***FRIDAY'S ROLL CALL***

Good day everyone. Lets see what we have today. 1. Do you think you will have surgery done to remove excess skin? I hope so. 2. Do you think you will have surgery done to remove excess skin?Is it vanity or a health issue? Great and it is both. 3. How many people are there in your life that you feel DO NOT support you in your WLS decision or journey? I don't know nor am I worried about it. 4. How many people are there in your life that you feel DO support you in your WLS decision or journey? All that I talk to and really care about me. 5. What was the final thing that made you decide to have WLS? When my oldest son asked me why I was so fat. Ya'll have a good day!!!!!!!!

Good Friday Morning all.... I'm just getting home from preregistration, chest x-ray and lab at the hospital for my cholacystectomy next Friday. 1. Do you think you will have surgery done to remove excess skin? I am truly blessed to not have an "apron" or "bat wings" (I hate those names) but I do have excess skin in my neck, abdomen and upper thighs. That would involve at least two operations, maybe three and w/o insurance that means $$$ that aren't there just now. 2. How do you feel about those having this surgery? Is it vanity or a health issue? I think weight loss surgery is a last resort to weight loss and it depends on whether or not the person has exhausted all other means of weight loss and knows that without a doubt, that WLS is their only choice. Self-esteem, depression, loneliness, isolation are valid health issues and certainly we need to feel good about how we look as well as how our body physically functions. Personally, it was purely for my health that I chose WLS. I cannot judge others for their reason to choose WLS. 3.How many people are there in your life that you feel do not support you in your WLS decision or journey? I'm not too sure about my primary care physician...... 4. How many people are there in your life that you feel do support you in your WLS decision or journey....Everyone! 5. What was the final thing that made you decide to have WLS? In August of 2003 my insurance company decided that they would no longer pay for my Prilosec and instead substituted Prevacid. I switched and grew very ill in the transition. Shortness of breath, increased blood pressure, fatigue, rebound heartburn (worse than ever before) and I just simply said enough is enough...I knew that with weight loss the GERD and the blood pressure issues would be resolved. I trust God daily to help me make the right choices...I know He is concerned with the small decisions as well as the major decisions....that's just who He is....my loving Heavenly Father. Love you guys...Luvitsunnyv

Ruthanne, I LOVE your new picture! You are truly beautiful...inside & out! Love, Cindy

My goodness you are beautiful!! I love your new picture! Like Cindy said, you are beautiful inside and outside!! Hugs, Letty

1. Do you think you will have surgery done to remove excess skin? most likely , if I ever get the wls 2. How do you feel about those having this surgery? Is it vanity or a health issue? wls - health, skin removal - health and vanity 3. How many people are there in your life that you feel DO NOT support you in your WLS decision or journey? 98% 4. How many people are there in your life that you feel DO support you in your WLS decision or journey? I have no one realty outside of the people Ive met on here, My husband has finally started supporting me in the journey after much prayer and a year of trying so far to get the ins. to approve 5. What was the final thing that made you decide to have WLS? after my last child the dr. said if I have any more children I will most likely die because of my blood pressure and I only have that because of weight, now I have many more things gone wrong with mejust since I started the journey a little over a year ago....I pray my appeal goes well. In His love Regina

Good morning board! I hope everyone has a blessed Friday and a wonderful weekend as well! 1. Do you think you will have surgery done to remove excess skin? I would like to. The expense may be a challenge, but I definitely want to try to have a TT. More if possible. 2. How do you feel about those having this surgery? Is it vanity or a health issue? Alsmost everyone I know who has had the surgery has had many health issues resolved because of it. I think the fact that we all now look better is just a side benefit. 3. How many people are there in your life that you feel DO NOT support you in your WLS decision or journey? None 4. How many people are there in your life that you feel DO support you in your WLS decision or journey? All of my friends and family have been very very supportive. If anyone was not, they did not make their feelings known to me. 5. What was the final thing that made you decide to have WLS? Working with two people who had the surgery and seeing how life-changing it was for both of them. This surgery has been a complete and total blessing for me and for my husband who had WLS in December. God bless, Wanda

Hi God is good! I had a rough week and found myself dehydrated but thanks to God, HE brought me through. Hope everyone have a great weekend... Today's Questions: 1. Do you think you will have surgery done to remove excess skin? I am hoping that I don't have to have it done but probrably will later on down the road if it is medically necessary. Looked at my arms last night and they are the most needed area at this point. 2. How do you feel about those having this surgery? Is it vanity or a health issue? For me, it was health issues. I was 24 when I originally looked into this surgery and knew that I could no****ch myself getting heavier and heavier with diabetes, high blood pressure, etc. running in my family. 3. How many people are there in your life that you feel DO NOT support you in your WLS decision or journey? My family (parents/sisters) were my non-supporters at first and I still believe that my father is not completly 100% supportive yet even after 7 wks post-op. But, with God's grace its getting better. 4. How many people are there in your life that you feel DO support you in your WLS decision or journey? My mom, sister, co-workers, church family and the few friends that I told have been very supportive of me. 5. What was the final thing that made you decide to have WLS? My daughter and health was the first and only things that helped me make my decision to have WLS. JaNae 338/288/175

Oh my goodness!!! You're down 50 lbs already???? PTL for this!!!! You go girl!! You know I support you 100%!!! I love you! Letty

Good afternoon all! It is so wonderful to see Randall around here again. We have certainly missed you and I continue to pray for you and your children. We are doing pretty good around here. My oldest daughter made Student of the Month (she is in 7th grade) and I am so very proud of her. We are going to celebrate by going to eat steak tonight. I have finally gotten most of those pounds off that I gained over the holidays. I would still like to lose at least one more pound. Anyway, as for the QOD: 1. Do you think you will have surgery done to remove excess skin? I would like to have a tummy tuck and something done to my legs (I'm pear shaped) but if I don't it is no big deal. I'm tall so that helps. I don't really have that much extra skin that people even notice, it is just that I see it. 2. How do you feel about those having this surgery? Is it vanity or a health issue? WLS--health issue. I always tell people considering WLS to be sure you change your attitude about food. It is not your best friend. Plastic surgery, I think for those who have a lot of extra skin, it is a health issue. For those of us that don't, it is probably more of a vanity issue. 3. How many people are there in your life that you feel DO NOT support you in your WLS decision or journey? The one person I was the most concerned about was my momma. She supported me 100% though and that was all that mattered. 4. How many people are there in your life that you feel DO support you in your WLS decision or journey? My entire family supported me. 5. What was the final thing that made you decide to have WLS? I prayed quite a bit about whether or not to go through with it. Once insurance came through and stated they would pay for it (I didn't have to pay anything) I knew that God was going to take care of me. I was afraid that I would not be there for my girls if I didn't get the weight off. Anyway, everyone have a great day! Love, Shel

Hi Cindy and everyone else~ Yeah, It's Friday!! I'm excited because Monday I can start pureed foods. It seems like it's taken an eternity to get here. Right now I am baking a cake for Sunday. We are having a superbowl party for the church. All the members are encouraged to bring an unsaved friend. During halftime my husband is going to shut off the TV and preach the gospel of Jesus. I'm actually very proud of myself. This cake smells awesome, but I haven't let one crumb pass though my lips. QOD: 1. Do you think you will have surgery done to remove excess skin? My doctor told me that because I am so young (26) that if I am faithful to exercise, I shouldn't need skin removal. 2. How do you feel about those having this surgery? Is it vanity or a health issue? I think that depends on the person. There isn't a person alive that can convince me that breast implants are a medical necessity; however, excess skin can cause rashes and yeast infections. 3. How many people are there in your life that you feel DO NOT support you in your WLS decision or journey? I think I have less now than preop. I think that it wasn't so much that they didn't support me, as they were scare for me. 4. How many people are there in your life that you feel DO support you in your WLS decision or journey? I would venture to say 99% 5. What was the final thing that made you decide to have WLS? Obviously there is a mountain of reasons, but one day I heard a woman whisper to her colleague, "doesn't she have the prettiest face?" That took me back to when I was 8 and heard ladies at church saying that to my grandmother. Granted, most would see that as a complement, what I saw though was people saying the rest of me was ugly and wasn't that a shame. After that lady said that I went home for my lunch break and made an appointment. I didn't even consult my husband first. I wanted that to be the last time only my face was considered pretty. Love ya, Dawn 320/294/175