Recent Posts

I am doing this because:

I want to feel better both physically and mentally.

I want to become more active.

I want to regain confidence.

I had to choose - do I want to continue hurting myself? or do I want to start taking care of myself?  I choose taking care of myself.

The way I'm living life right now does not reflect 'me' - who I am.  I'm in here somewhere.  I'm looking forward to rediscovering myself.

I still carry around my debit card with my "fat picture" on it.  I went to the Credit Union and had my picture retaken, but I wanted to leave the fat picture on there to remind me of where I came from and where I do not want to go back to.  I also look at those pictures often.  I have had people in stores not want to take my card because it looks so different, but it is my reminder.  AND until it expires in 2010 I will continue to carry it.  LOL 

 

Of course it do it to remind me of the tremendous journey I have taken.  Looking good is not the ultimate reward of WLS.  Feeling better, being healthier and living a higher quality life are my rewards!  

Hi,

My name is Kellie, and I live in Raleigh NC with my husband, our 2 canine fur kids, and 5 feline fur kids.  (Yes, it's a full house, but we love it that way!)  I had my RNY on 12/8/08 with Dr. Paul Enochs at Rex Hospital, and it's the best thing that I've ever done for myself.  

I was a skinny child, until about the age of 12.  Then, I started putting on weight, and steadily increasing until I hit my all time high of 360.  (The day before my surgery).  I will never see that number again, and I am very glad of it.  I made the decision to have WLS when I had seen a picture of myself taken at a work conference, and didn't recognize myself in the photo.  That, combined with the fact that I am a Type 2 Diabetic (although hopefully not for much longer) had high blood pressure that was hard to manage, and have been diagnosed with PCOS, made the decision that much more important.  

I've been on diets for what seems like an eternity.  SlimFast, Weigh****chers, Atkins, South Beach, just not eating, exercising, etc - it would work for a week or so, and then I'd fall victim to the siren call of the french fry, and it anything I lost would come back, bring friends, and staple itself to my butt.  I thought at first that the LAP band would be optimal for me - just restricting what amount of food I ate, but after a discussion with a LAP band patient, I decided that it wouldn't do it.  I needed to have something in my life that would not 'let' me cheat.  (Yes, I know that even RNY patients can push the boundaries of their tool...but I would much rather not be able to drink a milk shake because I 'dump' - no matter how much I want one.)  After discussing matters with Dr. Enochs, we decided that the RNY would be the best way for me to go.  

So, here I am - 30 days out from my surgery, just getting ready to go back to work, and loving my life.  My blood sugars are lower than they have been in years, as is my blood pressure.  I'm losing weight, and I am never hungry.  I know that last part may change, but for now, I'm just tickled that this is how my life has worked out :) 

I look forward to getting to know everyone here.

Kellie

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.