Resurfacing

[Guest guest]

Hi folks,

Well . . . I never meant to be gone so long. It has been about 6 months

since I last posted. I've stayed with the list and tried to follow the

progress of you fine folks - but, to tell the truth, I just can't keep

up. Nonetheless, I have kept you in my thoughts and prayers.

I think that I've been in this group since early in 2003, yet I had

better re-introduce myself since so many of you have joined since I've

been gone.

I'm Kay (in San Leandro). [i noticed that another Kay has joined the

list. Cool! I've met very few other Kays in my life.] I am 55 years

old - well, very nearly 56. Been married to my sweetie, Bob, for 12

years. No kids, but I do have a large " family " that has grown out of

our participation in the Renaissance Faire.

Dec. 1 will be the 2nd anniversary of my WLS. Dr. Baggs performed an

open RNY on me at Kaiser Richmond. I was very fortunate and had no

complications.

STATISTICS:

Highest weight - 375 lb. BMI 70.9

At surgery - 338 lb. BMI 63.8

Currently - 148 lb. BMI 27.9

Since I am a bit shy of 5' 1 " tall, I would have to weigh between 98 and

132 lb. to have a " normal " BMI. However, those charts do not take into

consideration the amount of lean body mass. I'll probably never reach a

" normal " weight. I'd have to lose muscle to do it and I'd rather stay

strong. (At 12%, my body fat was too low for a while and now I'm back

to about 20%, which is right on the borderline between the " athletic "

and " fitness " ranges.) I would like to re-lose the last 6 lbs. of the

weight I gained while recovering from my latest surgery.

I've gone from a size 6X to a 6 petite . . . from dragging myself around

on crutches to walking without any props . . . from hiding from the

world to wanting to get out and embrace life.

In addition to the WLS, I've had 2 rounds of plastics done (a lower body

lift with an extended incision up the front, then a brachioplasty and

mastopexy - which is to say a breast lift and " bat wing " removal). I

still need to have my legs done, but that will have to wait. I'm

seriously broke after paying for the aforementioned. And . . . I'm

finally going to have my knees replaced. The first one will be on this

Dec. 15th.

Life is so very different these days. There are certainly challenges

and hard times, as well as the accomplishments and good times . . . but

these days, I feel so much more able to cope with or enjoy whatever life

brings. I feel alive.

This group has really grown and I can't imagine that I'll be able to

keep with it all . . . but, I will try not to be a stranger here. The

WLS experience is so amazing . . . I enjoy reading about yours. I have

learned so very much here and have received so much support and

encouragement, I hope that I can offer something of value from time to

time in return.

Well . . . this has gotten a lot longer than I'd planned, so it is time

to go.

Please . . . take care of yourselves.

All the best,

Kay (in San Leandro)