6 Month Update

[Guest guest]

Lara,

WOW!!! congrats on the amazing weight loss!!!

I also received the email from Dr. R about the follow-up visits.

Unfortunately there is no way I can do that... I live in Cincinnati,

OH and I am not able to spend two days every few months driving to

Durham. I would be glad to do the follow up visits, but it isn't

practical from this distance. However, I already have followup

visits scheduled with my PCP and we can report the finding to Dr. R.

That's all I can think to do. I have also been filling out the

monthly follow-up form on-line... well two of them so far, since my

operation was only two months ago.

Congrats again!!

Cincinnati

3/8/01

294/252

> Hey,

> Just wanted to tell everyone the news. I am six months out today

and have

> lost 105 pounds. I lost 8 pounds this past month, which I am not

really

> surpised this month has been HELL. I look forward to a better

month to

> come. I have read the e-mails about the picnic and the Marriott

sounds

> wonderful. I also got an e-mail from Dr. Rutledge that said he is

now

> requiring a visit by us on 1,3,6, and 12 months and yearly

afterward.....Did

> anyone else get that e-mail??? Peace and Love to all

> Lara Akin

> November 8, 2000

> 105 pounds gone FOREVER!!

> 138 pounds gone since the begining!!

>

>

>

>

>

> _______________________________________________________

> Send a cool gift with your E-Card

> http://www.bluemountain.com/giftcenter/

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I got the same email. I will be there at my 1 year

appt. I am so proud for you!! I am 7 months out and

have lost 110#. I am happy about that!!! The last

month has slowed to almost no weight loss. But, The

inches are coming off!

Memory

--- BlueEyedDaisy2000@... wrote:

> Hey,

> Just wanted to tell everyone the news. I have lost

> 105 pounds. I am

> six months out today. I lost 8 pounds this month,

> which I am not

> real surprised this month has been HELL. I look

> forward to a better

> month to come. I have read the e-mails about the

> picnic and the

> motels and I think Marriott would be great. I also

> got an e-mail

> from Dr. Rutledge he is now requiring a follow up

> appointment for

> 1,3,6,and 12 months after surgery and yearly there

> after...Did anyone

> else get this message??? Peace and Love to all

> Lara

> November 8, 2000

> 105 pounds gone FOREVER!!

> 138 pounds gone since the begining!!

>

>

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Congratulations on your weight loss!!!! That is great!!!!! No, I

have not gotten any e-mails from Dr. Rutledge. I'm almost 6 months

post op. I plan on going to the picnic in September. I hope he will

count that as my 1 year visit. I will be a couple months shy of one

year. I'm so happy for you. This is such an adventure, isn't it?

Bonded by our experience, strength and hope

Rhonda

MGB - 11/30/00

279/219/???

> Hey,

> Just wanted to tell everyone the news. I am six months out today

and have

> lost 105 pounds. I lost 8 pounds this past month, which I am not

really

> surpised this month has been HELL. I look forward to a better

month to

> come. I have read the e-mails about the picnic and the Marriott

sounds

> wonderful. I also got an e-mail from Dr. Rutledge that said he is

now

> requiring a visit by us on 1,3,6, and 12 months and yearly

afterward.....Did

> anyone else get that e-mail??? Peace and Love to all

> Lara Akin

> November 8, 2000

> 105 pounds gone FOREVER!!

> 138 pounds gone since the begining!!

>

>

>

>

>

> _______________________________________________________

> Send a cool gift with your E-Card

> http://www.bluemountain.com/giftcenter/

[Guest guest]

i guess that means i am out on the having to show for clinics huh well

driving in from alaska every so many months would really add up in miles --

lolol di

Re: 6 month update

>

> > Lara, I got the email and I replied saying that I couldn't possibly

> > take off of work and drive to Durham all of those times. I didn't

> > read it as a requirement, just something that he'd like for us to

> > do. Perhaps if he went back to Saturday clinics. Also, I have a

> > problem with choking down the gas money to drive to Durham to tell

> > him that I am perfectly fine. Are we gonna get some kind of

> > examination, or just talk to him? Too bad teleconferencing isn't

> > something we can all easily do... perhaps in a few years.

> >

> > in VA

> ***,

> I called and talked to Barbara today and she said it applied to all of

> his post-op patients. However, if you lived far away then they

> understood. they are only holding clinics on Tuesday now so I told

> her I would be there on Tuesday May 22nd at 1:00 PM. If anyone else

> is going please let me know I would love to meet with you and maybe

> have lunch???

> Love,

> Lara Akin

> November 8, 2000

> 108 Pounds gone FOREVER!!!!( I was weighed today at doctors office I

> have lost 3 pounds in 8 days)

> 141 pounds gone sice the begining!!!

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 05/16/2001 2:24:42 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

BlueEyedDaisy2000@... writes:

> I called and talked to Barbara today and she said it applied to all of

> his post-op patients. However, if you lived far away then they

> understood. they are only holding clinics on Tuesday now so I told

> her I would be there on Tuesday May 22nd at 1:00 PM. If anyone else

> is going please let me know I would love to meet with you and maybe

> have lunch???

> Love,

> Lara Akin

> November 8, 2000

> 108 Pounds gone FOREVER!!!!( I was weighed today at doctors office I

> have lost 3 pounds in 8 days)

> 141 pounds gone since the begining!!!

>

Lara,

Hey girl! I am sooooooo happy for you and so proud of you! You are doing

fantastic! Now whats this about going to clinic and required for all

pre-ops?? I guess I must have ummmmmm accidently deleted that?? LOL Keep me

posted?? xoxoxoox Margie

[Guest guest]

YA HOO Pam! Keep it going, you're doing GREAT! PhillyJude

[Guest guest]

Pamela,

TERRIFIC! I'm shooting for the same loss at 6 months! Keep it up!

HUGS

in ark

3-08

322-232

[Guest guest]

--- Congratulations on the 100+ lbs.. Way to go

Keep up the good work

Suzanne

1.10.01

298/238

In @y..., " Pamela " <plmmissy@h...> wrote:

> 6 MONTH UPDATE

>

> It has been a while since I posted, but my thoughts and prayers are

> with everyone that has gone through the MGB. WHAT A BLESSING!!! I

> had my surgery on January 12, 2001 at a beginning weight of 324

lbs.

> Today is my 6 month anniversary and I have lost 101 lbs!!!!! In my

> lifetime of struggling to lose weight (literally a lifetime - since

> the age of 8) I have never lost over 25 lbs on any program. This

> first time that I have EVER felt like I was close to making a goal

on

> weight loss. I feel better than I have in about 15 years, all of

my

> blood work has come back perfect, I snore very little now (use to

be

> able to peel wall paper!!!) I am a cooler nature now (use to keep

A/C

> on about 68 now I keep it on 75). I have gone from size 28's to

18's

> and I am close to some 16's. I have begun dating and my social

> calendar has filled up (one of the reasons I don't post as much as

I

> use to!)

>

> I feel like for years I was just existing through life and now I

have

> begun living. I pray success for each of you as you continue

through

> your journey!!!

>

>

> Pamela Mathisen

> MGB - 1/12/01

> 324/223/? (wherever I may land!)

[Guest guest]

,

You are doing FABULOUS! And what a GREAT loss this month! I am envious!

It sounds like you are doing great! I too have no bile, thank GOD, and feel

so much better!

Thanks for sharing your great update! Keep it up!

HUGS

in Ark

[Guest guest]

,

Congratualations! Excellent weight loss!

in OK

303/209 @ 5 Months

MGB 3/29/01 Dr. R

[Guest guest]

Here I am again, to dutifully report my 6-month update. After a decrease in

my loss in month #5, I wasn't expecting to have a big loss this past month,

and thought I was on the slow-down path. Instead, it was my best month

since the first 2 months postop, which just goes to show, you never know

what to expect or how to predict what weight loss will be like for each

individual person.

I'm still having some 1 to 2-week plateaus, which drive me slightly nuts

since I am a daily scale-stepper, but I am trying to learn patience. Here's

a rundown of my 6 months of weight loss:

Month 1: 29 lb

Month 2: 20 lb (49)

Month 3: 10 lb (59)

Month 4: 14 lb. (73)

Month 5: 9 lb. (82)

Month 6: 15 lb. (97)

Total: 97 lb. lost

My 6 month goal was a lofty one, 100 lb. And I'm honestly tickled pink to

be so close to that goal, because I thought there was just no way I could

achieve it. My 1 year goal is to get below 200, which will be 37 more

pounds. I hope that's doable, we'll just have to wait and see.

I can still eat pretty much anything I want, but I've found that if I eat

too much fatty junk too often, or if I skip meals, I get an achy spot on my

far far left upper abdomen, under my ribs. It seems way too far to the left

to be my stomach pouch causing the pain, but it may be " referred pain " . I

had about 3 episodes of this pain within a 2 week span early this month, and

although the discomfort was fairly mild, I was worried. I was going through

some major life stress with a serious family illness, and I wasn't eating

regularly or healthily. I took Carafate for several days, and restarted my

Prevacid. The discomfort went away quickly and hasn't returned, and I've

continued on with the daily Prevacid.

I've never had any vomiting, never had any acid or bile reflux (thank God).

I try to be careful about what I eat near bedtime, and I sleep slightly

elevated just as a precaution. My hair loss has slowed to just slightly

more than average.

I'm getting lots of people noticing and complimenting me, and that's

difficult, as I've spent most of my life trying to stay out of the spotlight

in regard to my appearance. It feels uncomfortable to have attention drawn

to my body, even if it's positive attention. I still feel very fat, and

when I hear all the exclamations of how good I look, I wonder just how awful

I looked before... I think " Geeze, I must have been disgusting! " Old

thought patterns are a hard thing to change. I can't imagine a day when I

won't feel fat and unsightly anymore... but I feel SO much better than I did

6 months ago. As a close friend told me just after my surgery... losing the

weight will be only a fraction of the change we will each experience.

I wish you all good health and happiness.

(KY)

MGB 3-1-01

334/237/???

[Guest guest]

gr8t job!

Would have to agree with ya on the comments below......EXACTLY how i feel

........very hard sometimes tryin to figure out what to say...Compliments

was always something I had trouble responding to and now that is it about

my weight i think it is especially hard.....

Kathy

2/14/01

397/370/256/170

At 09:21 AM 9/1/2001 -0500, you wrote:

>I'm getting lots of people noticing and complimenting me, and that's

>difficult, as I've spent most of my life trying to stay out of the spotlight

>in regard to my appearance. It feels uncomfortable to have attention drawn

>to my body, even if it's positive attention. I still feel very fat, and

>when I hear all the exclamations of how good I look, I wonder just how awful

>I looked before... I think " Geeze, I must have been disgusting! " Old

>thought patterns are a hard thing to change. I can't imagine a day when I

>won't feel fat and unsightly anymore... but I feel SO much better than I did

>6 months ago. As a close friend told me just after my surgery... losing the

>weight will be only a fraction of the change we will each experience.

[Guest guest]

Congratulations!

in OK

In a message dated 09/08/2001 6:22:07 AM Pacific Daylight Time,

assmith@... writes:

<< Well, I can't believe it has been six months! Seems like just

yesterday I was trying to walk that darned gas out of my system .

I have lost 85 pounds as of this morning. I started at 294 and

weighed 209 this AM. I am feeling great and some say I'm looking

great, but honestly, I feel as though I look the same. I " feel " lots

better, but I still think I'm the same size I was 85 pounds ago, if

that makes sense. I guess I just can't believe it's true that I am

finally loosing enough weight to make a noticeable difference. I'm

so used to failure at diets, I guess I'm having a hard time with my

new reality. And of course, I keep having doubts that my wieght loss

will continue. But, I'm keeping the faith.

I too have had the " size " experience that I've been reading several

posts about. Here's what I mean... I was wearing a 30-32 in tops and

26-28 in slacks. I work from home so I have not needed to buy new

clothes... I bought one new suit for business meetings and pulled out

a couple of old smaller suit jackets that I could wear with one old

smaller pair of black slacks for those meetings also.

I took load after load of my large clothes to the " Snooty Fox "

consignment store and kept a few tops and slacks that have just keep

getting looser and looser. Well, anyway, the other day, I thought I

would get a new casual outfit, you know, something that would

acutally fit rather than just hang on me... so, I tried on the 22-24

slacks, too big; then I tried on the 18-20 slacks, too big; then I

tried on the 14-16 slacks and they fit. OK, they're knit and fit

snuggly, not tight, but, I couldn't believe it! I used to wear a 14-

16 when I weighed about 150 ( and that was a very long time ago!).

What's with the sizes now days?? I also bought a new top, in a 22.

(I've always been top and middle heavy. Now with gravity, the top is

moving to the middle ) Needless to say, I was tickled to death with

my new sizes. I went to visit my brother and after a while, he and

his wife said, we're sorry for staring, but gosh, we can't believe

how much smaller you are! It made me feel just great since even

though I knew the clothes were smaller, I still view myself as the

same size as when I was larger (or, maybe I thought I was smaller

then?!

Well, sizes aside, I'm eager to see what the next 6 months will

bring. ~`~`~`~`~

Even though I don't post often, I try to read all of the postings by

others. This group means a great deal to me and I appreciate being

able to share my thoughts and experience with all of you today.

Best regards,

- Cincinnati

3/8/01 Dr. R.

294/209/???

>>

[Guest guest]

Steaphine,

Congradulations, that is some weight loss for just 6 months. Keep up

the good work. I wish I could say the same, but I am much slower, I had mine

in the end of Jan.and then I was 297 today I am 213 at least it is coming

down. I just got off of a 8 week plateau, it was killing me.Before I was

loosing so good and thenbamm--it stoped. Now this week it started again.

Thank God. Are you coming to the picnic? Hope to meet you there.

Rosemary Commisso ( DrR)

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 9/8/2001 9:30:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

parmleys@... writes:

> Today is my 6 months -- ALREADY!!! I can hardly believe it!!! On

> 3/08/01 - I weighed a whopping 312 pounds. Thanks to Dr. R (and God) this

> morning I weighed 192! That is a grand total of 120 pounds in 6 short

> months - Even if I never lose another lb - I am a success!!!

>

> Hubby thinks I am pretty darn good looking!

>

> Congrats to all who share my date!!

> Steph P

> 3/8/01

> 312/192/16?

>

WOOOOHOOOO!!! Steph! Congrats!! You are doing phenomenal!! I saw your pic on

Trish's website ... you do look fandamntabulous!!! I soooooo want to be under

200 pounds ... soon, maybe! LOL!

Terri K :^)

[Guest guest]

So happy for you, . Congrats on the great

weight loss!! You have come a long way in six short

months.

Margaret in St. Louis

MGB 12/13/00

250 / 163

--- Andy & Parmley <parmleys@...>

wrote:

>

> Today is my 6 months -- ALREADY!!! I can hardly

> believe it!!! On

> 3/08/01 - I weighed a whopping 312 pounds. Thanks

> to Dr. R (and God) this

> morning I weighed 192! That is a grand total of 120

> pounds in 6 short

> months - Even if I never lose another lb - I am a

> success!!!

>

> Hubby thinks I am pretty darn good looking!

>

> Congrats to all who share my date!!

> Steph P

> 3/8/01

> 312/192/16?

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

-

Go right out and buy some more clothes that fit you.

Try some second hand stores. I can't get over the

great deals you can get on clothes there. I really

think we look better when our clothes fit us instead

of hang on us. I bet you will start feeling that

weight loss more when you start wearing clothes that

fit your better all the time.

You need to share more often! We love these happy

stories.

Margaret in St. Louis

MGB 12/13/00

250 / 162

--- <assmith@...> wrote:

> Well, I can't believe it has been six months! Seems

> like just

> yesterday I was trying to walk that darned gas out

> of my system .

>

> I have lost 85 pounds as of this morning. I started

> at 294 and

> weighed 209 this AM. I am feeling great and some

> say I'm looking

> great, but honestly, I feel as though I look the

> same. I " feel " lots

> better, but I still think I'm the same size I was 85

> pounds ago, if

> that makes sense. I guess I just can't believe it's

> true that I am

> finally loosing enough weight to make a noticeable

> difference. I'm

> so used to failure at diets, I guess I'm having a

> hard time with my

> new reality. And of course, I keep having doubts

> that my wieght loss

> will continue. But, I'm keeping the faith.

>

> I too have had the " size " experience that I've been

> reading several

> posts about. Here's what I mean... I was wearing a

> 30-32 in tops and

> 26-28 in slacks. I work from home so I have not

> needed to buy new

> clothes... I bought one new suit for business

> meetings and pulled out

> a couple of old smaller suit jackets that I could

> wear with one old

> smaller pair of black slacks for those meetings

> also.

>

> I took load after load of my large clothes to the

> " Snooty Fox "

> consignment store and kept a few tops and slacks

> that have just keep

> getting looser and looser. Well, anyway, the other

> day, I thought I

> would get a new casual outfit, you know, something

> that would

> acutally fit rather than just hang on me... so, I

> tried on the 22-24

> slacks, too big; then I tried on the 18-20 slacks,

> too big; then I

> tried on the 14-16 slacks and they fit. OK, they're

> knit and fit

> snuggly, not tight, but, I couldn't believe it! I

> used to wear a 14-

> 16 when I weighed about 150 ( and that was a very

> long time ago!).

>

> What's with the sizes now days?? I also bought a

> new top, in a 22.

> (I've always been top and middle heavy. Now with

> gravity, the top is

> moving to the middle ) Needless to say, I was

> tickled to death with

> my new sizes. I went to visit my brother and after

> a while, he and

> his wife said, we're sorry for staring, but gosh, we

> can't believe

> how much smaller you are! It made me feel just

> great since even

> though I knew the clothes were smaller, I still view

> myself as the

> same size as when I was larger (or, maybe I thought

> I was smaller

> then?!

>

> Well, sizes aside, I'm eager to see what the next 6

> months will

> bring. ~`~`~`~`~

>

> Even though I don't post often, I try to read all of

> the postings by

> others. This group means a great deal to me and I

> appreciate being

> able to share my thoughts and experience with all of

> you today.

>

> Best regards,

> - Cincinnati

> 3/8/01 Dr. R.

> 294/209/???

>

>

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Thanks . -

> Congratulations!

>

> in OK

>

> In a message dated 09/08/2001 6:22:07 AM Pacific Daylight Time,

> assmith@f... writes:

>

> << Well, I can't believe it has been six months! Seems like just

> yesterday I was trying to walk that darned gas out of my system .

>

> I have lost 85 pounds as of this morning. I started at 294 and

> weighed 209 this AM. I am feeling great and some say I'm looking

> great, but honestly, I feel as though I look the same. I " feel "

lots

> better, but I still think I'm the same size I was 85 pounds ago,

if

> that makes sense. I guess I just can't believe it's true that I

am

> finally loosing enough weight to make a noticeable difference.

I'm

> so used to failure at diets, I guess I'm having a hard time with

my

> new reality. And of course, I keep having doubts that my wieght

loss

> will continue. But, I'm keeping the faith.

>

> I too have had the " size " experience that I've been reading

several

> posts about. Here's what I mean... I was wearing a 30-32 in tops

and

> 26-28 in slacks. I work from home so I have not needed to buy new

> clothes... I bought one new suit for business meetings and pulled

out

> a couple of old smaller suit jackets that I could wear with one

old

> smaller pair of black slacks for those meetings also.

>

> I took load after load of my large clothes to the " Snooty Fox "

> consignment store and kept a few tops and slacks that have just

keep

> getting looser and looser. Well, anyway, the other day, I thought

I

> would get a new casual outfit, you know, something that would

> acutally fit rather than just hang on me... so, I tried on the 22-

24

> slacks, too big; then I tried on the 18-20 slacks, too big; then I

> tried on the 14-16 slacks and they fit. OK, they're knit and fit

> snuggly, not tight, but, I couldn't believe it! I used to wear a

14-

> 16 when I weighed about 150 ( and that was a very long time

ago!).

>

> What's with the sizes now days?? I also bought a new top, in a

22.

> (I've always been top and middle heavy. Now with gravity, the top

is

> moving to the middle ) Needless to say, I was tickled to death

with

> my new sizes. I went to visit my brother and after a while, he

and

> his wife said, we're sorry for staring, but gosh, we can't believe

> how much smaller you are! It made me feel just great since even

> though I knew the clothes were smaller, I still view myself as the

> same size as when I was larger (or, maybe I thought I was smaller

> then?!

>

> Well, sizes aside, I'm eager to see what the next 6 months will

> bring. ~`~`~`~`~

>

> Even though I don't post often, I try to read all of the postings

by

> others. This group means a great deal to me and I appreciate

being

> able to share my thoughts and experience with all of you today.

>

> Best regards,

> - Cincinnati

> 3/8/01 Dr. R.

> 294/209/???

>

>

> >>

[Guest guest]

> > Well, I can't believe it has been six months! Seems

> > like just

> > yesterday I was trying to walk that darned gas out

> > of my system .

> >

> > I have lost 85 pounds as of this morning. I started

> > at 294 and

> > weighed 209 this AM. I am feeling great and some

> > say I'm looking

> > great, but honestly, I feel as though I look the

> > same. I " feel " lots

> > better, but I still think I'm the same size I was 85

> > pounds ago, if

> > that makes sense. I guess I just can't believe it's

> > true that I am

> > finally loosing enough weight to make a noticeable

> > difference. I'm

> > so used to failure at diets, I guess I'm having a

> > hard time with my

> > new reality. And of course, I keep having doubts

> > that my wieght loss

> > will continue. But, I'm keeping the faith.

> >

> > I too have had the " size " experience that I've been

> > reading several

> > posts about. Here's what I mean... I was wearing a

> > 30-32 in tops and

> > 26-28 in slacks. I work from home so I have not

> > needed to buy new

> > clothes... I bought one new suit for business

> > meetings and pulled out

> > a couple of old smaller suit jackets that I could

> > wear with one old

> > smaller pair of black slacks for those meetings

> > also.

> >

> > I took load after load of my large clothes to the

> > " Snooty Fox "

> > consignment store and kept a few tops and slacks

> > that have just keep

> > getting looser and looser. Well, anyway, the other

> > day, I thought I

> > would get a new casual outfit, you know, something

> > that would

> > acutally fit rather than just hang on me... so, I

> > tried on the 22-24

> > slacks, too big; then I tried on the 18-20 slacks,

> > too big; then I

> > tried on the 14-16 slacks and they fit. OK, they're

> > knit and fit

> > snuggly, not tight, but, I couldn't believe it! I

> > used to wear a 14-

> > 16 when I weighed about 150 ( and that was a very

> > long time ago!).

> >

> > What's with the sizes now days?? I also bought a

> > new top, in a 22.

> > (I've always been top and middle heavy. Now with

> > gravity, the top is

> > moving to the middle ) Needless to say, I was

> > tickled to death with

> > my new sizes. I went to visit my brother and after

> > a while, he and

> > his wife said, we're sorry for staring, but gosh, we

> > can't believe

> > how much smaller you are! It made me feel just

> > great since even

> > though I knew the clothes were smaller, I still view

> > myself as the

> > same size as when I was larger (or, maybe I thought

> > I was smaller

> > then?!

> >

> > Well, sizes aside, I'm eager to see what the next 6

> > months will

> > bring. ~`~`~`~`~

> >

> > Even though I don't post often, I try to read all of

> > the postings by

> > others. This group means a great deal to me and I

> > appreciate being

> > able to share my thoughts and experience with all of

> > you today.

> >

> > Best regards,

> > - Cincinnati

> > 3/8/01 Dr. R.

> > 294/209/???

> >

> >

> >

> >

>

>

> __________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

Molly, I'm so sorry that your father passed away. I am happy for you and for him

that he did get to see you thinner. I've lost both of my parents now and it's

never easy no matter how old we are or they are.

You will be in my thoughts and prayers Molly.

Flo