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'll jump on this as well. My name is Lily, I am 22 years old, and I am originally from CA but live in CT for now. I just graduated college and I am trying to get into the entertainment industry, but finding that first job is always horrible. It isn't made any easier by the fact that I weigh 319 pounds, and I am trying to get into an industry that definitely focuses on weight. I have had my consult with my surgeon, and I have all my clearance appointments scheduled, though I am very very worried about getting approval from my insurance company. Hopefully it happens sooner, ideally before I start work. Getting anxious, but I love reading all your stories!! <3

Edited July 3, 201511 yr by LilyKz

My names Jo Ann Troupe I am 6 weeks.... i am age 57. post sleeve .I live in Lake city Florida. I am a disabled home maker.i was ''258.. i have lost 58 pounds. I am close to wonderland.I. am a wife. A mom to 3 grown children.i have 5 grandchildren 1 Great grand child due in september. I had a few rouyh weeks. But better now .except bowel issues.i wished i was able to find some walking buddies.i am orgunally from Naoles Fla. South Fl.moved to North Fl in 1983. I do bot regret my sleeve .I am off insulun.i hope to get odf blood pressure and cholesterol meds next. God hless you all on your journeys.

I meant Naples Fla. Where i am from i now live in lake city fl

I am a stay at home mom with three boys ages 15, 12, and 2. I love to read and I'm currently loving to exercise. I was sleeved on April 20th 2015 and have went from a size 20 to 14! I have my ups and downs but would not change my decision to have the surgery! I love the sleeved life. My goal is a size 9, not a number. I feel my best in that size so that's what I'm aiming for:)

I am a stay at home disabled wife age. 57 .sleeved may 21.15. i am in onderla d.i. did weigh 258. i am now 195

I have not bought new clothes yet.but soon 2 and 3xs getting to big on me.

Hi! I'm Ashley, 32 y.o. mom of two (7,5) in the Austin area (one of the fittest cities in the U.S., ???? ugh). It's no fun being a mom to two young children at 310lbs.

I'm an OR nurse, so I've actually seen the surgery and my surgeon in action.

I'm scheduled for my surgery on 7/15 and am on day 4 of my low carb preop diet and frequently consider embracing homicidal tendencies as a result. ????????

Thanks for sharing. I am a married mother of 3 boys(20,16 & 12). I work as a nurse.Recently obtained my MSN. I have a lapband now. I am planning to travel to Mexico for revision to sleeve. In my spare time I enjoy relaxing because I am too tired to do anything else. I am looking forward to becoming active again.

I'm Sara, 37, from Stockholm, Sweden. (Used to live in NYC with my American husband).

Four children, 3 sons, one daughter, 18, 13, 7 and 4.

I'm a psychologist.

I started turning to food for comfort around 13 years old, but as soon as I put some pounds on I would diet it all off, and have done so my whole adult life. I've been slim to normal weight most of my life because of it. But to a great cost, starving myself, working out all the time etc. I have a thyroid issue (diagnosed at 20), so I always had to work extra hard to lose/maintain weight.

I gained quite a bit during my pregnancies, but always lost the weight, I guess I'm vain, so I became very disciplined. Or rather, I've always been very disciplined when losing weight, but then I get fed up and binge and then back to starve mode, so safe to safe that I messed up my body a lot.

When my now 4 year old son was 4 months old, I was diagnosed with aggressive cancer and after almost 3 years of chemo, radiation and constant cortisone I gained over 60 pounds in 2 years. I worked very hard for a year and a half to get it off, but what used to work, no longer did, I would lose a little bit (and all my cancer treatments had messed up my thyroid even more) and gain even more back.

I became more and more depressed over my weight, since I was just getting bigger and bigger and couldn't control it like I used too. And I just saw a future of more and more weight related issues.

My BMI was between 28-29 when I decided to have the surgery (obviously self pay), and I was sleeved May 11th, 9 weeks ago, and I've lost just under 40 pounds - with 20 pounds to go. I might go for another 10 more after that depending on how I feel. I'm a size 8 now, and I don't want to get under a size 4/6. I'm 6 feet and like to keep some curves as I feel it looks better on me being so tall.

Of course I like the fact that I'm starting to look like my old self, but more than anything, I feel healthier and I don't worry about future health problems, as well as feeling like I've broken my binge/starvation "addiction". Which is the best feeling of them all.

Edited July 13, 201511 yr by SaraAlexandra

My name is Linda I live in south Florida. I am a God fearing woman. I married the love of my life and we have 3 children. 2 girls 1 boy ages 15, 9, and 7. I have tried losing the weight on my own but have never lost more than 50lbs. Now I find my self at the highest I have ever been 345lbs and just desperate to be healthy, I currently awaiting my insurance approval. I work for t-mobile and I can't wait to be healthy and feel good again.

Hi, my name is Cheryl and I'm 58 years old. I've struggled with my weight most of my life but over the past 4 years stopped doing what I like. I just had my surgery on Tuesday.

I am single, work as a nurse in a children's hospital in Philly. I have no children. But 10 amazing nieces and nephews as well as 3 great nieces. I share my house with 3 cats.

I love the outdoors, I enjoy going to National Parks. I like reading, photography, hiking, bird watching and travel. Hoping to get back into all these things again soon!

Good luck to everyone!

Hi, I'm Robyn! I am 37, married 9 years to a great man. I have 2 kiddos, my son is 13 and my daughter is 8. I recently became a catholic and spend some of my time volunteering at my church. I am also the PTO Vice President at my daughter's school. I am a hairdresser, working a bit to have some spending money! I love to be involved with my kids, and spending any free time with my hubby.

I am in the early process with WLS, in my 2nd month of dr supervised diet. I just keep praying that this is what will help me change my life!

Greetings:

My name is Rick, I am 59 years old and have been fat my entire life. I am happily married to my best friend for 39 years, we have two wonderful daughters and four grandchildren. I am a retired Corrections Administrator, and have decided to get my sleeve so I can see my grandchildren graduate from college, get married, and begin families of their own. I have been active my entire life, despite my excess weight. I am finding that my constant dieting is no longer producing weight loss. My BMI was 42 when I began this process of qualifying for VSG, it is now 39 with comorbidities so I should be eligible for insurance coverage. We love to travel now that we have time, and are hoping that my weight loss will allow us to remain active for many years.

Hello Rick!!

Congrats on your decision.

My surgery is scheduled for July 30th.

Good Luck!!!

I'm Grace. I'm in my 50s , have T2D and a BMI of 36.

I have 5 children ranging in age from 14-27. I have one beautiful granddaughter. I have my own business, a wonderful family, good friends. My faith is important to me. I love to read, spend time with my family, plan vacations.

I just got my surgery date for October and it's like a light at the end of the tunnel. I'm scared and excited all at the same time.