Re: Blah Blah blah,,,mostly off topic

[Guest guest]

Hi Shell

Gosh what a great story you do convey your happiness and thankfulness for you wealth in life and where you have been, where you are and how much more there is to go to and for in life. I am so touched by your maturing in life and growing and the courageous changes you have made. Underneath it all there was a strong smart beautiful woman that emerged, and it sounds like you are in flight now to welcome all life has to offer yet at the same time you are able to share and help others as others have shared and helped you.

like they say what goes around , comes around. thanks for sharing and we look forward to those wedding photos ! good luck in your job promotion !

colleenShell wrote:

Hello everyone,I have been so crazy crazy busy with work I have not had time to respond to all the post that have been posted, however I have just read them all. I would like to welcome all the new members. We are so glad your here and that you found us. Please feel free to share this sight with anyone you think might benefit from it.I would like to give a big thanks to all of you who consistently welcome new members in such a loving and caring way. What we have here is so very special. This group is stronger then ever. There have been a few who would love to see this group fail but with so much genuine love and respect in this group it will never happen. This group is here to stay. I love you all and thank you for making this group what it is.Well here¡¦s the off off topic part...... (smile)My wedding is

getting closer and closer, as time draws near it has me reflecting on my life, were I am were I was and were im going. I hope you all don¡¦t mind me venting a bit here. On July 21st 1993 I was an alcoholic woman. I had been married 12 years I was 30 years old and felt my life was over. I was three hundred pounds and drunk EVERYDAY. I was a drug addict who was a very dishonest person. I did all I had to do to get money for my drugs and booze. I was not an honest person. July 21st was the day my life changed. I checked into a 28 day alcohol program and got sober. It was a start of a journey that was to last till this day. I divorced my husband, worked really hard on my sobriety and went back to school. I was a high school drop out.I had been working at a mindless job for 20 years. Leaving that job was scary. It was a safe job, one I knew I could have till I retired and one I new with my education I could do. I have

ALWAYS suffer from ¡§Im to stupid ,Im to dumb,Im to fat I¡¦m to blah blah blah,,,, no one beat me up more then I beat myself up. Imagine my surprise when I went back to school and passed all my classes on the honor role?? Funny my friends and family were not surprised at all. I made a decision to try and get into the Hotel business. I love people and am very good with them.I was hired by Marriott International in October 2001 and just excelled at my job. For the first time in my life I started making really good money. I have ALWAYS lived paycheck to paycheck. I was a poor girl from the mission is San Francisco I have been though allot during my almost 11 years of sobriety. I have worked on myself, I worked on all my pain from childhood all my hidden demons and most of all on my relationship with god. In September 2001 I met .The most gentle, loving, kind man a women could ever hope to meet. It really is

a Cinderella story. I came from a very poor background. has introduced me to a life I have never known.First came the huge 2ct perfect cut diamond ring that just takes my breath away ever time I look at it (and everyone else to ƒº) Second is this wedding we are planning. is really giving me a dream wedding. Its been very hard for me to accept these beautiful gifts god and placed in my life. I would marry in Reno and that would have made me happy, but He wanted a huge wedding with all of our friends and family. He tells me I have brought magic back into his life and that he has had a dream of his own, of what his wedding would look like. When we went to plan our honeymoon we sat down in the travel office and he looked at me and said ok were do you want to go? I was like huh? And he said were do you want to go? Anywhere in the world you pick. I was so floored.I¡¦m trying to take all this in.

I¡¦m trying to remind myself I did allot of work to get to were I am and that I deserve this, but it¡¦s hard. My feelings of ¡§not good enough or Im less then¡¨ still seems to linger. I am also excelling at my job as well, it just keeps getting better and better. I was told im going to be getting ready for another promotion. I work in H.R and for women like me to be in a place like I am just amazes me to no end. Its allot to take in. I am trusted and respected as an upstanding women in the work place. The great thing is my boss & my General Manager all no my background yet they trust me. I am honored and baffled at the same time lol.I¡¦m sorry this has been so long I just felt like shareing were Im at today. I¡¦m so so lucky and blessed. I am also scared. Its allot to taken, not to mention what having this surgery has done to my life. Losing 165 pounds is also a huge success, like I said. I¡¦m so happy I have this group

to be able to vent. Please forgive me if Im not posting as much or I don¡¦t respond to your post. I do read ALL the post but don¡¦t always have allot of time to respond as id like to. Just no I love you all and support you all in your journey. If any of you ever need me for any reason please email personally, many people have and I always love hearing from my members. If you read this long thank you!!Shell359/197/?

[Guest guest]

Hi Shell...

I just wanted to put in my 2 cents worth on you post. As you know, I

am relatively new to the group and so far I've been pretty impressed

with the openness that everyone displays and your share just adds to

that.

I'm an alkie myself with 25 years of sobriety (9/29/79 was my last

drunk) and one of the very first things I learned is that you have to

give it away to keep it. It's taken me a long time to realize that

this cliché isn't necessarily exclusive to sobriety so I can

certainly appreciate your sharing in an open and frank manner. I

know that when folks like us do that we are not the only ones that

benefit from airing our history, etc. Sharing of your personal, " off

topic " experiences sure touched me. I have also learned over the

years that pretty much everything I've ever done in life somehow was

related to some kind of addiction. Food, drugs, booze, sex,

money....etc. I'm really glad I found this group because I have

lot's of unanswered questions, fears, etc about WLS and And it's

pretty neat to know that there's others out there that are very much

just like me and that I'm not alone and for that I thank you (and

everyone else).

Gordy

> Hello everyone,

> I have been so crazy crazy busy with work I have not had time to

> respond to all the post that have been posted, however I have just

> read them all.

>

> I would like to welcome all the new members. We are so glad your

> here and that you found us. Please feel free to share this sight

> with anyone you think might benefit from it.

>

> I would like to give a big thanks to all of you who consistently

> welcome new members in such a loving and caring way. What we have

> here is so very special. This group is stronger then ever. There

> have been a few who would love to see this group fail but with so

> much genuine love and respect in this group it will never happen.

> This group is here to stay. I love you all and thank you for making

> this group what it is.

>

> Well here¡¦s the off off topic part...... (smile)

>

> My wedding is getting closer and closer, as time draws near it has

> me reflecting on my life, were I am were I was and were im going.

I

> hope you all don¡¦t mind me venting a bit here.

>

> On July 21st 1993 I was an alcoholic woman. I had been married 12

> years I was 30 years old and felt my life was over. I was three

> hundred pounds and drunk EVERYDAY. I was a drug addict who was a

> very dishonest person. I did all I had to do to get money for my

> drugs and booze. I was not an honest person.

>

> July 21st was the day my life changed. I checked into a 28 day

> alcohol program and got sober. It was a start of a journey that was

> to last till this day. I divorced my husband, worked really hard on

> my sobriety and went back to school. I was a high school drop out.

>

> I had been working at a mindless job for 20 years. Leaving that job

> was scary. It was a safe job, one I knew I could have till I

retired

> and one I new with my education I could do. I have ALWAYS suffer

> from ¡§Im to stupid ,Im to dumb,Im to fat I¡¦m to blah blah

blah,,,,

> no one beat me up more then I beat myself up. Imagine my surprise

> when I went back to school and passed all my classes on the honor

> role?? Funny my friends and family were not surprised at all. I

> made a decision to try and get into the Hotel business. I love

> people and am very good with them.

>

> I was hired by Marriott International in October 2001 and just

> excelled at my job. For the first time in my life I started making

> really good money. I have ALWAYS lived paycheck to paycheck. I was

a

> poor girl from the mission is San Francisco

>

> I have been though allot during my almost 11 years of sobriety. I

> have worked on myself, I worked on all my pain from childhood all

my

> hidden demons and most of all on my relationship with god.

>

> In September 2001 I met .The most gentle, loving, kind man

a

> women could ever hope to meet. It really is a Cinderella story. I

> came from a very poor background. has introduced me to a

> life I have never known.

>

> First came the huge 2ct perfect cut diamond ring that just takes my

> breath away ever time I look at it (and everyone else to ļ)

Second

> is this wedding we are planning. is really giving me a

dream

> wedding. Its been very hard for me to accept these beautiful gifts

> god and placed in my life. I would marry in Reno and that

> would have made me happy, but He wanted a huge wedding with all of

> our friends and family. He tells me I have brought magic back into

> his life and that he has had a dream of his own, of what his

wedding

> would look like. When we went to plan our honeymoon we sat down in

> the travel office and he looked at me and said ok were do you want

> to go? I was like huh? And he said were do you want to go? Anywhere

> in the world you pick. I was so floored.

>

> I¡¦m trying to take all this in. I¡¦m trying to remind myself I did

> allot of work to get to were I am and that I deserve this, but

it¡¦s

> hard. My feelings of ¡§not good enough or Im less then¡¨ still

seems

> to linger. I am also excelling at my job as well, it just keeps

> getting better and better. I was told im going to be getting ready

> for another promotion. I work in H.R and for women like me to be in

> a place like I am just amazes me to no end. Its allot to take in.

I

> am trusted and respected as an upstanding women in the work place.

> The great thing is my boss & my General Manager all no my

background

> yet they trust me. I am honored and baffled at the same time lol.

>

> I¡¦m sorry this has been so long I just felt like shareing were Im

at

> today. I¡¦m so so lucky and blessed. I am also scared. Its allot to

> taken, not to mention what having this surgery has done to my life.

> Losing 165 pounds is also a huge success, like I said. I¡¦m so

happy

> I have this group to be able to vent.

>

> Please forgive me if Im not posting as much or I don¡¦t respond to

> your post. I do read ALL the post but don¡¦t always have allot of

> time to respond as id like to. Just no I love you all and support

> you all in your journey. If any of you ever need me for any reason

> please email personally, many people have and I always love hearing

> from my members.

>

> If you read this long thank you!!

>

> Shell

> 359/197/?

[Guest guest]

I am very proud of the progress you've made and the happiness you

have found !! Congratulations !!

> Hello everyone,

> I have been so crazy crazy busy with work I have not had time to

> respond to all the post that have been posted, however I have just

> read them all.

>

> I would like to welcome all the new members. We are so glad your

> here and that you found us. Please feel free to share this sight

> with anyone you think might benefit from it.

>

> I would like to give a big thanks to all of you who consistently

> welcome new members in such a loving and caring way. What we have

> here is so very special. This group is stronger then ever. There

> have been a few who would love to see this group fail but with so

> much genuine love and respect in this group it will never happen.

> This group is here to stay. I love you all and thank you for making

> this group what it is.

>

> Well here¡¦s the off off topic part...... (smile)

>

> My wedding is getting closer and closer, as time draws near it has

> me reflecting on my life, were I am were I was and were im going.

I

> hope you all don¡¦t mind me venting a bit here.

>

> On July 21st 1993 I was an alcoholic woman. I had been married 12

> years I was 30 years old and felt my life was over. I was three

> hundred pounds and drunk EVERYDAY. I was a drug addict who was a

> very dishonest person. I did all I had to do to get money for my

> drugs and booze. I was not an honest person.

>

> July 21st was the day my life changed. I checked into a 28 day

> alcohol program and got sober. It was a start of a journey that was

> to last till this day. I divorced my husband, worked really hard on

> my sobriety and went back to school. I was a high school drop out.

>

> I had been working at a mindless job for 20 years. Leaving that job

> was scary. It was a safe job, one I knew I could have till I

retired

> and one I new with my education I could do. I have ALWAYS suffer

> from ¡§Im to stupid ,Im to dumb,Im to fat I¡¦m to blah blah

blah,,,,

> no one beat me up more then I beat myself up. Imagine my surprise

> when I went back to school and passed all my classes on the honor

> role?? Funny my friends and family were not surprised at all. I

> made a decision to try and get into the Hotel business. I love

> people and am very good with them.

>

> I was hired by Marriott International in October 2001 and just

> excelled at my job. For the first time in my life I started making

> really good money. I have ALWAYS lived paycheck to paycheck. I was

a

> poor girl from the mission is San Francisco

>

> I have been though allot during my almost 11 years of sobriety. I

> have worked on myself, I worked on all my pain from childhood all

my

> hidden demons and most of all on my relationship with god.

>

> In September 2001 I met .The most gentle, loving, kind man

a

> women could ever hope to meet. It really is a Cinderella story. I

> came from a very poor background. has introduced me to a

> life I have never known.

>

> First came the huge 2ct perfect cut diamond ring that just takes my

> breath away ever time I look at it (and everyone else to ļ)

Second

> is this wedding we are planning. is really giving me a

dream

> wedding. Its been very hard for me to accept these beautiful gifts

> god and placed in my life. I would marry in Reno and that

> would have made me happy, but He wanted a huge wedding with all of

> our friends and family. He tells me I have brought magic back into

> his life and that he has had a dream of his own, of what his

wedding

> would look like. When we went to plan our honeymoon we sat down in

> the travel office and he looked at me and said ok were do you want

> to go? I was like huh? And he said were do you want to go? Anywhere

> in the world you pick. I was so floored.

>

> I¡¦m trying to take all this in. I¡¦m trying to remind myself I did

> allot of work to get to were I am and that I deserve this, but

it¡¦s

> hard. My feelings of ¡§not good enough or Im less then¡¨ still

seems

> to linger. I am also excelling at my job as well, it just keeps

> getting better and better. I was told im going to be getting ready

> for another promotion. I work in H.R and for women like me to be in

> a place like I am just amazes me to no end. Its allot to take in.

I

> am trusted and respected as an upstanding women in the work place.

> The great thing is my boss & my General Manager all no my

background

> yet they trust me. I am honored and baffled at the same time lol.

>

> I¡¦m sorry this has been so long I just felt like shareing were Im

at

> today. I¡¦m so so lucky and blessed. I am also scared. Its allot to

> taken, not to mention what having this surgery has done to my life.

> Losing 165 pounds is also a huge success, like I said. I¡¦m so

happy

> I have this group to be able to vent.

>

> Please forgive me if Im not posting as much or I don¡¦t respond to

> your post. I do read ALL the post but don¡¦t always have allot of

> time to respond as id like to. Just no I love you all and support

> you all in your journey. If any of you ever need me for any reason

> please email personally, many people have and I always love hearing

> from my members.

>

> If you read this long thank you!!

>

> Shell

> 359/197/?

[Guest guest]

Thank you for sharing your story with us, Shell. It really reminded

me of the discussion we had at the Post-Op Support Group Meeting at

Pt. West today in Sacramento. A pre-op shared that most everying

negative in his life he attributed to being overweight and he asked if

that changed once you have the WLS. There were a number of good

answers, and the general agreement was that when you are obese and

have tried to lose weight but not able to keep it off, you feel like a

loser and incapable of gaining control over your life because your

weight and addition to food overruns your life and other things in

your life can easily get out of control. For me, even though I was

successful in many parts of my life - a wonderful husband and kids,

work, amd friends, I found that my weight affected my family life (all

my kids are morbidly obese), it affected my finances because we would

go out to eat all the time because I was too tired to cook because it

was hard to move around, and it affected my social life because I

started focusing on what people were thinking about me and I wouldn't

do some things with friends because I might be uncomfortable in the

seats at the theater or unable to go to a picnic because I couldn't

sit on the ground. Anyways, when most of us start on our WLS journey,

even as a pre-op and start to lose the weight, we start to gain

control over our weight and I am finding that slowly but surely, I am

gaining back control of my life. So, hearing your story reminds me

that all of us, even in small ways have the capacity to gain more

control over our lives and to aspire for great things. Thanks again,

Shell.

ette from Elk Grove

3/31/04 - Dr. Fisher

was 351/am 242/going to be 150???

> Hello everyone,

> I have been so crazy crazy busy with work I have not had time to

> respond to all the post that have been posted, however I have just

> read them all.

>

> I would like to welcome all the new members. We are so glad your

> here and that you found us. Please feel free to share this sight

> with anyone you think might benefit from it.

>

> I would like to give a big thanks to all of you who consistently

> welcome new members in such a loving and caring way. What we have

> here is so very special. This group is stronger then ever. There

> have been a few who would love to see this group fail but with so

> much genuine love and respect in this group it will never happen.

> This group is here to stay. I love you all and thank you for making

> this group what it is.

>

> Well here¡¦s the off off topic part...... (smile)

>

> My wedding is getting closer and closer, as time draws near it has

> me reflecting on my life, were I am were I was and were im going. I

> hope you all don¡¦t mind me venting a bit here.

>

> On July 21st 1993 I was an alcoholic woman. I had been married 12

> years I was 30 years old and felt my life was over. I was three

> hundred pounds and drunk EVERYDAY. I was a drug addict who was a

> very dishonest person. I did all I had to do to get money for my

> drugs and booze. I was not an honest person.

>

> July 21st was the day my life changed. I checked into a 28 day

> alcohol program and got sober. It was a start of a journey that was

> to last till this day. I divorced my husband, worked really hard on

> my sobriety and went back to school. I was a high school drop out.

>

> I had been working at a mindless job for 20 years. Leaving that job

> was scary. It was a safe job, one I knew I could have till I retired

> and one I new with my education I could do. I have ALWAYS suffer

> from ¡§Im to stupid ,Im to dumb,Im to fat I¡¦m to blah blah blah,,,,

> no one beat me up more then I beat myself up. Imagine my surprise

> when I went back to school and passed all my classes on the honor

> role?? Funny my friends and family were not surprised at all. I

> made a decision to try and get into the Hotel business. I love

> people and am very good with them.

>

> I was hired by Marriott International in October 2001 and just

> excelled at my job. For the first time in my life I started making

> really good money. I have ALWAYS lived paycheck to paycheck. I was a

> poor girl from the mission is San Francisco

>

> I have been though allot during my almost 11 years of sobriety. I

> have worked on myself, I worked on all my pain from childhood all my

> hidden demons and most of all on my relationship with god.

>

> In September 2001 I met .The most gentle, loving, kind man a

> women could ever hope to meet. It really is a Cinderella story. I

> came from a very poor background. has introduced me to a

> life I have never known.

>

> First came the huge 2ct perfect cut diamond ring that just takes my

> breath away ever time I look at it (and everyone else to ?º) Second

> is this wedding we are planning. is really giving me a dream

> wedding. Its been very hard for me to accept these beautiful gifts

> god and placed in my life. I would marry in Reno and that

> would have made me happy, but He wanted a huge wedding with all of

> our friends and family. He tells me I have brought magic back into

> his life and that he has had a dream of his own, of what his wedding

> would look like. When we went to plan our honeymoon we sat down in

> the travel office and he looked at me and said ok were do you want

> to go? I was like huh? And he said were do you want to go? Anywhere

> in the world you pick. I was so floored.

>

> I¡¦m trying to take all this in. I¡¦m trying to remind myself I did

> allot of work to get to were I am and that I deserve this, but it¡¦s

> hard. My feelings of ¡§not good enough or Im less then¡¨ still seems

> to linger. I am also excelling at my job as well, it just keeps

> getting better and better. I was told im going to be getting ready

> for another promotion. I work in H.R and for women like me to be in

> a place like I am just amazes me to no end. Its allot to take in. I

> am trusted and respected as an upstanding women in the work place.

> The great thing is my boss & my General Manager all no my background

> yet they trust me. I am honored and baffled at the same time lol.

>

> I¡¦m sorry this has been so long I just felt like shareing were Im at

> today. I¡¦m so so lucky and blessed. I am also scared. Its allot to

> taken, not to mention what having this surgery has done to my life.

> Losing 165 pounds is also a huge success, like I said. I¡¦m so happy

> I have this group to be able to vent.

>

> Please forgive me if Im not posting as much or I don¡¦t respond to

> your post. I do read ALL the post but don¡¦t always have allot of

> time to respond as id like to. Just no I love you all and support

> you all in your journey. If any of you ever need me for any reason

> please email personally, many people have and I always love hearing

> from my members.

>

> If you read this long thank you!!

>

> Shell

> 359/197/?

[Guest guest]

Hi Shell,

My life is way too busy these days since Faire opens soon and we are no where

near ready. I hope folks will understand if I miss responding for a while.

Nonetheless . . . I had to take a moment to tell you how proud I am of you

and how impressed I am that you can be so open with us. You give me hope.

All the best,

Kay

in San Leandro

open RNY 12/1/03

Shell wrote:

Hello everyone,

I have been so crazy crazy busy with work I have not had time to

respond to all the post that have been posted, however I have just

read them all.

I would like to welcome all the new members. We are so glad your

here and that you found us. Please feel free to share this sight

with anyone you think might benefit from it.

I would like to give a big thanks to all of you who consistently

welcome new members in such a loving and caring way. What we have

here is so very special. This group is stronger then ever. There

have been a few who would love to see this group fail but with so

much genuine love and respect in this group it will never happen.

This group is here to stay. I love you all and thank you for making

this group what it is.

Well here¡¦s the off off topic part...... (smile)

My wedding is getting closer and closer, as time draws near it has

me reflecting on my life, were I am were I was and were im going. I

hope you all don¡¦t mind me venting a bit here.

On July 21st 1993 I was an alcoholic woman. I had been married 12

years I was 30 years old and felt my life was over. I was three

hundred pounds and drunk EVERYDAY. I was a drug addict who was a

very dishonest person. I did all I had to do to get money for my

drugs and booze. I was not an honest person.

July 21st was the day my life changed. I checked into a 28 day

alcohol program and got sober. It was a start of a journey that was

to last till this day. I divorced my husband, worked really hard on

my sobriety and went back to school. I was a high school drop out.

I had been working at a mindless job for 20 years. Leaving that job

was scary. It was a safe job, one I knew I could have till I retired

and one I new with my education I could do. I have ALWAYS suffer

from ¡§Im to stupid ,Im to dumb,Im to fat I¡¦m to blah blah blah,,,,

no one beat me up more then I beat myself up. Imagine my surprise

when I went back to school and passed all my classes on the honor

role?? Funny my friends and family were not surprised at all. I

made a decision to try and get into the Hotel business. I love

people and am very good with them.

I was hired by Marriott International in October 2001 and just

excelled at my job. For the first time in my life I started making

really good money. I have ALWAYS lived paycheck to paycheck. I was a

poor girl from the mission is San Francisco

I have been though allot during my almost 11 years of sobriety. I

have worked on myself, I worked on all my pain from childhood all my

hidden demons and most of all on my relationship with god.

In September 2001 I met .The most gentle, loving, kind man a

women could ever hope to meet. It really is a Cinderella story. I

came from a very poor background. has introduced me to a

life I have never known.

First came the huge 2ct perfect cut diamond ring that just takes my

breath away ever time I look at it (and everyone else to ļ) Second

is this wedding we are planning. is really giving me a dream

wedding. Its been very hard for me to accept these beautiful gifts

god and placed in my life. I would marry in Reno and that

would have made me happy, but He wanted a huge wedding with all of

our friends and family. He tells me I have brought magic back into

his life and that he has had a dream of his own, of what his wedding

would look like. When we went to plan our honeymoon we sat down in

the travel office and he looked at me and said ok were do you want

to go? I was like huh? And he said were do you want to go? Anywhere

in the world you pick. I was so floored.

I¡¦m trying to take all this in. I¡¦m trying to remind myself I did

allot of work to get to were I am and that I deserve this, but it¡¦s

hard. My feelings of ¡§not good enough or Im less then¡¨ still seems

to linger. I am also excelling at my job as well, it just keeps

getting better and better. I was told im going to be getting ready

for another promotion. I work in H.R and for women like me to be in

a place like I am just amazes me to no end. Its allot to take in. I

am trusted and respected as an upstanding women in the work place.

The great thing is my boss & my General Manager all no my background

yet they trust me. I am honored and baffled at the same time lol.

I¡¦m sorry this has been so long I just felt like shareing were Im at

today. I¡¦m so so lucky and blessed. I am also scared. Its allot to

taken, not to mention what having this surgery has done to my life.

Losing 165 pounds is also a huge success, like I said. I¡¦m so happy

I have this group to be able to vent.

Please forgive me if Im not posting as much or I don¡¦t respond to

your post. I do read ALL the post but don¡¦t always have allot of

time to respond as id like to. Just no I love you all and support

you all in your journey. If any of you ever need me for any reason

please email personally, many people have and I always love hearing

from my members.

If you read this long thank you!!

Shell

359/197/?