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!

My name is MJ. I am a fifty three year old OB nurse in Alaska. Been married almost 18 years to the love of my life and we have an 11 year old daughter. I have been a nurse for thirty years and have decided after forty years of fat I need to be around for my family. They need and love me as much as I love them. I am planning on spring 2015 for my sleeve. I have two more of the required six consecutive weight management sessions. Already had my required psychiatrist visit and had my consultation in Seattle with my surgeon. Things going well. I am down 33 lbs since I started weight management. From 261 lbs to 228lbs. I want to lose another seven pounds and keep in my training mode.

Has anyone been turned down because they lost too much weight pre op.?The surgery is my motivation. I know I have to do this training for the rest of my life my sleeved life.

My name is MJ. I am a fifty three year old OB nurse in Alaska. Been married almost 18 years to the love of my life and we have an 11 year old daughter. I have been a nurse for thirty years and have decided after forty years of fat I need to be around for my family. They need and love me as much as I love them. I am planning on spring 2015 for my sleeve. I have two more of the required six consecutive weight management sessions. Already had my required psychiatrist visit and had my consultation in Seattle with my surgeon. Things going well. I am down 33 lbs since I started weight management. From 261 lbs to 228lbs. I want to lose another seven pounds and keep in my training mode.

Has anyone been turned down because they lost too much weight pre op.?The surgery is my motivation. I know I have to do this training for the rest of my life my sleeved life.

My name is MJ. I am a fifty three year old OB nurse in Alaska. Been married almost 18 years to the love of my life and we have an 11 year old daughter. I have been a nurse for thirty years and have decided after forty years of fat I need to be around for my family. They need and love me as much as I love them. I am planning on spring 2015 for my sleeve. I have two more of the required six consecutive weight management sessions. Already had my required psychiatrist visit and had my consultation in Seattle with my surgeon. Things going well. I am down 33 lbs since I started weight management. From 261 lbs to 228lbs. I want to lose another seven pounds and keep in my training mode.

Has anyone been turned down because they lost too much weight pre op.?The surgery is my motivation. I know I have to do this training for the rest of my life my sleeved life.

My name is MJ. I am a fifty three year old OB nurse in Alaska. Been married almost 18 years to the love of my life and we have an 11 year old daughter. I have been a nurse for thirty years and have decided after forty years of fat I need to be around for my family. They need and love me as much as I love them. I am planning on spring 2015 for my sleeve. I have two more of the required six consecutive weight management sessions. Already had my required psychiatrist visit and had my consultation in Seattle with my surgeon. Things going well. I am down 33 lbs since I started weight management. From 261 lbs to 228lbs. I want to lose another seven pounds and keep in my training mode.

Has anyone been turned down because they lost too much weight pre op.?The surgery is my motivation. I know I have to do this training for the rest of my life my sleeved life.

Sorry for the multiple copies. Having trouble withy iPhone

New member considering surgery

Hi, I am a 37yr old mother of 2 and although my BMI is only 32 I have qualified for surgery because I have pre diabetes

I am embarrassed I have dont this to myself and very nervous about having percent surgery to reverse the damage

My biggest vice is pizza and wine and I am off to see the psyc ok two weeks surgery booked for feb 9

Love this thread!

My name is Monica from south Texas. I've been married to my wonderful husband Truman for 9 years and have one beautiful 5 y/o daughter.

I have had a few retail jobs but am now on my second year as a Middle School Technology teacher and I love it. I am an outgoing person and am always looking to learn and try new things.

I like to read science fiction and young adult novels, my favorite kind of music is electronic dance and techno. I love going out on special dates with my husband and spend quality family time with our daughter.

extra post

Edited January 2, 201511 yr by monyLiza

Sorry not sure how to delete posts on the app.

Edited January 4, 201511 yr by monyLiza

Extra post sorry!

Edited January 4, 201511 yr by monyLiza

Sooo hi, I'm Katerina, 26 years old and from Athens, Greece. I'm a speech therapist but my high goal is to be a psychologist. I live with my parents but I'm now renovating a little appartment just for me and my dogie. My dog is 6 years old and he has been with me since I was a student, I love him to death but he prefers my parents, the little devil. I have been obese my whole life so I'm so excited (scared, too) to find out how I look like skinny. I love reading books, binge watching all kinds of tv series and swimming. I'm not an outdoorsy person but I think it's because of my weight. So happy to meet all of you.

Hi I'm Chele! I gained weight after taking a sedentary job followed by two C-Sections, a full hip replacement, and a hysterectomy all within four years. Back to back babies and surgeries took a toll on my body. Eventually, my job changed and I traveled one week out of each month. I soon found myself eating really well with clients – and I don’t mean healthy – I mean fine dining full of fatty sauces, wine, Hors d'oeuvres, and then fast food at the airports. I dieted and exercised the best I could but my weight got out of control, I got sick so easily, and I had NO ENERGY. I looked in to Gastric Surgery a few times in the past but it was never covered by insurance and I did not want to take out a loan for the surgery. Finally I reached 250lbs which is a lot on a small 5’3” frame. I got the pre-diabetic and high blood pressure warning bells and that set me on the Gastric Surgery train again. So here I am. I started this process in May of 2014. I was 238lbs the first time I weighed in at the doctor’s office. I had been on a low calorie diet for six months at that point and the side effects were not killing me. I had the Gastric Sleeve surgery on 12/29/14. As of 1/10/15 I am now down to 214lbs but most of that was lost before the surgery – I have lost about 12lbs in less than two weeks. I have a long road to travel.

Hey! I'm Ashley. I'm 27 and I live in Cincinnati. I have a desk job and i have gained probably 65 pounds in 5 years. No Bueno. I am in the process of moving into my own place from having roomates, and having this surgery. It will all happen within 2 months of eachother and I am so happy! My consultation appointment with the surgeon's appointment is in 18 days! I'm so excited about everything!

Hi..... I love this supprt group... Whatever I read is knowledge, experiences that people share is learning for me.... Every post is like a blast of information and I have learnt so much from every member here....

Wonderful idea of sharing stories about who we are....my nick is (cloud nine be mine) I'm 29 year old single, when ppl ask me how did you get fat or when.... I can't say anything, as much as I remember I have always been on the heavier side.... Obese or overweight is where I have mostly fluctuated, I'm 240 pounds once around 2 years back I started with a low carb diet which I did it for a year and lost 44 pounds.... I got busy with college and submissions, very conveniently the weight came back on. I don't remember a day In my life where I never thought of my weight, the calories in a meal and how I should be working out instead of sitting. The yo-yo have all been done and fallen of the wagon.... I made a silent promise to myself I wanna be in shape when I turn 30, I wanna be at my lowest weight I have even been and wear the most flattering jeans and go sit in a bar and be hit on ☺️

I have never had a guy approach me or asked for a dance, I want all the to change.... 29 years of my life have gone by feeling sad and inferior about myself.... It's gotta change.... This really seems like THE TIME

I can't say I have done my thorough study like many of you have....I m a doctor and all of what I know seems fine.... I want to take the "leap of faith"

You guys think I should?

My next post will be when me and my doctor decides the day to turn me all new ????

Xoxo