Well back in October it was 9 years (RNY)!!  How time does fly.  Here you see me marrying off my second daughter.  On my bucket list was to be alive to walk both my daughters down the aisle...Done and done.  Notice the suit...Same one I wore on my wedding in 1984.  Each year I try and post a picture for the new guys on this forum...To see what it looks like many years down the road.  Need my daughter to help download the picture...That's why I waited to do my yearly post.  Doing a lot of bike riding and walking.  Mowing the lawn type of things.  Been retired about 1 year now...Just turned 60 in September.  The first few years of WLS is new and exciting.  After awhile you are just living and functioning normal.  Hopefully you've changed your eating habits.  I try and cut back on my sugar...Eat a lot of protein and vegetables...But still eat my dark chocolate.  Last 3 things on my bucket list (Lord willing); to collect social security (at 62), collect on Medicare (at 65)...Just get something back for all that I've paid in.  The last one is for Cal to go to the Rose bowl in my lifetime...Need a full blown miracle!!  As many of you know, when I went to see my cardiologist about 9 1/2 years ago...He said I was dying.  He said maybe WLS could help.  I'm still kicking!!  Life is good.  Brian 

Brian,

I love you posts!  And how you roll questions and thoughts around.

I think it is great that you post. Congratulations. I think you could post weekly to help those men who are just starting out. It is a pretty scary place in the start of the weight loss journey. Beautiful picture. 

I totally agree, 3Bassethounds. If someone wants to post pictures, they should also post regularly to help others. I don't really see the point in only posting once a year. 

Laura, you can look at my post history and see how much I've posted over the years.  I used to post on the Main Board...But there was too much drama over there.  Also after so many years I feel it's time for others to step up on these forums and take the leads.  Every now and then I will check in on the RNY Board.  My main concern is if someone has a stricture and no one is responding to them.  The other one is when someone shows the signs of dehydration and there isn't a response.  I also share food thoughts.  But, some of the drama that is on the Main Board has flowed onto the RNY Board.  That is why I mostly stay on the Exercise and Fitness Forum and the Men's Forum.  I'd rather enjoy life and support small groups than do battles all day...

Some of you RNYers are now veterans.  Please take the lead and run with this board.  This board had a good mix of male to female years ago.  That has changed.  I think many of the men just lurk...And only respond if they have a very important question (example stricture/foamies).  I'm sure in public many men seek other men's input one on one. 

If I see new studies that come out related to RNY or WLS, I try and post them.  Also new/revised surgery techniques (The Rose Procedure...We thought that would be the great answer for regain...Not).

Anyways...You veterans please step up and stay on these boards...Be a support, encouragement...Reprove when necessary (in love).  I do feel hurt that old timers can't come on and share their lives from time to time.  The wisdom is out there.  The people (RNYers) are out there...2 or 3 on each block!!  You can find them if you look.  Before my surgery there was very little information...RNY was new.  OH was my lifeline.  I still remember the WLS surgeon coming into the support group about 6-7 years ago and announcing that they had 2 new cases of Beriberi (B-6 deficiency)...We didn't know these things at those times.  The doctors didn't have B-Complex on their list!!  We needed OH to live and not get sick.  Those days are over.  I'm enjoying life...Sucking the marrow out of each day.  Goodnight all

Please don't take my one post as offensive, There are so many men and women who are starting out. I am sure that are lurkers. Your milestones would help so many. I remember when starting out reading and seeing before and afters helped me so much. There is someone sitting in a chair reading the posts that are afraid of taking the big step. And when they see you and know we can live normal lives it does help. 

I usually post the below about 2-3 times a year...A place where guys can burp in public!

The Men's Forum here at OH... - Hey Guys (men)...Just a reminder we have a Men's Forum here at OH.  It is a great group of guys and very supportive.  Check us out and bookmark it if you like what you see.  Brian ...

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/men/

I wasn't being a smart a$$ there are so many lurkers who are afraid to post so seeing yours makes it a great help. I am a girl. But I know seeing before and afters and reading happy stories helped me. I am a girl and I love to burp. I have come from a long line of burpers. 

Congratulations on your daughter again. I have two kids and have not been down that road yet. Thank goodness. Not ready. 

He's probably just shy. LOL, but honestly I have seen him respond to posts, just not make a post, maybe it's mostly in the mens forum?

If you burp on the internet does anyone hear you?