Let's Be Friends - Introduce yourself!

Name:  Tracy 

Age:  53

Location:  Nebraska

Height: 5'3" 

Starting Weight:  235

Goal Weight:  135

Where I am in the Surgery Process:  18 months post-op

Best thing about weight loss:  The confidence and resolution of co-morbidities

Worst thing about weight loss:  hair loss! 

Favorite Type of Exercise:  I despise ALL exercise but do it anyway.  Currently doing kick-boxing and resistance training with some running once in awhile. 

Current Goal:  To get down to 125 lbs. 

Name
Yolanda

Age
41

Location
New Mexico

Height
5'7"

Starting Weight
293 day of first consult with surgeon July 2014

Goal Weight
I keep saying my goal weight is 150 but I've not been 150 since middle school. I've been heavy my entire life, and I don't know how I'd feel about 150. We'll see as it gets closer.

Where I am in the Surgery Process
almost 2 months post op

Best thing about weight loss
I love the way I feel physically. I've had more energy, less aches and pains. It's hopefully only going to get better as I lose more!

Worst thing about weight loss
It hasn't happened too much yet, but loose skin. I'm not looking forward to that. Being that I was 150lbs overweight at my highest, and that was for an extended period of time, I'm sure I'll have lots and lots of loose skin. But it's better than not being able to walk up and down stairs, breathe properly, etc.

Favorite Type of Exercise
I can't say I've found one yet. I like walking. I like doing the exercise bike. As I try more things, I'll probably find something I absolutely love, but for now just "like" :)

Current Goal
My first goal was 250, and I've surpassed that, so now I've made 199 my new goal. My weight loss is at a stall at the moment so I'm a little discouraged about that but I'm chugging along.

Other Information

I've made it my goal for December to get on a better track. I kind of let things go when my loss stalled in November but I have a renewed attitude and I'm going to make December work for me. I got discouraged and went back to old habits because I felt like a failure. But I still have my tool and I am going to get back up on that horse. 100% on plan is the only way to do it. No wavering. I can do this!!

Name:  Mark
Age: 40
Location  Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Height: 6'2
Starting Weight :365
Goal Weight:200
Where I am in the Surgery Process: 4 weeks and counting
Best thing about weight loss : Feeling a little bit better every day.  And being off my meds... Dear God.... that has to be the best part
Worst thing about weight loss : Being told i look younger and less tired.
Favorite Type of Exercise : Dont know.. not allowed to do anything yet..
Current Goal :200 and to have a GD. Poop
Other Information

Married with 2 beautiful girls.  6, 8.    Wife had a VSG 6 months ago and is down 110 lbs.     I am donw 35 Lbs in 6 weeks (Including my opti,) im sure if i could poop i would be in the 200's

Yours made me laugh - sounds like my husband! LOL  A good poop makes everything better. 

Don't get too backed up - I ended up with diverticulitis - you do NOT want that.  PM me if you'd like to know what I do (after much trial and error) to stay regular.

Name CarolAnn
Age  53
Location  outside Boston
Height 5'0"
Starting Weight  210
Goal Weight  125

Where I am in the Surgery Process 7 mos post op
Best thing about weight loss - feeling great, energy
Worst thing about weight loss skin!
Favorite Type of Exercise  walking, zumba
Current Goal  get to 125 by February for annual trip with friends
Other Information - had lapband 2007, had 3 drs - and trouble with band - choking on saliva or no restriction, got sleeve and have enjoyed it much more than band.  Really enjoy this board. :D 

Name Jennifer (dolphingirl)

Age 47

Location California

Height 5' 6"

Starting Weight 351

Goal Weight original goal under 200 but am going to push for 170

Where I am in the Surgery Process 5 1/2 months out (surgery 6-13-14)

Best thing about weight loss Everything......feeling "normal" again as I went from 250 to 275 which I had been at for many years up to 350 in one year due to a health issue with my feet and legs that came out of nowhere and debilitated me. 

Worst thing about weight lose My body is losing weight in a very strange and unusual way, I love the ice cream cone comment. Also, the first two months I was so nauseous all the time I thought I wasnt going to make it. 

Favorite Type of Exercise I mainly walk, but recently started weight training

Current Goal Learning to eat even if I am not hungry or something isnt appealing.  When I complained to my surgeon that I wasnt hungry or that nothing tastes good, he replied eat it anyway you are eating for survival not pleasure. Those words stay in the forefront of my brain.

Other Information Single and enjoying doing all the wonderful activities I love doing with my eight year old grandson that I had stopped doing the past year and a half. Living my life again!

Name:  Bonnie

Age:  63

Location: Eastern PA

Height:  5' 4.5"

Starting Weight:  244

Goal Weight: 160 ( Can't even imagine making it to 200 right now)

Where Am I in the Surgery Process: 2 weeks out tomorrow

Best Thing About Weight Loss: Not feeling like a stuffed sausage, getting dressed

Worst Thing About Weight Loss: It's sooo hard! Not feeling like I am normal.

Favorite exercise: Walking, Zumba

Current Goal: Onederland

Name: Cindy

Age:45

Location: Arizona

Height: 5'6"

Starting weight: 255

Goal weight: 140 (currently 128 but I think I'm too thin at this weight. I've been here for over a year though.)

2 years post op

Best thing about weight loss: There are so many great things that have happened since I've lost weight. I can keep up with my husband and kids. I got to get rid of my foot braces and only have to wear custom orthotics now. Also shopping and getting a whole new wardrobe! My self confidence is so much higher too!

Worst thing about weight loss: My already small "girls" are totally gone now!

Favorite type of exercise: I enjoy walking/hiking and I just started playing racquetball with my husband and boys. I never thought I'd like it but I do!

Current goal: Keep working on maintenance.

Other information: My husband and I have been married for almost 23 years. (Our anniversary's this month.) We have 4 kids and are expecting our first grandchild in June. After I had lost about 80 pounds, I decided to get a job outside of the home. Up until that time, I'd been a stay at home mom/homemaker for over 20 years. I only work part time, but I love it! I didn't have the confidence and know I couldn't have done it before losing the weight because of my feet. I'm on my feet the whole time for my little 5 hour shift, but that would have done me in before. Now I can do it without any problems and am able to come home and tend to the household/family needs.

Name:   Maureen

Age:  52

Location:  Southern California

Height:  5'-7"

Starting Weight (Highest Weight):  449

Goal Weight:  179

11.5 months post VSG surgery.  Current weight is 237.

Best thing:  Movement without pain.  Living each day without copious amounts of pain killers and anti-inflammatories.  Feeling my sternum without a huge Pooh belly covering it up.  

Worst thing:  Clothes.  I'm pear shaped so my bottom half looked like a puddle of skin when I sit down.  Pants that fit me around the hips are loose in the waist.  I'm constantly hiking up my pants.

Favorite exercise:  During the summer I spent a lot of time in our pool swimming laps and working with water weights.  Now I'm walking two miles at night and doing resistance band training.

Current goal:  To hit Onderland.  I haven't seen it since 1992.  Weight loss has slowed since surgery, but I'm now averaging nine pounds a month.  If it takes me two years to reach goal, that's okay.  I'm in this for the rest of my life.

I recommend WLS to anyone who's even thinking about it.  My BMI was over 70 when I started the process and I was miserable.  Now I'm active, happy and motivated.