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 love love love! this forum. I'm Jessica and Im 28 and for as long as I can remember I have struggled with my weight - dont ever remember feeling comfortable and happy in my own skin. Im definitely an introvert and would skip school to play video games which probably contributed to me gaining weight to now. Family habits of eating seconds and thirds and big portions all my life have led to gaining weight and keeping it on. Tried jenny craig, weight watches, atkins... mostly only those diets and then just fell off the wagon. Im very shy and played lots of video games and only ever dated online and when all of those relationships failed i gave up on online dating and said eff it! Then something amazing happened and I met my wonderful boyfriend in WoW and he accepted me at my current weight and we have been together for almost 3 years now and he is a total skinny minny. I work in a pharmacy as a technician now for 5 almost 6 years and I love/hate it. Going to school SLOOOOOWLY to eventually become a pharmacist because I cant imagine doing anything else with my life. I feel like finally, almost turning 30 everything in my life will be TOTALLY AWESOME. Surgery date september 9th OMG.

Did I mention I love this place.

I wish you the BEST LUCK on your surgery date. I'm sure you will do so well. JewelJ

Hi, I am Emma, I am 57 years old, married, and had 2 children. I had my surgery on May 17, 2012. Not only did I need to loose weight, I also had a hiatal hernia that was in my chest cavity. I had 2 major surgeries at the same time. I was in the hospital for 4 days and had some trouble with my sugar dropping. I was not a diabetic before, nor am I now. Guess my diet had a lot to do with the sugar dropping. But 15 months out and I am doing okay. I lost 60 lbs, but now have gained 10 lbs back. I need help staying on track with the diet and exercise. Praying that I get back on track and loose some more weight. I am looking forward to learning how others cope and keep loosing weight.

HI! EMMA, I had a friend that had the sleeve done 14 months ago.. she lost 79lbs.. since than she has put back on 40lbs... How does this happen.. I mean when your stomach is so small.. It has to be painful to put too much in your tummy... is it??? JewelJ

JewelJ, i'm right there with you. I don't understand how weight can come BACK on. If I eat more than 5 bites, I'm suffereing for a good part of an hour. IT HURTS And i don't like feeling that way. It prevents me from attempting to over eat. I think it boils down to being in tune with our bodies and not FORCING (because we KNOW that's what we do) the next bite down.

JewelJ, i'm right there with you. I don't understand how weight can come BACK on. If I eat more than 5 bites, I'm suffereing for a good part of an hour. IT HURTS And i don't like feeling that way. It prevents me from attempting to over eat. I think it boils down to being in tune with our bodies and not FORCING (because we KNOW that's what we do) the next bite down.

I'm not sure when you had your surgery but the weight most CERTAINLY can come back on. This is ONLY a tool and a tool is only as good as the person using it. That said, if someone wants to drink their calories or eat slider foods, then the tool will not work as intended. If you eat the dense Protein and healthier foods then yeah you are going to keep things under control.

It requires ongoing vigilance and the further out you get from surgery the more difficult it can become. Maybe not for everyone but for lots of people. The same thing for those who did not lose near the weight they hoped in that first year or yr and a half from surgery are going to have a MUCH more difficult time reaching goal. It's just a fact and if you read the stories of people who have gone/ are going through that, you will see them talk about their struggles.

I'm not sure when you had your surgery but the weight most CERTAINLY can come back on. This is ONLY a tool and a tool is only as good as the person using it. That said, if someone wants to drink their calories or eat slider foods, then the tool will not work as intended. If you eat the dense Protein and healthier foods then yeah you are going to keep things under control.

It requires ongoing vigilance and the further out you get from surgery the more difficult it can become. Maybe not for everyone but for lots of people. The same thing for those who did not lose near the weight they hoped in that first year or yr and a half from surgery are going to have a MUCH more difficult time reaching goal. It's just a fact and if you read the stories of people who have gone/ are going through that, you will see them talk about their struggles.

Dear former_vbg I have not had surgery yet. I am having a band removed in Oct. I prob will not get a Sleeve done till Jan. I was speaking of another person I knew that had dropped over 75 lbs but has put back on 40lbs.. so it scared me. But being on the band, I do know you have to eat good solid protein if you want to feel full in between meals...So you are not looking for something else. you need to have things last...not just wash through Good luck to you JewelJ

This is my first time in any kind of forum and have lots to learn! I just joined 5 minutes ago!

My name is christin I am 25 I have a 6 year old named Talin. We were in a horrible car accident I was in the hospital for 1 month and rehab for 3. I gained most of my weight then due to the fact I wasn't able to walk run skip hop lol. Four days ago I was 290 5'4 I am 4 days in my diet and I am 286 and super hungry haha. My surgery is set for the 12th of this month so excited but really scared.

Before my son was born in 2007 I was 130 - 150 lbs after birth I was 220 and kinda stayed that weight until 2010 when I became 290. I have tried everything lost weight here or there but it never stayed. My Mom and I went to an education class cause we were thinking of the lapband and we found out about the sleeve. So a year later with supervised weightloss I am here its been along journey and I haven't even begun. Best of luck to all hope to make friends for a lifetime. (chandler az)

I am Terry. I have been married to the same man 28 years. I own my own business, 3 waxing salons in South Texas, and have done permanent cosmetics (tattooing) for 15 years. Although I am in the beauty industry, I am pretty much a "tom boy" since I was a little girl. I enjoy all kinds of outdoor stuff...riding my Harley Davidson Fat Boy, SCUBA diving, shooting sports, etc.

I've been fighting my weight, literally, since I was 6 years old. I'm 51 now, and really tired of it. I had lap band 9 years ago. It was a big failure, and I'm having revision surgery Oct 1 with Dr. Alavarez in Mexico.

My BMI is 38. I have not been able to go SCUBA diving for several years because of my weight. It's also getting harder and harder to push around an 800 pounds motorcycle. In other words, I want to be able to do the things I enjoy, and can't right now cause I can hardly get up the stairs without my knees giving out, etc.

That's me!

Hi, I'm new around here.

My name is Nora and I'm 37 years old with one daughter in college. I am single and have no pets at the moment; I live by myself for the first time in my life, and it's great! I am going to school to be a medical transcriptionist.

I've always had to fight my weight, but in recent years, it's just gotten ridiculous and I'm tired of it. I shouldn't feel this old (physically) yet, so I decided to go for the sleeve. (I didn't want RNY because I take naproxen for arthritis, and I didn't want to have to give it up forever, and I didn't want the band because I'm not comfortable with the concept of something being left inside my body that doesn't absolutely need to be there.)

I miss having pets, though; once I'm finished with my transcription school and working, I plan to go to the animal shelter and adopt a cat. (I live in a high-rise apartment building, so I don't want to get a dog because there's no place in the apartment for it to run around, and also I am more of a cat person than a dog person, although I don't dislike dogs by any stretch.)

Anyway, that's me. Glad to be here.

Hi! I just joined here. I've been married to a great guy for almost 33 years. We have two grown children and two granddaughters. I am 51 years old and have been heavy since I was about 35. I have fibromyalgia, so being over weight does not help my pain.

I've started my liquid Protein fast. My surgery is September 16th. I am very excited to start a new life. I look forward to meeting new people here and learning some things about having the sleeve.

A good friend of mine has/had fibromyalgia, she lost a bunch of weight and her pain went away!! :-D

I've spent the last hour reading this thread! What a joy to get to "know" some of you outside of our weight issues!

I'm Megan, I'm 20 years old. Born and raised in Middlesex County, New Jersey. I have a 23 year old brother who is a specialist in the Army (currently deployed to Afghanistan, can't wait to have him home next month!!!). Had a totally normal and perfect childhood til my mom was diagnosed with an unknown auto-immune disease when I was 12. She passed away on October 15, 2012 from Necrotizing Fasciitis. I'm a very different person since she passed, mostly in a good way. She didn't leave without instilling in me the value of a happy and healthy life, and she also blessed me with a wicked sense of humor. We had the most amazing relationship a mom and daughter could ever ask for, and I'm very grateful for that! My parents were married for 24 years and my dad is the most amazing guy in the world. I'm very blessed with the family I have!

My passion is theatre. I've been performing since I was 8. When I graduated high school in 2011 I decided to leave home and up and moved to Chicago for college to get my theatre degree. Didn't know a soul and had no idea what I was doing. Unfortunately I had to come home after 8 weeks because I needed emergency back surgery. Shortly after that my mom was hospitalized, so it turned out to be a blessing in disguise that I had to come home. Never went back, didn't want to leave after losing my mom, but those 8 weeks taught me a lot and I'm very grateful for that experience!

I've spent the past year really focusing on ME. I'm enrolled full time at our local community college and I'm hoping to transfer to Rutgers in the next year or so to double major in Theatre and Social Work. I work almost full time at a local regional theatre. I'm the assistant front of house manager, a box office sales associate, and my favorite thing is in the Summers I'm a teaching artist for ages 5-8 and 9-12 for the theatre's education department. I volunteer as the head of the 18-25 age support group at the NJ Pride center and am a political advocate for the LGBT community. I'm also a BIG TIME animal lover and I spend my free time lovin on my 2 kitties and 2 doggies.

That got a little long! Felt good to ramble for a little bit though! Lol

Hi everyone I'm new here my name is Amy I am 37 years old have 4 children 2 girls age 20 and 10 and 2 boys age 17 and 15 and a gorgeous grandson who is 3 months old. I am married just celebrated 11 years on Saturday. As my name shows i am from Alabama I currently live in South Carolina where i have lived most of my life. I am 5'5 currently 243lbs. I was thin most of my life after my youngest was born I started gaining weight and then had to have a complete hysterectomy at age 29 then the weight really started coming on. I've done uncountable diets lost weight gained back more. I've reached the point where I can't even look Ina mirror I'm just so frustrated with myself and my weight. So finally I decided I've got to change so here I am. I cannot wait to start my new life.

Hi everyone I'm new here my name is Amy I am 37 years old have 4 children 2 girls age 20 and 10 and 2 boys age 17 and 15 and a gorgeous grandson who is 3 months old. I am married just celebrated 11 years on Saturday. As my name shows i am from Alabama I currently live in South Carolina where i have lived most of my life. I am 5'5 currently 243lbs. I was thin most of my life after my youngest was born I started gaining weight and then had to have a complete hysterectomy at age 29 then the weight really started coming on. I've done uncountable diets lost weight gained back more. I've reached the point where I can't even look Ina mirror I'm just so frustrated with myself and my weight. So finally I decided I've got to change so here I am. I cannot wait to start my new life.

good luck in your journey ans welcome t the family

Sent from my iPad using VST

I like that the premise of this thread is who you are outside of your weight. When you get too wrapped up in one thing, you tend to forget all of the other things about yourself. That said, I'll start off with my backstory and end with my weight struggles and decision to get sleeved.

My name is Lee. I'm a 30 year old male. I belong to the United Houma Nation (Native American Tribe) Born and raised in St. Bernard Parish, LA (just outside of new orleans). I grew up in a small fishing community right on the gulf coast and moved to the suburbs of New Orleans when I "grew up", lol. Never should have moved. Miss the fishing community lifestyle, but my parents still live there so I get to visit often. I have a beautiful wife of 7 years (plus the 8 we dated before marrying!) and an amazing 4 year old son. I work with children (juvenile delinquents to be exact). My job can be stressful and difficult, but when it is rewarding, it is VERY rewarding. I'd be lying if I said every child can turn their life around, but some can. When it happens, it's extremely gratifying.

Outside of work I'm an automotive fanatic. I like big trucks and fast cars. I own a lifted 2011 F-250 that I mostly use to go to and from work, but it does double duty hauling my race car to the drag strip. My drag car is a 2006 Mustang GT that is completely built for racing (NOT a street car). Full suspension, slicks and skinnies, 600 hp. I love working on that car. It is my zen. If I'm laying on the garage floor under that car with oil and grease all over my arms, I'm in heaven. While I love drag racing, NASCAR bores the hell out of me, so don't bother asking who my favorite driver is, haha.

So that's the important parts of who I am, now to get to my weight issuse and the reason I joined this forum. I've been heavy since I was about 11 years old. I had a troubled childhood. My home life was great, but I was awkward and just didn't "fit in" most other places. As a result, I was subjected to the most horrific bullying and abuse. I suspect food became my comfort...

At 14 years old, I weighed 200 lbs. I decided to make a change. I started running every day and changed the way I ate. By the time I was 15, I was 150 lbs and happy. Fast forward...

At 18 years old, I weighed 250 lbs. I decided to make a change. I started running again and discovered Atkins. By the time I was 19, I was 170 lbs. and happy. Fast forward...

At 21 years old, I was again 250 lbs. I decided to make a change. I started exercising and eating better. A few months later, I was 180 lbs. and happy. Fast forward...

At 27 years old, I was up to 269 lbs. I decided to make a change. I did P90X (twice in a row!) and ate better. By the time I was 28, I was down to 220 lbs, but not really happy. Fast forward...

On August 27th, 2013, I watched my son blow out four candles on his birthday cake. I thought about the way I felt. I thought about my hypertension, high cholesterol, pre-diabetes and fatty liver. I got on the scale for the first time in weeks. I nearly cried when I saw 292 lbs. (and I know that I had been even heavier the week before). I thought about the chances that I would see my son graduate high school, college, get married. I thought about leaving my beautiful, amazing, healthy wife behind to raise him on her own. Finally, I thought about all of the research I had done on the vertical sleeve gastrectomy. I realized that weight loss was not something I could do on my own, and I admitted that I need help. I scheduled a WLS seminar and now I have hope.

I attended my WLS seminar with DR. David Treen on September 5th. Yesterday, September 12th, I went to my surgical consultation. My nutritional class is scheduled for September 27th and my surgery is scheduled for Oct. 14th. I'm going into this fully aware that the surgery is a tool and that I have to use it to my advantage as best as possible. I can't believe how fast it's all happening and I'm as excited as I am nervous. I'm so glad this forum is here. Thank you.