Newbies & Oldbies - check in here please!

We have so many new folks on the Oregon board and I'm such a spaz about checking in I feel like I don't know you all now! How about we do a little roll call with a mini-bio? I will PROMISE to come back and check in. I know I have been horrible about dropping off the face of the earth lately. Bad me! So let's do it - introduce yourself here! About me: I am 38 years old and live in Medford. I am married and have a 3.5 year old son, Mason. I work full time as dispatcher for OSP. I had an open RNY with Dr. Aguirre in Ensenada Mexico on March 10, 2004 (1 year coming up!). I've lost 113-114 lbs so far and have been stalled for several weeks now...again. I would like to lose another 60 lbs, but I would be happy to lose another 26-27 lbs which would put me at about the weight my license says which is 185. Never EVER has my real weight been reflected on my license! Dina

I'm here, I'm here! Hi Dina, just been lurking lately, ok, really I have had so much energy that I haven't been on the PC much. I have passed my 1 yr. mark, although I am an 18 monther, (mainly because I have only lost 83 lbs.) but that's ok with me! I'm starting to feel like a average person, something I haven't ever felt before! I live in Sumpter, that's in the mountains above Baker City. I am married with a grown daughter whom lives in Portland. I was hurt in a accident at work in 1997 which has left me disabled. And believe me it was impossible to loose weight! But with this new energy I have found, I find my attitude more positive, and happy. I too have never had my license reflect my true weight, and get this I am 1" taller, that is a new one. Forty-One years old and 1" taller, I'll take it though! Where's our little fairy angel Brandi, I know she is out there....Hey Brandi where are you??? Well as you can see I am long winded these days, I guess that's because I'm not so out of breath when I visit or answer the phone. This surgery has truely been a lifesaver for me, and I thank God everyday for giving me the second chance. Take Care Everyone, and if you need me, just let me know. Catherine 1/22/04 -83 lbs.

Catherine - so good to hear from you! I always have a picture of Sumpter in my head from when we would go through there on our way to Baker all the time when we lived in Prairie City/John Day. Please don't fret over your loss. You had less to lose than many and are doing great! It's wonderful that you are feeling so good and doing so well. The rest from here on out is gravey....even for me. And I still want to lose 60 more.....but I'll settle for 25! Dina

Checking in! I think it's adorable that your a spaz! Cause I just love that word! LOL! I haven't been so good lately either, but in 3 more weeks, I will be done with school and checking in ALL THE TIME! there is nothing mini about my bio, but I will say I am getting sooo close I can't feel those credit cards getting warmed up for shopping at the GAP! LOL! Brandi

oops! that would be CAN feel the credit cards getting warmed up...LOL!

Brandi - I cannot wait to see the fashion show! If you are like me you will end up with not enough clothing for awhile then all the sudden too many again! I don't do the Gap yet though. I know I can find my size there and at Old Navy now, but force of habit I guess I still shop stores that have a women's section even though I don't go there anymore. I also love the discount stores like Ross and TJ Maxx!!! Dina

Great idea to do this! I'm just shy of 44, divorced 4 years ago and have been with my SO for 3 years now and have lived together for the last two....talking about wedding bells happening in late summer. I have two daughters, Megan will be 15 tomorrow (I can't believe it!) and Molly is 13.5 My SO's son lives with us half the time and he's just shy of 14. I am co-owner of a busines-to-business IT consulting company in Beaverton. I had Lap RNY on 7/22/4 with Dr. Eubanks at Portland Adventist and have lost 104 lbs so far. My high weight was 443, but lost 134 2 years before surgery. So, I used to wear a 32/34 and currently wear 14/16. At 211, I have 20 lbs to get to my "bariatric goal" per the Dr., but 61 lbs to get to my ideal weight of 150. No problemo....I'm confident I'll get there. I am thankful every single day for the gift of this surgery and what it has enabled me to do. Michele

Wedding bells for our Belle Michele! That is so neat! I can't wait to see what your wedding dress looks like! Michele - I have to ask - how did you lose the first 134 lbs on your own, and was it hard to keep it off? How long were you at that weight? I find it incredible that you did that much on your own - what an inspiration! You must be pretty tall to carry off a 32/34 at 443. I just last night (before I went to work) hit 210 so I am just 1 lb ahead of you right now. I know it's not a race, but doggone it - you had your surgery after me.....I gotta try to keep up! I have the same goal to get to 150, but I have revised it to just get to 185 which is on my license. Things have slowed so much I don't want to get all depressed over not making my goal. I'll take almost anything under 200 now! Dina

MAYBE! We've got a few issues to work out before I'd say yes, lol. I am confident we can overcome them, or I wouldn't have posted the possibility. A friend took a picture of me at my 40th birthday party (I carry it in my purse as a reminder to stay on track so I don't go back). It was one of those rare glimpses at what I really looked liked. I knew I was obese....just rarely saw myself as big as I really was. That pic did it! I decided to make some changes....made myself eat bfast, quit all fast/fried food and made bfast and lunch my bigger meals instead of dinner. I also quite drinking pop and coffee. I had my fat intake down to 7-14 grams per day, but I wasn't carb counting at that time. My typical intake would be: Bfast: Yoplait fat free, low sugar yogurt and 2 white cheddar rice cakes. Lunch: Lean Cuisine and a piece of fruit. Dinner: Salad or a small amount of something I made at home. I also got myself a puppy and walked him every single night. I was just so mentally ready to finally do something, the changes stuck! I've never gone back to my old habits. I truly believe everyone has a certain point in their lives where they reach that mind set "I've had enough of this" and their determination is finally there. I've started diets, weight-loss programs and exercise programs before but this last time was just so easy! Because I was mentally ready and committed to it! It just seemed like it melted off! No, I'm not real tall...just under 5'7". But I always carried my weight very well and was pretty compacted for being that size. According to my friends, I never "walked" like an obese person either. I think toddling is a better description, from what I've observed. And I never showed all that much weight in my face. Obviously I had some, because I'm getting the Turkey neck to prove it! But even though my face was a bit round, it never really looked "fat". I'll have to get my "catalyst" picture scanned and posted here. I have set a goal of 170 for myself...because I'm expecting around 20 lbs to come off with the plastic surgery! That would put me at goal. Congrats on the 210! I haven't seen that yet....but I weighed in this morning at 217! It fluctuates so dang much! Tomorrow, I'll probably be back down, lol. Dina, you've worked so hard at it....I'm sure you'll make your goal. Just remember, the last 50 is the hardest and I'll be right there, struggling along with you! Take care, Michele