I think I've finally worked up enough courage to share my story. I have not been sleeved yet, but am looking forward to my new beginning soon. I don't think my story is special. We've all been there, done that. I was a chubby kid in an obese family. Growing up in "the fat family" is never easy. In high school, I became anorexic. Even as a skeleton, I still saw myself as a fatty. My period stopped, my hair fell out, and I fainted on several occassions. I eventually turned to Bulimia, but once my teeth started rotting and my voice was getting froggy, I stopped that real quick. I eventually settled into the over-eating thing I had done since childhood, and from then on it's been yo-yo heaven (no, I mean yo-yo hell). Fat to trim to chubby to skinny to really fat to chubby to trim, and now at super-oooober fat.To this day, I still struggle with chronic depression and am on medication for bipolar disorder.

When I met my husband, I was in a good place. I lost a lot of weight on Jenny Craig and Weight Watchers. At 5'9" and very broad statured, I was 175. I felt really good and that's when I met the love of my life. Two years later, we married. But something unexpected happened. I got depressed and I guess went through the newly-wed syndrome and let myself go. Now, two years later and 24 years old, I am at my heviest weight ever, 275. Stress played a big part too. I was paying myself through college (and commuted an hour away from my home for college) and working (I'm a music teacher); I was a newlywed and just bought my first house, so I added wife and homemaker to the mix. Personal tragedy, money problems, you know, those things that grown-ups have to deal with. Well, being the emotional eater I am, it didn't take long for me to get to where I am.

I am a very blessed person. There are so many things in my life to give thanks for. My husband loves ME the WAY I am, and the more I hate myself, the more he loves me! (How I snagged him I'll never know). I just graduated from college and am blessed with a job I LOVE (teaching K-8 music education), I recently bought my first house, and I am the mother of four goofy dogs. Things are going so great for me, yet, there has always been that one thing that has been like a dark cloud over my head- and that is my weight problem. Sometimes I feel so guilty for allowing myself to be sad over my self-image when I have so many good things in my life.

Well, it wasn't until recently that my family's obese ways have finally caught up to them. My mom is now diabetic, my grandpa died of a heart attack, and my aunt (who is in the 400lbs range) has such a long list of health problems I cannot count. I am still young, but I see myself headed to where they are now. Yes things are great in my life, but how can I enjoy it if my health is bad? Right now I'm okay, but it won't stay okay for long being obese. That's when I decided it's time to conquer my life-long battle once and for all. That's why I decided to take this drastic action. I want to go hiking with my husband or travel places and not feel ashamed in my own skin. I want to break the obese curse of my family and not be "the fatty" anymore. I want to be in my 60's and still be active with the "granny power-walkers". I want to have kids one day, and be able to run and play and be healthy. I want to look in the mirror and finally see someone I like. May God be with me in my journey and may God be with all of you during your journey.

Thanks for listening.

Rose

I am only 3 hrs away. Have some nice motels in North Vegas?

My August is shot. I will either have company or be out of state for almost the entire month but I'd sure like to meet up with some of you.

I have a wedding in San Diego the end of August and am thinking of staying over an extra day and going for a 3-month check up with Aceves. How many of you have done that? How necessary is it? They said they would do blood work and a barium xray.

We have a Station Casino about 2 miles from the house Ruthi so come on over ...

Rosebud - sorry you won't be here - drat is right ... and you are SO RIGHT ... we need to plan a time to get together - Saturday luncheon perhaps? There's like 5 of us right? You, Me, Bearded and the two you know? That would be so fun!

Bearded and I will probably go back to Mexicali in October for our 3 month check-ups (mine will be 4 months, but since I had the upper GI when Bearded had his surgery, it will be another 3 months for me)

How was the upper G.I.? I have never had one but heard that barium is the worst. Did they make you drink much? What did they tell you after that? So you are going to do it again? Do you think it was worth doing?

I'll contact the other two ladies. As I said, august is murder. I only have the 29th and then slip all the way til 9/19. Do either of these work for you or is it too soon to plan? Bearded can be our rose amongst the thorns. lol

Do we really need that upper GI if everything is fine? I will have to wait until Oct. cause I don't have ins. and I can drive

to Mexicali from Phoenix. It's so much cheaper there. Maybe I can get WASa to go with me.

How was the upper G.I.? I have never had one but heard that barium is the worst. Did they make you drink much? What did they tell you after that? So you are going to do it again? Do you think it was worth doing?

I'll contact the other two ladies. As I said, august is murder. I only have the 29th and then slip all the way til 9/19. Do either of these work for you or is it too soon to plan? Bearded can be our rose amongst the thorns. lol

It wasn't that bad - chalky, but not bad - I had to drink several ounces and what they told me was that where I am having my pain and "stuck" feeling is that when I drink it spasms ... I could see it all on the fluroscope and yes, I will do it again in 3 months -- it wasn't that bad that I wouldn't do it again and I want to see if the spasms have gotten better.

We're going on a cruise 9/6 through 9/13, other than that, we're pretty flexible so if the 19th works for you and the others, let us know.

I'm cruising in October. Where are you going? It will be interesting. Eating four or five bites a meal. :001_tongue:

We're going to the southern carribbean out of San Juan.

Cool. I love the Caribbean.

We are doing the Mexico thing. We don't even care if we get off of the ship but it is far less expensive than spending a week at the beach in a hotel. We just drive to Long Beach and catch the ship. My son is coming down from Canada with his family. My daughter, her fiance, his daughter and her son are going too. They are getting married on the ship.

Cool. I love the Caribbean.

We are doing the Mexico thing. We don't even care if we get off of the ship but it is far less expensive than spending a week at the beach in a hotel. We just drive to Long Beach and catch the ship. My son is coming down from Canada with his family. My daughter, her fiance, his daughter and her son are going too. They are getting married on the ship.

I'm excited - never been out of North America before -- have done the mexico thing 2 times ... how fun to have the entire family ... and a wedding to boot!

Are you going to St. Thomas? Actually we should take this to PM or phone. I can tell you about the islands.

Are you going to St. Thomas? Actually we should take this to PM or phone. I can tell you about the islands.

Hey - I'll give you a call tomorrow if that's okay with you!

Hi everyone. I feel like I took another step to the new me today. The surgery was step one. Today I got my hair cut and colored. My hair used to be very long and dark brown and I would always put it up in a bun. Boring and something I've done far too long. Well, its cut to my shoulders, and the blonde highlights I had put in has truly lightened up my face. In fact, when I walked into work today, everyone took a double take - but not that bad kind that I'm used to when someone double takes me to see what a fatty I am. No, this time, it was more like WOW. That made me feel soooo good. And I've lost about 25 lbs or so and it has really shown in my face the most. I feel like it is really time for me to take my life back. For the last several years I have just not taken care of me, and I finally feel like I actually WANT to take care of me.

Rosey! Thats just great. It sounds like you're doing terrific! Are you having any trouble with nausea? Just wondering since we were sleeved together, and I'm having an awful time with nausea. There are times, many of them lately, that I wonder what I did to myself. But it does feel good when people notice the weight loss. Yikes! one good day, two bad days. I hope it gets better.

ROSEY - that's GREAT on the weight loss and I bet the hair looks soooooooooo cute ... you're going to have to post some pics very soon ... Bearded says "HI" and congrats on your weight loss to ... I'm so HAPPY for you, I truly am!!!!