2 years out!

For all of you preops and new postops out there... keep your eyes on the prize... it is so worth it. I would do this again in a heartbeat, and my only regret now is that I did not do it before I did. I would like to thank my sister, Cappymoon, for without her this never would have happened, and I believe that it is one of the greatest gifts that one human can give to another. Dianna -- I love you -- thank you so much. 2 years ago, I was almost 400lbs. Today, it varies, but in general it hovers around 170. I'll take it. They say pictures speak louder than words, so: http://www.flickr.com/photos/25976362@N00/sets/7215760460697 3549/

Girl you look good and I am glad that you have done so good. Please keep up he way that you are going. I know that Dianna is so proud of you and loves you a lot.

Thanks, Pat. I appreciate it.

That's amazing. Congratulations!!! And these newbies do love to hear stories like yours. I admit I times I'm still having doubts and my surgery is in 10 days. I love it when people say they wish they had done it years earlier. Best wishes, Penny

Good luck on your upcoming surgery! Everything will go fine. For me, the preop was the toughest part, once the surgery day came, everything got set into motion, and really has not stopped since. So get ready... your time is soon! Put your running shoes on!

Ditto here.  Great post Julie.  I didn't realize how bad I felt until I lost some weight and started eating healty and getting some exercise.  Now I'm lik ethat littel house dog that gets to go out in the yard after being coopedup in the house for a few days and they just start runinng in circle sout ing thyard, just becasue they can.  Its is literally and second chance at lving life again. I feel 20 if not 30 years younger.  WLS was reommended to me at age 42/350 lbs.  I didn't take it seriously and figured I would lose it on my pwn,. At age 49/408 lbs, the heart started skipping beats and I could see the light at teh end of the tunnel and was certain it was my train.  Now I don't know how long my body will last, but I don't plan on becoming a couch potato again until I cannot do any better.  Sorry I waited or didn't take my personal healt more seriously much earlier.  WLS saved/extended my life and significantly improved the quality of the life I have, no doubt about it.  It was certain worth the risk of surgery,...for me. 

Thanks, Joe. As far as I'm concerned, doing something today might not be as great as having already finished it yesterday, but it's still better than putting it off until tomorrow. I myself looked into (kind of... I did a LITTLE reading about it, and oohed and ahhed a little bit) WLS as early as 2000 -- but at that point, it was still considered experimental (why, I don't know, considering WLS in various forms has been around much longer than that) and I can't even remember if I had insurance then, much less if they would cover it. For me then anyhow, it was more of something you hear about, go poke at on the internet for 20 minutes, and then sort of dismiss and forget about it. That is, until 2004 when my sister had surgery, and I began to learn a bit more. Carpe diem and all that... for you, me, and everyone else here, maybe it would have been nicer to have had it before we did, but as long as we DID have it, and take control of things, that's what matters.

Great job Julie! That was my only regret as well but all happens for a reason.  Hugs, Shannon

Thanks, Shannon. Love the new avatar... you're looking fantastic!

Congrats Julie & Happy Surgiversary!!!!  You should be very proud of yourself!!!!!