I just wanted to check in and say hey. I am still in the middle of my evaluation process with the doctors and shrinks. I passed the physch test pretty well and have gone to the required support group and nutrition evaluation. I have the nutrition class next Saturday then the abdominal ultrasound the week following, still have the pulmonary clearance the last week of January and that should be all I need to get this thing done. What a pain in the ass, no?

I'm also getting a little nervous considering I am chopping off two-third of my stomach. I went to costco yesterday and it dawned on me how much my life will change and how I will have to make major adjustments to everything I do. I was asked if I wanted to take an overseas trip next month before my surgery and I am a bit reluctant because at my current size I have found traveling is exhausting and I spend half the time looking forward to the next time I can sit down. I love to travel and I am hoping this coming transformation will help get me back on the road again. I want to end 2014 in Paris walking from the Place de la Concorde up the Champs Elysees to the Arc de Triomphe and take the stares to the top without feeling like I am going to die. Later I want to be on the Champs de Mars in Paris watching the Eiffel Tower explode with fire works ringing in 2015. Not that I am being at all specific.

I'm a few years post now but it is really the first year I have been able to spend any amount of leisure time traveling and I am determined to do it! It is so much easier weighing less! Good luck in your process!

ps. I am from IL also, central, near Springfield!

Welcome!!!

I had a hard time traveling to the top of the stairs pre-op. My granddaughters pushed me around Universal Studios in a wheel chair. Too big for any of the rides.

Now I can outrun anyone in my family. I push my large brother-in-law around in a wheel chair. I ride the rides all day with my daredevil granddaughter, easily fit into all of them. I am 65.

It was a life changer, CWCW!

You can easily reach your next year goals!

I want to end 2014 in Paris walking from the Place de la Concorde up the Champs Elysees to the Arc de Triomphe and take the stares to the top without feeling like I am going to die. Later I want to be on the Champs de Mars in Paris watching the Eiffel Tower explode with fire works ringing in 2015. Not that I am being at all specific.

That's just awesome. Creative visualization...make it so! You're going to rock your sleeve and I can't wait to see your posted pictures from Paris.

Cool. Welcome and nice handle.

I am a week away and I can relate to the hassle of all the pre op testing. I work 30 miles away from the hospital so getting all the time off to do all the labs and tests were dufficult. But now I am in the home stretch.

For me traveling is a consideration but really I am so looking forward to playing sports again. I already have my eye on the following:

1. Mma class once a week

2. Going back to outdoor racquetball

3. Baseball league

It will be awhile but I will achieve those three things....

Just anxious to get this over with

I'm a few years post now but it is really the first year I have been able to spend any amount of leisure time traveling and I am determined to do it! It is so much easier weighing less! Good luck in your process!

ps. I am from IL also, central, near Springfield!

Hey neighbor! I'm on central IL as well.