[LittleLisaMarie]

I have done this in the past and its been a great way to briefly get to know one another without going back to each persons profile. Just a brief little bit about ourselves. Who we are , what surgery we had,what part of our journey we are st, what this surgery has meant to us....little something like that. I will start and hopefully many will follow as we have alot of new faces here.

My name is LisaMarie, I am 35 years old. Married with 4 children . My oldest just turned 15, my only girl will be 12 next month and my two little men will be 4 and 5 in May Without all of them and my husbands support i dont know if i could have done this. I live in the greatest place in the world NYC....I have been a registered nurse for over 13 years now, working with pediatric and adolesent patients mostly on the psychiatric units. Right now working outpatient foster care.
I had my wls lap rny on Halloween 2005. I started at 212 pounds and now fluctuate between 125-130 depending on the day. I also have just had a tummy tuck Jan 4th of this year. I am doing amazing and feel great. My energy levels are amazing. I have good days and I have bad days as far as food choices go. Some days I do great and others i just do to many carbs. The difference these days is I dont beat myself up for the bad days. In the past one bad day would snowball into months of bad days and lots of pounds being put on. These days if i have a bad day i just move on and try to do better the next. This is something i would never have been able to do without my tool. I also depend on this site as well as another for guidance and support to keep me going. I have made so many amazing friends and met so many wonderful people through these support sites. Without that I dont think i would be as successful as i am now. I love going to all the football games and baseball and softball games with my children because i dont feel like i am embarassing them anymore being the "fat" mom....i would avoid all that before if at all possible. I also enjoy going to school functions and dont mind climbing the stairs either! There are so many positives that i could go on forever but this is supposed to be brief and well i have talked to much. I cant wait to read a little something about all of you....

OK WHO IS NEXT???

LittleLisaMarie

[Kat]

Hi. My name is KAT.
I live in WI between Greenbay and Milwaukee. I had my lap WLS on May 17, 2006. So far I have lost 118 lbs. I had my surgery at Evanston Hospital by Dr. Frantizedes. So far I have no complications and am doing very well, in my opinion and Drs.
I am a professional chef and have been so for the last 25 years of my life. Before that I was a graphic artist. I enjoy throwing pottery and working with metals, drawing, painting, etc.
I became overweight at 2yo, after being very ill and being fattened up by my concerned family. I weighed 70+ in kinderegarden and 140 in 4th grade. The last time I weighed under 200 was probably around 8th grade and that was when I was sick.
My highest weight was 365 right before my WLS. I had gained about 20 the few months before surgery. I was very sore after surgery. I think this was partially due to the fact that there was not too much room in my guts when they pumped me with air.
At any rate, I currently weigh the least now that I have in 23 years or so. It sure feels good. I have done little to no exercise to this point which I need to change if I want to take advantage of the next 8 mos. of my new pouch.
I highly advise anyone willing to listen to follow the protein fisrt, veg, fruit next formula. It really works. Sometimes I fall but always get back up.
life is good. This is a great site.
Kat

[LittleLisaMarie]

THanks Kat!

Now where is everyone else? I know people have read this but your not responding? Just wanted to remind the old timers that when you do something like this it inspires newbies, and newbies we are always looking to learn from you as well. Come on now, cant you share a tiny bit about yourself? Oh well ....just thought i would try!

Come on WHO IS NEXT????

[DocSanae]

Hi, I'm DocSanae.
(Guilty as charged, LisaMarie, I was too pooped last night to post here after spending the whole day at a WLS workshop, and the evening having dinner with some lap surgeons I know. )

Okay, first off, I'll admit that I am non-WLS, and actually have had no weight issues save for my middle age woes, but I am here because I am in a medical field that obesity plays a big part in, and have known CraigT who hosts this site for over half of his weightloss journey, rooting him on.
I do not reside in the US now, but have for several years in the past due to my father's job when he had a tenure in Washington D.C., and English is as much my native language as Japanese which is the language I was born to.

Professionally, I am an M.D. Ph.D, General Internist / Diabetologist / Occupational Health and Safety Specialist and have been in medical practice for over 30 years.

I am here to provide you help in understanding general medical information, but NOT to give you any instructions or advice which should be received from your respective drs and surgeons.
If there is something that your drs/surgeons said to you, that seems confusing or hard to understand because of the medical jargon, please feel free to ask.
If you have any issues that concerns you, it is fine to ask opinions, but please always keep in mind, the final diagnosis/instructions MUST come from your surgeon/PCP or whomever is directly and personally resposible for you, and no body else, as he/she is the one who has all the information needed to come to an accurate conclusion.
If you have any issues that you do not want to post openly, but feel that an explanation or opinion from me would help you, please feel free to PM me.

On the personal side, I have been married for 31 years --hubby, well...a man will always be a man who is also an M.D.-- and have 2 girls, all grown but not flown, 30 and 29. I work out at the gym two nights a week, and take tennis lessons on Saturdays every week, to keep fit, and for stress control--exercise is an excellent form of stress control, and helps in letting off the steam when a heck of a lot is piling up on you. My other interests are music--more listening to than playing-- anything from classical to jazz and standards, rock, but too much hard rock, and I am out of it, chuck it up to my age. I also read a lot, from professional stuff to hopelessly romantic fiction and right now, I am reading up a lot on kimonos, as I am on a kimono "binge" and have accumilated enough knowledge to pass a kimono knowledge test and be certified as junior grade kimono specialist. Well, all women love pretty clothes, and I am wishing for all of you that the day will come when you can have your heart's fill of them, if you are not there already.

Sending my ((((((((HUGS)))))))) to all.

[Kattin]

Hi!!
I'm 59, married and live in Gig Harbor, Wa. Lost my daughter, her boyfriend and 4 yr. old son 10 yrs ago this Aug. She was 27 at the time, my only child. Thus the weight increase. Have always been heavy, but not this size.
Had my surgery Mar.8th,2007, so a new me will be blossoming soon.
My hubby and I belong to PT Cruiser car club, mine is red with flames and lots of chrome.
Some members from car club(12 couples) are doing the Alaska cruise this Aug. and my hubby & I will celebrate our 20th wedding anniv.
Everyone here has been so sweet and caring, just the inspiration us newbies need.
I'm 5ft 2in, and was 238 pre surg. than 221 surg. day and yesterday 239 1 day past surg. and now 234. So water fluid weight gain coming off.
I had proximal gastric bypass and gall bladder removed. So far doing great.
Take care,
Kathy

[tantesta]

hi my name is stacy i live on long island new york.... my surgery was on july 9th 2004 i am coming up on 3 yrs i started my journey at almost 240 and my current weight is around 125 to 128 ...i work in a local supermarket bakery bahahahahahah,,,,,,, but am trying to get a job in the state hospital in stony brook in the dietary dept.... i have made a lot of weight loss friends due to these sites online ...one thing i have learned after the most important tool the surgery is SUPPORT and i have gained a network that i wouldnt give up for the world .....lisamarie and lisa s have been my backbone and support almost the whole way thru... i have also inspired many to have the surgery and most are having great results.... my advice to newcomers is to use this tool as if it were golden,,, its like getting another shot of life but like i said its only a tool.... i also have 2 beautiful boys who bring me nothing but joy..... 16 and my baby will be 14 in a week... im so glad that i was able to extend my life to see them grow up and become nice young gentlemen..........i have to stress that if your contimplating surgery please get a support group other then the sites online its great to meet people in person that can relate to us on a regular basis... i have had the oppurtunity to meet such wonderful people...... and create life long friendships .... i guess thats all for now


Stacy

[yma]

Hi My name is Amy I had my surgery 2/2/07. I live in Buffalo, NY and I am 37 yrs old married with 2 children. My daughter is 12 and my son is 8. Kids keep us very busy. My son is a hockey player and we travel a lot with him. Oh By the way GOOOO SABRES!!!!
I am very happy I found this site. I am on it every day looking for advice and support. Everyone is very helpful and friendly. I look forward to making new friends. I've seen that some of you are getting together in NYC would love to be included if you would have me.

[Jerry]

Hi my name is Jerry...and yes I am a newbie! First, I live in Ontario Canada, I am 44 yrs old. I am married to the love of my life (jeanette),and we have 2 sons. Our oldest is 20 and our youngest is 12.

Now I am 6ft 5 in , Approx 400lbs. I suffer from High blood pressure,High colesteral. Diabetes controlled by diet. I have been experiencing real bad lower abdominal pains which have put me on disability at work.My family dr has put me through all the tests ie...hernia exam ,ultra sound ,and Im not sure what they call it but they lay you down on a table, the table moves you into this round thing and takes pics on your insides. Needless to say everything came out OK. THe doctor and I discussed the problem then decided it was probably because of my weight. Since wieght has been a problem all my life I had to agree. We both agreed that I had to loose alot of wieght and we have to do it faster than I could do naturally. So...in June I have a appointment to see the WLSurgeon .
Now this weekend I found ths marvalous web site , and I really enjoy all the input Im getting. Also Im feeling really welcome here.

Thanks Jerry

[tantesta]

jerry you might want to consider also obesityhelp.com they are filled with answers and great support ..... this site is great also i have recieved so much support thru both websites...... i hope your appt goes well if you have any questions or just need to vent use and abuse us we will do our best to help you in anyway we can.......



Stacy

[ChuppyGirl]

Hello everyone,

Well my name is Hanadi I'm from Kuwait. I'm 35 years old. Married to the warmest man in the world for 5 years now. We have 2 daughters: Jude (3 1/2 years old), and Dana (14 months). I love my little family so much, I started to become a funny mom especially after I've lost 118lbs!

OK, I'm the eldest daughter in my family and mommy and I were best friends more than mom and her daughter. She loved me more than any of my siblings and I guess the poor thing didn't know how to show her love except by cooing and feeding and that made the worst problem in my entire life! I grew up as chubby kid, then an over weight to obese teenager and adult! That fact left me with a lot of emotional issues and food was the only comfort to me at that point.
I found myself trapped for many years in the loop of I eat because I am depressed, and I get more depressed because I'm putting more weight!.

I hate to remember my days at school because kids were so mean to me because of the weight issue, as a result I felt that I have to proof myself to the others in my school performance I was an honor student and my shape would not be a barrier.

I had my Bsc back on 1997, worked and even at that age I still had criticism about my weight and at year 2000 I decided to make gastric banding. It worked fine at the beginning, lost ~55 lbs ~25kg's. Got married at the Eve of 2002. One year after that I gained the 25kgs with addition to another 25kg's more! I didn't follow any healthy food program, didn't exercise! I was basically living on fast food and sweets!

Got the 2 daughters with very complicated pregnancies and baby deliveries! so 5 months after the birth of my 2nd Dana, I went into very bad depression stage and I decided to do something about my weight or I'd better die!

So on 4/18/2006 I had 3 in one open surgery: removed the old band, removed my gallbladder (had stones), and did the bypass! I weight 335lb's (152kg's) at that time but I have reached 160kg's at a stage of my life! between the gastric band and the bypass I had many Atkins weight loss phases and of course I gained again!

I am now +11months post op now! I have lost 115lbs (52kg's) not in my wildest dream never imagined that I would reach this weight! I cannot remember when was the last time I weighted this figure maybe when I was 15 ys!!!
I'm happier, healthier and funnier now!

People always respected my strong personality and intelligence! Now they admire how I've lots weight, and the new look that I have now!

One of the very dear to my heart comment that I heared at work (the person who could have lost all of this weight! can do anything else!) that have brought me into tears!

My marriage life couldn't be happier. I highly recommend this super WL tool!
It has saved my life!

Nice meeting you all

Hanadi

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