Let Us All Get to Know Each Other :-)

My name is Kat and I am 26 years old. I live in Las Vegas. I have two boys 4 and 9. I am having my surgery on May 16th with Dr. Alvarez in Mexico.

Hi, Thanks Sherri for putting this thread together. I'm Buffy, and I am born and raised in San Francisco.  I have two boys aged 23 and 22.  Both in college. I have been overweight since I was about 8 years old.  And I have battled with my weight since then.  I have been on every diet out there. Probably twice.  My heaviest weight is 210.  I had the surgery with Dr. Jossart on April 23.  I had my first food yesterday.   Yummy cottage cheese with a little salsa. 

Hello!  I'm Karin, and I'm 54 years old, with 3 grown children, married to my hubby for 34 years next month. I've lived in Napa Valley for 34 1/2 years. I am a nail technician in a salon for the last 17 years and I love it, but I would rather not work anymore and make jewelry!  I've had some sort of weight problem, probably since my late teens.  I was never really extremely overweight until after my second child was born.  I gained alot with her and really never lost it.  5 years later my youngest was born and I had both baby wieghts to haul around.  I've been on every diet, WW, SBD, Medifast, Kimkins, Low Carb, Diet Center, etc...only to lose and regain  more each time.   All the extra weight has totally affected  my mental view of myself and it's been really bad since menopause.  So, fast forward to my opting to get the VSG and I'm now ready to put the past behind me and looking ahead to the future!  I'm so thankful for this website!!

Sherri this is like a cyber-reunion.  fabulous!

i'm Bongi 40 in july (GULP!) never been married, mother of one ever curious 8 year old girl (8 and A HALF), as she'd say.  we live in north jersey.  wasn't overweight until well into my adulthood.  did the lose and gain thing, i was over it and wanted to get control before i made it to morbidly obese.  actually just hearing obese at the doctors office made me turn my head and try to figure out who he was talking to.  that's part of why it took me so long to do something about it, in my head i was a medium, but taking up 1.5 subway seats.  a medium, but couldn't fit into an extra large t shirt.  a medium but 1/2 of my meals were eaten in the car.  i wasn't miserable about my weight but i thought about it in the same way as the quote in that lap band commercial "if i lost the weight............" i read (maybe here on oh) that someone described it as a postponment of their happiness.  my life was gonna start after losing the weight.   my life had already started it just took me a long time to join in.  43 pounds down and my original goal was 36 more, but the way it's coming off i might have to stop at 20 more or i'll look like a bobblehead

Hi my name is Krista!  I am 33 years old, well soon to be 34!  I live on a beautiful island just off mainland Nova Scotia, Canada. (Cape Sable Island)  I am single, no children.   I live with me wonderful sister who has helped me so much, she is my best friend! I have struggled with my weight alomost all my life.  Except when I was born, I weighed in a 4lbs.  I have been sick my whole life.  Premature with whole in my heart, under developed lungs and failure to thrive.  I was not given a name until I was a few weeks old because Drs told my parents I would not make it!  Well with the force feedings behind me I guess I still felt the need to continue on my own.  I have so many co-morbitities it is too long to list.  I reached my all time low last fall when I ended up in hospital for 3 months with paralysis of left leg, loss of bladder and bowel feelings.  This was due to herniated disks in low back.  My weight made them extreme.  Fortunately this saved my life because I was approved by provicial insurance to have VSG as quick as possible.  I had been waiting for 6 years for RNY but program would start and stop.  Thank fully the new Dr performs this procedure.  I will be celebrating my 2 month on the 12th.  I am down a total of 63lbs. (33 pre-op)  I truly believe this surgery has saved my life.  I look forward to being confident enough to find my future husband and make beautiful babies!!  This forum is wonderful and I thank everyone for being so welcoming.  I wish you al continued success on your journey to health!!

Hello, I'm Gretchen. I'm 34, married, with 3 kids ages 10, 8, and 15 months. We live in a very small town in southwestern North Dakota. I work as an "administrative assistant" (Glorified Secretary) at my church and for a chiropractor. I also do all the book work for my husband's business, BassAckward Studios--he's a tattoo and airbrush artist. We've been very ridiculously happily married for over 12 years. My "Fat Story" is pretty much like anyone else's. Fought with it all my life. Maintain for awhile, and then when something bad happens (way too many deaths in the family in the past 12 years) OR I'd be pregnant, and boom. Since my wedding, I've blown up 120 pounds. It's gotta stop. I first heard about the VSG on a local news story just this past march. Did the research and oh yeah, this is the one. Since I'm self pay, (no insurance at all) the sleeve made a whole lot more sense to me than either the band or RNY. All I'm waiting for right now is to find out if I qualify for, and get accepted into, a study that is being held next month to determine the effectiveness of the VSG. Whether I'm accepted or not, I am still doing this. I need to keep up with the kids. So I'm hoping that I'll be a loser like the rest of you by the end of June.

Hi Krista! Wow, good for you for overcoming all you have!  Most inspiring!  Your back problems resonated w/ me as I had emergency surgery for cauda equina syndrome back in 1995.  I was numb below the waist w/ no bladder/bowel control, but luckily w/ the surgery I regained all but feeling & strength in my right leg/ankle/foot.  It took a long time & a lot of work, but I know I was lucky. Best of luck to you!  You have a wonderful outlook on life!!

Thank you very much!  I guess I figure God has saved me so many times it is my job to stay as positive as possible.  I am confident things will get better.  There are so many people who are in far worse shape then I am.  I have been feeling down thinking that maybe I am not losing as fast as I could, but I can not do a whole lot of exercises.  So I just have to remind myself this is not a race. (even if my left side is not as small as my right side YET!!!)  Glad to hear you have made improvement.  Good luck!

Hi! I'm Jenn. I'm 26 and will be having surgery on June 5th. I went on my first diet in first grade and have essentially struggled with weight for as long as i can remember. I've always been active and counted calories, so not losing weight was very frustrating. I've been running for the past two years (completed my first half marathon last october)...i'm really looking forward to losing weight and becoming a better runner!  i also moved to San Francisco about a year ago and absolutely love it. I'm single, but am hoping that another benefit of weight loss will be increased self confidence...maybe i'll even meet someone nice to date! This board is really friendly. You all are so encouraging...it's nice to hear. Thanks and keep up the good work!!!!!

Hi my friends I am 52 year old women.  On May 18th I will have had my surgery 8 months ago.  It has been the ride of my life!!!!!  I am 3 pounds from my goal.  I love every minute of it.  It has given me my life back.  I am so much more outgoing now.  I do not hurt like before and almost love to exercise now!!!  LOL   I work as an Executive Assistant in a large firm.  I enjoy my work so much more now.  Because before surgery hated to have to get up in the morning and figure what I would wear to cover my fat.  Now I enjoy getting dressed in the morning.  I went from a 18/20 Womens to a size 10/12.  I still find it hard to believe because many days my head still feels fat.  Then I get a glimpse in the mirror and remember I am not fat anymore.   I love to swim.  We have a pool but was always so embarassed to let people see me in a bathing suite.  If people came over I would stay in the pool till they left.  Just think this year if I want to get out of the pool while they are there I can!!!!!!!!!!  HAHA!!!  Just bought a size 10 bathing suite and it fits!!! I do not hurt all the time like I did before.  I enjoy being active.  My life has improved 100% since I had my surgery.  And I would do it again in a heart beat. Hugs