Getting to know you

Annyka,

It took me about 16 months to lose all of my weight, so just hang in there. While the majority of WLS patients lose during the first 12 months, there are some of us that just take a little longer. Also, as I'm sure you know, we now always have our 'tool.' Once you hit your goal and/or maintenance, I'm sure that you'll start adding in additional calories and find your sweet spot where you are able to maintain your new, healthy weight.

Wishing you all the best and continued success,

Oh, I'm not worried about the pace at all - I've lost 162 lb - any more than that in a year would just be overkill. I'm very happy with my progress.

Good to hear it! Sometimes people become distressed if they don't reach goal in a year, so that's why I commented on how long it took me to lose may weight.

Wishing you continued success,

I'd like to visit the Middle East too just to see the historical parts. I don't think I could live there though. David's nephew has lived in Israel and while I love to hear the stories I don't think I'd ever feel safe or relaxed.

What is the story behind one of your scars? I am lucky to have very few scars.  A laparoscopic hysterectomy/pelvic repair done in 2006 left me w/ little incision scars to the left and right below my belly button.  I had RNY 7 weeks ago, have lost 30 lbs and last week I realized "Hey, I can see that little scar again!!"

What do you "know now" that you wish you "knew then"? That the time I had to mother my children truly does pass in the blink of an eye.  I would have done some thing differently.

Have you ever won a prize, if so what was it? My husband.

What subject do you wish you had paid more attention to in school?  Music.  I would like to have played an instrument.

If you could have coffee with someone famous, who would it be?  The late author, Maeve Binchey.

What is your favorite thing about your mom? My mom passed away from Alzheimer's on New Year's Day 2009.  She was fiercely loyal about her children.  When I was battling w/ a sibling, I didn't understand how she never saw the negatives that I saw and now as a mother of adult children, I understand.

What song do you love to dance to? Build Me Up Buttercup by The Foundations. 

What was the worst punishment your parents ever enacted? I was the proverbial "good kid", the youngest of four and didn't get punished very often.  I do recall being humiliated in front of my brother's friend when I came into the house and slammed the door and my father made me go back and close it quietly ten times.

Who was the best boss you ever worked for? Brian Blomberg.  I was a new manager with little training and he taught me so many things, how to do a budget, deal with people issues.  He was a kind, fair and patient man.

What restaurant do you love even though you know you shouldn't? I love Chick Fil A milkshakes (haven't had one in quite a while and I'd be afraid to now.)  And their chicken strips w/ honey mustard dipping sauce.  Oh yes, and waffle fries. 

If you did not need the money what would you do for work? I would volunteer at my church, working in the office, packing back packs of food for the Backpack Ministry etc.  I would volunteer at an elementary school.

If you had an extra room in your house what would you use it for? I have enough rooms in my house but if I could, I would have a huge, awesome laundry room.  Big enough for a folding table, large closet for the vacuum cleaner etc., plenty of cupboards. 

How would you explain love to somebody who had never heard of it before? I would bring them to experience families, people helping others, see the grief of someone who has lost a loved one, the joy a new baby brings to parents/grandparents, an elderly couple hand in hand after 50+ years.

What is your warmest birthday memory? I don't have a lot of memories of my birthday when I was a kid, we didn't do big bashes.  My best memories are as an adult. My 35th birthday that coincided with SuperBowl Sunday so we went to a party and someone had made me a cake decorated like a football field, a weekend away when I got to pick every restaurant, store, activity.  I turned 57 on Jan. 27 and we had a "Birthday Weekend".  We went to the movies, went bowling and my husband did all the cooking and cleaning up.

What is a good place to travel, but you would not want to live there?  Absolutely love to vacation in Hawaii but I wouldn't want to live there (unless I win the lottery then we'll buy a condo.)

Lucy,

It's so nice to meet you! First of all, I want to congratulate you on your recent surgery and the phenomenal success you have experienced.

I see myself reflected in soooo many of your answers. I have three children; 31 year old identical twins and and 18 year old daughter and they all look very much alike. One of our sons and his wife have just blessed us with our first grandchild. Our grandson looks just like my children. It was AMAZING as I held Wyatt and thought that I couldn't believe it had been 31 years since I'd had his daddy; it truly felt like the time had passed, as you said, in the blink of an eye. I also was thinking that while I have done the best I could at the time, that hindsight or experience is worth more than a million dollars and if I could, there are definitely some things that I would change. I actually did make a number of changes in raising our daughter who came along 12 years after her brothers.

I too wish that I had paid more attention in music class and learned to play an instrument. I was in the school choir, but I wish that I could have learned to play the piano.

Like you, I lost my mother in 2010 and I still miss her a great deal.

While I was the oldest of 5 children, I also was the proverbial 'good kid' and rarely got into to trouble, but one of things I did was slam the door when I was upset as a teen. I'll never forget doing so as an adult and causing a piece of the glass to crack. My father told me I did it and asked me to please be careful. I was SOOOOoooo embarrassed and haven't slammed a door since.

I also would love to have a huge, functional laundry room. I think it's a real luxury I'd love to have.

I love your explanation of love... I think that you may be right, people may have to witness the experience of love to understand it.

I look forward to continuing to get to know you.

Wishing you continued success,

Oooohhh a laundry room. That would be so nice. I seem to do laundry every day.

What is the story behind one of your scars?

I have a scar on my middle finger on my right hand from an ex who used a pair of scissors on my hand while wrapping Christmas gifts. This happened when I was around 15 at the time. Much longer story to this but safe to say that relationship ended soon thereafter.

What do you "know now" that you wish you "knew then"?

How to budget better. Money wasn't a priority when I was young and dumb.

Have you ever won a prize, if so what was it?

$20 gift card to a bistro for bringing a friend to my gyms grand opening this past Friday!

What subject do you wish you had paid more attention to in school?

Math, I paid attention but didn't take it seriously. I have no plans on using it beyond academia.

If you could have coffee with someone famous, who would it be?

Julius Caesar or ****ro. Very different men from the same time. I admire both.

What is your favorite thing about your mom?

Her faith in every one of her children. I am gifted with it and cheri**** but also see it in action towards siblings and their children.

What song do you love to dance to?

Varies but I prefer songs that get the juices flowing since I dance like a two left-footed, argyle sweater wearing high-class white boy. Most songs are running songs like Survivor - Eye Of The Tiger or even Imagine Dragons - Radioactive.

What was the worst punishment your parents ever enacted?

My worst punishment was also a mistake. When I was growing up I was all about video games, had the magazine subscription to Nintendo Power and all. One day dad told me to hush and not talk about games...I lasted like 30 seconds. He grounded me, unhooked the NES and all...then forgot. Yes, he forgot I was grounded. Six months later I was home, homework done, nothing on TV. Mom asks why I'm not playing the NES. I told her why and her response was "OMG!" Then she dials dad at work and gives him hell. Somewhat broke me of video games but when you are 10ish and live in the city there wasn't much to do outside that was "safe."

Who was the best boss you ever worked for?

My current boss. He has some admirable qualities that I think allow me to enjoy my job. He does not micro-manage me and I have worked under him in the last three positions I've had at the company I currently work for, he's been my boss for three years. As he has risen in the company I've done the same. He offers constructive criticism and I've only seen him agitated to the point of anger maybe twice.

What restaurant do you love even though you know you shouldn't?

Is it weird I don't have a restaurant that I really really like? I enjoy Wild Wok for it's sushi but sadly I have no love for one particular establishment.

If you did not need the money what would you do for work?

If money wasn't an object? I'd do what I do now, software and handset engineering. I'd like to think this also frees me up to have more free time. I've considered helping with a local organization for at risk youths.

If you had an extra room in your house what would you use it for?

I'd pad it and add a bouncing floor for my nephews to play in. There are 5 of them after all plus three very younger siblings. Cousins we adopted when they were very small. So they consider me brother even though they understand how things went down.

How would you explain love to somebody who had never heard of it before?

What is love? Oh, Baby don't hurt me! don't hurt me! No more!

Seriously though, love is everything. It's what makes scientist work to find cures. It's what makes firemen rush in to burning buildings while police stop criminals. It's what makes men burn the world to ash and women nurture children. Love isn't even something I can tell someone about because it is visceral and beautiful. Without it, time would stop. Hope that makes sense...I do not want to leave a book of philosophy here for folks to yawn over.

What is your warmest birthday memory?

My first and only sleepover when I was 10. Dad dressed as Jason Voorhees and scared the bejesus out of us all.

What is a good place to travel, but you would not want to live there?

In Country: New York. Have been a few times but I don't care to live in the concrete jungle. Odd since I grew up in Baltimore City but then again, times were different.

Out Of Country: Japan, Too crowded in the cities but I love the culture.

What is the story behind one of your scars?
I had thyroid cancer and had to have a total thyroidectomy in October 2012.

What do you "know now" that you wish you "knew then"?
The food you love and turn to may not hurt you at that moment, but it will in the long run.

Have you ever won a prize, if so what was it?
I won 1st place in a karaoke contest, and 1st prize was $100.

What subject do you wish you had paid more attention to in school?
English. I love writing, but I should have paid more attention to grammar and punctuation.

If you could have coffee with someone famous, who would it be?
Oh! Definitely Gustav Schäfer from Tokio Hotel!

What is your favorite thing about your mom?
She's ALWAYS there for me, no matter how grouchy or moody I am.

What song do you love to dance to?
The song "I Know How to Say" by 3OH!3 makes me dance every time I hear it!

What was the worst punishment your parents ever enacted?
The belt. Enough said.

Who was the best boss you ever worked for?
Probably my bosses at the video store where I worked for 2.5 years.

What restaurant do you love even though you know you shouldn't?
Sonic for fast food. Tabeya Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi for an eat-in restaurant!

If you did not need the money what would you do for work?
I'd love to travel with musicians. I don't care what I'd do, I'd just like to travel with them.

If you had an extra room in your house what would you use it for?
We need a lot of work done to our house. We just got new floors in my room and the living area. We need all our electric to be rewired, and we need a drainage system in the front yard. Any amount of rain turns our yard into a muddy swamp!

How would you explain love to somebody who had never heard of it before?
Love is when you care about someone else more than yourself. At least, that's what it is to me.

What is your warmest birthday memory?
Probably the year my friends threw me a HUGE party with almost all my friends there! There were so many people and I felt so loved!

What is a good place to travel, but you would not want to live there?
Australia! I've always wanted to go there. I'd love to move to Germany and have plans to do so in the distant future.

I got  surgery at Vidant medical center 3/21/13 going home today gotta get medication regimen down along with shakes and water thing but I got it I can and will get it right