Hello everyone my name is Shawna and I live in Ottawa, IL and I am in the process of having gastric bypass. I started this journey last year in August and did my 6 month supervised weight loss visits with my PCP and lost weight. I also got signed off for my pysch eval and did my nutritional eval too. I am waiting for papers to be sent for final approval and wait for a surgery date. I have struggled with my weight since I was 18 years old and tried many diets and pills and exercises and lost and gain weight. From the time I was 18 to 34 I was diagnosed with PCOS and Rheumatoid arthritis. Along with other medical issues. I thought about having surgery in the past and I finally made the decision to follow through with it in hoping to live a better life and get healthy and pain free. I decided to join the group to gain insight and to be inspired and get feedback.

Welcome and best of luck with your journey. I had to give you a shout out because my parents used to live in Ottawa, IL!

Thank you! That's awesome. I moved here last year from California. Its so different. Ottawa is beautiful and I love the small town.

Welcome and the best of luck on your new life! Keep us posted on your surgery date. This is when it really starts to get exciting!

Oh I sure will. Thanks so much!

Thank you! That's awesome. I moved here last year from California. Its so different. Ottawa is beautiful and I love the small town.

Oh, so does that mean this is your first big midwest winter? How are you faring? I'm just a couple of hours north of you, outside Milwaukee.

I'm on my 7th day post-surgery, and despite the pain and trauma and everything I am so unspeakably grateful for this chance to write a new second chapter. Welcome.

Yes this is my first big Midwest winter and I am always freezing. I can't believe how cold it gets and my poor dog hates it. We are such californians lol. The coldest it gets there is the 30s and that is very cold. I had no idea it would be in the negatives. Anyways its way different and we are adjusting. I'm so ready for spring! Haha I don't I think am too far from you. Its a small town and people are nice here. I'm super excited for you! I can't wait for mine. I'm so excited to start a new chapter as well and at the same time so nervous about so much. Thank you and good luck to you.