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Hello,

My name is Mike and I am 37 years old married and have a beautiful 14 month old daughter and another baby on the way in December/January. I joined OH back in January as I was planning my Lap Band Surgery. I had the band procedure on 2/24/09 and feel it was the best decision I have made. Since I started my preop diet on 2/10/09 I have lost 101 pounds. I never thought this would be possible. I try to be a supportive and active member on the OH site and mainly focus on the Lap Band Forum. I have found that people here are very genuine and helpful. Not to mention knowledgeable.  I enjoy taking the time to read success stories as well as share my experiences with my fellow bandsters.

I think I just realized that I hadn't posted an introduction yet!  I mostly use the forum & groups while at work, on down time, and don't use the computer much at home, because I'm on it all day at work. 

Anyway, I'm Kari.  I'm 36 years old, 6'2 and weigh 278 (as of Sunday).  My BMI is in the 36-37 range, so I'm a "light weight" as well.  I will be starting my Bariatric Program on June 30, when I go to the first education class.  I set up all of my four appointments with the doctors, nutritionist and dieticians, and am playing the waiting game.  I've spoken with friends who have had the surgery, and know about the process.  I re-joined WW and will go through that process again, but I do not hold high hopes for a loss.

I've been in the "obese" category since I was 26-27, about the last 10 years.  I was an athlete in high school, and active in college.  When I graduated at age 22, I was 235 (I remember stepping on the scale on May 16, 1996 right before the ceremony).  I went to grad school, and gained another 25lbs.  From there I began to lose weight.  I do not know how I did it, but between 1996 and 1999 I lost about 60lbs.  In 1999 I started taking anti-anxiety drugs, and the weight started to come back.  In 2003 I was diagnosed bipolar, and was placed on a multi-drug ****tail.  I was on so many different drugs from 2003-2005 my body didn't know what to do.  By the time I was on a stable ****tail I was 295.  I was mortified!

Since then I've been on so many diets, been to groups, had personal trainers, gym memberships, etc. but have been unsuccessful.  I lost the first 20lbs after a year of serious work.  The lowest I've gotten is 259.  That was last year while I was working with personal trainers at a gym, and had gone down to 265 on my own prior to joining.  After 20 weeks of working with trainers, watching my food, meeting dieticians, working out on a regular basis, etc. I did not lose any weight.  I was so disappointed.

Not much later I found out that the back problems I was having were more severe than I thought.  The problems caused me to miss work due to pain, I couldn't walk or use a bicycle because of the pressure on my sacral & lumbar region.  I found out I have arthritis in my lumbar region, bulging disks in my L3, L4 & L5, and I have degenerative disk disease.  I've been to physical therapy, and have exercises to do, but it doesn't help much when it hurts so much to do anything.  Finally my doctor had me in for a bilateral epidural with cortisone.  That has been great.  However since the procedure I've gone up to 278.  I'm not in as much pain, but my weight is going up.

I could say so much more, but I've said enough right now.  I'm looking forward to getting through all this information, learning, and research. 

Hi Laurie,

I'm glad to hear that all has gone so well for you. It looks like you and Jordan (PlumpPrincess) may well walk this journey hand in hand. 

Wishing you all the best,

Hi Terri,

It looks like we will celebrate our surgiversaries together forever since you are now my little surgery sister. I had my RNY 06/05/07. My high weight was 264, by the time I had my surgery I was down to 233 and now I weigh about 143. I look forward to watching you as you make your way on your own journey.

Welcome to the Loser's Bench!

 

This weekend I found that I was doing a lot more TO myself than I was doing FOR myself. Today is a new day and I look forward to doing some things FOR me today...

What are you doing FOR yourself today?