Let's Be Friends - Introduce yourself!
Name: Tomeka
Age: 37
Location: Greenville, SC
Height: 5' 2"
Starting Weight: 255
Goal Weight: 135
Where I am in the Surgery Process: 4 months post op VSG
Best thing about weight loss: I am in remission from diabetes. The scale moving down. My hubby thinks I am one hot mama!
Worst thing about weight loss: 1) This dang peripheral neuropathy that is thought to come from a B1 vitamin deficiency. 2) Being paranoid about losing hair. It hasn't started but I count every hair that comes out. 3) waiting for my brain and eyes to catch up to the huge change my body has made. I feel like I look the same as pre-surgery and I KNOW that can't be true.
Favorite Type of Exercise: Weights. Yoga. Jogging. Bring it on!
Current Goal: Save money for a new wardrobe! Get rid of this painful neuropathy. Attend my 20th high school reunion with the body I had in high school.
Other Information: I am a married mom of one son. I am a coupon-aholic.
Hey Tomeka, I live in Spartanburg, SC and am 4 1/2 months out. Good to know there is someone else in the area. Great idea Gwen, - Bethany
Name: Bethany
Age: 44
Location: Spartanburg, SC
Height: 5' 2"
Starting Weight: 273
Goal Weight: 150
Where I am in the Surgery Process: 4 1/2 months post op VSG
Best thing about weight loss: Fitting in seats (airplane, theatre, booth), not hating what I see in the mirror (especially my new skinny face!), taking pictures, new clothes (why do plus sized clothing designers think large women want kittens on their sweatshirts? Talk about not sexy), getting back into therapy, knowing I will live longer and be around for my family, feeling "normal."
Worst thing about weight loss: Fear I will revert to old habits or am not being diligent enough, hair loss (that's a hard one), and the lingering feeling that people judge me or think I "cheated" by having WLS.
Favorite Type of Exercise: NONE! I still hate it but I make myself walk (some). Love snorkeling and scuba but that doesn't happen much in Upstate SC.
Current Goal: 150, though I would be happy with 175.
Other Information: College professor, married with a 10 year old, pet lover (Newfoundland, pit bull/ border collie mix, polydactyl cat, koi, fish tank, betta, suburban chickens), liberal, love to travel (working on getting back to Europe this summer)
"Free your ass, and your mind will follow." HW - 287, Start W - 273, Surgery W - 257, Onederland - 4 months 1 week post op, 100 lbs lost - 8 months 1 week, CW - 162
Name
Heather
Age
42
Location
Vancouver, BC
Height
5'3"
Starting Weight
290
Goal Weight
133 (That's my pie in the sky goal. I'd be totally happy to get to 150ish, but I plan on using clothes as a guide more than the scale.)
Where I am in the Surgery Process
After 16 months on a waitlist, I've been accepted into a program and am currently going through all my requirements. I hope I'm around 3-4 months from a surgery date, but I can't be certain.
Best thing about weight loss
I'll get back to you. =)
Worst thing about weight loss
Ditto
Favorite Type of Exercise
Yoga, weight lifting.
Current Goal
Get surgery!
Other Information
I have two cats, multi-coloured eyes and I'm really glad I found OH last year when I was just learning about WLS. =)
VSG Mar 26, 2015 Dr. Sharadh Sampath -- 5'3" -- 47YO -- HW: 294 - SW: 261 - CW: 192 - GW: 175
Bi-lateral Brachioplasty May 8, 2017 Dr. Owen Reid
Lower Body Lift Oct 2, 2017 Dr. Owen Reid
"Weight is lost in kitchens, health is gained in gyms." - Dr. Yoni Freedhoff
Name:
Ali
Age:
37 (for a few more days anyway)
Location:
Ligonier PA
Height:
5'2" (on a good day)
Starting weight:
238 pounds
Goal Weight:
130 pounds
Where I am in the process: I am seven weeks post op. Had to get fluid treatment today as the holiday messed up my intake. Too many things going on, and I didn't get near the volume of fluids as I should have.
Best thing about weight loss:
The best thing is the chance at a healthier life, I am off of 4 medications, and have ditched the CPAP. 
My knees no longer hurt, I have a ton more energy!
Worst thing about weight loss:
being cold all the time....
Favorite type of exercise:
Walking my boys, Dante my German Shepherd and Booker my German Shepherd/ Australlian Cattle dog mix, and being able to keep up. Swimming, and starting next year, biking.
Current Goal:
Onederland by my birthday, the 13th of this month.
Name: Amanda
Age: 39
Location: Boston
Height: 5'11"
Starting Weight: 268ish
Goal Weight: 180?
Where I am in the Surgery Process: Pre-op. Surgery tentatively scheduled for January.
Best thing about weight loss: (From previous attempts!) Feeling better, ease of shopping.
Worst thing about weight loss: The jury's still out on this one.
Favorite Type of Exercise: Running
Current Goal: Find protein shakes I can stomach for my pre- and post-op diets! :)
Other Information: Married, 2 kidlets
Both of my parents had WLS in Boston. Good luck!!
Lanie; Age: 43; Surgery Date (VSG): 8/12/14 w/complications resulting in RNY next day;
Height: 5' 6" SW: 249 Comfort Zone: 135-140 CW: 138 (10/13/17)
M1: -25 lbs M2: -12 M3: -13 M4: -7 M5: -11 M6: -10 M7: -7 M8: -7 M9: -3 M10: -8 M11: -4 M12: -4
5K PR - 24:15 (4/23/16) First 10K - 53:30 (10/18/15)
Name: Shanae
Age: 22
Location: Marana, AZ
Height: 5' 11''
Starting Weight: 374
Current Weight: 258
Goal Weight: 190 is my goal as of now. The doctor says 175 is a good BMI weight but I really think I will be too thin, so I will see how I feel at 190 when I get there :)
Where I am in the Surgery Process: I am a little past 8 months post-op(Best decision I have ever made!)
Best thing about weight loss: Where do I begin? I don't even know how to choose. I guess being able and having the energy to do the things that I want to do. I am not nearly as self conscious as I used to be before, I LOVE trying on clothes because everything doesn't look horrible anymore lol.
Worst thing about weight loss: Just how expensive clothes are!
Favorite Type of Exercise: Kickbox Cardio for sure! I also love running now!
Current Goal: Getting under 250 will be awesome! Im hoping to be under 250 by January 1st!
Other Information: I am engaged to my best friend :) I am a kidless homemaker, but really I have a full time job on our 5 acre ranch. There is always something to do. I workout quite a bit, about 10hours a week. I am not perfect, and I mess up sometimes, but I keep kicking and screaming and I WILL get to goal some day!
Good luck to everyone looking into, getting ready, or that just had surgery! You will do awesome and just remember why you did it in the first place. Sometimes it is hard to remember that in the beginning!
Congrats to everyone that has had surgery and has lost weight! You are all awesome!
Surgery on 3/21/2014 with Dr. Ramos Kelly. HW:385 SW:358 CW: 240
