Re: Did Losing weight make you happier?

October 6, 2000

In a message dated 10/06/2000 6:52:59 AM Pacific Daylight Time,

Bargene@... writes:

<< A) Did losing weight make you happier?

I don't if the weight loss is what made me happy... but my outlook on life

changed and the ability to do more changed..that all made me happy.. looking

good makes me happy....

How long before did you start to feel more energy?

I ha a hard time getting back my energy... I would say I felt more energrtic

but was also more tired at the same time.... It was a good 5 mionths before I

was normal again... but I do know when I slack off on my vitamins (especially

iron) my energy slides back down....

C) What changes have happened in your life after losing a lot

of weight? >> I am a new woman,,, I can shop in a normal

store---I am treated different by people in general.. (which is good and bad)

it pisses me off that I was so invisible before, but still enjoy the

attention at the same time Make sense??

I am no longer afraid of public speaking..I actually spoke at our schools

cirriculaum night a few weeks ago and then at a retirement party yesterday

----- i can do yardwork, steps, excersice, etc.. without feeling like I am

gonna die... i like to dress better..mostly because i now can buy less frumpy

clothes --- I am told I llok younger than I am , age was never an issue but

it never hurts for someone to think you are much younger LOL --- I have made

many wonderful new supportive friends HERE....... I could keep going but I

won't..

there are few downers.. I lost a good friends who has her own eating disorder

(bulemia) she has never once said a word about my weightloss and really

doen't have much to do with me except if our kids (same age) are involved.

Also I have a sister-in-law who I have always been really close to, who never

has said anything either.. " hey you're looking good ! " would mean the world

from her..but she is thin and eats like a bird..she has seen me fat and thin

after a diet and just doesn;t see why I could not have just dieted again,...

Some day I will tell her how I feel....

I hope s0me of this helps !

Cheryl

11-29-99

Dr Reines

250-155-135

PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID, OR WHAT YOU SAID,

BUT THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL.

Unknown

October 6, 2000

In a message dated 10/6/00 9:53:01 AM Eastern Daylight Time, Bargene@...

writes:

> I have some questions for post ops:

> A) Did losing weight make you happier?

> How long before did you start to feel more energy?

> C) What changes have happened in your life after losing a lot

> of weight?

> Thank You,

> Barb

Hi Barb,

I'm 53 so took a little longer I would say if I had to go back to work or

do something on a daily basis it would have after three MO. But I was really

out of shape.

C) everything. I went to a fair and walked around and stood and watched

displayers do there thing for 8hrs. one day and 9hrs.the next. I couldn't

walk 200ft. last year. I can exercise on the floor and get by myself even

with bad knee. LOTS MORE ALSO!!!

A) Of course it made me happy! I was on my way to death and now there is

nothing stopping me I just have to find my way with retirement. Things are

coming along I am cleaning my house from attic to shed getting rid of years

of being a pack rat. NOMORE!I I'm going to have a huge yard sale this

spring. I'm 10 months out and have never felt so good about myself even my

husband can't keep up (he is 10yrs younger)sometimes. He had gotten used to

me not wanting to go out. He tends to be a home bug but he also loves to get

out if there is somewhere to go. Not just take a ride to nowhere.

NORMA IN MASS

267/184/119

RNY12/9/99 DR,s Brig. Woman's

Hernia-2 TT DR. Randall 2001 ?

October 6, 2000

Dawn,

Congrats on the Wedding. Your changes are the things my dreams are made of. I

can't wait to be able to shave my legs with ease and heft myself out of the

tub without wondering if my arms are going to cooperate. I haven't been able

to see or tie my shoes for years. I look forward to that very much.

As always,

Kim

October 6, 2000

Cheryl,

Thank you so much for your honesty. I am concerned about the negative side to

this weight loss. I don't want to lose a friend or family members support but

I am doing this for me so I hope I will be able to make the adjustments as

smoothly as you seemed to.

Kim

October 6, 2000

Hey Barb,

1) I don't think losing weight made me happier---what has made

me happier and more fulfilled are the side-effects of losing weight.

When I was a pre-op I struggled with food so much, and now I love food

so much more because I don't have to fight with it---it's my body's fuel,

not my sworn enemy. I've also gotten MUCH more assertive in my life

and my dealings with people. A small example: last night Lyssa was

at the meeting and *I* went up after the meeting and hugged HER!

The first meeting I went to I was tongue-tied and beside myself---I thought

"Why would someone like her (nice, pretty, outgoing) want to talk to someone

like me?" Having made the decision to have this surgery gave

me a fresh perspective---I finally felt my own worth for the first time

in my life. I feel like I have value now and that makes me very happy.

2) I started feeling more energetic around the 35 lb mark---about

2 1/2 months out.

3) I wouldn't say I've lost so much that my life has done a complete

360---57 lbs is a lot, but I am still a "plus-size gal" and will be for

awhile. My life has changed a lot though---starting with, as I said

before, my decision to do this. I think this was one of the first

times in my life that I've completely done something just for myself.

My main motivation in most of the other choices in my life was someone

else. Now I could care less how people feel about my surgery---I

have told pretty much everyone who will listen. I still have a long

way to go, but I feel much more comfortable around other people because

I'm realizing my own value. I feel like Stuart Smalley "I am a good

person and doggone it, people like me" Before I was untrusting of

people who befriended me for the most part, because I always felt like

it was because they were setting out to take something else from me.

Now I am accepting that most of the people I meet aren't so predatory and

that people can be around me just because they enjoy my company.

I'm much more active...I dont have to be tied to my husband at every event

out of fear of being alone. I'm starting to feel like a whole person.

I leave the house a lot, I stand up for myself and yeah...I can reach past

my big-ass thighs to reach the gas lever in my car without opening the

door---totally superficial, but it feels good.

Looking forward to reading the other responses on this thread.

6/5/00

Open RNY Dr. Bruce Thayer

277/220/150

Bargene@... wrote:

I have some questions for post ops:

A) Did losing weight

make you happier?

How long before did

you start to feel more energy?

C) What changes have

happened in your life after losing a lot

of

weight?

Thank You,

Barb

257/222/?

Dr. Thayer 8/28/00

October 6, 2000

Hi Barb,

Losing weight made me happier and healthier. I'm happier because my

confidence has gone up, and don't feel as shy in front of people. I know

how much I've lost even though they don't and know how far I've come.

After surgery, it took me a while to get my energy back, but that differs

for most people. I would get my energy for a few hours late morning, then

lose it early afternoon. I've ALWAYS been one to take naps n such, so that

hasn't changed much for me. I do however notice BIG TIME that when I'm

doing things around the house, running errands, etc., I can keep going

without taking winded breaks. I can climb stairs much better, and often

feel the " need " to run, but don't do much of that...yet!

Changes, well, lets' see now. I can fit behind my steering wheel with my

seat AND the back up, can wear a seatbelt, can bend over without turning red

and still breath, can see my feet, smaller sized clothing, wear jeans

comfortably, wear a belt to actually hold my pants up, not just for style,

feel my hair getting " bigger " as I get smaller, and most importantly, I'm

getting married in December. I know a lot has to do with my self

confidence, and trying to become much more of a real person. I love Ralph

(fiancé) soooooo much, and he loves me despite my weight. We met at my

highest weight, and we're both here to help each other with our goals in

life. He's the best thing that could have happened to me, and I'm proud to

be his future WIFE! OMG!!! WIFE!!! OMG!!! WIFE!!! OMG>>>>>

Dawn

Did Losing weight make you happier?

I have some questions for post ops:

A) Did losing weight make you happier?

How long before did you start to feel more energy?

C) What changes have happened in your life after losing a lot

of weight?

Thank You,

Barb

257/222/?

Dr. Thayer 8/28/00

October 6, 2000

Barb,

(A) Losing weight has made me alot happier about my body. I get such a rush

from shopping and doing things I couldn’t do before. Yes, it adds a big

chunk of happy to my life. It doesn’t, of course, make my work easier, give

me more money, or magically fix my relationships with others, but nothing

can do that. The dose of happy that comes with weight-loss makes it all

more bearable.

( I got alot more energy after 4 or 5 weeks. Since then, it fluctuates. I

wouldn’t say that I’m an Energizer bunny now. In fact, I feel somewhat

tired alot, but I think more water and exercise will help that.

without getting sore feet, shop in normal stores, cross my arms over my

stomach, sit in my boyfriend’s lap. I’m much more in touch with my body,

and sensitive to its needs. I pamper myself more, and feel that I actually

deserve it (mostly ;-) Strangers look me in the eye. Men hold doors for me

and smile at me.

- Alice A.

RNY 4/25/00

5’4” - 236/163/130

Bargene@... wrote:

> I have some questions for post ops:

> A) Did losing weight make you happier?

> How long before did you start to feel more energy?

> C) What changes have happened in your life after losing a lot

> of weight?

> Thank You,

> Barb

> 257/222/?

> Dr. Thayer 8/28/00

>

October 6, 2000

Barb,

(A) Losing weight has made me alot happier about my body. I get such a rush

from shopping and doing things I couldn’t do before. Yes, it adds a big

chunk of happy to my life. It doesn’t, of course, make my work easier, give

me more money, or magically fix my relationships with others, but nothing

can do that. The dose of happy that comes with weight-loss makes it all

more bearable.

( I got alot more energy after 4 or 5 weeks. Since then, it fluctuates. I

wouldn’t say that I’m an Energizer bunny now. In fact, I feel somewhat

tired alot, but I think more water and exercise will help that.

without getting sore feet, shop in normal stores, cross my arms over my

stomach, sit in my boyfriend’s lap. I’m much more in touch with my body,

and sensitive to its needs. I pamper myself more, and feel that I actually

deserve it (mostly ;-) Strangers look me in the eye. Men hold doors for me

and smile at me.

- Alice A.

RNY 4/25/00

5’4” - 236/163/130

Bargene@... wrote:

> I have some questions for post ops:

> A) Did losing weight make you happier?

> How long before did you start to feel more energy?

> C) What changes have happened in your life after losing a lot

> of weight?

> Thank You,

> Barb

> 257/222/?

> Dr. Thayer 8/28/00

>

October 6, 2000

Barb,

(A) Losing weight has made me alot happier about my body. I get such a rush

from shopping and doing things I couldn’t do before. Yes, it adds a big

chunk of happy to my life. It doesn’t, of course, make my work easier, give

me more money, or magically fix my relationships with others, but nothing

can do that. The dose of happy that comes with weight-loss makes it all

more bearable.

( I got alot more energy after 4 or 5 weeks. Since then, it fluctuates. I

wouldn’t say that I’m an Energizer bunny now. In fact, I feel somewhat

tired alot, but I think more water and exercise will help that.

without getting sore feet, shop in normal stores, cross my arms over my

stomach, sit in my boyfriend’s lap. I’m much more in touch with my body,

and sensitive to its needs. I pamper myself more, and feel that I actually

deserve it (mostly ;-) Strangers look me in the eye. Men hold doors for me

and smile at me.

- Alice A.

RNY 4/25/00

5’4” - 236/163/130

Bargene@... wrote:

> I have some questions for post ops:

> A) Did losing weight make you happier?

> How long before did you start to feel more energy?

> C) What changes have happened in your life after losing a lot

> of weight?

> Thank You,

> Barb

> 257/222/?

> Dr. Thayer 8/28/00

>

October 6, 2000

Hi Barb,

A. I think that the effects of the weight loss so far have made me happier. I am much more comfortable with myself these days and I know that is due to the weight loss. I have always been one who when losing weight feels happier. It doesn't make all your problems go away but I am much more easy going and less bitchy now than I was before surgery!

B. Took about 2 months for me to get energy back. Still some days are better than others but it is just getting better and better for the most part!

C. Things that I can do now.....cross my legs, get in the car with the seat all the way up and not get a bruise, tie my shoes without losing all breath, walk up my stairs without collapsing at the top (and not even breathing heavy!) taking long walks (3 miles +) without having a bunch of different pain, not having my husband waking me up in the middle of the night because I am snoring!!! I can breathe when I walk without having to use an inhaler each time as my asthma has gone away completely! Being able to eat mostly what I want without feeling totally guilty, and best of all going shopping with my mom and having her tell me that the stuff I am trying on is too BIG!!!! Who would have thought!!!????

5/8/00 Beth Israel Deaconess, Dr Mun 278/207/135

Bargene@... wrote:

I have some questions for post ops: A) Did losing weight make you happier? How long before did you start to feel more energy? C) What changes have happened in your life after losing a lot of weight?Thank You,Barb257/222/?Dr. Thayer 8/28/00

October 6, 2000

(A)oh yes it has made me a lot happier now that it is really comming off at

first i was not happy because i didnt see any results and i really missed

food but i got used to it really qucik and now i feel like a new person i

feel like somone i allways wanted to be and it is only going to get better

(B)after about a month i really started to get a little more energy and now

i am 5 months post op and i have a lot more and am able to do more

©changes lets see cheaper food bill definately .my feelings about myself

are slowly starting to get much better i am starting to feel real again.i

just wish i had done this surgery long before now because it has saved my

life

Did Losing weight make you happier?

> I have some questions for post ops:

> A) Did losing weight make you happier?

> How long before did you start to feel more energy?

> C) What changes have happened in your life after losing a lot

> of weight?

> Thank You,

> Barb

> 257/222/?

> Dr. Thayer 8/28/00

>

October 6, 2000