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Goals

Build my confidence and willpower

22 People
 in progress, 
5 People
 achieved this

be at 150

9 People
 in progress, 
1 Person
 achieved this

Get my BMI under 30!

13 People
 in progress, 
7 People
 achieved this

stop letting food control my life!!

19 People
 in progress, 
4 People
 achieved this

Be firm in my own beliefs and not what my family thinks I should be

2 People
 in progress, 
0 People
 achieved this
View The Goals Page
Surgeon Testimonial

Kevan E. Mann
Dr. Chastanet is very nice and kind. I met him at the orientation class. He was very clear about the risks and benefits involved in this surgery. You can also tell that he really does care about his patients. I met the \"team\" as well. The psychiatrist, nutritionist, as well as the case manager (aka bariatric nurse). They are all very kind as well. I think they all work very hard to make sure that every patient succeeds. I will have to say that the way the discussed the aftercare...it sounds amazing and I'm very impressed.rnrnDr. Mann was a wonderful surgeon, I couldn't have asked for a nicer person to place my life in his hands. Him and Dr. Chastanet did the surgery together but for the most part I deal with just Dr. Mann. My first impression is the same as the one I still hold, his bedside manner is unbelievably wonderful and he is one of the kindest people I have ever met. He is also very helpful with all of my problems whenever anything comes up all I have to do is ask him and he answers even my most ridiculous questions.
Member Interests
  • Needlework, Knitting & Crocheting - Cross-stitching
  • Parenting - I have two girls ages 4 and 2
  • Scrapbooks - Hey, gotta have a cool way of putting together pics of my girlies!
  • Philosophy - Taking my first philosophy class in college and LOVING it
  • Astrology - I'm still learning but one can only do so much with so little time
  • Tattoo - I am soooo addicted, I have 2 now, but the next 3 are already planned
  • Pagan - My path, the Gods and Goddesses walk with me every day
  • Navy - Proud Navy wife
  • Herb Gardens - I want one soooo bad, as soon as we get a house I get one YAY!!!
  • Antique - My hubby and I want to get a couple old muscle cars to rebuild.

Latest Surgery Support Comments

  • Comment by Cira S. on 11/23/06 2:55 pm
    Congratulations on your surgery! Wishing you all the best and a speedy recovery.
  • Comment by Donna S. on 11/20/06 12:59 pm
    Hey Raven -- Thinking of you today as you begin your journey. :) Have a wonderful day, and let us know how you're feeling when you can. Best wishes, Donna b.
  • Comment by Moonblush on 11/18/06 4:26 pm
    Raven, Sugery buddy, we've almost made it. One more day! I'll be thinking about you and praying that all will go well. I'm glad you are doing practical household things to take your mind off of Monday! That's good! All will go well, and you will be on the losers bench in no time! Blessings, Denise
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Raven's Journey
Raven's Journey


It's been over a year....
on February 1, 2008 9:14 am
So my one year came and went with relatively no notice. It's amazing how we count the months and such in the beginning and once we start to get comfortable with ourselves we tend to stay off the computer and spend more time doing other things. I'm sad to say that my gym membership was a bit of a waste, but I've learned to live with that. I've gone through so many things in the last year it's not even funny. I've dealt with bouts of hypoglocimia (I have NO idea how to spell that, LOL) that at one point were so bad I was eating insane amounts of food just to keep my sugar at a safe level. I also have dealt with being diagnosed as bi-polar which they say was made worse by the anti-depressants they put me on after surgery. So I had a major episode last summer and then spent the rest of the year getting my life straight again and trying to come to terms with my weight.

If that last part sounds confusing well....I've been dieting since I was 13. It's just become a mindset....either I'm dieting or I'm doing the opposite and rebelling against the diet by eating everything I can get my hands on. Now trying to accept that I don't need to diet and I can't really rebel without sabatoging myself so that's out of the question as well. So I have to deal with my eating disorders.....and stop obsessing over my weight. Now to add to this....we decided right after I passed the one year mark to have another baby. Well we found out last week that I'm pregnant. I'm thrilled and oddly enough I think I'm pretty much ok with the fact that I'm going to gain weight. What I'm hoping for though is that I'm not going to gain anymore than 20-25 lbs and that it will hopefully be 90% baby stuff that will come right off afterwards. I've also decided that I'm not going to freak unless I end up out of the 170's which is just too much gain for a gastric patient less than 2 years out in my opinion. But I've promised myself no freaking out because I have to eat more....because the baby needs the nutrition. I'm also seeing my nutritionist about my diet so I'll have an idea of the calories I need to be intaking and such. So wish me luck....I think I'm gonna need it over the next few months.
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I finally did it....lol
on March 31, 2007 11:13 am

So today at 11:30 I finally did what I've been wanting to do since last year and just hadn't done. I joined a gym. I have been kinda worried about doing it for several reasons...first I worried about cost...being Military we don't have the extra money for the most part. Secondly I was worried about trying to find a gym that has a kids room that doesn't cost more than the monthly dues, lol. I could always use the gym on base however there is no childcare and I really can't do anything on a regular basis without it. Then there is the "contract" that most gyms make you sign. Again being military and knowing that we are going to be moving within the next year I can guarantee that we will not be in Virginia beach in a year. However, Gold's Gym doesn't have a contract (well they do but you give them 30 days notice and that breaks the contract no questions asked)...and they have a kids room that is only costing me 28 a month for both of my kids. Def. reasonable. Plus I'm going to pay for it like 6 months at a time just so I don't have to worry about it monthly. Anyways I meet with the trainer Monday afternoon and I think I may skip tomorrow so that I can be not so sore for my meeting with her since I know I will be sore after she works me over, LOL. Well that's all for now gotta run to the store and get me a lock for the locker at the gym. I'm so excited and happy!!!!!

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My Story

So my story isn't really that different than anyone else's here. I've been battling with my weight since I was a child. I've been put on diets since 13. I rebelled against said diets for a few  years (gained A LOT of weight), lost the weight, got married and pregnant twice and gained it all back and then some....like another 50 more. I began this year at 278 and now waiting for my Pre-Op tomorrow I'm around 260 something. Not bad but not good either. I have two kids that I love more than anything except my amazing husband of almost 6 years. I am happy with my life except for the fact that I'm not really living it. I'm watching from the sidelines as my life passes me by because of things I cannot do (run, dance, play, goof off with my kids...etc.), so I decided last year that this needed to change. I had to do something when I couldn't dance for one whole song while holding my almost 4 year old at the time. So I researched the surgery. I did my homework I didn't research for months but at the end of 2 weeks I could explain RNY-Lap to just about anyone even if they had no clue what it was. My dad was actually against it until he realized that I was serious and wasn't just messing around this time, that I knew what I was doing and knew what the doctors would be doing to me. How it was going to work, help vs. things tried before, etc. My mom has been my biggest supporter from afar, but she is happy that I'm finally doing something about the weight. My husband is afraid of many things but staying positive for me which I find to be amazing and wonderful of him. My girls are too young to really understand anything we are just going to tell them that Mommy needs to go to the hospital for a few days so that the doctors can fix her tummy....But all in all it is going to be the most wonderful experience of my life. May the Gods watch over us all.....