Hope you all are ready for a novel!

[greeneyes49 6]

Hi all! I haven't been a member of a support group for several years but I thought it was about time to jump back in. I had my gastric bypass on July 31, 2007. I weighed 270 pounds on the day of my surgery and I am 5'5" tall. I was 57 years old at the time and I had to beg, beg, beg, just to be allowed to have the surgery. You see, I have chronic Iron deficiency anemia and one of the side effects of bypass surgery is Iron deficiency anemia so Dr Jawad did not want to do the surgery at first. He seemed to think that my emotional state was good enough that I would follow the rules and he took a chance. I thank God every day that he did because I became the poster child for gastric bypass surgery and lost 130 pounds in 10 months. I kept the weight off too all these years until December of 2012 when I quit smoking. In three months I gained 30 pounds. I have yet to lose any of that weight but I am happy to say that I at least stopped gaining at 30 pounds.

I am basically here to get back on track, act like a gastric bypass patient, eat properly again and lose the weight I have gained. I trust I can do that with determination and support! Thanks for listening, reading, and any words of wisdom you all can impart. Happy New Year one and all!

[SoccerMomma73 1,867]

Welcome!!! There's no better time for a fresh start than today. Congrats on the amazing success you've had so far, you're an inspiration.

[jodie1961 77]

Great job on quitting smoking! That in itself is quite an accomplishment....and knowing what is going on in your life (gaining the weight) and doing something now is putting you on the right track. Good luck on losing the 30lbs and kudos again for tossing the cigarettes!

[LindafromFlorida 1,542]

It was worth you gaining 30 lbs. dear girl, just to toss the cigarettes. Bless you! Now get busy, you can do this again!

[ajustice 484]

Hi! Congrats on giving up smoking! That was one of the hardest things to do for me so I have to say congrats! You have this! You can do it!!

[greeneyes49 6]

Thanks for the encouragement, it is just what I need. I know I won't go back to smoking because it has been a year and I just don't want them. What I do need is help with the weight gain so I hope it will be okay to come here for that special kind of help that only people that have been through the same thing can understand.

[drobinson1 13]

You took a BIG step with stopping smoking. KUDOS to you..Take it one day at a time..this is s great site for motivation. If you need an accountability partner, I'm here..I head Lapland surgery in 2010. List the first year and started with complications....gained all of my weight back in 1 year..this time last year I had a hiatal hernia repair and band repositioned..I got down to 185 pounds. I started this journey at 248. I am currently 246.4...by God's grace I am scheduled for revision surgery to bypass on jan. 16th...it's been a long road but I'm not giving up...if you need to talk, vent, our need someone to be accountable to, let me know....Good luck!!! You will do great!!!