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  • Username: melissagarcia
  • Location: Des moines, IA, USA
  • Member Since: 12/31/2004
  • BMI: 22.7
  • Post Op
  • Surgery Type: RNY (07/12/05)
  • Surgeon: Mark Smolik
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melissagarcia has 3 Friends

Lisa G.
Debbie M.
schriej1974
Before & After

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Goals

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Surgeon Testimonial

Mark Smolik
He didn't rush anything. He tells you the risk and benefits. The aftercare with Mercy is very important to him and his staff. You have to do a lot to get thought there program but it all is for your health and safety. I would rate him a 10. The staff are really nice and they even have the chairs with the wide arms.
I have now had the surgery and want to up date that Dr. Smolik did a great job. My scars are very little and I might be able to wear a bikini. LOL I had no problems at all. He is very nice and I'm glad I choose him as my surgeon. His staff is great and very nice everytime I go to the doctors office. I really like there program that they have there.
Member Interests

Latest Surgery Support Comments

  • Comment by buckebeets on 3/31/06 4:42 pm
    You are such an inspiration!!!! We are very similar in height and weight,(well use to be) it is nice to see how I might change, looking at your pictures!! Keep it up, you will definitely make your one year goal!!! If you have any advice for me on what you did PLEASE pass it along!!
  • Comment by swangirl on 3/30/06 1:30 pm
    Congratulations on your success and best wishes for the future!
  • Comment by Marla F. on 8/4/05 1:58 pm
    Congratulations Melissa!!!! I miss you!!!!!!
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Melissa's journal
the story of my life as a Loser!


My new life
on March 2, 2009 6:19 pm
Well a lot has happened since last time I posted. I'm doing great. I weigh 163 and I fell great. I work at a new company and no one here even knows I had surgery. It's kind of weird. No one knows the me from before. I still have to work on taking my vitamins everyday. I know I'm low on things and I don't want it have any problems.
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March 12th 2007 Time sure does fly!!
on March 12, 2007 6:22 am
I just noticed today that I'm 21 months out. Just a few more months and it will be my 2 year mark!!! I have been at 167 now forever. I went up to 173 but now I'm back down to 167. I would like to make it to 155 but being at 167 I have a normal BMI and my doctor was happy when I was at 175 so I should be happy at 167. I don't have to much extra skin but I would love to have my breast done and have a tummy tuck. The only thing that is holding me up is money and the decision to have another child. We only have 1 and I can't decide if that is enough. I mean I'm only 25 so I'm still young and still wonder if 1 is all I'm going to want forever. I might change my mind in the future. Now if I have a tummy tuck then have a kid it would be kind of point less. I love the way I feel and I'm so glad I had this surgery. It has changed my life for the better in so many ways. My daughter still remembers when my was "fat". She was 4 when I had this done and the other day we were out to eat and out of the blue she says. "mom doesn't drink pop any more. She only did that when she was Fat". I wanted to laugh because kids say the funniest things. I have some explaining to do to her but I can't believe that she still remembers. So not to much new for me just living life.
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9-23-06
on September 23, 2006 12:00 am

wedding.jpg
This is me and my friend at my cousins wedding

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9-12-06
on September 12, 2006 12:00 am
Today is I'm 14 months out. I didn't lose anything this month. I go up to 170 then back down to 167 but I haven't went lower then that. I would really like to see 160 but I'm pretty tall at 5'10 so if I stay at 167 to 170 I'm ok with that. I can really understand how people can gain the weight back. It is so mush harder once your further out to eat just about anything. I still don't drink pop. Sometimes I'll have a sip of my husbands diet pop but just a sip and maybe once a month. It still makes my pouch hurt when I do that so I don't think I'll ever drink pop again. But that's a good thing. I do eat Sara Lee bread whole wheat sometimes. About 1 every 2 weeks. Good thing my husband likes it to or it would go to waste. I now weight less then my husband and he can pick my up. He took me to a concert/dance on Sunday. I had so much fun. I had wanted to see this group for 2 years now and they finally came here. We were in front the whole time. We went to get something to drink and my husband was sitting down and I was standing up and this guy came over and asked me to dance. It was so funny my husband stood up and said "hey what's up" the guy was like oh nothing and walked away. It was way to funny. I think it was good for my husband to see that someone else finds his wife pretty. I looked really cute. Well I think I did. LOL I was wearing a short little black dress. I took pictures I'll post them tomorrow. This Saturday we are having my daughters birthday party. So that should be fun. Then next Saturday my cousin is getting married and my daughter is the flower girl. She is so excited. I'm excited to get dressed up again. I love dressing up now and I love shopping. I need to go shopping for winter cloths. I don't have anything. Well I'll update with pictures tomorrow and good luck to every one out there going thought this same journey!!!

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9-10-06
on September 10, 2006 12:00 am
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New pictures!
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My Story

My name is Melissa. I had my first appointment with my pcp, it was 01/06/05 she gave me a referral to the surgeon. Her nurse called me on 01/11/05 and told me I have an appointment with Doctor Monte Schwartz on Jan 27 in Grinnell IA.

I have been married for 4 years and have a four year old daughter. I have been thinking about having this surgery for over 2 years, but I was too scared. I went on the Atkins diet and lost 50lbs. Then I stopped losing for 2 months and started gaining. I have gained all of it back and 30 lbs more. I haven't told all my family yet just my 2 sisters. My older one doesn't want me to do it. She says it is the easy way out. I tried to explain this is far far from easy. I don't want to tell the rest of my family until my insurance has approved me, and from reading other posts it seems really hard. My insurance is Coventry and they told me it wasn't covered under my plan. My husband has Aetna and they said it has to be medically necessary. So I don't know what will happen. I know my family is going to be mad and tell me not to do it, but I have been over weight all my life. I played Soccer and basketball growing up but was always overweight. I don't want to be overweight all my life.

This is my before and most recent after pictures

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This is my before picture. It was taken about 2 days before surgery

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How to make a Melissa
Ingredients:
1 part pride
3 parts crazyiness
1 part instinct
Method:
Stir together in a glass tumbler with a salted rim. Add a little caring if desired!


Username:

Personality cocktail
From Go-Quiz.com

 

Weight chart:

Surgery July 12th weight 337 BMI 48.4 Height:5'10
1 month Aug 12th weight 300 BMI 43.00 Down 37 lbs
2 months Sept 12th weight 277 BMI 39.7 down 23 lbs total 60 lbs
3 months Oct 12th weight 262 BMI 37.6 down 15 lbs total 75 lbs
4 months Nov 12th weight 237 BMI 34.0 down 25 lbs total 100 lbs
5 months Dec 13th weight 221 BMI 31.7 down 16 lbs total 116 lbs
6 months Jan 12th weight 210 BMI 30.1 down 11 lbs total 126 lbs
7 months Feb 12th weight 197 BMI 28.3 down 13 lbs total 140 lbs
8 months March 12th weight 191 BMI 27.4 down 6 lbs total 146 lbs
9 months April 12th weight 183 BMI 26.3 down 8 lbs total 154 lbs
10 months May 12th weight 175 BMI 25.1 down 8 lbs total 162 lbs
11 months June 12th weight 172 BMI 24.7 down 3 lbs total 165 lbs
1 year July 12th Weight 170 BMI 24.4 down 2 lbs total 167 lbs
13 months August 12th weight 167 BMI 24.0 down 3 lbs total 170lbs
14 months Septr 12th weight 167 BMI 24.00 down 0 total 170lbs
15 months
16 months
17 months
18 months
21 months March 12th weight 167 bmi 24 down 0 total 170lbs