Hello! Introducing myself

Hello Marian C Thank you the blessing and the welcome! I sure will keep you guys posted and I you too have a blessed Holiday. Remember the REAL REASONS for the Christmas and Easter holiday Seasons! I saw you Kitty Cats in your profile. ADORABLE! You Too Look GREAT! Congratulations on your weight loss! Doug

Hi Doug, Welcome. I am the former queen of buffets. As of January, I resigned from that position. I came to the realization that buffets were therapists for me and not nutrition. I remember what was bothering me at the time when I was frequenting the buffets. Today they are just a memory and a gaze across the parking lot. I had lap band surgery January 24 of this year, and have lost 59 pounds to date. That's from post-op diet in November to now. I started out at 283 and now at 224. It's been over 3 years since I have seen this weight. I got lap band surgery done for a lifetime tool. Losing weight was not a problem for me, but keeping it off was. I don't regret this surgery for anything. I can walk better and have less back and knee pain. Kristine

Hello Kristine H! Thank you for the welcome! As a truck driver there are a lot of times when your stuck far away from home and your next load is scheduled 2 days away. Almost every truck stop has a buffet and I sit there for 2-4 hours getting my diet-pepsi cup refilled eating plate after plate of everything. Food takes the boredom away for a while, I then retreat to my truck, start to doze off in the sleeper and do nothing but have acid reflux. I don't understand myself sometimes but I do that all the time. Go figure. I hope my surgery is as successful as yours. I want my back problems to go away and getting the weight off is my best chance! Doug

Doug, Hi there! I am from Liverpool, which is a suburb of Syracuse, and am six days post-op from lap rny. I am just a few years older than you, and wish I had done this surgery ten years ago! I was on insulin, along with many other diabetes drugs, high cholesterol meds, high blood pressure meds, you name it, I was on it! WAS!! I am no longer taking anything but my thyroid hormone replacement and vitamins!! This was my whole reason for having this surgery, and I am happy as a clam! The feeling better will come with time, as the weight loss continues. I am on such a natural high right now, with not having to give myself 3 shots a day! I am even starting to get excited about how the new me is going to look! Go for it! Do it! Good luck! Karen

Hello Karen C! I am so GLAD FOR YOU! I will go for it and DO IT! WOW! So soon out of surgery and your on a "Natural High"! I can't WAIT TO BE LIKE YOU! So much to look forward to from this point on. Good luck and I will be in touch some more later. Doug

Hi Doug, Welocme to the Ny boards. Im located near schenectady NY. I know the feeling you felt seeing the people who have had WLS already show the before's and afters. I am currently doing the required medifast shake diet. I have been on the liquid diet for almost seven weeks and im about 72 pounds thinner than when I started. LOTS of water weight lolololo. Please feel free to ask us anything on here. Folks are so great on here its like an instant family so welcome to our ever growing family of wls hopefuls and veterans. I want to tell you that this is your turn to shine and finally put you first, cause lets face it we are good at taking care of other people better than we know how to take care of ourselves. Through this journey I have learned that I am worth it, I am a woman with a voice, a voice that is no longer stifled under fear of rejection. What I have to say is important and I am dancing like nobody is watching and I am living out loud!!! I encourage you to do the same!!!! God Bless You and welcome!!! Living out loud, Becca

Hello Becca L! 72 Pounds! Congratulations! Is this a PRE-OP shake diet? If so, your willpower is AMAZING and IMPRESSIVE! You have your goal in mind and are working hard to achieve it indeed. My turn to shine! I like the way you put that. It IS my turn isn't it! You said that you are "no longer stifled under fear of rejection." I can relate to that 100%. You keep on LIVING OUT LOUD! What you say IS important as you said and I doubt anyone here would EVER reject you nor ignore you! Thank you for the words of wisdom and strength. Keep up the good work and I'll keep in touch. Doug

Hi Doug, THe shake thing im doing is called medifast. It is through my Doc but you can also buy it on the net. I drink 5 a day and water all day.. That is it.. at first it was hard but I knew if I didnt do this i was gonna die, and I just knew I had so much more living to do. My first week on the shake I lost 27 pounds. And I at that point was drinking 5 shakes and eating a meal at night which consisted of 6 ounces of boneless chicken and 2and1/2 cups of greens. Your doc only requires 20 pounds huh? wow. well any way doug have a wonderful Easter and god bless you and yours Livin outloud, becca L

Welcome Doug! I am a 43 year old RN, and am scheduled for surgery (open RNY) on 4/27. I can relate to your diet history of yo-yo wt losses and regains plus. I researched the heck out of weight loss surgery before making a decision to go ahead with it. There are links all over this web site to other sites with great info (not to mention this awesome site itself), and you can google weight loss surgery or gastric bypass for tons of sites). Information is power. My surgeon requires a 10% pre op weight loss, so I lost a little over 30 pounds on a low carb diet and now, just before surgery, nervous and in an inbetween place (dieting vs using the "tool" surgery provides), I find myself doing a lot of nervous eating. I am working on trying to find ways to deal with that. I know emotional eating is an issue for all folks who've struggled with weight, so it's not going to go away after surgery!! Anyway, keep us posted on your progress. And welcome to the boards! Amy

Hi Amy C! Well, your surgery is right around the corner! I wish mine was. My surgeon requires 20 pounds pre op weight loss. I don't like what you said about nervous eating habits NOT GOING AWAY! That TERRIFIES ME and this is the first I've heard it. I eat out of loneliness and boredom while on the road. I guess I have a MAJOR MENTAL lifestyle change ahead of me. Maybe I'll be OK because my stomach will be so small I can satisfy myself with water. I know I'll never be able to eat this kind of volume I eat at now. Thank you for the welcome and I will keep you posted. Doug