My 6 year WLS Birthday & 69th Birthday!

Wow, I can't believe it's been 6 years since my new life began! I had my surgery on my 63rd birthday, can you think of a better present to give to yourself? At that time in this neck of the woods having a gastric bypass at any age according to my family Doctor was just plain crazy! I will have to mention the fact that he is just a tad OBESE himself! Funny thing, yesterday my close friend went to him to request diet pills and he told her to go have surgery! Amazing how times change! The past 6 years have been really crazy and if I hadn't had my surgery there is no way I could have handled the continuing saga of family crisis. After recovering from the surgery (I lost my spleen and gallbladder too) life was better than it had ever been! I went like a house on fire 24/7 I was so happy and proud of myself when I got to buy my first pair of size 14 pants! (I started out pushing a 4X) Nothing hurt anymore, I could walk all I wanted to, I could breath normally - Life in general was grand. Once in a while I misjudged the amount my new pouch could hold and up it came, but that was ok too because I had a REAL LIFE! As they say nothing lasts for ever....4 years ago my daughter got herself in a mess with drugs and we ended up raising her 4 boys. Now we all know that means food and lots of it! Cookies, meat & potatoes etc! I no longer had time for my yoga classes, long walks, helping others with their work and the pounds started to come back! I'm up to 210 again from 164 5 years ago and very unhappy about it! I'm hoping Medicare will pay for a Lap-Band because there is NO WAY I'm going back to what I was before! We are down to 2 boys now, one 14 and one 24 so the menus are under control again and I have more time for myself, I just need to get out of my self imposed depression and get with the program! I would advise anyone who is obese to have this surgery! It saved my life and my Grandsons too! I've never regreted it for one second, even when my head was in the proverbial porcelin bowl! If I can figure out how I will post photos. Ruth Ellen Mobley Mount Vernon, Indiana

what a wonderful post. good luck with the Lap-Band.

Just a suggestion---please go to your wls surgeon and make sure there's nothing mechanically wrong with your pouch. Could be a staple-line disruption, etc. If there's nothing wrong with the pouch, you don't need a lap-band, you should be able to go back to your original plan, protein first, then veggies, etc. Get the junk out of the house, the kids don't need it either. Best wishes to you in your quest to get back on track. Hugs, Connie -147#

Dear Ruth, Congratulations !! What an inspiring story . At 43 I truly would never have believed that I would be where I am . Your story does give me hope . Hope not only for me but for my grandsons as well . I did this to get healthy so I could see them live and enjoy life . I totally agree about not getting the band . I would go get your pouch checked out .if you are ok .. go back to basics . Protein - Water - Exercise .. it will create weight loss . Please keep coming back here for support . These people in the grads board are so full of information, inspiration and life . and with us .. we can help you stay motivated the best we can . Again ..Congratulations .. Very Proud of you .. Natalie

Thank you so much for sharing your story!!!! You did a wonderful thing by taking the boys in and you should be so very proud of yourself and of them!!!!! You CAN get back to where you want to be~I have faith in that! Keep us posted on how you're doing! And, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hugs, Tracy B 328/150 5'9"

Hi Ruth! Before you consider surgery again, you might want to try isagenix. I know, what you're thinking..another weight loss product..but, this one is very different. I creeped up 12 lbs, after 2.5 years. I was devastated. THEN, a friend who had not had Gastric Bypass came to my house for the holiday and I noticed that she had lost 40 lbs since 3 months prior when I saw her. I asked what she'd been doing. She said Isagenix...and mixed me a shake. That's all it took to tell me this was a very high quality protein shake. I am back in the 150's. And my lowest weight clothes are fitting again. I have more energy than I have EVER had (I have to admit, since my surgery I have felt tired everyday, until now). Also, my sex drive was lost..and it has returned. Basically, it's a cleansing and fat burning system. The reason it works is it cleanses toxins out of your system which allows your body to burn fat cells (fat cells are your body's defense against toxins). I am replacing all my supplements with isagenix supplements. The calcium powder, I mix in my shakes and I am now taking the women's formula vitamins instead of prenatal vits. My mother, 66, who was considering Gastric Bypass is now losing on isagenix. I hope it continues so that she won't have to risk surgery at 66. You can read my profile on OH.com. under Valle Campbell. It might be worth giving a "test drive". Good luck, with whatever you decide..and remember, many of us post GP's are going through the same thing.

Yes I heard of the isegenix system and it clears your liver which is the best way to boost metabolism and burn fat. You can lose up to 13% body fat in 9 days. I am going on the program as well.