REUNION THREAD

Okie Dokie.....better late than never, right?

I'll hit my 10 yr anniversary in September and I still don't regret a moment.  I don't drink soda, eat ice cream, a lot of pasta, or much in the way of junk food, but I do still have a piece of dark chocolate a couple of times a day, and probably a weeeeee bit more wine than I should....lol

But, that being said, I still wear a size 6-8, and as of this moment, have on a pair of capri's that are in their 4th summer.  Crap!  Who knew you could wear anything more than a few months before they were too tight!!! I owe a lot of my success to being the post op support group leader at our local Center of Excellance for 8 of the last 10 years.  Hard to tell people what to do if you're back up to a size 26.  So, I'm grateful for the accountability, for sure!

I have also had a small bowel obstruction that wasn't found until it was almost too late.  My surgeon, same guy that did my RNY, trusted his instincts and did an exploratory surgery to find it.  The bowel had started to necrose so it's a wonder I made it out alive.  

Two and a half years ago I opened my own salon....just me in a salon suite situation and I couldn't be happier.  Not that I didn't enjoy who/where I worked before, but there were "issues" with differing philosophies in the work place, so off I went.  I pay a REDICULOUS amount of rent, but my suite is mine, all mine, with no one to tell me what I can charge or how I have to be.  If I want to drop an occasional F*** bomb, it's my place and by damn, I do.  Good for the soul, I say.

My husband had RNY two years ago and lost right around 100 lbs. Same surgeon, same rules, not quite as compliant as I am.  I find lots to find fault in what he does, but have given up the fight.  His journey, his outcome.

I think of Amy and Annette often, especially Nettie.  Such a sweet soul.  I've probably told my husband a dozen times how he'd love Philly, and would love for him to see it someday.  

Ok....that's it as I've gone on long enough.  Lots more to say, but gee, there's a big surprise....lol

Susan,

I am so glad you are posting. I agree that accountability is the key and the place to become accountable is in a support group. We all find ourselves in various levels of regain and when it hits, we just have to make a decision if we are going to fall victim to the "WLS doesn't work" syndrome or are we going to take the bull by the balls and get it under control. I chose to get it under control and have worked tirelessly doing the few things left that I can do. 

I miss Annette and Nettie and a few of the others who have since passed. 

Last year, I found my skinny jeans had this mushroom top flowing so graciously over the waist, and I actually caught myself trying to figure out a way to let them out enough and then I said, hell no...I refuse to go there again. I got my butt in gear and dropped a few pounds so that my jeans weren't cutting my circulation off and decided to lose another fifteen that I had gained to be more healthy and, as it turns out, I wasn't more healthy. I like being gaunt or not so gaunt but not so chunky either. You are so right about it being a different journey and outcome for all of us but I am like you, I refuse to eat sweets because I am afraid I will get to the point where I can eat them and I would gain a hundred pounds in no time. I drink diet cokes but one a day...I write every single thing that goes into my mouth in my fit diary and I make sure that I stay under 1200 calories and it works for me. 

I am so glad you are doing well...we really need to meet up for coffee or tea or wine.  I've missed you. 

Jeannie, I have thought of you often, but thought your were in Qutar.  I've even been bragging about you!  You know, my WLS friend who got her PhD and is making the big bucks teaching in the Middle East.

I have gone and come  back and gone again but DH had transplants and rejections and then every time we thought we were going, his health kept him from going and I couldn't leave him behind....but I am going back in Jan. for a couple of weeks to do some workshops....I am going to Thailand too but next July....I still do some things for short time spurts.  We need to get together.  

Nettie is what we called Annette

Yay Susan,

I was hoping you would surface. . . now we just need a few more, Jan? Karen, well actually all 3 Karen's. . . Margo, though I do see her on FB and she has her hands full these days. . . 

Susan, you know when I was a support group leader, I felt the same way, can't be a hypocrite about things, but after 5 years of doing it and my life getting so busy, I got tired of it all, what I know now is I was suffering from depression and just wanted to curl up and be left alone. . . though my life was busy too, I am also high functioning, most of the time, when depressed, however, I eat my way through it, then the rest of the story I already told and after Frankie died, I started a new job and between the stress and the grief, that was held at bay because I needed to perform at my new job, free lunch and my desk right outside the cafeteria, well, here I am 35 lbs regained, that on top of the 20 that was already gained, from my lowest point and so I am 55 lbs. heavier than I was in 2009, but I know I can lose some of this, I never got below a size 10 and really that was a Ralph Lauren 10, so really a size 12, but I loved me in size 12/14 and I want to be there again, I will and I can.  I am facing my demons and I am not and never have been a quitter. . .I am cooking and bringing my food more often these days, because that is what worked for me, I am walking and getting up from my work station more often and next week we will be in our new state of the art, premiere "green" building, with an on site, 24/7 gym (small that it is), but they will offer classes and even personal training, though the gym is free and classes, personal training is a premium price, so probably not going to do that part, but we will even have onsite bicycles we can check out, for free, to ride around the area, so I have no real excuses, so long as my back holds up, as this past year has found me with lots of issues there, but for now things are good and I am living in the now and hope to lose 10 lbs. by end of September, if more happens, great, but I make small goals and that works best.

Glad you popped in and I am happy that things with your business are well and heck, we're all of an age where we can talk!

Come back, at least from time to time!

Laureen

I sent MARGO a post on Facebook but she said she forgot her password. I then told her to open a new page . no response!

carla

Hi! Kennewick Karen here, Never being one for brevity, it is hard to even get started when so much time has passed. Feb of 2005 was my "rebirth." I joined what was then called the OVER FIFTY FORUM about a year before I actually had surgery. My insurance had added a clause that said "Even if medically necessary we won't cover weight loss surgery." I was so angry, but at 377 lbs and gaining I had just given up. I think my mom, tho scared of the surgery, realized that she might lose me if I didn't have surgery. She loaned me the money and my miracle took place. The weight fell off. By June I was down 150 lbs and on a road trip celebrating the fact that I could fly without a seatbelt extension. I zigged and zagged my way from Arkansas, Missouri, Georgia,Florida, and Texas meeting many women who had provided me with so much support.

I'm still considered obese at 195 lbs and 5'3". I can do whatever I want to do. I wear a regular size 16 and tho I would mind being smaller, I like myself as I am. I no longer fear walking in front of strangers. I take long walks, camp with a group called "GIRLS ON THE FLY." I belong to a gym and can do 60 minutes on an eliptical as well as water aerobics. No one in the class bats an eye as I enter or exit the water. Life isn't perfect; I'm 67. My arthritis is bad and I seldom give in to taking anti-inflammatories so I do hurt a lo****er exercise helps .

Since 2005 both of our children have married. Our daughter has 4 children and our son and his wife are expecting their second little boy in July. Mike and I love being grandparents. We are in the process of remodeling a 1600 sq foot condo and have our house on the market.

Can't believe I almost forgot another major event of 2025-16: my routine mammogram in November turned out to not be so routine. A small malignancy was found in my left breast. In January I had a lumpectomy followed by a SAVI procedure ( twice a day radiation for 5 days). I felt very fortunate to be a good candidate for this internal radiation. I am taking a daily pill called Tamoxifin. Not really crazy about this pill, but no bad side effects so far.

Regrets? None. As I am not sure I would be alive without this surgery. I admire anyone who can lose weight and maintain the loss without surgery. At age 55 if I could have I would have. I never have felt like I had to keep my decision a secret. If someone hasn't walked in my shoes they have no business telling me what I should or shouldn't do.

Im enjoying reading  updates. Many of you I have met in person. It's hard to explain to friends and family the need to meet these STRANGERS in person, but I am so glad I did! A free ticket to Dallas ended up at an Embassy Suites in Dallas with an intimate group of 24. We had never met, but came from all over the country, the only thing in common being Weight Loss Surgery and the Over Fifty Forum. I will never forget us all crowding into one suite for our first few hours.  Candy, I still wear my "ITS A FRIEND THING," t-shirt tho there isn't much left to it!

You are all probably wishing I would shut up already! I will close hoping to hear from more old friends. 

Karen,

So very glad to hear your read your update, I have such fond memories of the times we've met and because we are on FB, I see some of what goes on in your life and you are amazing.  I'm sure it is hard to give up the house that I remember you had built to move into a Town House, but I think as we get "older" it's probably a better thing to have less to care for.  I love my house, but often lament the keeping things up part.  Luckily, I have a very hyper grown man, who is sort of a brother to me, my original roommates ex, that helps a lot with the house stuff, otherwise I really think I'd have to sell it, which I very likely will do in a few years, just because I don't want the upkeep in my retirement years.

Honestly, most of the successful WLS people I know are either retirees who have the time to take classes and/or be physically active, younger people or those who live within a short commute of their homes.  I have a job that ties me to a desk for 8 hours each day and a commute that is, at a minimum, 45 minutes each way, I try to get out and walk and have been making a minimum of 6,000 steps per day and when the weather permits I am up at 10,000 or better, so changes are being made and the onsite gym my company has in our new building will be a plus.  

Anyway, I am not whining, though it might sound like I am (lol), just wanting to be more comfortable and the regain I've had is not helping my body move about the way it did say 20 lbs., so my goal is to shed those pounds and see how it frees me and when I get there, I will then look at the need to shed more. . . small goals.  Either way, I agree, I am happy that I choose the path I did and no regrets, I am healthier and made wonderful friends as a result of it.

Kind regards, Laureen

Karen,

I am so glad you dropped in...I cannot tell you how much you inspired me and carried me through this surgery. I saw your before pictures and met you and said, to hell with it, I am going to build up my blood and get it done and did it...you were my main life line....I knew if you said it, it was right.  I hope you drop back in frequently and keep us up with what's going on. When are you coming back to AR....I am coming to your neck of the woods, I think, next summer. And we are getting a few states near you this summer when we take two of our grandkids to Yellowstone.  We need an event.