Surely you are someone outside of your surgery and struggles with our weight. You have interests and dislikes and families- jobs and hobbies. And honestly- yes it is exciting to have this stool and to be on the journey- but hasn't there been enough focus all our lives on just our weight?

I know VST is dedicated to our VSG stories, but I sort of think that who we are makes our VSG surgeries that much more meaningful.

So I'll go first...

I'm Danielle. I'm 27 and I have three sisters and one nephew. I am unmarried and have no children. I work full time running the office for a respiratory company. This semester I am also attending college full time via online classes. I'm now also trying to squeeze in going to the gym three times a week.

I suffer from PCOS and had this surgery to help increase my chances of having a family of my own one day.

I am a TOTAL girly girl! I love the color pink, I like Hello Kitty the way others like Betty Boop or Tinkerbell, and I HATE HATE HATE spiders! I'm not much of an outdoorsie person- my idea of roughing it is five girls and one bathroom. That being said I do love to garden and can't wait for spring.

I love anything to do with 16th century european history and am a total fanatical nut when it comes to Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth I. My favorite movie and book of allllllllll time is Gone With the Wind. I love watching old movies with my mom- our favorites are Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, anything with Doris Day and the Tammy movies. We also make a point of watching A League of Their Own together whenever it is on tv. I'm close with my Dad but sometimes I feel like we don't have anything in common.

Prior to surgery I loved home cooked food! (Along with chinese and pizza hut haha) I still enjoy cooking for my family (One sister, my parents and I all live together for economic reasons) and resumed cooking them meals within a few days of coming home from the hospital. I have a dog, she is a chihuahua/yorkie mix. Her name is Gypsy and well... she is sort of a monster!! I <3 her tho!

Now it's your turn!! Tell us who you are!

I'M SO EXCITED!!!!!! JUST FOUND OUT I WAS APPROVED!!! GET MY SURGERY DATE TOMORROW... WHOOP WHOOP!! HAPPY DANCE. \<`_`>/ SHEESH! I WAS SO NERVOUS I WOULDN'T MAKE IT BECAUSE OF MY BMI JUST MAKING IT.. Lost 6lbs in the last month just trying to reassure myself that I will survive if I wasn't approved. Started my own pre op diet but I can't survive like that forever. Got a knee injury @ work on top of the occasional pain I already get. Smh I'm too excited about the transformation my life is about to take! I'm rambling on do I'll end this right........... NOW! Can't wait to be on the post op side of this thing. Its been a long time coming but the wait will definitely be worth it in the end.

My name is Isabel Morin and I am 47 years old. I currently am scheduled for surgery for the rou en y on July 8th , 2013. My surgeon is Dr. Zane. I currently weigh 285 lbs. The reason I am having this procedure is to get healthy. I suffer from diabetes, psoriasis, edema, fibroid tumors, and dependent on taking shots every day twice a day of insulin and several medications to manage my diabetes. and psoriasis. I read about two men who had WLS and as a result their psoriasis went away. I hope this happens to me. I'll be happy if my diabetes goes away. I can wear nice clothes to cover up all the scars from the psoriasis. I pray each day for a cure but nothing has worked yet. Thank you for listening God Bless You All. Isabel Morin

My name is Isabel Morin and I am 47 years old. I currently am scheduled for surgery for the rou en y on July 8th ' date=' 2013. My surgeon is Dr. Zane. I currently weigh 285 lbs. The reason I am having this procedure is to get healthy. I suffer from diabetes, psoriasis, edema, fibroid tumors, and dependent on taking shots every day twice a day of insulin and several medications to manage my diabetes. and psoriasis. I read about two men who had WLS and as a result their psoriasis went away. I hope this happens to me. I'll be happy if my diabetes goes away. I can wear nice clothes to cover up all the scars from the psoriasis. I pray each day for a cure but nothing has worked yet. Thank you for listening God Bless You All. Isabel Morin [/quote']

Nice to meet you Isabel .. welcome

I'm Misty. I'm American but living in Australia for the past 5 years. I love it here. The lifestyle is great. Also, having a public healthcare system is a huge load off my mind. I won't lie!

I work in the software industry. I have worked as a says admin, engineer, technical writer, and now I manage a team of writers across three continents. I'm 35. I play the trumpet, spin yarn (spinning wheel), knit, read voraciously, and I'm a bit of a shutterbug. My husband and I love to travel. One of my favorite places to travel is New Zealand. The whole country is so beautiful it should be listed as one of the wonders of the world.

Though we are city dwellers now, we had a small farm in the US where we raised sheep, goats, turkeys, ducks, geese, rabbits, pigs, and had a huge garden. We raised about 80% of our own food, learned to make cheese, butter, and soap, and I even spun the wool from my sheep and made myself a sweater. Those were some of the craziest and fun years of my life! But it is nice to be able to sleep in on weekends and to travel now. We don't even have pets now, except for fish.

I have not knit myself any clothes for years because I was always going to lose weight any minute now. I can't wait to have some more nice hand knit sweaters and they will take so much less wool!

I am also a grateful uterine cancer survivor since 2011. Ladies, get your yearly exams!

I'm Misty. I'm American but living in Australia for the past 5 years. I love it here. The lifestyle is great. Also' date=' having a public healthcare system is a huge load off my mind. I won't lie!

I work in the software industry. I have worked as a says admin, engineer, technical writer, and now I manage a team of writers across three continents. I'm 35. I play the trumpet, spin yarn (spinning wheel), knit, read voraciously, and I'm a bit of a shutterbug. My husband and I love to travel. One of my favorite places to travel is New Zealand. The whole country is so beautiful it should be listed as one of the wonders of the world.

Though we are city dwellers now, we had a small farm in the US where we raised sheep, goats, turkeys, ducks, geese, rabbits, pigs, and had a huge garden. We raised about 80% of our own food, learned to make cheese, butter, and soap, and I even spun the wool from my sheep and made myself a sweater. Those were some of the craziest and fun years of my life! But it is nice to be able to sleep in on weekends and to travel now. We don't even have pets now, except for fish.

I have not knit myself any clothes for years because I was always going to lose weight any minute now. I can't wait to have some more nice hand knit sweaters and they will take so much less wool!

I am also a grateful uterine cancer survivor since 2011. Ladies, get your yearly exams![/quote']

The lifestyle is great I lived in The Alice from 2007-2010 and am supposed to be going back this year I will be getting all my medical exams before I go since Alice is a very isolated location.I am almost 7 months out and am so glad For my sleeve

Hello, My name is Dee Dee . I am a military spouse and mom of two beauty queens, lol . I am considering WLS for several reasons. One, I need to lose weight (duh, right? Two, I have been having some health issues that needs to be addressed b4 I am forced to take extra medicines for it. And B/c for the first time in my life, i think, I've decided to put me first! Not in a selfish way, b/c I even cringed when I wrote the words, but in a way that says, I mean something to myself as well. I've taken care of many, my husband, friends, kids, family members and just recently my mom (God rest her soul, who passed away w/ a battle of cancer) . She was my rock and I still talk and look to her for advice. And one of her biggest topics to me was to "take care of yourself poonie b/c we want you around". Since she passed, i've put on extra weight, like 30 lbs in a few months, i'm not happy about it, but it was a way of grieving as well as punishing myself b/c she is gone...I watched her take her last breath, so I hear and see it alot. I know though, that she IS in Heaven and that is what has helped me get to this point. She is not suffering anymore, so why am I? She is happy and wants me happy too. She knows that I love her and I know she loves me, so why should I keep harming myself, knowing that I too am a mom and have kids and a hubby who loves me no matter what. I am excited to go and hear what they tell me on June 13th, but i wished it were here already. I've been anticipating and reading about it all since about a month now, and am excited that in 13 days, I may be on a new journed to gaining my life back. I just want to be healthy again, active, be an example to my kids and to myself, you know, practice what i preach I just wanted to introduce myself a bit and to say thanks to all who have written on this blog b/c if it were NOT for your words, I wouldn't know what to expect, think or do. B/c of all of your inputs, I feel like i could do the surgery, write a book on it, lol...but most of all, Live w/ the decision that I make concerning it. So thank you all, whoever you are!! I look forward to joining the ranks of many.

God Bless and good luck w/ your new selves

Wow....this is such an awesome thread!! I'm 40 yrs old, live in Louisiana, and my occupation is police officer. I guess like alot of other officers, I ate alot to cope with the stress....I tell my friends the things I've seen and situations i've been in, and I don't think they believe me sometimes. Everybody thinks that officers are one big family...well maybe if you're skinny...I haven't seen it and I've been a cop for awhile now. I've been asked by thin people to have my picture taken with them...i always turn them down because I know that they want to put it up on their FB wall and make fun of the fat cop. But all that will end soon...my surgery date is June 19th!!!!

Hello there. Firstly, Ty for protecting others while putting ur own life in danger. Welcome n congrats on ur date, plz keep me up to date on how things go. Ull b n my prayers. Bye4now, Dee Dee

Hello' date=' My name is Dee Dee . I am a military spouse and mom of two beauty queens, lol . I am considering WLS for several reasons. One, I need to lose weight (duh, right? Two, I have been having some health issues that needs to be addressed b4 I am forced to take extra medicines for it. And B/c for the first time in my life, i think, I've decided to put me first! Not in a selfish way, b/c I even cringed when I wrote the words, but in a way that says, I mean something to myself as well. I've taken care of many, my husband, friends, kids, family members and just recently my mom (God rest her soul, who passed away w/ a battle of cancer) . She was my rock and I still talk and look to her for advice. And one of her biggest topics to me was to "take care of yourself poonie b/c we want you around". Since she passed, i've put on extra weight, like 30 lbs in a few months, i'm not happy about it, but it was a way of grieving as well as punishing myself b/c she is gone...I watched her take her last breath, so I hear and see it alot. I know though, that she IS in Heaven and that is what has helped me get to this point. She is not suffering anymore, so why am I? She is happy and wants me happy too. She knows that I love her and I know she loves me, so why should I keep harming myself, knowing that I too am a mom and have kids and a hubby who loves me no matter what. I am excited to go and hear what they tell me on June 13th, but i wished it were here already. I've been anticipating and reading about it all since about a month now, and am excited that in 13 days, I may be on a new journed to gaining my life back. I just want to be healthy again, active, be an example to my kids and to myself, you know, practice what i preach I just wanted to introduce myself a bit and to say thanks to all who have written on this blog b/c if it were NOT for your words, I wouldn't know what to expect, think or do. B/c of all of your inputs, I feel like i could do the surgery, write a book on it, lol...but most of all, Live w/ the decision that I make concerning it. So thank you all, whoever you are!! I look forward to joining the ranks of many.

God Bless and good luck w/ your new selves [/quote']

Hi Dee Dee, I am a military spouse too!Where will you be sleeved at? Congratulations on deciding to make yourself a priority I know it can be hard for us caretakers

Hi Dee Dee' date=' I am a military spouse too!Where will you be sleeved at? Congratulations on deciding to make yourself a priority I know it can be hard for us caretakers [/quote']

Hi there military supermom, lol. I don't have a date yet bc im going through the process of meetings to learn about everything on the 13th of June. I'll b going to a naval hospital in Virginia but not sure if its done there or at the hospital close to me but I'll give all info after the 13th. What about you, what's ur story, have u done it yet? Thx for inquiring:). Ps, Nvm, lol...I scrolled n found ur intro, awesome. But u can still share w me how ur doing n what's ur plans, thx. And u sound like such an interesting person!

Hello' date=' My name is Dee Dee . I am a military spouse and mom of two beauty queens, lol . I am considering WLS for several reasons. One, I need to lose weight (duh, right? Two, I have been having some health issues that needs to be addressed b4 I am forced to take extra medicines for it. And B/c for the first time in my life, i think, I've decided to put me first! Not in a selfish way, b/c I even cringed when I wrote the words, but in a way that says, I mean something to myself as well. I've taken care of many, my husband, friends, kids, family members and just recently my mom (God rest her soul, who passed away w/ a battle of cancer) . She was my rock and I still talk and look to her for advice. And one of her biggest topics to me was to "take care of yourself poonie b/c we want you around". Since she passed, i've put on extra weight, like 30 lbs in a few months, i'm not happy about it, but it was a way of grieving as well as punishing myself b/c she is gone...I watched her take her last breath, so I hear and see it alot. I know though, that she IS in Heaven and that is what has helped me get to this point. She is not suffering anymore, so why am I? She is happy and wants me happy too. She knows that I love her and I know she loves me, so why should I keep harming myself, knowing that I too am a mom and have kids and a hubby who loves me no matter what. I am excited to go and hear what they tell me on June 13th, but i wished it were here already. I've been anticipating and reading about it all since about a month now, and am excited that in 13 days, I may be on a new journed to gaining my life back. I just want to be healthy again, active, be an example to my kids and to myself, you know, practice what i preach I just wanted to introduce myself a bit and to say thanks to all who have written on this blog b/c if it were NOT for your words, I wouldn't know what to expect, think or do. B/c of all of your inputs, I feel like i could do the surgery, write a book on it, lol...but most of all, Live w/ the decision that I make concerning it. So thank you all, whoever you are!! I look forward to joining the ranks of many.

God Bless and good luck w/ your new selves [/quote']

Best of luck to you on your journey!!! I perfectly understand where you are coming from. The most unselfish thing you can do is take care of yourself so you can be here for your family & be an active part of their lives. I've have to keep telling myself this constantly!!

Major thanks to your husband & of course you & your children for your service in protecting our country. As a former military wife, I know first hand the sacrifices involved in being a military family.

I have been overweight most of my adult life. I have used my weight as my excuse for everything. I always thought I could lose the weight on my own...well thankfully now I have realized that WLS is the tool I need to be successful! My surgery day is June 6 & am going through every emotion imaginable!!! Never had surgery before so scared about that. Prayer & research (and def this forum) have helped calm my nerves & help me to know I'm doing the right thing!

Again, best of luck to you!!

Tysm for ur kind words and appreciation, esp as an ex military wife itself, bc UK the sacrifices. I wish you lots of luck n look forward to the journey w u, u will remain n my prayers, plz keep me abreast of everything. If u need a shoulder or cheering squad, just lmk!! Hopefully after June 13th, I'll have a date to report:). As my name implies, I want to wear a pair of jeans again, its been 13 years bc I only wear stretch waist n body. I want to wear them so badly. Well, hopefully soon. Ttyl, bye4now...DeezJeans

How did it go??

It went great!!! I am definitely blessed! Had no complications at all! I really did overreact before surgery, but I think all the worrying is definitely normal!

I AM BATMAN! sorry I couldnt help it

I AM BATMAN! sorry I couldnt help it

Lol !