[deaconj8]

posted by admin Michael on deaconj8's behalf from email received from her:

I have been negligent in updating the system. I get lost trying to do so, and just give up. So, I will try an E-mail, and maybe you can put it where it belongs.

I had surgery March 15, 2006 as I remember. I was in ICU for almost a week, returned home, and ended up in a nursing home for six weeks in a rehab unit. The food was awful, and their understanding of food was totally inadequate.

Their idea of a meal was a glass of milk or an orange juice.

My total weight has gone from 304 to 151. I seem to stick between 148 which I rarely achieve, and 153 where I seem to be most of the time.

A new friend is a retired dietitian. She gave me a professional article regarding bariatric surgery. I find the two things I have been negligent about are exercise and consumption of 64 ounces of liquid daily with no fluid 30-minutes before a meal and 90-minutes after a meal.

As a woman with an overactive bladder, that creates lots of problems for me, as you can imagine.

I am down to a size medium in most things unless it is like a winter jacket which I wear over other clothes like a sweater. My pants size is a
14 or a 16, and I find my best choice is L.L. Bean with their stretch pants which are a true 14, and not a 14-16.

I am well satisfied with my weight loss.

However, I still think of myself as a large person. Actually, I am quite bony. I was surprised when I felt a bone in my buttocks, and realized it was my tail bone.

I pray for those who have had the surgery. And, I pray for those who are making a decision as to whether they will have the surgery. It has saved my life, and I am thankful to God for this new life.

Mary-Frances Jones
Austin, Minnesota

[Trulykath]

Inspiring story...thank you for posting her e-mail!

[Kenyar]

yes thank you for sharing!!!

[A new me]

Thanks for sharing.

[tyraine]

Thank you for taking the time out to share your story with us.