welcome it!