Pets: Gator Hawg Dawg (big ole yeller lab), Rosie Frawg Dawg (cocker/shitzu/lhasa mix), Smokie the Stupid (husky/lab mix), Sassy Marie (gray and white long hair cat - can't meow), Gateway (black and white spotted cat - explains the name, huh) and Lil-Bit (very tiny sealpoint cat)
Hobbies/Interests: Painting children's furniture (anything artsy), gardening, walking, home improvement (not really an interest - just an necessity)
Height: 5'3"
Eye/Hair Color: Blonde/Green
Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: 5/9/02
Starting Weight: 321
Present Weight: 280
Goal Weight: 150-170
Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Drinking the water and getting in enough protein.
Following any specific plan: WLS
What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: So far this one actually works!
Anything else you would like to share with us: My personal goal is to lose 100 pounds total by Christmas. That should put me in a size 18/20. So far 41 pounds down in 2 months - I think I can do it.
Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: high school!!!!
Starting Weight: highest weight ever recorded: 506 in august, 2001
Weight at surgery: 409
Present Weight: 239 [down 267 since aug/sept 2001]
Goal Weight: 180 or so, although some docs think i should stop at around 200, but one doc wants me down at 150. we'll see!!!!
Biggest hurdle to overcome in managing after WLS: currently having trouble maintaining exercise and stamina
Anything else you would like to share with us:
i had the surgery not only because i was near death [really... a 5 week hospital stay plus 3 weeks in a nursing home learning how to walk again. it was awful!!], but also because i don't want to regain the weight!!
location: Snellville, GA ('burb of Atlanta) I'm actually from the Northern Virginia area, we have lived in Ga for almost 10 years
age: 43
marital status: married 22 years on Friday July 19th
children/ages: Michael 21, Joey 20 in September, and my baby girl Laura 16
occupation: Stay at home Mom
pets: Charley, 3 year old mixed breed, my son adopted him from the pound, and Bubba our 9 year old long haired redneck cat.
Hobbies/Interests: I like to cross stitch, read, and when my weight is more under control I will garden. I'm a die hard Washington Redskins fan and I just love the Atlanta Braves!!
Height: Almost 5' 5"
eye/hair color: brown eyes, and highlighted hair
starting date of weightloss journey: my surgery was January 14th 2002.
starting weight: all time high was 360
present weight: 215
goal weight: not sure, when I walked down the aisle I weighed 200 pounds, I looked and felt good at that weight, but my surgeon says I will probably end up around 175.
anything else you would like to share with us: even tho I had severe complications from the surgery, I can now say it was worth it.
I dedided to jump in here with a combination of info on me and my DH ALvin. He's the one who had the actual surgery, but I have the "living with it" job.
name: Barbara (Alvin)
location: Both born & Breed in Dallas Texas
age: 55 (he's 5 days older!!!)
marital status: married 36 years in Jan.
children/ages: Michael 35, Mark 34, and one grandson Nathan age 4 (he's Mike's)
occupation: We own a business that sells parts for Mustangs. Our website is www.ageclassic.com
pets: We have 2 cats at home Odie and Oliver, and 2 cats at work Blacky and Smokey
Hobbies/Interests: We both like antiques, are involved in our Church, and love horsesracing. Myself personally, I consider my hobbies as weight loss and nutrition, needlework crafts, AVON and reading
Height: Almost 5' 6" for me 6'2" for Alvin
eye/hair color: brown eyes, and highlighted hair for me, brown hair , red hair gone dark for Alvin
starting date of weightloss journey: His surgery was April 19th 2002. and I started anew on 5/1/02
starting weight: on day of surgery his weight was 577. My previous weight that was "Official" was 293 for my pre-op exam for my knee replacement surgery on 2/1/02
present weight: his about 475, mine 263 as of Tuesday (on the same doctors scales as the 293)
goal weight: His is 250, mine is about 156
anything else you would like to share with us: Just that it's as difficult for the "caregiver" for the WLS patient as it is for the patient.(except I don't throw up
CHILDREN: 17-year-old boy, 14-year-old girl, 12-year-old boy
PETS: 1-year-old black lab
OCCUPATION: Medical Transcription
HEIGHT: 5'4"
PREOP WEIGHT: 324
SURGERY DATE: 04/20/01
TYPE OF WLS: Duodenal switch
PRESENT WEIGHT: 170ish
THOUGHTS: I would have WLS again in a heartbeat. It is by far the best thing I ever did for myself. I am committed to exercise, vitamin supplementation and proper eating (healthy eating for DS postops). I am determined not to live my life as a smaller obese person but to really take the gift I have been given, and do the things I couldn't before. I feel re-born.
Thoughht I'd introduce myself here even though I am still pre-op...
My name is Tammy, I am almost 31 years old (next month), married to a really great guy...we have two young boys (5 1/2 and 3) and live in Canada.
I am currently waiting for my first consultation with two different surgeons. Thie first surgeon does RNY, and my appt with him is Dec 2. The other surgeon does DS (which I'd prefer), and I am waiting for them to call with my first consult appointment...they book your consult and pre-op testing all on the same day if you are travelling a long distance (3-4 hours for me), so that is why I am waiting for this appointment. Most likely I will go with the second doctor, as his waiting times are a bit shorter...I am guestimating my consult will be in November and surgery around March...again, it is hard to say as many people have been trying to get in with this doctor recently. He had been "unheard of" until late, he was trying to keep quiet until he was able to change his practice to do only WLS, so many people didn't know about him.
Anyways, I can't wait to be on the other side. I want to be healthy again, to stop having so many problems related to my weight, to be able to exercise and run after my kids...well, you know all those reasons.
Pets: A lab named Charlie, a pug named Mugsy, a cat named Slash and our most recent addition ... a small plastic aquarium of Sea Monkeys of which I have only named 2... Bruno and Chloe.
Hobbies/Interests: Writing in my journal, crafts, cross stitch and walking.
Height: 5'10"
Eye/Hair Color: Brown/Dark Brown
Type and date of WLS: Laproscopic Roux en Y performed on 2-19-2001
Starting Weight: 295
Present Weight: 187
Goal Weight: 160-170
Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Getting in protein and battling with Fat Debbie(she's the piece of me that wants to stay fat because it keeps us from dealing with real issues)
Following any specific plan: WLS, 1100 -1300 calories and walking daily... 5 miles at a pace of 4.5 MPH.
What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: WLS definitely made things easier in the beginning and this time I have actually learned about myself and am making serious life changes.
Anything else you would like to share with us: My personal goals are to reach and maintain my goal weight while eating relatively normal and I want to be able to walk at a pace of 5 MPH which is 12 minutes a mile and right now I can only do a 13.4 minute mile. This surgery has been the best (physically) and the worse (mentally and emotionally) thing that I have ever done. I would do it again in a heartbeat.
Occupation: Web Designer, SAHM/WAHM, cheif cook and bottle washer
Pets: 1 Cat, calico and persian mix...
Hobbies/Interests: My family, community theatre (yes I can dance act and sing) Playing piano, working on my house
Height: 5'3"
Eye/Hair Color: Dark Brown
Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: Surgery date 12-18-02
Starting Weight: 262 was my heaviest (before surgery)
Present Weight: 223
Goal Weight: 150 (or even a size 14)
Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: So far it's battling my will power (which is why I choose the Lap-Band, to help with this battle)
Following any specific plan: Lap-Band Surgery on Dec 8, 2002
What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: Perhaps because I am making a HUGE decisions not follow a fad diet but to do something more semi-permanent
Anything else you would like to share with us: I just want to be one of the 'normal sized' people. Not too thin, a size 14 would be nice.
Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Protein, Protein, Protein
Following any specific plan: WLS
What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I am actually consistently loosing!
Anything else you would like to share with us: My personal goal originally was to loose 100 pounds by my DisneyWorld trip in January. I am at 231 now, so not sure I will make it, but still trying hard!
location: McDonough, Ga, but originally born and raised in Central America (Panama)!!
Age: 36
Marital Status: Married 8 years to a Wonderful man!!
Children/Ages: 4 sons, I am the Queen of my castle!!!
Matt 15, Chris 7, Jacob 2, Andrew 1!!!!!
Occupation: Stay at home mom
Pets: Chi-chi our 4 pound chihuahua princess and Miss Piggy our Guinea pig (see the trend I live with all males except our pets)I have to add our new baby pig her name is Piggy!!!!!
Geographical location: McKeesport, PA (13 miles SE of Pittsburgh)
Age: 41
Marital Status: Single and love it!
Children/Ages: None
Occupation: Plus Size Model/Actress/Freelance Journalist
Pets: Two domestic shorthair cats that I took in as strays: Tigger, age 5, a Bengal/Ocicat/tabby mix, and Noah, 3, an orange/white tabby. They even have their own website
Hobbies/Interests: Drawing and painting, theater, ballet, classical and oldies music, collecting cat-themed artifacts, TICA and CFA cat shows, volunteering at animal shelters, reading non-fiction and classic fiction works, classic movies, watching football and NASCAR
Height: 5'6"
Eye/Hair Color: Dark Brown (front and sides frosted blond)/Blue
Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: 3/1/03
Starting Weight: 351
Present Weight: 329
Goal Weight: 195 (for the moment)
Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Restricting the fat intake and cutting down the sugar, but I am managing
Following any specific plan: 1500 calorie plan recommended by the American Diabetes Association; I have also made an appointment with a bariatric surgeon for 8/25/03
What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: Finding this forum
Anything else you would like to share with us: I have more energy and my knees don't hurt as much and aren't as stiff as they were!
marital status.. Married 16 yrs to a career navy guy..
Children 3 boys.. Joshua 15, Tyler 12 and Austin 8
Occupation .. Stay at home mom and Navy wife.. going to look for employment after summer though..
Pets 2 dogs.. Bailey a 1 yr old Boston Terrier and she is a Mess.. And a weiner dog/Rottie mix.. named Stubby. He looks like a weiner dog on steriods.
Hobbies, collecting bear figurines, water aerobics, clearanceshopping hence the name LOL>..
Height 5foot 3 inches
Hair dark brown/blackish
Starting date of weight loss journey 9/3/02
Weight loss surgery date 3/17/03
Starting weight 251 ( highest weight 256)
Present weight 205
Goal weight 135
Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss HEAD HUNGER, and getting enough water
Following any specific plan: Following the plan the surgeon gave me.
What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I am actually loosing weight . The scale is going down not up LOL
Anything else you would like to share with us: I just wanted to say this surgery has changed my life. I had my first normal cardio appt in 10 yrs.. I hope to make my goal weight by Christmas but if I dont thats ok.. I went from a size 24/26 to a 16/18 and loving life now
Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: I anticipate it will be drinking the water and getting in enough protein.
Following any specific plan: WLS
What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I am committed to making this work. I will not have another failure.
Anything else you would like to share with us: I am so glad to have found a place to talk with friends who understand what I am and will be going through. Thank you all.
Children/Ages: 8 yr old son, 4 yr old daughter, 30 yr old husband
Occupation: Army wife and mother
Pets: None
Interests: Reading, Writing, Movies, Outdoors
Height: 5'5"ish
Eye/Hair Color: Hazel/ Blonde (Clairol #98 LOL)
Start date of Weightloss Journey: The beginning of time
Surgery Date: July 1st, 2003
Start Weight: 256
Current Weight: 231
Goal Weight: 145-150
Biggest Hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Learning new eating habits like eating slower and chewing thoroughly. Also getting in
enough protien, water, and vitamins.
Following specific Plan: WLS/ High protien-Low Carb
What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I've had enough dieting. I need to adopt a healthier lifestyle for myself and my children and I felt WLS was the last resort, as well as a good tool to accomplish my goal.