Real name: Ashley

Geographical location: Currently Alaska then wherever the army sends us

Age: 27

Marital Status: Happily Married

Children/Ages: 2, ages 10 & 6

Occupation: Hotel Front Desk Clerk/ Customer Service

Pets: Jasper- yellow lab, & Sparkles- Fluffy ball of kittie cuteness

Hobbies/Interests: I'll admit, I love my TV... Pinterest, Facebook... But most of all, spending time with family, visiting relatives back home in Oklahoma, Being outdoors.

Height: 5'5''

Eye/Hair Color: green eyes, Hair color depends on what mood I'm in for.

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: 12/2013

Starting Weight: 268

Present Weight: 255

Goal Weight: 134

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Eating right, counting calories, portion control, planning & prepping... I'm working on it!!!

Following any specific plan: currently calorie counting, will have RNY late summer 2014

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: My upcoming surgery has made me so hopeful that I may actually be back to my healthier, thinner, happier body & self. I'm more determined than ever to make this work.

Anything else you would like to share with us: Just Thanks for the Support!

Real name: Karen

Geographical location: Virginia

Age: 57

Marital Status: Married

Children/Ages: 2 sons

Occupation: used to be accountant, I am now a very happy SAHM

Pets: 3 Boston Terriers & my husband

Hobbies/Interests: Exercising: walking, zumba, pilates, yoga. Shopping. Reading.

Height: 5' 8"

Eye/Hair Color: Blue eyes, blonde hair

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: went to WLS seminar March 19, 2014

Starting Weight: 253 lbs

Goal Weight: 140 lbs

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Learn to eat slowly. Don't eat out of boredom. Watch portion sizes.

Following any specific plan: Using MFP to monitor caloric intake


I was fairly thin until 1999 when I had a HUGE emotional loss due to the death of my 3 month old son. I gained 60lbs in that pregnancy and another 70 while grieving. I battle depression & have found it's very hard to stay motivated while fighting depression and zooming towards 60! I have attempted a gazillion times to lose the weight, and I do at first, but then I gain it back PLUS some more! I figure I'm not getting any younger, so I would like to get WLS now while I can. I would like to fit into my size 8 wedding dress for our 20th anniversary in 2017. I want to be able to do yoga & pilates again.

Real name: Kayley

Geographical location: Indiana

Age: 27

Marital Status: Married 4 years, together 10!

Children/Ages: My fur-baby, Winston. My pug! <3

Occupation: Social Services

Pets: My puggy boy.

Hobbies/Interests: Photography, Jewely-making, cooking/baking, binge-watching Netflix.

Height: 5' 5"

Eye/Hair Color: Blue eyes, black hair (natural red-head)

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: Since I was 10 or 11 years old.

Starting Weight: My highest was 420 pounds in March.

Goal Weight: 200.

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: My emotional attachment to food.

Following any specific plan: I monitor what I eat, and make the best decisions possible.

Anything else you would like to share with us: After an appointment with my doctor, in which she suggested I begin the process of really looking into weight loss surgery, here I am.

Real name: Melissa

Geographical location: New Hampshire

Age: 36

Marital Status: Married 6 years, together 7!

Children/Ages: one son, 2 mo

Occupation: Teacher

Pets: 2 dogs and 3 cats

Hobbies/Interests: sewing, knitting, crocheting, cooking

Height: 5' 5"

Eye/Hair Color: Blue eyes, blond hair

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: Since I was 14 years old.

Starting Weight: My highest was 368 pounds in June 2012.

Goal Weight: 150

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: My emotional attachment to food.

Following any specific plan: WW Simply Filling/Core

Anything else you would like to share with

Real name: Rachelle

Geographical location: Colorado

Age: 41

Marital Status: Married

Occupation: Management at a University

Hobbies/Interests: Writing, traveling, yoga, nature hikes/walks, knitting, cooking

Height: 5' 1"

Eye/Hair Color: Blue/blonde

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: Age 12

Starting Weight: 219 lbs at last doctor visit

Goal Weight: 125 lbs

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: emotional eating to avoid feelings

Following any specific plan: low carb

Anything else you would like to share with us: My insurance company denied me weight loss surgery-only offered another diet plan. I have spent thousands on those and they work short term but I gain it all back. I wanted a permanent tool to enforce portion control, so I went to Mexico on May 26th for VSG and am re-learning how to eat. It's been easy with physical hunger (there is none) but head hunger is a different story. It's strange to have so much time now and to realize how much of my life was devoted to food-shopping for it, cooking it, going out for it. It is truly a new life.

Real name: Michelle

Geographical location: Silicon Valley, CA

Age: 52

Marital Status: Single

Children/Ages: None.

Occupation: Website Designer/Programmer

Pets: Santa (white Miniature Schnauzer)

Hobbies/Interests: Spending time with my boyfriend and with my dog, reading, writing, watching movies, going to the gym

Height: 5'2"

Eye/Hair Color: Blonde/Green

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: My entire adult life, but for the purposes of this, I'll use the official starting weight/date for my WLS:: 6/26/2014

Starting Weight: 244

Surgery Weight: 215.5

Present Weight: 185

Goal Weight Required for Surgery: 224

Goal Weight After Surgery: 125

Biggest hurdle to overcome in pre-surgery weightloss: Dealing with emotions, rather than stuffing them down with food. This has also been a challenge post-op because I CAN'T stuff them down with food. LOL

Following any specific plan: Bariatric Stage 4

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I love having this tool to help keep me in check. And I look at food as fuel rather than comfort.

Anything else you would like to share with us:

Real name: Kirsten

Geographical location: California

Age: 26

Marital Status: Engaged (wedding date: 10/4/14!!)

Children/Ages: None

Occupation: High school English teacher

Pets: None

Hobbies/Interests: being with my friends and families, reading books for fun, cooking, travel

Height: 5'9"

Eye/Hair Color: Blue, Blonde (or at least when I keep my roots up)

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: goodness, forever? I started looking into WLS in August of 2013

Starting Weight: 285

Present Weight: 235

Goal Weight Required for Surgery: 265

Goal Weight After Surgery: 160

Biggest hurdle to overcome in pre-surgery weightloss: pre-surgery, I hated having to add breakfast into my diet... I still hate breakfast post surgery.

Surgery Date: 6/10, Vertical Sleeve

Following any specific plan: WLS

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: 80% of my stomach is gone... really, I'm much more focused than I have been before. I have PCOS and am nervous about my fertility and ability to carry a child. A very good friend of mine has PCOS too and had a horrible experience with pregnancy and it really scared me. I feel much more in control of my diet and eating now and am confident I made the right choice with surgery.

Real name: Katie

Geographical location: Iowa

Age: 37

Marital Status: Single

Children/Ages: none

Occupation: 911 Dispatcher

Pets: Quincy (Mister) 10yo Chihuahua & Stella (Sister) 4yo Chihuahua

Hobbies/Interests: Crocheting, Reading and I love, love, LOVE to cook. I try to garden, but am not good at it, I seem to pull more weeds and dead plants than what I have alive. I also enjoy spending time with my boyfriend and his kids.

Height: 5'6"

Eye/Hair Color: Blue/Light Brown

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: I had RNY October 5, 2010. I have lost 102 pounds, but still have about 15 or so to go.

Starting Weight: 302

Surgery Weight: 302

Present Weight: 199.4

Goal Weight Required for Surgery: 302

Goal Weight After Surgery: 185

Biggest hurdle to overcome in pre-surgery weightloss: Having a job where you sit for 12 hours straight, zero breaks (unless it's to the bathroom) was hard to deal with. I never realized how much I sat and how much food I ate when I would have a stressful job until you can't do it anymore. It was a huge eye-opener for me.

Following any specific plan: I just started going back to the basic rules of weight loss surgery. Water, Protein, Exercise and No Snacking. If I do snack, I have made it veggies, veggies and more veggies. I also just invested in a Fitbit and have noticed how much more accountable it's making me when others can see my progress.

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: My pouch, although little, plays a big part in my life. I have learned more now than in the past to listen to it. It knows when it's hungry and it knows when it's full. Actually paying attention to this in the last week has really helped me.

Anything else you would like to share with us: Basically, as far as WLS is concerned, if anyone tells you you took the easy was out, punch them (just kidding). No one truly understands what you're going thru unless it's another WLS person. Use us, ask us all kinds of questions. I wish I would have known some other people when I went into it, it would have made it easier for me.

Hi Katie, and to 3FC WLS forum. A big whoo hoo for getting back into the swing of things with losing once again.
Please join us on the Touching Base thread, where we discuss WLS and our everyday lives. I look forward to knowing more about you. :

Real name: Amanda

Geographical location: Oregon

Age: 34

Marital Status: married 13yrs

Children/Ages: 3 children; ages 3, 9, 12

Occupation: Senior Care Coordinator/Transportation Ops Assistant

Pets: Jackel (dog) Radar (cat), plus a bunch of chickens

Hobbies/Interests: Reading

Height: 5'4"

Eye/Hair Color: Brown/Brown

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: since the beginning of time

Starting Weight: 287

Surgery Weight:

Present Weight: 274

Goal Weight Required for Surgery: 275

Goal Weight After Surgery: 200

Biggest hurdle to overcome in pre-surgery weightloss: Stress, time, getting the family involved in the diet change

Following any specific plan: Following a lot of the South Beach info, no soda, smart snacking

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I have to lose the weight or could lose my vision, it's scary enough to give me determination.

Anything else you would like to share with us:

Real name: Holly

Geographical location: NorCal, near San Francisco

Age: 34

Marital Status: Engaged (wedding date: 4/16/16)

Children/Ages: two future stepchildren - 7 year old girl, 8.5 year old boy

Occupation: Registered Dietitian for dialysis patients

Pets: A dog, 2 cats, a chicken, and 6 rabbits

Hobbies/Interests: run/walking with my team and doing races, listening to audiobooks, binge watching Netflix, being a baseball super fan (Go A's!)

Height: 5'6"

Eye/Hair Color: blue / light brown

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: the first time was in 2002, I lost 75 lbs and kept it off for many years, until my thyroid went crazy and had to be removed. My second journey began April 1, 2014 when I enrolled in the WLS program.
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Starting Weight: 302.2

Present Weight: 206.2 (as of Sept 1, 2015)

Goal Weight Required for Surgery: it was 285, which I hit before my surgery on May 16, 2014.

Goal Weight After Surgery: 160 - 170, we'll see when it comes time for my tummy tuck

Biggest hurdle to overcome in pre-surgery weightloss: I was actually physically HUNGRY on the pre-op meal plan. I lost weight but it was torture. Thank god it was only a matter of time before half my stomach was removed.

Surgery Date: Gastric Sleeve on 5/16/14

Following any specific plan: Kaiser's bariatric program, plus gluten free because I have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past:
- I don't get physically hungry as badly as I did before (THANK YOU WLS)
- I get little signs when I eat too quickly/too much (hiccups, hot flashes -- THANK YOU WLS)
- I went gluten free, which seems to help with less inflammation
- I have made some permanent changes and have accepted them (no pasta, rice, bread forever -- and that's okay!)
- this time I started the journey because I was physically UNCOMFORTABLE and UNHEALTHY, not just because of vanity. I had high cholesterol for the first time ever, and I got sweaty putting on my shoes. That scared the crap out of me. This time was a lot more serious for me.

I attached two photos - my one year pictures with my stuffed Gastric Sleeve (heheheheh) and a photo with my fiance at an A's game this weekend.

My life been so crazy since I had weight loss surgery. I had surgery August 2014. I have lost weight and moving forward! I have had 4 major operations in the last 18 months and lost my sister to obesity related issues! Life moves forward I am changing jobs and states! I have a husband and two teenage children. I am Survivor and motivator! My goal is 149 pounds by February 2016. I love the journey of life.

Real name: RHONDA

Geographical location: CANADA

Age: 54

Marital Status: Happy (MARRIED)

Children/Ages: 4 - 1 male - 34, # females, 1 -30, 1 -29, 1 -27

Occupation: RETIRED

Pets: NONE

Hobbies/Interests: COMPUTERS, ADULT COLOURING

Height: 5'6 & 1/4"

Eye/Hair Color: Blonde/BLUE

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: 9/9/2012

Starting Weight: 356.8

Present Weight: 300.6

Goal Weight: 130-135

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Drinking the water.

Following any specific plan: WLS, HAVING THE SLEEVE DONE ON JUNE 6TH

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: I have tried all the rest, hope this one is the best!

Real name: Dennise

Geographical location: Louisiana

Age: 55

Marital Status: Married

Children/Ages: 3 - male - 18, 21 & 22

Occupation: Homemaker

Pets: 2 Beagles (Lola and Hunter), 1 Redbone Coonhound mix (Amber), and a Catahoula Mix (Milly)

Hobbies/Interests: Reading, knitting, coloring, and sometimes cooking.

Height: 5'9"

Eye/Hair Color: Brown and Gray / Blue

Starting Date of Weightloss Journey: 1997

Starting Weight: 298

Present Weight: 258

Goal Weight: 211 by 04/28/2017. Ultimately 170 or less.

Biggest hurdle to overcome in weightloss: Drinking the water and getting in enough protein.

Following any specific plan: ReShape Gastric Balloon

What is different this time in your weight loss efforts than in the past: After being stalled for years I am below 260.

Anything else you would like to share with us: I had the ReShape gastric balloon inserted 04/28/2016.