Just for fun - Introduction thread

Wow Heather - you GAINED 10 lbs since surgery?   Ok - I'm picking on you.  Go back and re-read your weights....

 

Wow I guess I've been in onderland so long I didn't realize I wasn't typing a 2!  I think this counts as a WOW moment!

thanks Jody!

Good Morning everyone! I'm Rebecca and  i'm a 22 year old Criminal Justice major in Northern California...I started hairdressing right when I graduated high school and gained 100 lbs in a year. Decided hairdressing wasn't my passion, I quit to go back to school, had RNY in Feb 2010 and i've lost 93lbs since with about 50 to ultimately go. I'm loving life and enjoying things that i've missed out on the last couple of years because of my weight. Nice to meet everyone :)

Hi - My name is Jody.

I have 2 great kids who are almost 27 (girl) and my boy just turned 21.  I have a beautiful and healthy grandbaby girl.

I'm divorced and currently am seeing a great guy who thinks the world of me, and I of him.

I had my surgery 10/21/08 and my highest weight was 218 with my surgery weight of 208.  My lowest was 121 with my stable weight (usually) around the 124-127 range (except for today, but we won't go there).

I have a kitty who is living one of her last 9 lives... she has temper tantrums when BF's dog comes over and likes to poo anywhere her box ISN'T... tolerance isn't a strong point for me.  The vet said she's getting old and could be getting kitty dementia... uh huh... sure....

I live in a beautiful part of Northern Michigan, and live in a resort town.  There are SO many things to do here, and its a very cultural part of the state.  Yes, we have LOTS of snow and I'm now getting out and enjoying snow-related activities I just couldn't do prior-WLS.

I'm thankful for my RNY and how it has changed the quality of my life.  My health issues are gone, and as far as I'm concerned, forever.

Next....

Hey everyone!  I'm Kimberly and I am 41 years old and live in the great state of Texas with my awesome hubs of 20 years and our 3 sons who are 14, 12, and almost 6.  We own an architectural door company and are pretty much always stressed out due to the bad ecomomy but we are hanging in there.

I was always skinny as a kid and teen even though I ate like a horse but rapidly starting gaining in my early 20s which I completely ignored for some unknown reason....I guess I loved food too much and didn't want to give any of it up.  I started researching WLS in the Fall of 2007 and found this website and quickly learned of the sleeve procedure which I had never heard of before.  I knew after 5 minutes it was the one for me but it took me another 2.5 years to get up the courage to actually go throught with it.  I was so scared of the post-op diet because I could NEVER follow a diet for more than a day or so so I was afraid I would fail at this too.  I had my surgery last March (self-pay in Mexico) and made my goal of losing 83 pounds in November.  I can honestly say that this has been the easiest and most pain-free thing I have ever done.  I don't feel like I have to work at it at all (I don't exercise much and I don't follow "the rules") which makes me feel guilty sometimes.  I don't know if this approach will work in maintenance but we will see.  I absolutely love the feeling of freedom I have from overeating, dieting, guilt etc.....it has been a dream come true!

My name is Gail and I have battled my weight for my entire life. I have been a yo-yo dieter,  but when I saw my PCP last April, I was at my highest weight ever. I weighed 210 lbs on a 4'11" frame. My PCP recommended WLS, which shocked me, because it wasn't on my radar and I had never been heavy enough to have surgery even be a consideration. I started doing the research, hanging out on the various forums here at OH, attended support groups, and finally decided on the VSG. I lost a lot of weight pre-op, even more than the 10% than the program required. I am starting my fifth month and getting close to my first goal. I may reduce it further, depending upon how I feel and look. I need to reach a weight that I can maintain, without killing myself.

I am single, 57 years young, have 4 cats, and work as a psychiatric RN. I live in Northern CA. I used to love whitewater river rafting (it was my passion for many years), skiing, hiking, camping, birding, and walking. When I stopped those activities several years ago, the weight started piling on. I hope to get back to some of those activities. I think the weight loss will help me to do this.  I started working out with a personal trainer about 3 weeks ago, as a means to build up my muscles and strength. My goal is to be strong enough by the middle to end of February to go skiing at least once, even if I don't get off the bunny slope. I feel like I am getting my life back, with the weight loss.

I had a rocky start after surgery and spent 2 weeks in the hospital during weeks 4-5, but I have been steadily improving each week. I feel great now.

This forum has been wonderful and so supportive. I enjoy the informative and fun posts and learn something new each day.

I am Stacey, I am 35 years old and have 4 children ( yes they are ALL mine) Daughter 17, and sons 14,8 and 5. We all are afflicted with a bleeding disorder called Von Willebrands Disease Of which my daughter is extremely severe)  and now have found myself a dedicated advocate for bleeding disorders, especially in women. I volunteer for many different activities in my community, I read to the kindergarteners at school, I assist elderly friends with their shopping trips and banking and help many others with a good listening ear. We live in Chesapeake Virginia and we have too many animals. I have 3 cats, 2 dogs and a bird. I know too many but I am a sucker for strays and cant stand to see them out there with noone taking care of them.

In a past life ( somewhere ) I was a CNA and a correctional officer. I have now been married to my husband and the Navy for 10 years and looking forward to many more, both him and the Navy LOL.

My weight has always been an issue and I dealt with anorexia and bulemia in high school to maintian a low weight. After school I gave up and just did whatever I wanted. I was always able to maintain around 150-160 until I got married, got preggers with #3 and quit my job.
Suffering major depressive issues and stresses I gained and could not get it off.

My highest recorded weight was 220 ( could be higher but I stayed away from the scale for a very long time) at the time of surgery I was 208. I had surgery Aug 31, 2010 although I tend to tell everyone it was Sept 1, 2010 and I am currently weighing in at 155!!!

Now when the world hears that sonic boom and the earth quake can be felt in every state, that is me jumping up and down screaming at the top of my lungs. This will happen when I see 150 again!!!!!!! Hopefully really soon.

Next....

Hello!  First of all, I want to say how much I have enjoyed reading this post and learning more about you all!  I already feel like I know you from reading daily, but this has been fun!

My name is Beverly and I am 56 years old, married for 10 years and together we have 5 children, his 2 from his previous marriage and my 3 from mine.  Our oldest four are married, their ages range from 27-31, and my youngest is 16....yes, I had him when I was 40!  I will say, though, he has kept me young!  I have three step grandchildren and my daughter is due in April!

I teach martial arts for a living and have for the past 22 years.  I am a 5th Degree Black Belt Master, so you would think I would be thin since I work out for a living!  I was an okay weight until around my 40's....oh, yeah....probably from having that baby when I was 40!  LOL!  A few years ago I started having problems with my heart rhythm and was on quite a few meds which helped slow my heart down and I wasn't able to work out as I should in my classes.  I finally, on August 24th, 2010 had a cardiac cather ablation that corrected the problem and then I was all set for my VSG, which was done on October 4th, 2010!   My highest weight was 207, 194 the day of surgery and 155lbs this morning!  I am so happy with my sleeve!   Actually, I was scheduled for RNY in July of 2008, but my husband's insurance changed and I wasn't able to get it done then, so I feel so blessed that it finally happened for me!

I feel so, so much better with the heart issue corrected and the weight going down!  I am happier than I have been in a long, long time and truly feel this has given me a new life!

Beverly

Hi, I'm Meg from central Ohio.  43 years old.  Married for 6 years and have 1 daughter.  I work full-time for a trade association (tech mgmt) and am pre-op.   We also have an 11 year old bichon frise who is like another child (his name is Snowball Elvis --- you can call him "Tiny E" or "Tiny").  We enjoy hanging out at Lake Erie, spending time with family and trying to keep up with home maintenance!

Hoping to be submitted for approval early to mid- February (VSG).  Having stress issues lately so I think I need to handle it quickly and go see the counselor with my program.

Happy to have found this group - you all are so very welcoming and nice!

Very nice to meet you Meg!!