Hi all.

I am new here and it all seems a bit overwhelming, yet there seems to be a lot of support.

I live in NE Ohio, am a chemist, have a beautiful Chinese wife (for the last 12 years), a GORGEOUS, not to mention smart daughter working in Texas, four cats and getting a puppy (mostly to tell me when it is time to go for a walk). It will help a lot that I will be retiring in another year or so and will actually have TIME to exercise properly too.

My surgery is scheduled for May 21st and I'll be starting Optifast on April 29th. So, naturally, all my "friends" are plying me with food, convinced that I will never be able to eat again. But all that will stop this weekend. Right now my weight is 284 and the docs want me at 160... Now I have not weighed 160 since the day I got out of boot camp way back in 1965 ROFLOL. I'll probably have enough extra skin to to make another person.

I expect I'll be a constant presence here for some time to come.

I understand from other people who have had the surgery that the lowest point comes about two weeks after surgery when they wonder just what the hell they have done to themselves. They also said that lasted for about a week, then everything was fine. Probably got a lot of support from places like this.

That is about it for now.

I'm from NE Ohio too but live and had my surgery in Florida. Ironically the Cleveland Clinic in Florida. I used to work at CCF in Cleveland so I knew I was in good hands. My worst day of "what did I just do to myself" was the night after surgery at about 2 am. Since then it's been all uphill for me. I am almost three months post op and living life and my new body. So exciting!!! I miss Cleveland and The Tribe! Oh well that's what planes are for! And I fit very nicely in a seat too!! BONUS!!!!