I am new to this site and want to say Hi to all!

My name is Patricia Patton and I am from Uniontown PA which is 50 miles south of Pittsburgh. I recently had the pleasure of meeting 3 of the gals from this website at the Pittsburgh Event ( I will be going to the Philadelphia Event in October as well) and I do know personally Lora 13 and Baseball Mom ,we had the same surgeon and attend a monthly support group together. They are both fantastic ladies. I have been a member of OH since Nov. 07' I stated a support group in my community in March of 08" and have had a great response. I am certified through OH. and now am working on becoming a Life Coach for Bariatrics. I am a Hospice nurse and I do that through our local hospital and go to patient's home which I love, but since my surgery in April of 2007 my focus is now shifting and I would like to pursue Bariatrics because I stand by this surgery and want to support those who struggle with obesity and desire either this surgery or the lap band and help them to be educated and fully prepared for what lies ahead. I have lost 170 lbs which is 100% of my weight. I went froma size 30/32 to size 8. I have lost over 90 inches off my body, my BMI went from 50.1 to 23.5 which for the lst time in my life I can say I am at a healthy weight! My cholesterol went from 240 to 130 and my triglycerides went from 611 to 118 that is just short of 500 points. Today, I can say I feel fantastic. I usually hang out in the PA Forum as I look to see people from my area who I might introduce myself  to and invite them to my support group. It has been a key to the success of the group. I have had as many as 51 attend the group and the docs from my area and including my surgeons have come both to my group and we did a lunch and learn for the docs at our local hospital because it does not do bariatrics...everyone must go to Pittsburgh for their surgery. I venture over to the 50's club because that is where I am...53 to be exact. I am married for 32 years, have 3 grown children- my 2 daughters Laura who is 31 lives in Phila. and is an assist. manager to Walgreen's, Robyn also lives there and is married and has 2 little girls ( it is great to be a Grammie) Amelia is 4 1/2 and Ava is 3 and my son Tom is a police Officer in Connellsville not far from Uniontown. I have enjoyed all of your comments and I read alot of the interesting things you say because I want to hear from everyone's experience to share with the "newbies" that come to the support group and or questions I myself might have... I hope to hear from some of you and that we can encourage each other. OH contacted me and in the very near future I will be starting an online support group for those who have experienced or are experiencing complications...now that's a story to be told at another writing. If you would like to see what I look like go to my blog pdplpn, I have yet to figure out how to insert a picture with my profile name. I am so lame when it comes to computers and being creative...Have a great Day and I Hope to Hear from some of you and get to know you.... Patricia Patton

Hi there, Patricia and welcome!!!

You've landed in a great place, lots of love and encouragement to go around. We love to welcome new folks,  so be prepared for lots of hi's and howdy-do's  LOL

Are you doing the OH Coaching sessions that start tomorrow?? I'll be in that group, so it will be nice to hear your voice.  It should be interesting, don't you think?

Hi Susan and it is very nice to meet you and to know another OH Certified Support Group Leader. Unfortunately, I am not doing the OH Coaching in August I am on a waiting list for August and start my training in October of which I am excited to be doing. I have my group the lst monday of each month so we meet tomorrow and my dear friend Lora 13 is my featured speaker...she will be sharing her journey with our group. I am very excited with those in my community who have backed this including my employer who allows me to use our facility for free ( of course their name is attached to everything and that is how they get their plug- they have no juristiction ( is that the right spelling?) over the group) the docs have been wonderful in helping me provide education to a community where knowledge deficits are the norm. We have done Stress and Emotional Eating with a counselor who was phenomenal, we have had the dietician in, we had the gal that is the PA for the Osteoporisis Clinic that was fantastic and we had a dr. of physiology who gave us great exercises for low back issues and its relatonship to obesity. I have a gynie coming in sept. to address women's health and obesity, a menu planner for october and a pharmacist for november on medication adjustments and gastric by pass. Dec is an open month and I am working on somehting I hope will be good. I look forward to hearing your ideas and what you do in your group. I want to hear what has been successful for you...great to meet you talk with you soon....Patricia

Hi Patricia,

Good to see you post on OFF.  It's so nice to "meet" new people and learn about their experiences!

I look forward to you continuing to share.

Kathi

Hey you guys on the west coast get up early ! I thought I was the only early bird...It is so nice to meet you and I look forward to what I think is going to be an awesome website. Have a great day because it's a beatuiful day in the neighborhood...be encouraged !. Just an FYI if you are a reader, read Randy Pausch's book called the Last Lecture...he asks are you a Tigger or an Eorye? I suspect  Kathi by you early time you are indeed a Tigger...Patricia

Patricia, I want to read his book. He was truly an amazing man and the world lost a lot when he passed.

hi patricia and welcome to OFF!! great group here and glad to have you join us!! looks like you have done a fantastic job with your WLS congrats!!!!

hugs

Thanks so much for the welcome...I am a blabber so wait until I really get started... Thanks for the congrats...like I said to Kathi...it's a beautiful day in the neighborhood...be encouraged... and I suspect this whole wild bunch on this website are Tigger's... Have a great day! Patricia and it is my pleasure to meet you....

Welcome to the OFF Patricia,

I am fairly new to this site (May) well maybe not..LOL! I have not had surgery yet ,am still in the process of going through the many hoops and delays. I'm told it builds character! But it is ok, when the time is right it will happen and if it doesn;t there is a reason for that too. In the meantime I am continuing down this path to see where it leads me.  It is always good for me to read what others have gone through in their journeys...helps me alot. I'm from the Chicagoland area and 52. I have one married daughter, 2 granddaughters and a very supportive husband who has lost 40 pounds, since we are cooking and eating differently. My daughter has lost 26 pounds in the last few months, she says I'm inspiring her to change her diet also. 

Welcome again! Paulette

I know these days of uncertainty before the surgery is the hardest. I congratulate you for working toward the surgery and making yourself the best surgical candidate that you can be. The surgeon will aprreciate it for sure. You are so blessed with a supportive husband...cherish him. Keep intouch I really am interested in how things go and how I can help you through the days ahead...its my pleasure to meet you....Patricia