Row Call- WLS Grads that Lurk

I confess, I am a lurker. I have been on this board for over 4 years, only post when I have something to say, whether it is important or not. I had my open RNY on November 21, 2001. I have lost 153 pounds, never reached "goal" because I never made one. I just wanted to get to a point where I was comfortable with myself and feel healthy. I did that and I guess I got too comfortable because I have gained back about 10 pounds and just can't get motivated to lose them. My pants are a little snug, but other than that I feel great. I have had absolutely no health problems, never dump (maybe twice) and I don't throw-up (I don't have the ability to, there have been times I wanted to but my body physically is unable to. My surgeon says I do not have the mechanism to do that any longer so I will never be able to.) I don't know if that is a good thing or not. My little brother had the surgery 2 years after I did, same surgeon, same surgery, everything exactly the same and he ended up in ICU for 3 days, in the hospital for 2 months, on a feeding tube for 6 months with all kinds of leaks and infections. He did survive, he is healthy now, lost all the weight he wants to lose, has a hernia he is not too anxious to get rid of because he is not excited about going back into the hospital, but he is healthy now and not at all sorry he had the surgery. He doesn't regret it at all, Thank God. I too like this new message board and will try to get a little more involved from time to time. Carla.

OK Carla im holding you to that post on gettin alittle more involved from time to time. I loved reading about your WLS. and amazed how two folks can have the same surgery and totally different reactions to it. Glad to know your brother is doing great now. Does he post here any? 4yrs out for you... your definately one of our frontier wls successes.. so sure do hope you post often we can sure use your wisdom... congratulations on your successes and that small bounce back of weight is pretty common. Maybe it just keeps us honest.. lol I remember many saying "so many pounds gone forever" ...boy if that were just true huh. Keep a posting girl... we need u here! deb

Deb, I hope we don't have lurkers out there who are embarrassed to post because they are having problems losing or maintaining. At this stage of the journey, we probably need more support than during the first year or so. So people, if you have gained or aren't losing, come vent with us - it does help. Patty

Hey Patty.. Happy Weekend girl! awww afew lurk im sure... but hopefully now they broke the ice.. they will JUMP IN ... cause ...the waters great here deb

Ok I.m here. I do post once in a great while but I am here everyday. I enjoy coming here, although I am not much help to any one. I am down 134 pounds and still losing but very, very slowly. I have lost 18 pounds since Feb. I would still like to lose 25 more but I am happy and healthy where I'm at. I am 58 so I am not interested in being in a bikini or anything like that. I still eat my protein first and drink a gallon of green tea a day. I haven't been exercising like I should. I use to walk 4 miles a day until the weather got so hot and humid. NowI have to get back in the habit again. Ev 331/197/healthy

, although I am not much help to any one. bella doint make a statement like that! as long as you support voice a opion you are a help no matteer what you keep coming back post you are a help! joann

Hey EJ... welcome welcome welcome! Now im going to have to disagree with you on not much help on anyone.. we are all part of this body of support... and hope you feel more comfortable in posting in even the general howdee doo's stuff... you are needed girl... your wisdom and experiences.. I have kinda been dragging my foot on some of the links... expecially the "what is your goal today" ... I guess im going to have to start buckling down and actually trying to be more accountable .... I have NEVER walked 4miles at one time.. since this WLS so see you got loads more experience in that area than I. congratulations and hope that weather cools off so you can get back yer groooooveeee! great to meet u girl... keep a posting K?

okay okay....I'll say hello! I, too, am mostly a lurker. I love to read the boards and gather all kinds of information. Love to get my chuckles here, too. I am almost 18 months out and I have lost 130 lbs by my scale, 127 by my surgeons. Started out at 315 and now weigh 185. Sometimes I drop to 183. It's amazing to me that the amount of food I used to eat and not gain a pound but if I eat a few crackers I will fluctuate 2- 3 lbs. go figure. I have slowed way down in my wt loss....have lost only 14 lbs since December 04. Still I am not unhappy, I LOVE my body and energy, etc. I love wearing clothes I use to dream of wearing. Plus the diabetes is now gone. I have had a normal A-1 C glycohemoglobin for over a year....yeah! Still I want to get down to 170. I am 5'8" and I don't want to go any lower. I have had no complications altho I now have an incisional hernia. Will take care of that this winter. so I will try to post here more often. And one of these days I'll try to figure out how to post a pic. If I can find one I like. I'm not very photogenic.... Hope everyone has a great weekend. I am taking my Harley out this weekend and do some leisurely riding! Hugs, Andi B.

Andi B.. howdy girl... Ok first off... you lurker you.. yer busted now that you posted so you gotta start peeking and pecking on that ole puter now and post with us. Next awesome weight loss girl... I go up and down about 2-4lbs daily depending on what im wearing or not LOL and time of day... and whats this about doctor scales always weighin more? I can count about 5 friends and me who's doc's scale are about 4lbs more lol I guess that helps when you start your journey but sure hate it afterward lol... Now about the harley... WHEN you get that pic done.. do it on that baby girl we wanna see u on it.. WAHOO then submit your photo to [email protected] they will fix a pic on your profile and your pic will post here in messageboard... if you load other pics you just wanna put on your profile at different times... you can go to www .photobucket.com register and then load pics to their site to post here.. its free. Only thing is the pics only show on your profile not on this messageboard thing unless you send that pic to [email protected] Sure hope you keep a posting us girl... its a circle of love kinda thing and want you in the circle *hugs* deb

thanks for the post, Deb! I am planning on being more active here on the MB. I usually keep my opinions to myself as there are so many knowledgeable people that answer the newer post ops and pre-ops questions. I do promise to work on that pic. I love seeing the pics on people's posts, sooo cool One thing I do indulge in when I go to see my surgeon is (don't flame me...) is that I buy a piece of cheesecake at the Cheesecake Factory. They have a cake made with Splenda that is fabulous. I can squeeze three small slices out of it. It's not that low in fat but I figure once every six months isn't going to kill me.... My surgeon is about 145 miles from my home and I usually make a day of it of shopping, etc. My Harley is my pride and joy. I bought it for myself when I got my degree in nursing 5 years ago. It's my baby.... There are so many great people here. I love the WLS grad board.... Well, see ya around the board. Hugs Andi