Say hello and introduce yourself!

Say hello and introduce yourself!

I've been a member of ObesityHelp for 11 years and have met so many wonderful people over the years and continue to meet new friends. So I thought an introduction post would be a fun way to learn more about each other.

This post is all about introductions, or re-introductions, or just checking in to say how you're doing.

Here are three questions to start us off:

1) Where are you in your weight loss surgery journey? How are you doing so far?

2) Any goals that you're currently working on? (weight, health or life related)

3) What words of wisdom would you share with others?

1) Where are you in your weight loss surgery journey? How are you doing so far? 

I will be 11 years post-op Open RNY on April 7th, Revision to revise pouch and repair hiatal hernia September 2010. I'm doing GREAT, WLS greatly improve my quality of life and helped in the treatment and management of my lymphedema.

2) Any goals that you're currently working on? (weight, health or life related)

After a rough winter, I'm working on the goal to get back in the gym 3 days a week specifically back to water aerobics classes. I am also considering becoming a certified aquatics instructor, I need to find out what courses are available in my area. Water aerobics was the key in me taking control of my health and in June I'll be doing a quick presentation on the topic at Fitbloggin'.

3) What words of wisdom would you share with others?

Never give up, never ever give up. This is a life long journey to health, and to maintain health.

1) Where are you in your weight loss surgery journey? How are you doing so far? 

I'm coming up to 10 years post RNY - I have managed to maintain my EWL, but it gets harder year by year (which I know no one wants to hear about LOL)

2) Any goals that you're currently working on? (weight, health or life related)

I work on maintaining my weight loss post menopause, tweaking my vitamins according to my labs and staying as healthy as possible.

3) What words of wisdom would you share with others?

The first 5 years are easy - it takes a lot of effort to stay successful past that and if you don't change your lifestyle, learning to eat properly, exercise well, take your vitamins and take responsibility for your health needs, you will probably regain weight and will most certainly have health difficulties down the road.   The statistics are not in our favour!

They may not WANT to hear it but they NEED to hear it because it's the truth, and your 5 year estimate is a pretty accurate one. So many a few years out question if we're following the rules, etc...yep but things change, body adjust. Also, you just don't experience all life experiences within a few years so you really do not know how you'll respond to stresses like job loss, death in the family, major illness, etc.

I work on maintaining my weight loss post menopause

Ugh, I'm dealing with that, too, and it is a *****!

Great idea for a post, Sarah!

1) Where are you in your weight loss surgery journey? How are you doing so far? I'm 3.5 months out from my VSG and about 70lb down from where I was when I first walked into my surgeon's info seminar. 3 pants sizes down, yay, and I'll find out this week if I can get off my blood pressure meds! I'm at the point where I'm at the small end of where I've ever been, and I'm kind of nervous about being smaller ("brave new frontier?") and trying to wrap my head around it, but it'll be a good thing!

2) Any goals that you're currently working on? Staying sane! I have bipolar, and all of these rapid changes, plus flood of hormones, have my mental health on shaky ground sometimes. I have an awesome psychiatrist and an understanding husband, and I'm considering getting into talk therapy, because it's a lot to handle at once. I have trouble with massive change and upset to my routine (physical or emotional) so this whole thing has been kind of crazy.

3) What words of wisdom would you share with others? Find something else to obsess about once in a while! Since surgery, my whole life has been revolving around weighing food, counting my steps, tracking my protein, and stepping on the scale. Tracking my weight-loss progress is nearly the only thing I think about, and while it's been great for my physical health, it's been driving me bonkers! For the past two weeks, I've finally picked up my quilting again, which I haven't touched since before surgery in December, and being able to work on color/design/math and working with my hands has been an ENORMOUS pick-me-up. It gives me something to re-focus on, plus it helps me get my life back to "normal," in a sense, and I'm very glad I've gotten back into it.

Thanks for sharing! I know several other post-ops who also manage being bi-polar, and you are so right about the struggle with all the changes and medications, esp challenging for those with RNY or DS and have malabsorption. Therapy is a wonderful thing for all of us post-ops! I did 4 years of it myself and check in with her when needed during stressful events.

1) Where are you in your weight loss surgery journey? How are you doing so far?

Lapband surgery in December of 2003. Maintaining 173 pound weight loss.

2) Any goals that you're currently working on? (weight, health or life related)

Would like to lose another 10 pounds but based on how much my strength has improved since working out harder and on a 4-5x/wk basis, I'm happy where I am. 

3) What words of wisdom would you share with others?

1. Never say "never." It is ALWAYS possible to regain some or all of your lost weight. It's easy to fall back into back habits.

2. Remember that your goal should not be to reach a "normal" weight but to achieve a healthier, longer and more enjoyable life.

3. Don't expect rapid weight loss. It's great if it happens, but it may not. Remember that you didn't get obese overnight and you can't expect to lose all that excess weight overnight, either.

 #3 1-2-3 

1) Where are you in your weight loss surgery journey? How are you doing so far? I had my consult today and it will be about 7-8 months until I have surgery

2) Any goals that you're currently working on? (weight, health or life related) Working on working more hours at work, I have to gradually build up hours. I start meeting with the dietitian on May 1st for 6 months.

3) What words of wisdom would you share with others? stay active with this board.