[angie]

Hi, My name is Angie, Im new to this site and I love it.
I am 49 years old, married and two great daughters 17and 19.
My surgery date is July 8th. I am very excited and a little scared.

[Perfesser]

Well, most of you know me a little bit by now. I've tried not to hide here!

My name is Craig, middle initial T, so I'm not allowed to use it here because someone else claimed CraigT first. So I sign my posts CT. I originally signed up here as Doc, which is what I use everywhere else, but it seems there's one of those here, too, and they didn't want me confused with her, so I can't use that. Therefore I am "da perfesser", a tag given me by a redneck friend long ago in a galaxy far ... but that's another story.

I am 56 and have done many things and lived many places in my attempts to get through this life alive! I kept going to school, graduating and working in the real world, then going back again, repeat as necessary. Consequently, I graduated in the 60s, 70s, 80s, and twice in the 90s. I only went back when I needed something more from school, though, so I've never been a professional student, which is someone who hides from life by refusing to leave school. Finally got my PhD in '98, and I am done!! I have one technical and three engineering degrees, and have worked most of my career in the automotive field. I've lived in South Korea, West Germany (as it was called then), and all over the US, but am originally from Canada. All those languages I studied in my youth have paid off, as my work travels have taken me to 7 European countries, with travels in a half-dozen more, plus a few in Asia and the Americas. The travel schedule is one of the things I DO NOT miss where I am now!!

I am currently a professor of automotive engineering at Minnesota State University in Mankato. Working with the kids keeps me feeling young, but the stairs at my weight were making me feel much older! I just finished my second year there. Having all that industry background has helped me in my teaching. I tell a lot of stories in my classes, most of which have some basis in facts.

Thirty-four years ago this fall I married the first girl I'd met when I left home and went off to college back in the 60s. (I was the first guy she met, too, standing in line during freshman registration.) We had known each other for five years when we got married, and with all my traveling around, our courtship took place mainly through the mails. They say the first 35 years are the hardest, but it seems to have worked so far, though! She had grown up in only two homes (25 miles apart). Since marrying me we have lived in 12 states (some multiple times) and a couple of countries. I was a major culture shock for her, but she's been a real good sport about it. She says now that she'll plan my next move by dialing 9-1-1!

I've been heavy forever it seems. (As a junior in high school I weighed more than I do now!) Even coming out of basic training I was to the high side of the Army's tables. Engineering school while working at least half time and taking care of a sick wife accounted for a few pounds more, and I could probably come up with a bunch of other excuses if anyone cares about them. I did low-carb a couple of times, lost 60 pounds each time, but it all came back with interest when I discontinued the rigor needed for success that way (hard to do when you spend 6 months in Europe in 1- and 2-week increments on the expense account.)

Last spring I decided "enough" and checked into WLS, having seen an ad on the tube once for it. Tried to get it done by the end of the summer, didn't quite work out, so the next window of opportunity for me was Christmas break. It's been six months as of this Friday, and it's been quite a ride! I've been boringly exact in following the doc's orders, and as a result have enjoyed some success. I've also found that the key to success with WLS is to play the mind game well. The physical tool is a great place to start, but it only works to its potential when you set your mind to it. The real weight loss tool is not in your belly, it's in your brain!!

For hobbies, I like to work in the garage to build improbable mechanical contraptions. I'm currently building a trike from an old Kawasaki and a race car our students built a few years back. I'm also making extensive modifications to my daily rider motorcycle to get it to my specs. When I'm not doing that, you may find us rolling down the highway of life together in our 43-year-old Greyhound bus that's now a fully-equipped motor home. I get to work on that, too!!

I've been very impressed with the love and support of this group. I hope I can make some worthwhile contributions from time to time.

CT

[Christy0283]

CT, I just wanted to say that I enjoyed your story. I always love reading your writings. They are always so well said. And, yes, you contribute to us too. Stick around awhile.

[FinallyFree]

Hi, everyone. I'm 38, married, with 2 great kids. My son is 18 and starts his second year of college this fall, and my daughter is a 17-year-old high school senior. Everyone in my family but me is tall and skinny! I definitely got the bad genes!

I work in the health care field for the State of California. I work for an agency that licenses and regulates HMOs and some PPOs, managing our call center, clinical review area, and complaint division. Basically, my nurses and analysts resolve complaints people have against their health plans (denied treatments, reimbursement problems, etc.) so I'm pretty familiar with navigating the health care system. If you live in CA and have a concern with your health plan, PM me and I'll be happy to try and help you out.

We live in a small town near Sacramento with our 3 cats and 2 dogs. Between the teenagers and the pets, we stay pretty busy! When I'm not vaccuming up animal hair, I like to read, shop (I'm a sucker for handbags and jewelry, especially!), hang out with the family, watch movies and exercise.

I was a thin to average size kid, but started to gain after my daugher was born. I've been overweight or obese off and on for about 16 years, pretty much my whole adult life. My heaviest weight was 240 about 12 years ago. I managed to lose 90 pounds with Phen/Fen (Fen/Phen?) and exercise, gained about 20 pounds back after a year, and hovered around 170 pounds for a long time. I got sick in October 2006, stopped exercising, starting taking Prednisone, and gained 65 pounds. I was diagnosed with asthma in December 2006, severe allergies in March 2007, and fibromyalgia in September 2007. My immune system is pretty much shot, which my docs think is due to multiple chemical sensitivity. Our office moved into a new building in Oct. '06 and I've been ill ever since. I started an exercise program in September to deal with the fibromyalgia pain because I didn't want to take narcotics. Even with regular exercise, I was up to 235 as of May 30 (my trainer and doctor both swear some of it is muscle gain but it looks like fat to me), but have lost 5 pounds in the last several weeks. I'm doing RNY on July 8, 2008, and looking forward to becoming healthy and having less pain.

[Christy0283]

Finally free, thanks for sharing.

[Hookemhigg]

Hi all this is Tommy. I have been around here just over a week now. I had my surgery on 6/11/08, but started this journey I guess officially on 12/10/07. Losing some weight the Dr. wanted and getting the right time down at work. I am closing in on the big 40 in July and decided it was time to stop running from what I have known I needed to do to get my weight controlled and that is undergo WLS. I am married and have a great 3 year old named Jeb and a supportive wife named Lori.

I have always been big the classic up and down person always gaining back more each time. Lettering in 5 sports in High School and playing summer baseball, etc always kept my weight in check somewhat in my earlier years. After finishing my degree and getting to work in the professional field it really balooned on me. It was as high as 733 in 2001 and thus I started a diet 10/07 that lead to me losing 283 pounds as of 4/04. Once I new I had gained most of that back, it really told me I had to do something to not just get it off, but too keep it off and so here I am. 696 as of 12/10 when I started and now down to 580 and counting.

Just a sports fanatic who loves the outdoors and can't wait to get back to that part of my life and enjoying traveling and doing more fun things with the family. I have amazingly I think been really active to have been as large as I have for so long, but know there is a lot more out there. I have been in the Social Services field for over a Decade and am currently a manager for a State Agency here in Texas, the State Vocational Rehab Agency. I love my job and love helping people. Another reason I guess I have undertook this is that to be nearly 40 and that big I had to realize I was really in pretty good health shockingly, but in my profession daily I saw the effects of Diabetes, Strokes, etc., and decided that was going to be me. There is too much in life I still want to accomplish and along with my wife watching our 3 year old grow up to do all the things I want him shooting for is the biggest.

It has been an emotion start to this thing, mentally tough, alot more than physical and I appreciate the feedback and advice from those of you who have been down this road. I also want to thank those of you who have sent messages of support and welcome.

I look forward to continuing to receive your support and down the road hopefully provide some to others out there as well.

Tommy

[Doreen]

Hello all!

Where to start? You already know my name, I couldn't come up with anything more creative on the spot. I am 32 years old. I was a skinny kid until I had kidney surgery in 1989, when I was almost 14. My recovery took a long time, I had an infection during recovery, so the total time of recovery was over 2 months. During that time all I did was lay down, watch TV, and eat. I gained quite a bit of weight, which concerned my Mom. The docs told her not to worry, that I would work it off. Well, I spent most of my teens going up and down on the scale. When my parents passed away in October and December of 1998, I was probably 230 lbs. My Dad died of a stroke and my Mom died during surgery to put in a shunt for chemotherapy to treat Multiple Myeloma (a terminal cancer). I had graduated in June of that same year with my Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, I am glad they got a chance to see that.

I met my husband when he was in the Marine Corps in March of 1999, only a few months after my parents died. Meeting Shawn was a godsend. I met him while goofing around on my sister's computer. I went in a chat room and just started talking to people. I was just bored, trying to pass the time (I didn't even have a computer at the time). I agreed to meet him in Oceaside, not thinking it would be anything more than a chance to get out and have a little fun.

When I met my husband I was probably 220 lbs. He never made an issue of it, even though he was very fit and trim as a Marine. Actually, I insisted on exchanging pictures before we met so that there were no "surprises". We dated for a few months before he had to go overseas on his first deployment. We were pretty serious by then and the 6 months he was gone we stayed in as much contact as possible by email, letters, and recorded tapes. It was shortly after he got back that we decided to get married. He was overseas in Australia for his second deployment on Sept 11, 2001. I was scared out of my mind!! After some time, we were able to communicate and of course he couldn't tell me where he was, but at least I could talk to him!! Turns out he was at Camp Rhino for some time and in Pakistan the rest of the time. He came home safe and sound. He was honorably discharged a few months before we got involved in Iraq. Luckily he was a "grunt" and was not stop-lossed because they had enough numbers at the time.

During his first deployment I lost over 100 lbs. I did Tae Bo everyday and ate healthy. I exercised 7 days a week, only missing a couple days because I was sick. I had taken care of my parents when they were sick and didn't care much about myself. One day I just came to the realization that it was time to get in shape. Needless to say he was pleased when he got home. We got married and were just enjoying married life. Once he was back, the time to exercise was harder to find and we always went out to nice resturants to eat on the weekends. So, as the months passed I gained weight back. When he went on his second deployment, we were living on base and they had a great gym. This time I spent 7 days a week running, doing aerobics and lifting weights. It was my stress outlet. I not only dropped all the weight, but I was down-right skinny! I was able to run for over an hour and a half. Physically I felt great! Again, he was blown away when he came home. We exercised together for awhile, but then with the threat of an Iraq war and possibly being called back after he was discharged, exercising was not a priority. Finally things settled down, he went back to school and we lived very happy for many years. The weight slowly but surely crept back and this time I was the heaviest I had ever been. He never complained. He did encourage me to exercise with him, we would start, but I couldn't find the motivation I once had. I kept thinking "I've done this before and I will do it again". Well, I never did. I started watching programs about WLS and talked to my husband about it. He was a bit apprehensive at first, but he said he was getting really worried about my health and lack of energy. After he asked me a ton of questions about what to expect, he gave me all the support I needed. It took almost two years of dealing with insurance, but I finally had my surgery on June 30, 2008.

After the Marine Corp my husband went back to school to finish his Bachelor's in Accounting and I decided to go back to school and get my Doctorate in Pharmacy (PharmD). He graduated over a year ago and I will graduate next May. We are both very excited.

We don't have any children...yet. First, we waited for him to get out of the Marine Corps. Then, we wanted to wait until we were both finished with school. The closest thing I had to a child was my dog Peanut. I got her in 1991 when she was 8 weeks old. She was a little Chihauau/Daschaund mix. She just passed away on June 3rd of this year, she was one month and one day shy of her 17th birthday. She was with me for more than half my life and she was my baby. I miss her everyday.

That about sums it up. At least the important stuff. Thanks for reading!!

[Perfesser]

Doreen,

Congratulations on taking charge of your life! It is commendable that you have done this. Forty-three pounds in a month looks like it's working out for you, too!

Also that's great about your degree. I know what it takes to get the big one, and it ain't easy!! Hang in there. You've probably already jumped through a bunch of hoops, but in the last year, they want you to do it again after they light them on fire!! It should be worth it, though. Mine sure has been!

Good luck!

CT

[Doreen]

Thanks Perfesser. You are definitely right about it not being easy. In fact, I really need to buckle down and study for my next rotation.

[mcrorka]

HI I am Kathy,
I am the mother of two girls, one that is 30 and the youngest is 11 (I had to rest in between LOL)

I had my Gastric Bypass January 28th of 2008, and to date I have lost about 87 pounds. I feel so much better than before. I am more energized and feel like doing lots more than I did at my highest weight.

Now if my prince charming would ride into view I would be happy. I have been single now for over 5 yrs, and sometimes I do wish I could find a decent man. (Anyone know one?)

I am really thankful I had my surgery, and really haven't had any complications. I hope to loose about 40 more pounds. But I really am amazed at how much better I do feel.

Good luck to all of us.

Kathy