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!

From all the posts I have read in this site, I believe with the sleeve surgery my next 30 years can be so much better....i just gotta figure out the hoops to jump through to get this started. Have doc consult 7/11. Very nervous...

From all the posts I have read in this site, I believe with the sleeve surgery my next 30 years can be so much better....i just gotta figure out the hoops to jump through to get this started. Have doc consult 7/11. Very nervous...

Welcome! I was nervous at my first consult, but by the end of it I was anxious to get it over with as I had my reasoning for considering the surgery in my for front. You are making a great decision to make a change in your life. I can't wait to hear about your success on the other side of the sleeve. Lots of luck to you.

Hi to everyone at every stage of your journey. My name is Max and I am 58 waiting for insurance approval for gastric sleeve.

I am married to a retired commercial pilot (for 32 years) and we have an adopted daughter (who was born from my heart) who has just turned 13. I had one sibling, he died of brain cancer at the young age of 27. My mom is 85 years young and is my hero.

My profession is that of working in home health as an occupational therapist, but became disabled a few years ago (injury to my back and right shoulder).

The light of my life is my daughter, she brings such joy and she is quite the comedian.

I used to cook quite often, but my husband was also a professional chef, so he rules the kitchen. I have small spaces to store my favorites, but my spouse is very territorial of what he considers his space. Wish he felt that way about the vacuum.

Glad I found this site. I have watched several you tube videos and I get that support is important. Thanks for letting me join.

From all the posts I have read in this site, I believe with the sleeve surgery my next 30 years can be so much better....i just gotta figure out the hoops to jump through to get this started. Have doc consult 7/11. Very nervous...

Don't be nervous - get a notebook and write down all the questions you have. My doctor is very nice and from what I hear from others, doctors who do this type of surgery have a special empathy. Good luck.

Hey everyone..my name is Janice, I am 23 years old and I live in Simsbury, CT.

I am graduation from graduate school this Thursday (5/16) and a week later I will be having my surgery (5/23)!! I live with my fiance and our wonderful dog Harley. I have been struggling with my weight since puberty and the past few years I have tried to lose weight and was unsuccessful. The only time I did lose weight was when I put my calorie intake down to 1000 calories per day but with a normal sized stomach that is unmanageable. I exercise 5-6 days per week so at least I have that down. I'm excited to start this new journey ...11 days!!

hi..and congrats on your decision. I have visited simsbury....I am on the new york/ mass border.

Newbie here! Hello, I'm Shell and I am in the early stages of this process. Yesterday I had my first 4 appointments at the surgeon's office. It was a trip - Got my sleep study take home equipment, had an EKG and a blood draw (ouch), met with the Nut, and met with the exercise guy. Oh and all that without any food or drink, because I had been fasting since 10:30 pm the night before and then had back to back to back appointments.

Next for me: Sunday night I will do my at-home sleep study with a hilarious monitor doodad, and next week I have my first psych appointment. Things are moving fast after many months of haunting these boards and mentally preparing myself to take this leap. I'm actually calmer now that I have been to the office and met people involved in helping me make this surgery happen.

I

Newbie here! Hello, I'm Shell and I am in the early stages of this process. Yesterday I had my first 4 appointments at the surgeon's office. It was a trip - Got my sleep study take home equipment, had an EKG and a blood draw (ouch), met with the Nut, and met with the exercise guy. Oh and all that without any food or drink, because I had been fasting since 10:30 pm the night before and then had back to back to back appointments.

Next for me: Sunday night I will do my at-home sleep study with a hilarious monitor doodad, and next week I have my first psych appointment. Things are moving fast after many months of haunting these boards and mentally preparing myself to take this leap. I'm actually calmer now that I have been to the office and met people involved in helping me make this surgery happen.

You sound so much like the chatter that goes on in my mind. I have finally decided that this is the only way my health will improve and my self esteem (which has been hovering around 1.5 for years) will ever get better. This group is so supportive. I'm so glad I found it. Lots of good info and support.

Hii. I guess this is where we make introductions!

I'm Emily. I'm 26, 5'10", 266 lbs, goal weight of ~170 and am six (!!!) days out from my surgery on the 18th. I've been reading the forums for a while, they're actually part of what helped me decide to do this, but I started my liquid protein-shake pre-op diet yesterday and it's driving me crazy, haha, so I finally signed up.

It's awesome that this forum exists. I don't know anybody in my day-to-day life that has had this surgery, so being able to read such a big variety of experiences is really helping!

Outside of Surgery Life I'm a sales coordinator at a great hotel. I got 90% of a degree in studio art (I'm a painter!) before getting tired of being in college for seven years. I have a metric ton of hobbies; I bind books, write, play video games, and pretend I can play the guitar and ukulele. I have a lovely, super-supportive family and a boyfriend who had to be converted to supportive, but is now great. We live with our two big dogs in Texas, which is the best state.

Hi! I'm Morganne and I'm 27 years old. I am married and have a 3 yr old daughter. I come from a large family. 2 sisters and 1 bother, parents married for 36 years, 9 nieces/nephews, 6 brother, sister-in laws.

I am a teacher and love children.

I have two sweet dogs.

In my free time, we eat! Go to the movies and eat out weekly. I'm ready for a life change. I want another baby. I struggled getting pregnant and had to have fertility. I have high blood pressure which began with my pregnancy. I'm hoping that with weight loss it will go away.

I want to have the energy to run/walk a marathon or do a color run etc...

Most of all, I want to set an example for my child. I can't wait for a second chance! It's like a rebirth. Lol

Surgery date June 19, 2003

5'1 - 200 lbs

Pre-op now - 192

Goal - 125 to 135

Hi everyone, My name is Chris, I'm new to this forum so be gentle....

I had my sleeve surgery on Monday June 10 in Lafayette, louisiana...... my starting weight was 280.2, 41% BMI with medical issues that include high blood pressure, Diabetes, sleep apnea, cholesterol issues.....I lost 13 lbs on the pre op diet, since the op I've lost a further 11 ibs.....my belly is a little sore mainly from one scar where they pulled my stomach out of...everything else is going good.....its all getting better tho everyday post op.........just wanted to say "Hi" to all of you.....

my journey is just beginning....and what an adventure its going to be......

Hi everyone' date=' My name is Chris, I'm new to this forum so be gentle....

I had my sleeve surgery on Monday June 10 in Lafayette, louisiana...... my starting weight was 280.2, 41% BMI with medical issues that include high blood pressure, Diabetes, sleep apnea, cholesterol issues.....I lost 13 lbs on the pre op diet, since the op I've lost a further 11 ibs.....my belly is a little sore mainly from one scar where they pulled my stomach out of...everything else is going good.....its all getting better tho everyday post op.........just wanted to say "Hi" to all of you.....

my journey is just beginning....and what an adventure its going to be......[/quote']

Welcome Chris ...I get sleeved on the 24th and currently on my prep op... and its some what difficult but with God anything is possible

Welcome Chris - I know you are going to be fine - just remember you knew pouch is healing and treat it gently. Best luck to you.

Hi my name is Thayer but you can call me Ms.T I live in Delaware I had the sleeve in April 2013 I'm doing well so far. Starting weight was 260 now 218 I'm so happy getting the sleeve was the best thing for me.

Hi my name is Thayer but you can call me Ms.T I live in Delaware I had the sleeve in April 2013 I'm doing well so far. Starting weight was 260 now 218 I'm so happy getting the sleeve was the best thing for me.

Welcome Ms. T