WLS Patient Personal Info

[rkrs6673]

Real name: Kenya

Geographical location: Missouri

Age: 33

Marital Status: Married

Children/Ages: 2

Occupation: Nurse Manager

Pets: 0

Hobbies/Interests: School, school and more school

Height: 5' 3"

Eye/Hair Color: Brown/Black

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: RNY 11/30/2009!

Starting Weight: 398

Present Weight: 257.4

Goal Weight: 198 lbs

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Getting in enough protein

Following any specific plan: Healthy eating

Anything else you would like to share with us: This is a life long journey not a quick fix

[dakiniverona]

Real name: Valerie

Geographical location: Southern California

Age: 57

Marital Status: Married

Children/Ages: 2 - daughter 28, son 37, 5 grandchildren from 20 months to 17 years old and 1 great grandchild 3 months old

Occupation: Association Executive (NPO)

Pets: 1 assistance dog, 3 cats and husband

Hobbies/Interests: School, school and more school

Height: 5' 4.5"

Eye/Hair Color: Blonde/Brown (Goldwell colours)

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: Fobi Pouch 7/14/1999

Starting Weight: 270 +/-

Present Weight: 198.8

Goal Weight: 150 lbs

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: stopping grazing

Following any specific plan: Weight Watchers Momentum

Anything else you would like to share with us: After my WLS my lowest weight was 189.9, but quickly settled in at 195. The weight slowly crept up to 220 after about 5 years. I had a tummy tuck in 2004 and was 205 after the surgery to remove the excess skin. My weight went up again - to 221. I went on the Richard Simmons plan and got down to 190, but after some health issues found myself at almost 220 in January of 2010. I became diabetic during this whole process from not eating enough meat (so hard for me to digest). I do not want to take meds, so am on the path of losing the excess weight. I have muscular dystrophy which means my body is not strong and my weak muscles do not burn off the food I eat. I am following the momentum plan and have lost 15 pounds this past year.

[littlebiskit]

Real name: Jennifer

Geographical location: Minnesota

Age: 31

Marital Status: Married

Children/Ages: 1 - My daughter Lily will be four next week on Memorial Day (May 30th for those not in the US )

Occupation: Customer Service in the food and beverage industry (office/phones)

Pets: 1 cat (actually my husband's cat, he already had her when we met nearly 12 years ago)

Hobbies/Interests: Board games, crochet, cross stitch, spending too much time on the internet.

Height: 5' 6.5"

Eye/Hair Color: Reddish brown hair (thanks to my stylist, LOL) eyes are green.

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: Right now I'm probably between 340-350

Starting Weight:

Present Weight: 198.8

Goal Weight: 180-200

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: emotional eating

Following any specific plan: Not right now

Anything else you would like to share with us: I'm really very very alone in this right now. I haven't told anyone in my real life about my decision to have weight loss surgery. I have my first appointment with a bariatric nurse this coming Wednesday. I'm terrified about everything EXCEPT the surgery. The lifestyle changes that need to take place, dealing with insurance, dealing with the reactions of people. But I'm resolved.

[rubycat]

Real name: Catherine

Geographical location: Finger Lakes region of NY state

Age: 37

Marital Status: happily single and not looking right now

Children/Ages: no children (ovarian cancer survivor)

Occupation: wanna-be writer

Pets: megan (curvy sleek and pretty calico tortie/tux cross kitty)

Hobbies/Interests: painting, writing, drawing, singing, listening to music, dancing, theatre (acting in -- my bachelor's is in theatre arts), playing the viola, reading reading reading, hanging out with distant friends online

Height: 5'5"

Eye/Hair Color: blond/green

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: 12/31/2010

Starting Weight: 362

Present Weight: 328

Goal Weight: 150

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: right now? carb cravings!

Following any specific plan: RNY WLS pre-op behavioral modification lifestyle diet (just like it will eventually be post-op i am told)

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: nothing yet -- i am waiting for the weight to come piling back on. i am hopeful that the rny will work to aid me in really dropping the pounds and as a sort of feedback tool to keep it off!

Anything else you would like to share with us: i am working on becoming the me i wish i could one day be inside and out. i have a lot of physical and psychological troubles but these do not define who i am.

[Amber1011]

I figured, since I'm finally getting close, I might as well post a bio!

Real name: Amber

Geographical location: Central New York

Age: 21

Marital Status: Married

Children/Ages: No clildren yet, but we're looking forward to them in the future

Occupation: full-time college student, part time computer lab assistant

Pets: 2 cats (Willow and Sadie) and 2 gerbils (Mario and Luigi)

Hobbies/Interests: Music (in so many ways), crocheting, sewing, other crafts

Height: 5'1"

Eye/Hair Color: Brown/Bottle Red

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: The day I was born... >.> but seriously, I've always been trying to lose weight.

Starting Weight: 320

Present Weight: 307.2

Goal Weight: 125

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: snacking in the evening and fast food

Following any specific plan: Calorie counting then Roux-en-y sometime in my near future.

[RaeginGal]

Real name: Rae

Geographical location: SouthWestern Ontario

Age: 33

Marital Status: Married (8 years)

Children/Ages: Son-10yo, Step Daughter 19-yo, Step Daughter 21-yo

Occupation: Social Worker, SAHM/WAHM

Pets: 2 lovely but Ugly Bulldog Princesses

Hobbies/Interests: Mostly Reading Gardening and my Bulldogs

Height: 5'4"

Eye/Hair Color: Red

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: Surgery date will be Sept 30, 2011

Starting Weight: 230 was my heaviest ever, currently 185 pre-op

Goal Weight: 120

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: loneliness and beer. I eat when I feel lonely.. my husband broke his neck x2, back x1 and cracked his sternum in a snowmobile accident.. I have been home taking care of him since Jan 2011 and have been packing back on the pounds.

Following any specific plan: Lap-Band Surgery on Sept 30, 2011

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I'm not going to wait until I magically feel better about myself to lose the weight.. I'm going to use the Lapband to boost the weightloss resulting in me feeling better about myself and hence more determined to work it..

Anything else you would like to share with us: I can't remember a time when I could go into a store and just pick something off the rack to try on and have hope it would fit.. I would like to do that.. I would like to shop for clothes with hope...

[anajjana]

Real name: Jana

Geographical location: Texas

Age: 27

Marital Status: in a relationship (2yrs)

Children/Ages: none yet

Occupation: secretary

Pets: Precious (yorkie-poo)

Hobbies/Interests: reading, crocheting, going to movies

Height: 5'34

Eye/Hair Color: brown/black

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: 12/21/2010

Starting Weight: 274

Present Weight: 237

Goal Weight: 120ish

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: eating, it still makes me a lil uncomfortable

Following any specific plan: WLS

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: we i have a lot less stomach now and i'm actually working out.

Anything else you would like to share with us: i made the decision to have this surgery on my own & i only told a few about it before i actually had it. i'm looking forward for the weight to keep dropping and for me to reach my goal of 120ish, something i've wanted my entire life.

[totraceme]

Real name: Tracy

Geographical location: Nebraska

Age: 40

Marital Status: Engaged

Children/Ages: 2

Occupation: Contract Administrator

Pets: 2 Cats (Lily and Lou)

Hobbies/Interests: Fixing up the house, biking

Height: 5' 7"

Eye/Hair Color: Hazel/Blonde-Brown

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: I would like to say my whole life but April 20, 2009 I had a rouyen y gastric bypass - I was supposed to have a gastric sleeve and the doc had issues so they opened me up and here I am today.

Starting Weight: 351

Present Weight: 204

Goal Weight: 165 lbs

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: I really need to learn to get away from the sugary foods. They make me very ill when I eat them but I still do it. In 2 1/2 years I still haven't learned that I can't have them any more. Plus I have hypoglycemia so it is really not good when I have sugar. I have been as low as 196 but found myself endulging in sweets so my weight went up to 210 - I thought I can't go through all of this again so I am trying something new.

Following any specific plan: Trying Metabolic Research Diet to lose the remainder of my excess weight.

Anything else you would like to share with us: I used to think WLS was the cheaters way out but I have found out it has been one of the hardest things I have ever done. Very difficult to change eating habits but it truly was the best thing for me. I have had a hernia repair, a tummy tuck and feel such much better about myself - better than I have in almost 20 years.

[Alexs Mama]

Real name: Stefanie

Geographical location: Washington

Age: 40

Marital Status: Domestic Partnership
Children/Ages: 18-y.o. DD and 11-y.o. DS

Occupation: sahm

Pets: Chaquita (pom-chi princess), Tasha German Shepard, 4 cats

Hobbies/Interests: gardening, reading, and spending time with kiddos

Height: 5'4

Eye/Hair Color: Brown and Gray /Brown

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: Birth lol

Starting Weight: 238

Present Weight: 232

Goal Weight: 140

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Getting protein and water

Following any specific plan: WLS

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I am putting myself first and foremost...

Anything else you would like to share with us:My goal is to become a healthy fit me!!! I have type 2 diabetes and Fibromyalgia. I want to grow old with my DW and kids.

[steps4freedom]

Real name: Rebecca
Geographical location: Wyoming
Age: 29
Marital Status: Married
Children/Ages: 16YO Step-son
Occupation: Health Unit Coordinator / Student
Pets: Roscoe (shih-tzu / poodle mix), Cody (shih-tzu / lhaso apso mix), 4 cats (Tucker, Mia, Grady, and Scootch)
Hobbies/Interests: Reading, writing, music, photography, learning, cooking, crocheting, health care, advocacy, volunteering
Height: 5'0"
Eye/Hair Color: Brown and Brown
Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: 8 or 9
Starting Weight: 456
Present Weight: 434 last I checked
Goal Weight: 150
Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Kicking my soda habit, exercising more, choosing better foods
Following any specific plan: Eventually RNY, but currently South Beach
What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I have hope that I didn't have before.
Anything else you would like to share with us: I want to do many things, and my weight has always held me back. Instead of waiting for the right time, I'm taking the bull by its horns and I am doing what I feel is right for me.

[Maddie24]

Real name: Maddie

Geographical location: Idaho!

Age: 20

Marital Status: Single

Children/Ages: None

Occupation: Cosmetology student, graduate in December!,

Pets: Mini Schnauzer Toby, Blue Healer: Sadie

Hobbies/Interests: Doing nails (any kind!), hair, chilling out at home, traveling, being with family and friends

Height: 5'4"

Eye/Hair Color: Hazel eyes, blonde hair (natural hair color is dark brown)

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: August 12, 2011

Starting Weight: 273

Present Weight: 236

Goal Weight: 150

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: getting motivation to exercise and stop giving in to temptation

Following any specific plan: WLS

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: This one is working and Im sticking to it!

Anything else you would like to share with us: I decided to get WLS at a young age so I can avoid any health problems associated with being overweight. I am so happy I got this life changing tool and I do not regret it!