Getting to know you!!!!

Holy cow, PJ, I had no idea you were into extreme sports!  I bow in awe!     I'm way too "Type B" to excel at anything like that, but I'd be happy to wave a banner and cheer for you from the sidelines!  I'm so non-competitive that it's almost funny.  Used to drive my dad nuts, but I always found a way to get what I wanted without having to compete. An acquaintance of mine is into adventure racing -- she belongs to some kind of team in Atlanta and their idea of a good time is to participate in racing events just for the heck of it, and that's how she spends most of her vacations.  It wears me out just thinking about it. The campsite and natural hot springs sound fun, but the 20 mile hike sounds like the Bataan Death March to me!  I have no doubt you'll make it without even breaking a sweat!   Kix

Hi Ginger, My name is Lynn I am 44, and live in Northern California. I have been married for 17 years. I have no kids, but have 4 adult step kids, and numerous step grandchildren. I have worked for the same company since I was 19 years old. I have work in numerous departments over the years, but am currently the office manager of our corporate offices. I had my open RNY back in Dec 05. I have loss since surgery 201 lbs, a total since the beginning of 257. I still can afford to lose another 60lbs. I have never felt so good in my entire life. I was to the point where is was hard to just walk out to my car every morning, almost couldn't even fit in my car. I had to do something.. I am so glad that I had this surgery it saved my life. I also still struggle with my food addiction.  but I know with my family and all of you, my goals are obtainable. My husband and I used to love to go see the Oakland A's play, and this year I will be able to go again, It has been  so many years since I have been able to go. I am sure you all know how I feel being able to go out and be "normal" for a change. Well thanks for this post, it's been fun reading about everyone. Have a great rest of the weekend Lynn

Hello Everyone, My name is Diana and I live in the Houston area in Texas. I am 26 months post op. I lost 209 pounds. I went from a tight tight 30/32 to a 12. Hubby and I have been married 13 years tomorrow. I am pregnant with our first child. I was never able to conceive before WLS and we are truly blessed. As of tomorrow I am 8 months or 32 weeks pregnant. Woohooo!!! This surgery is awesome and is a true life saver. Yes I have alot of hanging skin but I can deal with that. No one can see it when I have my clothes on. Yes even big and pregnant I still have a hanging apron. I used to have sleep apnea, high cholestrol and diabetes. Now all I take is my vitamins. I wish everyone the best of luck on their journies. ((((((hugs))))))

 

Hi Diana, Your pregnancy seems to be the quickest in history...I'm sure that it hasn't been for you right??  How exciting for you and your hubby to be anxiously awaiting your little bundle of joy!!! 

Hugs,

Ginger

Good morning everyone!  My name is Shelley, I am 28, and I live in Los Angeles (yes, it’s FUN FUN FUN to be a fat girl in one of the most image conscious places in the country!!!).   I work in the financial industry (I wont even begin to bore you with explaining what I do, suffice to say it has to do with mortgages and property taxes) and I also run a small business on the side teaching private cooking classes and catering small events.  I went to cooking school in 2002-2003 and I was working full time as a coo****il mid 2003 when I fell at work and fractured a vertebra.  I can’t stand up long enough to work in the kitchen anymore and I know that PART of that is due to my weight.   I am at my highest now (367) and I am just starting the process of getting approved for surgery by my ins co.  I have PacifiCare HMO and they require a 6 month "nutrition and education" program before they will allow me to meet with the surgeon.  I just got all the paperwork completed and faxed over last Monday....do you think it is too soon to start calling and pestering them????   I decided to have WLS because I am coming up on 30 and I know that while I don’t have any serious medical problems yet, they aren't going to be that far off.  I have always been heavy, and I know that being overweight for 25+ years is going to catch up to me eventually.   Also, because there are so many things that I want to do that I can’t.  I used to love to do ANYTHING outdoors...hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, you name it.  When I was younger I was heavy but I did it anyway, and now-a-days I just cant and I recently decided that was NOT OK.    Anyhow...whose next????  =)

 

Hi everyone!  My name is Jan and I'm 45 years old.  I live in beautiful usually sunny So Calif., not far from Shelley in fact, with my wonderful, supportive husband of 16 years and our two Great Danes. I have a 24 year old son, who lives in Az with his wife and 4 year old son. I have worked for the same company owner for over 20 years, but in different positions. I started off answering phones at one of our car dealerships and have done everything from filing to payroll over the years.  I'm currently an Executive Suites Manager, leasing office space in a high rise building and running a phone answering service. I decided to have WLS because I was very tired all the time, couldn't move, and hurt all over. I was diabetic, and had watched my very thin Dad die from complications of diabetes, I knew I didn't want to go through any of that. My weight before surgery was 374 lb. I had WLS on July 17, 2006, and I'm now down to 237, so I've lost 137 pounds in 7 months. I went from a tight size 34 to were I'm now wearing a size 18/20 (smaller than when hubby and I first started dating)! I was one of the lucky ones that developed a stricture after surgery, then had to go back to have my gallbladder taken out last November, but that's all behind me now.  I'm feeling fine and loving life once again! Other thean a very picky pouch that won't let me eat starches, I haven't had any more problems. My husband and I travel all the time, in fact we've got two trips coming up Seattle in March and then Ireland for a nine day tour and Holland for 5 days to visit with family in April (hubby is from there).  I can't wait to take my first plane trip since surgery, I know that not only will I be much more comfortable, but I won't have those stares from the lucky person that gets to sit next to me!

Hi Shelley, Glad to get to know you!  Good luck in getting all your ducks in a row for your weight-loss surgery It will be well worth it. Hugs and smiles, Ginger

Hi My name is Lise.  I live in Tulsa OK.  I am a service management consultant and have been for over 10 years.  Basically what that means is that I travel between 75 and 80% of the time.  I leave on Monday and fly home on Thursdays.  Yes an exciting life unless you have lived it.  Its just routine to me now. I had LAP RNY on Nov 29, 2004 (27 months ago).  I started at 409lbs and have lost 205lbs (got as low as 189 but have gained back 6lbs) since Surgery.  I decided to have surgery because it was that or stop doing what I loved (TRAVEL FOR MY JOB AND LEISURE).  I couldn't walk more than 20-40 feet without knee and back pain.  I had extreme sleep apnea (it has lessened since surgery but I do still have it and I love my CPAP!) as well as PCOS, the start of high-blood pressure and pre-diabetes.  I made the decision to have the surgery because I saw what my mother was going through as a brittle diabetic and CHF as a normal-sized person.  I got married to my soul-mate in Sept 06.  He met me at my highest weight, loved me anyway. He was scared for me to have the surgery but supported me in what I needed to do to be healthy.  He has now decided to have the surgery himself.  MARCH 15 is his surgery date.  He will start out at 450lbs and his goal is 220.  I love him and tell him daily that his weight doesn't matter as long as he is healthy.   The decision to have the surgery is his just as it was mine 2 years ago.  Okay enough about me.   NEXT  Lise

Congrats to your hubby and good luck to you both!

Hi, I'm Sally and old enough to know not to tell my age!  (If you don't tell them while you're young, they can't add it up when you're old :)).   I live in Sioux City (not my favorite place) but hope to be moving in the next year or so.  I have also lived in Houston and Tulsa--two towns I saw in other's posts.  Actually, Iowa is my 7th state to live in.  I joke about having lived in all the O states and now working through the I's.   I work at a university working with students on probation but also doing assessment and research.  I really like my job just not the town. I had wls because I was becoming immobile and felt monsterous.  I have always been overweight, but I reached the point of understanding why people give up and just never get out of bed.  I am now down 209 pounds and want to get off another 20.  I'm starting my plastic surgeries this week--a breast reduction and arm lift.  In the fall I hope to get a tummy tuck. This surgery has been great for me, allowing me to become the person I always was. Best wishes to everyone, Sally