Though we often get negative reaction about the route we chose to take towards a healthy long life...more often than not we forget about the positive impacts our life choices can make on others.

My story is about my grandfather, a 71 year old man with an ABUNDANCE of health problems stemming from major injuries while in the Air Force accompanied by a number of co-morbidities like sleep apnea and joint pain just to name a few - who has decided to go full force to achieve gastric bypass surgery because he is so impressed with my success 8 months out.

This blew my mind! I am SO happy for him and enthusiastic about helping him through every step of getting and being successful with his new life and body. I am also in awe of his bravery. Just goes to show that you're never too old or sick to change your life and health forever!

I will most likely be posting his story if anyone is interested. I'm just SO SO proud!

Currently he is waiting to get his psych eval, a gal bladder ultra sound and more meetings with his nutritionist. Seems like only yesterday I was doing the same things.

- Kaylee Ann ~ Surgerversary 6/11/2012

One of my friends (obese) has made an appt with a surgeon after seeing my results. Two of my colleagues have started diets. So, yes, my surgery has in a sense become a possible motivating factor for them.

Wonderful and I am so proud of your grandfather! Do you have any before and afters? I'm in the process of waiting for all results to come back and be submitted to my insurance

Wonderful and I am so proud of your grandfather! Do you have any before and afters? I'm in the process of waiting for all results to come back and be submitted to my insurance

He hasn't had surgery yet. The pictures I posted of him are his current (before's)

- Kaylee Ann ~ Surgerversary 6/11/2012

It was my mom's surgery (she was 70 when she had it) that motivated me to get it done a year later!

It was my mom's surgery (she was 70 when she had it) that motivated me to get it done a year later!

That's awesome. How well has she done?

- Kaylee Ann ~ Surgerversary 6/11/2012

She has lost 100 pounds (She's pretty close to her goal now) and a year later it still is coming off, a little at a time. Just when she thinks it's safe to invest in non-second-hand clothes, she goes and loses enough that she outgrows her clothes. Bummer of a problem to have, huh?

She also thinks it added a good 10 years to her life, and unmeasurable quality to it.

I'm so glad. I inspire a teenager. Can you believe it? He is going to see my nutrionist.

A friend of mine inspired me to take this journey.

She had it done two years ago and when I asked her about it she said that it wasn't just the weight and looking better in clothes. She found she didn't have as much anxiety, she had less frustration and more patience with her kids. She could do more with her kids, she went back to school and got a wonderful job. All of these positive things that happened to her simply because she had rny. She said she had spent most of her teens and 20s heavy and missed out on a lot of stuff because of it. She didn't want to dedicate anymore of her life to being unhealthy. That's the clincher. I have spent all of my 20s and part of my 30s overweight, sometimes grossly overweight. I don't want to dedicate more of my time to this. I want to get a life!

I've had the same experience. I'm just beginning the process (doctor's visits and collecting paper work). A friend from work (also obese) called this morning and asked when I was going my 6th month medically supervised weight loss because she wants to do it along with me! I think she thinks I'm helping her, but really we're helping each other.