***MONDAY'S ROLL CALL***

Hi Everyone! I'm sorry that I haven't been on the board lately. I did just post two new entries on my profile over the weekend, though. Does anyone else have the problem of wishing you had more time at the computer? My life has changed so dramatically over that past few months, that I am finding it harder and harder to find time at the computer. Then I feel SSOOOOO guilty, 'cause I feel like I haven't been there for you, especially all those of you that are new to this board. Anybody out there having these same thoughts and feelings? If so, how are you handling it? What is the Lord telling you? Can you share it with me, please? Now for the today's questions: 1. If you have already had your surgery, how has your life changed? If you are waiting for your surgery, how do you hope your life will change? 2. If you have had your surgery, do you have any regrets? 3. What do you think of the comment, "You took the easy way out"? 4. What do you think of the comment, "How can God receive the Glory for this surgery when even the unbeliever has it and looses weight"? 5. How long have you been visiting/posting the Christianity Messageboard? As you may have guessed, #2 & #3 have been stated to me. I posted on my profile, just this weekend, my answers in detail. Love you all! God bless! Cindy

1. Each morning when I wake up, I want to get up and start the day, instead of dreading another day to endure. I am able to drive, walk, play racquetball, take a bath, shop, clean house......the list goes on, and I Praise my Precious Jesus for ALL of it! 2. Absolutely NONE!!!!! 3. If they want to believe that, then I guess I should be thrilled, because Jesus said that His yoke is easy and His burden is light! Hallellujah!!!! (I don't believe though, this comment, for one minute. It took A LOT of trusting and FAITH to have this surgery and be willing to die if that was God's will!) 4. Believers & unbelievers have had to endure the same problems throughout time, side by side, the wheat & the tares, but God expects His child to Glorify Him by the difference in HOW they handle the trial, situation.... I share more in my profile. 5. This board has been my "home" since August 2005. I occasionally visited the 'BMI Over 50 Messageboard', the 'Indiana Messageboard', and the 'Surgery October 2005 Messageboard', too. THIS board is HOME! Have a Jesus filled day! I love you, all! Love, Cindy

Hi Cindy! I have missed you but I certainly understand why you have not been here as much. The only time I really have time to check in is when I am at work (between phone calls) and some days are more difficult than others. I do enjoy following everyones progress and hope I can be helpful to others wanting to have surgery. It has been life changing for me too! I know since i was considered a lightweight (Ha!) that my progress may not seem as significant as some but it has absolutely already changed my life. Instead of dragging around I am energetic and can do so much more than I could 50 pounds ago! QOD 1. example of how things have changed, last summer when I was trying to help my husband put metal on the new barn I had to have help to get up onto the back of the hay truck and help to get off it too. Yesterday I helped him with some things and I can easily climb up onto the truck and back off---NO PROBLEM!!! 2. I have no regrets at all! 3. I have not had anyone say to me that I took the easy way out. My sister is struggling to lose and she is doing well. She told me she simply could not face having surgery to do this. I encourage her in her choice to lose by diet and exercise alone. Everyone has to decide for themselves. I really believed that the Lord led me this way and I thank Him for making this possible. 4. I give God the glory for what he has done in my life. If medical science has assisted me I still know that God gave them the understanding to do this. Every good gift is from above and God chooses to share good gifts with all people. Just like the rains falls on the just and the unjust. But the just will turn to praise him for it! 5. I'm not sure how long I have been coming to this board. I think since sometime last summer when I "discovered" it. Enjoyed the questions! Hope all are having a great day!

Ginakay, Just 'cause you were considered a "lightweight", your weight loss success is JUST as significant as any other! Good for you!!!! That is so that you are now able to get into the truck with no problem! And I totally agree with your statement on #4!!! This surgery is a gift from Him! Take care! Love you! Cindy

Hi Cindy! I have been thinking of you a lot lately. Yeah, you were on the board everyday for a while there. I'm fighting to find time to get on here too. Since I lost my job, I lost 8 hours of alone time everyday to be online. Now I feel like I am depriving my family when I am one here. Good Questions!! 1. If you have already had your surgery, how has your life changed? If you are waiting for your surgery, how do you hope your life will change? It is changing my life everyday. So far, some of the changes have been difficult, like not being able to pick up my daughter. But, others have been great, like my last post about my first WOW moments. 2. If you have had your surgery, do you have any regrets? I'm not sure. I have had 2 breakdowns already. Sometimes my emotions start going crazy. I see my family sitting at the dinner table eating a pizza and I start to get mad because I want it too, then I get embarrased for feeling that way, then I start crying. I have read that these feelings are normal though. Another struggle I have is that sometimes I feel like a loner. When I go out I see all these cars at McDonalds and at restaurants and think to myself, "I have NOTHING in common with these people." 3. What do you think of the comment, "You took the easy way out"? I haven't had to face it yet, but I think it is a comment stemed for ignorance and little education 4. What do you think of the comment, "How can God receive the Glory for this surgery when even the unbeliever has it and looses weight"? God uses both the saved and the unsaved to glorify His Kingdom. Besides, who are we to say that this surgery won't bring them into a relationship with Him? 5. How long have you been visiting/posting the Christianity Messageboard? Oct 2005 Love ya! Dawn

1. If you have already had your surgery, how has your life changed? If you are waiting for your surgery, how do you hope your life will change? My life is wonderful since the surgery. My energy level has increased by 100 times at least! I walk 2 miles every day, don't have to worry about the sizes of seats, whether I'll fit into a booth, etc. I am so pleased that I had WLS. 2. If you have had your surgery, do you have any regrets? Absolutely none. 3. What do you think of the comment, "You took the easy way out"? Somehow major surgery doesn't seem like the easy way out to me, but I cannot worry too much about what others think. I've been very very supported by almost all of my friends and definitely all of my family. 4. What do you think of the comment, "How can God receive the Glory for this surgery when even the unbeliever has it and looses weight"? God allows us to make our own choices, but when we follow him we are blessed over and over and over. 5. How long have you been visiting/posting the Christianity Messageboard? I just found this board a couple of weeks ago, and haven't posted much. You guys seem like such a wonderful, supportive, Christian group and I hope to post here more regularly going forward. Have a wonderful day! ~Wanda

1. If you have already had your surgery, how has your life changed? If you are waiting for your surgery, how do you hope your life will change? My life is wonderful since the surgery. My energy level has increased by 100 times at least! I walk 2 miles every day, don't have to worry about the sizes of seats, whether I'll fit into a booth, etc. I am so pleased that I had WLS. 2. If you have had your surgery, do you have any regrets? Absolutely none. 3. What do you think of the comment, "You took the easy way out"? Somehow major surgery doesn't seem like the easy way out to me, but I cannot worry too much about what others think. I've been very very supported by almost all of my friends and definitely all of my family. 4. What do you think of the comment, "How can God receive the Glory for this surgery when even the unbeliever has it and looses weight"? God allows us to make our own choices, but when we follow him we are blessed over and over and over. 5. How long have you been visiting/posting the Christianity Messageboard? I just found this board a couple of weeks ago, and haven't posted much. You guys seem like such a wonderful, supportive, Christian group and I hope to post here more regularly going forward. Have a wonderful day! ~Wanda

1. If you have already had your surgery, how has your life changed? If you are waiting for your surgery, how do you hope your life will change? I hope and pray it will not only change my life and health but also that of my family, I want them all to start eating healthier and if i have to they might follow, with Gods help 2. If you have had your surgery, do you have any regrets? N/A 3. What do you think of the comment, "You took the easy way out"? I think people say that stuff from lack of knowledge and sometimes jelousy 4. What do you think of the comment, "How can God receive the Glory for this surgery when even the unbeliever has it and looses weight"? God can still save lost sinners! 5. How long have you been visiting/posting the Christianity Messageboard? I think for about 6 wks. or so. Also would like to ask prayer as ins. is making their decision on my approval or not. In His Love Regina

Hello Cindy! I too feel that "guilt" feeling for not coming here more often. My boss is now into "everything" we do here at work and if he finds out, he will probably not be "happy", so I just had to just come here when he's not here...or when I get home.. ok, here are my answers. 1. If you have already had your surgery, how has your life changed? Lets see....it has changed in sooooo MANY ways. 2. If you have had your surgery, do you have any regrets? NO regrets here. 3. What do you think of the comment, "You took the easy way out"? I honestly think those people know nothing about WLS and are CLUELESS. 4. What do you think of the comment, "How can God receive the Glory for this surgery when even the unbeliever has it and looses weight"? I think all God's children, whether believers or not glorify God. 5. How long have you been visiting/posting the Christianity Messageboard? mmmm that's a good question...I think since Nov.2004. Never really posted just visited... I love you Cindy! Letty P.S. You've got mail!

My life has changed dramatically. Within 1 month 1 was off all diabetic medications and within 3 months was considered "out of diabetic range" after 15 years of insulin resistant, uncontrolled diabetes! 2. My only regret is that I did not do this when I was younger, I may have been able to conceive a child (I'm 44 and on the fence about this...) 3. Nothing regarding my weight loss history and obesity has been easy! If diets and exercise worked, I would have been a normal weight at the age of 8 (my first medically supervised diet). 4. Who are we to say what glorifies God and what does not?! God redeems cir****tances and works in people's lives beyond what we could even imagine...this sound like pride to me (like MY struggle is more glorifying...) 5. I just discovered you folks last week and I feel so at home here!!