Introductions

Hi Barbara,im Harold from Durham NC,and im in the middle of living a dream.Had my RNY six months ago and its been heaven sent what it has done for my life.Even though i dont know you personally,i feel as if i do,ive read your profile and post all the time being that im from NC like yourself.I look forward to meeting you and drawing on some of your experience as im in the mist of my first real stall.Hope to meet you soon at some of the support functions,and thanks for having me here as part of this great group.
Harold

Harold,

Please know that it is truly my pleasure to have you and the other members of this group walk with me as we make this incredible journey. I look forward to meeting you as well. If you would like to attend our 'in person' support groups that I hold the 3rd Saturday of each month, please go to http://wls.meetup.com/101 for details and to RSVP. We have a nice general group that meets once a month and I'm launching some subgroups for special interests such as people that start with a BMI over 50, LapBanders, WLS Grads that are a year out, etc...

We'd love to have you join us.

 

Hi everyone,
 My name is Tonya Price and I am 32 (almost 33) years young! I have a wonderful, supportive DH named Bill and two stepsons, Kyle 14 and Shane 12. I also own 4 dogs; 3 Shih Tzu and a German Shepherd.
My highest weight before beginning my journey was 370lbs. I had a lot of pain in my knees and feet. Quite frankly, I was miserable. My new life began in August 2008 and I have not regretted my decision in the least. No more pain! Everytime I pull on clothes that used to be tight and are now loose, I have a WOW moment.
I still have nagging fears that this won't work (like every diet I have ever been on), but then I tell myself that as long as I keep up the momentum, it will work! I still hate scales though, especially since I stalled over Christmas!
I can't wait to get on the Apollo's Chariot at Busch Gardens again this summer (goal). I also can't wait to try out the Griffon ride since I have been too large to ride it since it opened (another goal). I want to ride the coasters with my family this year instead of holding all of their stuff! LOL. 

Hi Tonya,

I'm delighted to have you share your fears and your goals because we all have them ... fears and goals. I think that nagging fear is something that most of us can relate to. We have all lost before, only to regain the weight. I think it's normal to worry that first of all we might not exploit this opportunity to the fullest and lose to our potential and secondly and maybe even more frightening that once we've lost the excess weight we'll regain the weight like we have so many times before. Know that you first of all, as long as  you stick with the plan you WILL lose somewhere between 60 and 80 percent of your excess weight ... you might even lose more! And while you are losing the excess weight be sure to take time to evaluate the behaviors that helped get you where you started and look for ways to change them. If you do that, you go a long way toward assuring long term success. The surgery, provides a wonderful way to strip off that excess weight so that you can ride the rides and enjoy so many other things that improve our quality of life. But equally important, it gives you a tool to use in the long term to manage and maintain your weight.

Wishing you all the best and continued success,

I "defied the 5" at Busch Gardens this summer.  I had not rode coasters in FOREVER!  The Griffon ROCKS!  Just dont eat before you go on it.  LOL

Hello Barbara and everyone on the Loser's Bench!

My name is Vera Walker and I live in Whiteville, NC with my DH of 37.5 years. We have a son and a daughter, 2 grandsons and 2 grand daughters. DH was active duty Navy for 24 years and DS is on his 16th year active duty Navy. Daughter just graduated from UNC-W summ *** laude with a degree in Business Administration, emphasis in Accounting.  She is going to take the CPA exam as soon as possible. 

I was a chubby baby, chubby toddler, but slimmed down as I lost the baby fat.  I graduated from high school at 110 lbs soaking wet. I am 5' 1" and my highest weight was 319.  I started the process and at surgery weighted in at 298.  I am now at 272 and seem to be stalled again.  I feel that the holidays did not do me any good!  I know I cheated!!!  I don't feel too bad as I did not gain any and am back on the wagon.  Most of my weight gain was during my 2 pregnacies.  I gained over 70 lbs with each child.  My doctors told me that my metabolism had all but shut down and never recovered.  I don't know because I have always been an active person. I feel like I have lost and found around a 1000 pounds over the years. Anyway I had a lapband installed in August 2008 and cannot say I have had any problems.

I hope to do better this year! I am not looking for any of the weight that I have lost and am trying to hide from it so it does not find me!!!! LOL

I hope to make some of the meetups this year.  ( I see a urologist in Durham every so often because of kidney stones)  Look forward to getting to know you all better.

Hi Vera,

You have made incredible progress this past year and I'm delighted to hear that you are not having any problems or issues. I understand the frustration with the stall, but I'm sure as you buckle down after the holidays you will continue lose as 2009 progresses.

Thanks for taking the time to share your history and experiences...

Hugs,

Hi all.. Im Jennifer.  I am a married mother of 2 beautiful girls from Wadesboro, NC.  I have been married to Dean since 1997 and (bless his heart) he has loved me fat or thin.  I teach high school and enjoy my summers off!  My family and I are very active in our church and love to spend our weekends at Lake Tillery. 

I was 324 pounds in April, 2007.  I was determined to do something about my weight, so I had RNY on July 16, 2007.  Since that time I have lost 175 pounds and have regained my life.  I was a size 24 and now I am a 4/6.  I can never remember a time when I felt so good in my own skin.  

Jennifer,

You rock my friend!

Wishing you continued success,

Hi Barbara!  My name is Kelly and I live in Timberlake, NC (That's north of Durham).  I have began my journey to hopefully have Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass about a year ago with Dr. Farrell @ UNC.  I have all my requirements, and passed every test but one.... THE INSURANCE APPROVAL!  The surgery (and ANYTHING else related to obesity) is an exclusion on my policy.  I am not ready to give in just yet, though! 

I was a normal sized child until about the age of 7, and I started getting the 'baby fat'.  I realized I had a problem when my Great Uncle started to refer to me as "Fatso".  From there, the weight just came!  I always felt 'different' than the other kids in school (elementary, junior high, and high school).  I have had a couple of weight loss successes (once in high school, I dropped 40 pounds over the summer by taking dexatrim and eating about 1000 calories or less a day) and once with a program called "Diet Enders" (no longer offered) which consisted of weekly meetings, Daily intake of 40 fat grams/1200 calories.  I lost 75 pounds in about 18 months.  After that, I got pregnant, and I never lost back down to my low of 190 lbs.  Currently, I weigh just at 300 lbs, and at 5'2", I have to tell you that my joints hurt if I attempt any kind of regular exercise.  Most commonly, I get shin splints from trying to walk at my local track.  I have suffered from Psuedotumor cerebrei ( a neurological disorder most commonly found in obese women of my age), depression, hypertension, and stress incontinence.  My Mother suffers from diabetes; 4 of 8 of my grandmother's children suffer from it. 

I may want to attend one of the meetings sometime.  I would love to meet more people in our area who are dealing with similar issues.