New Here
I am new here, having had my surgery just a little over 3 weeks ago. It's been rough emotionally and mentally, physically I've done fairly well.
I have been searching for an online "home" to meet and talk with others about their experiences, and after going through several possibilities, it seems that here is a forum that will be both helpful and supportive. I hope to get to know some of you in the days to come as I am sure I have a lot to learn.
Sheila
Hi Sheila!! WELCOME to the BEST that OH has to offer!!!! This group is soooo supportive and kind!!! Hope that you will contine to keep coming back here so we can get to know you and you know us!!!
CONGRATS on your new life!!!! It will get better with time trust me!!! Just hang on because it IS the wildest ride of your life!!!
HUGS
You will meet the rest I am sure tomorrow. Its late now and its usually dead this time of night.
I am 58, but my boyfriend tells everyone I am going to be 43 next birthday...lol, I had my RNY on Oct 17, 2006. My only regret is I didn't have it sooner!!! I have lost about 165-170 pounds so far and that is about half of me from when I started out!!! OMG!!! Had a wonderful WOW moment the other day at work when a woman over heard me talking call me "skinny"!!!! OMG ME?? LOL
Anyhow I have a great boyfriend that I love to death!! Met him on the internet about 10 years ago and we have talked every night and finally after I lost my weight we met!!! Alot of other things inbetween but won't go into that...got divorced and moved to Ohio to be with Rick. Best thing I have ever done next to having WLS!!! I have a Shih tzu named Bandit and he has been my rock when things were bad. Again I won't go into that now...Alot of sadness in my life until I met Rick. He gave me back my self esteem and after WLS I have it all now you could say!!! :-) I love my life!!!!
Well I rattled on long enough here and again glad you found us!!!! Its a great group of women here and occasionally a man or two shows up...we are like one big family!!! Some days its like sitting around a table and chatting about our days and family and stuff...LOL You will see what I mean if you check out the daily thread that is started early everyday. Just jump in and add your two cents worth...its alot of fun!!!
OK I am off to bed now work in the morning....make sure you are taking pictures of yourself before and along the way and also measure yourself because when the weight isn't coming off the inches are!!! :-)
HUGS
PS where are you from if you don't mind my asking.
I didn't know Bandit was a Shih Tzu!!!!!!! How did I miss that ???? Oh yeah. I forgot. My brain doesn't have too many little gray cells working anymore. Wow. Do you have a picture on FB???? I'd love to see a pic or two. What color? how old? I'm soooooooo jealous. I wish I still had mine around. Love the bred. Don't think I'll get anything else. But then again there were pics of puppies in the newspaper that are at several of the rescue sites. There was one 13 week old that was such a beautiful little girl. Mag
LOL Mag!!! Yes Bandit is a **** tzu...I mean Shih tzu LOL If you click on my photo on here it will take you to my blog for OH and from thre you can look at my photos. There are a few of Bandit on there from when I first got him and then his first haircut...he is now a light cream and white with a little bit of dark yet in his ears and not much around his eyes anymore. What a change in his coloring after he gew up and got his haircut!!!! WOW!!! Looking at me from before WLS and after...OMG!!!!!!! What a change in me!!!! After Spike was killed I didn't think I would have ANY dog again but my husband at the tyime wanted one agasin and it turned out to be Bandit...Bandit didn't even want to get up from his nap when we saw him until I walked away crying...he then about took the pen down he was in trying to get to me!!!! He has been with me ever since!!!! :-) Got to love the **** tzu...LOL
Hope you get another one Mag!!! They are such fun to have!!!!
HUGS
I'm 54, married 30 years, two daughters and one new grandson. Also have two adorable rat terriers who are spoiled rotten.
Life since surgery has been increasingly better as each week goes by. Like Judy, I'm only sorry I didn't do it sooner. Since I'm still a newbie, I can offer support, but maybe not so much advice. I'm still learning as I go along, but I can tell you that the emotional side of things improves greatly as the pounds start coming off.
Glad you are here! Looking forward to getting to know you!
Vickie
Glad to meet you. This forum is the Ritz of OH. Love these wonderful people. I'm 60 years old. 6 months out of wls. I can't begin to tell you how much support I have received here at OFF. And great advice too.
As for learning, I believe we all keep learning about ourselves and our new lifestyle as our journey goes along. There will be so many WOW moments in our future. It is one heck of a trip. I wouldn't hesitate to do it again.
The first 4 to 6 weeks were the roughest for me as I had to find a new routine for my life. (As far as the eating, sipping, taking supplements, etc.)
Good to have you here, Mag
This is a site that feels like family and very supportive.
I had surgery 10/31/06. Life has changed in many ways - good ways.
It does get easier as time passes and the new life doesn't feel so confusing. We learn from each other and are more than willing to lend a helping hand.
Annette
Annette 
