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Surgeon TestimonialAlex Gandsas, M.D., F.A.C.S.I went to Dr.Gandsas last year. He performed my surgery in May 2007 I was 408 lost 20 pounds prior to surgery now i am 355 pounds and counting. hes a sweetheart. and cute too..lol . he was professional and honest. and straightforward. when i feel comfortable with a Dr. that tells me a lot. he made sure my before and aftercare was taken care of properly. i had no issues surgery came out great. yes he has a great bedside manner which is important to me as a patient. i give him 4 stars. he saved my life. i thank him .rnFrom Paula Cuffie Member Interests
- Birds - i love birds , finches
- Dogs - i love dogs
- Artist/Muralist - I do grahpic design and photography
paula2's JourneyClick Here To View
Describe your behavioral and emotional battle with weight control before learning about bariatric surgery.You have five years?..lol mood swings, tiredness i felt like i was alone i had no one to turn too. |
hit and misses.. on May 10, 2010 10:52 am
 Hello , hello everyone how are ya.. i am doing fine been working out. have missed several months of the gym why? because. well economy. my gym bill got out of hand but i am paying it off i miss working out. yes i gained 7 pounds back yuck!!.. triggers started happening for me. i allowed myself to get consumed with some personal issues. now ia m getting back on track. i been at a plateau. got angry about that. of course. but been keeping busy. which is mandatory for me. drinking my protein shakes again. my health is fine thank god. i am on one insulin a day 30 units. hurray!!.. i am about to become a grandma. yes well i will know soon. my son is getting married. my baby all grown up. you will see him in my albums. he still drives me crazy. i can;t wait until he becomes a parent. i am in a size 20 to 18 jeans.. yeah .. go figure. i kept looking at myself in the mirror. jeans. hey listen i have not worn jeans since high school. seriously .. to fat and too hot. but now. hmmmm. i love them. since i had my tummy tuck. showing off. i deserve to show off. hell. this is hard work..lol. i need a but though. my butt is nice but it could be better...lol. so anywho. i am not ashamed of me going in the water not ready for beach action yet.. since jaws i have post tramatic jaws disorder... have not been right since. but that is just moi. well i hope everyone is doing well if you fall off the wagon get right back on. i vowed to myself with god's grace i am not going back to 408 pounds. i have to keep that in mind to keep me motivated. tootles.
Feeling Great! on January 6, 2009 7:36 pm
 Yes i have lost a total of 150 I wore my first size 18 jeans a little snug but guess what.. it encourage me more to stay on the right path. yes i have snuck a few cookies here and there but . i have programed myself not to buy the wrong things in the market. i have recieved so many compliments i still see myself as the same woman somewhat. i just had my tummy tuck in dec"08 i still wake up hoping it's a nightmare. i tell you. the excess skin i cannot believe. the Dr. has removed 91/2 pounds of fat. it was painful but worth it. i feel light. i can bend better you know i look forward to working out again. i had to take a hiatus on the work out but i still get out and move walk in the mall . yes going to the mall and looking at stuff you never thought you could wear again. have a flat tummy at that you cannot help but gloat. the important thing is that my diabetes is now under control i am doing 20 units aday compare to 20 in the morning and 30 at night plus actos. i was on metformin but it gave me the runs.. you know what i am talking about for those whom has used this drug. but the thing is i went out dancing New Years Eve. and I was partying with the Baltimore Ravens. hey!.... lol . and i was wearing an outfit i bought 3 yrs ago from california. It fit like a glove. and it was sexy. i looked in the mirror and said to myself."dammit i look Good. it just came out and i meant it and felt it. i miss you all. for the support. but i have not disappeared i just thank god. and yes i am dating again. He's a very nice man. but all in all .. you still have to work on self regardless of the weight. you know i was watching oprah she said its not what your eating its whats eating you. for the first time i could relate. if your gaining it back something is unblanced in your life. and believe me i can relate... wholeheartdly . until next time.
one love,
Paula
Update on November 10, 2007 6:10 pm
Tombstone Generator At DLyourLIFE.com!I been doing fine nursing a cold. sitting here , on the computer checking my emails. i am still staring in the mirror. you know what they say you will not be able to see the weight loss. i see it. but i still look like i did before the weight loss. does that makes since? oh well i lost a total of 83 so far i feel great i am getting out of bed faster, walking faster not huffing and puffing. you know but i still have some cravings. god temptation and i dont mean the singing group. its a bitch. but on the flip side i have purchased me a swim suit. yes i plan to do the backstroke. and i seem to be at peace now with some things in my life. I am not as angry as i used to be. because of my illnesses , i just want to enjoy life. again. i am making plans for a vacation i hope by june to the bahamas. i am looking forward to it. I am sleeping a lot better i still use my c-pap unit. i am not out of the woods on the sleep apnea. still exercising. this is the hardest commitment in a long time that i have finally followed up on. I want it bad enough to do something about it. and yet you began to feel feminine again you know. cant wait for that little black dress day to come. feel like a woman supposed to feel. face it we sometime do lose our senses . on being the woman we was suppose to be. well i am speaking for my self of course. it just amaze me how my weight affected my progress in so many areas of my life. Of course i was aware of these things. but i stayed in that comfort zone. you know i do it one day. but today is the day. i tell people dont give up the fight to obtain a healthy lifestyle. i am determine for the grace of allah. not to have any thing pass me by. life is so precious. and i think often on the ones that did not make it through the surgery or the ones felt they had no way out. you know We all can relate to that. The thing in a nutshell is you have to keep on trying. never ever give up.
Tootles,
Paula2
STILL THRIVING... on September 19, 2007 5:35 pm
Tombstone Generator At DLyourLIFE.com!
LET ME TELL YOU ITS BEEN BUSY FOR ME GOOD. THE EXERCISE BEEN DOING ITS JOB. i AM DOWN 69 OR 72 POUNDS NOW. HOORAY. i BEEN HANGING IN THERE. I CANNOT GET LAZY DURING THIS JOURNEY. WINTER IS SNEAKING UPON US. I KNOW HOW I LIKE TO STAY IN DURING COLD MONTHS. AND YOU KNOW THE OLD ADAGE... THATS WHEN WEIGHT SNEAKS RIGHT BACK ON YOU. THE COMFORT ZONE. HECK WHO LOVES THE COLD. i AM NO POLAR BEAR..LOL. YOU KNOW I AM MORE FLEXIABLE NOW. I CAN TIE THY SHOES WITHOUT FALLING OUT. YES! AND MY PANTS ARE BECOMING BAGGY. I LIKE LOOSE CLOTHING , YOU KNOW WHATS FUNNY. IS I WENT INTO WALMART. TO GET SOMETHING TO WORK OUT IN. AND I BOUGHT A SIZE 26-28 PANTS. NOW THEY ARE BAGGING . I WEAR A 22-24 IN PANTS. YES I NEVER THOUGHT I SEE THE DAY I BE PULLING UP STREEEEEEETCH PANTS..LOL. I AM FEELING THINGS ON MY BODY I NEVER THOUGHT I HAD. I AM MOVING BETTER. MY GOD I DID A SPRINT TO THE CAB THE OTHER DAY. YES A SPRINT. i AM NO LONGER WALKING WITH THE CANE. IT FEELS GOOD NOT TO HUFF AND PUFF. AND YES PEOPLE ARE BEGINNING TO NOTICE. ONE GUY TOLD ME HE STATED I CAN SEE BETWEEN YOUR KNEES, YOU ARE NOT HUFFING AND PUFFING LIKE YOU USED TO.. YOUR REALLY COMING DOWN.. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. THEN OTHERS STARES AT YOU LIKE WHATS SHES UP TO?. BUT IT DOES FEEL GOOD TO HEAR COMPLIMENTS. BUT YOU KNOW WE ARE OUR OWN WORST CRITICS. SOMETIMES I CANT SEE IT. AND SOMETIMES I CAN. BUT I DONT BAGGER MYSELF WITH IT. PER SE. I NO LONGER SEE THAT TRIPLE CHIN. BOY I WAS SO SELF CONCIOUS ABOUT MY CHIN. YOU COULD NOT SEE MY NECK!. THE INSECURITIES I KNOW DOES NOT GO AWAY OVER NIGHT. I JUST ENJOY THE WEIGHT LOST THAT I HAVE LOST SO FAR. NOW I CAN WALK I WANT TO GO PLACES AGAIN YOU KNOW. I DO CHALLENGE MY SELF IN THE EXERCISE DEPT. I CAN WALK 2.0 MILES NOW. I STILL HAVE TO WATCH MY SUGAR DROP . OH THE DIABETES OH MY GOD. I ONLY TAKE 30 CC OF INSULIN WITH MY ACTOS OF COURSE. IT USE TO BE TWO TIMES A DAY. MY SUGARS HAVE GOT BETTER. I AM NOT HAVING THOSE CRAZY NIGHT SWEATS AS OFTEN. RARELY HAVE THOSE. HMMM I WAS CONFUSED WEATHER IT WAS MENOPAUSE OR WAS GOD READY TO TAKE ME NOW..LOL. BUT ALL JOKES ASIDE. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING OUT. NOW. I GO THROUGH MY EXERCISE ROUNTINE SO FAST THATS BECAUSE I BUILD UP ENDURANCE AND CARDIO. I GET A TAD BIT UPSET WHEN MY ROUTINE IS BROKEN. BECAUSE I MISS A DAY I FEEL LIKE UGHHHH. YOU KNOW. THATS ONE UP FOR ME. THERE WAS A TIME YOU ASK ME TO EXERCISE, I CAME UP WITH EVERY EXCUSE IN THE WORLD. BUT NOW WHEN i BEGINNING TO SEE THE CHANGE. I LOOK FORWARD TO IT.
TOOTLES...
exercise week.. on July 9, 2007 9:12 pm
 okay well today was my first day to exercise. yup!. i walk today . wedsday i start on streches to get flexiable and the bike. or the treadmill as long as I am moving. it was hot as heck today close to the equator and let me tell you . you could not suck up any air if you wanted too. well i been eating fruit . cantalope . honey dew watermelon. i add sugar free coolwhip , on top. give it a little pazazz. Plenty of fluids i fell in love with this white tea . its refreshing. i have lost 1 pound I believe its a little over. i will know scales are different. but this one read the same as the one i weighed in at last week. I feel i am at a stand still. I know for a fact once i start with exercise it will fall off. I have not walked with a cane since i lost the 58 pounds. hooray! what a difference it makes just that little weight how you feel. When i had my WLS i was beside myself I was so damn happy. my stomach is getting flat . another man . ( not that I value the opinion of men) hey !! who am i kidding! I want them to look. one friend of mine he said i see your slimming down. he said come here slim! he's such a comic. He made my day.he stated wheres that cane. i said well i put it away. because its mind over matter. Can't is not in my vocabulary. you know with the madness of the health insurance companies. and people's health we stay stuck in a mold. I want to break this cycle. I have too. why? well i look at it like this some of us can't help but get ill. and we do the best we can. according to some doctors years ago. i was not suppose to be here. being a cancer survivor as well. I said that is what you think. That really was the biggest wake up call. Besides being obese. I used to hate that word. Obese. it look like it sound . doesn't it. round sound. but hey. thank goodness I was obese because I would not know how to change that facet in my life. I remember the Iman at the mosque told me. In order to change.., things have to happen to us . make since. I used to read the dali lama as well. Its the way you think and how you see things that hold us back. no this weight change is not a easy task. If your looking for one watch out. I was humming this song "Pick myself up ,Dust myself off and start all over again".
well until next time... tootles
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