Hi everyone!!

I am somwhat new to this board and also to the site.  I joined OH when I started researching my WLS journey.  I am now 10 months out and have some exciting news!!  I have been selected out of thousands as a finalist for a HUGE makeover.  This is something that I feel very gifted to be selected for.  This year has been one of HUGE challenges both emotionally, physically, finacially, etc.  While I am grateful for my surgery and my weight loss, I can honestly say that this has been the most trying year of my life.  If you have read this far, I thank you.  I am needing to get as many votes as I can to win.  So I figured that I would be best off starting from my home WI base, hoping that I could find some support.  I thank you all from the bottom of my heart if you can help me with this journey.  I truly beleive that this will be the final part of my final transformation.  Thank you all from the bottom of my heart!

Here is the link for voting for the contest tomorrow.  I am very excited about this opportunity.  I have attached a flyer with the bios of the final three candidates including myself.  They are having problems with the website, soooo IF IT IS NOT UP AND RUNNING TOMORROW YOU CAN ALSO USE THE EMAIL OPTION!  The email MUST include the below and they are very specific!!   Voting will begin at 9:00 am on September 09, 2009 and will close at 11:59 pm on September 12, 2009.  Voting is restricted to one vote per day per individual and must include the voters first and last name, phone number, email address, address.  Votes will be accept through Enhancing Light's Website at www.ellasers.com/Milwaukee-makeover.htm, Enhancing Light's online contact form, by email to [email protected], in person at the any of the Enhancing Light clinics or participating partners, or by phone at 866.400.VELA (8352). 

Hello,  I had surgery with Dr. Wallace in Nov 2007.  All went well.  I like him and he is very straight forward about things.  I only saw him once during my hospital stay....mostly it was people I didn't know.  I wasn't thrilled about that part but I know it is a teaching hospital.  The hospital, as far as staying there, is fine.  You do get a private room so that is nice.  After surgery, you only see the nurse for appts...I believe that only my inital in office appt after surgery was with him.  The hospital stay is no picnic......you think you would be resting but it is total opposite.  You have to walk all the time and drink sips of water continuously.  You constantly have to watch the clock and take a sip every 2 minutes.  So there was no watching TV or reading or doing crossword puzzles because you literally had to watch the clock and drink every two minutes.  So there is no resting to this surgery. 

You have to do food journals for months and getting all the protein in my meals was not easy or fun.....but you have to do it.  If you can get passed the initial six months or so....you are home free......

I have had a very successful surgery.  I would do it again in a heartbeat.  However, the choice is totally yours.....some people have a lot of issues and some don't. 

Good luck on your surgery!!!

I still write to Richard Simmons. I am actually a clubhouse member and also go to his weekly Monday night chats. I love doing his sweat to the oldies. I have all 4 of them plus party off the pounds. He is in the making of sweat to the oldies 5 and sweat to oldies toning dvd's. Wow I am amazed how much you lost with him. He gives us the tools to use. But like you said it was control the hunger. He knows I had the surgery and still is supportive to me as well. He did not try to talk me out of it either. He is happy the progress that I had made.

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I am hoping to have the VBG done at the end of this year or the begining of next year.  I'm so ready to change my life. And I have very good faith in my surgeon.  I went to his seminar and he seems like he is a very excellent surgeon. And He cares for his patients.  My only thing is everytime i exercise i get to the last exercise of the dvd before the cool down exercises and my legs feel like jello than they give out on me. Is that normal?  I Bought the dvd called The Biggest Loser Workout DVD. And I love it but i dont like when my legs give out on me. Any suggestions???