RE: ANOTHER WARNING! ANOTHER COMPLICATION!

[Guest guest]

WOW!!

Beth, that is wonderful. That post was very inspirational. We are all glad

to be able to take that leap of faith. I got tired just reading all your

excercise and one day I will be able to do that too. or maybe run a marathon.

Who knows the sky is the limit.

Gwen in Durham

Standing in line to leap out of the bonds of obesity...

by faith

In a message dated 11/9/2000 11:42:22 PM Eastern Standard Time,

TooEnable@... writes:

<< Three months ago tomorrow, I took a leap of faith. I borrowed what was

for

me, a large sum of money, drove hundreds of miles, and allowed my digestive

system to be modified. I had faith in my research, faith in my surgeon, and

faith in my ability to follow post op instructions.

I needed to have faith. I was losing my life. My weight had reached the

point to where my small 5'2 " frame could not function, standing up from a

chair was torture.

When life became so challenging that all I could do was move from my bed to

my car to my desk and back again, I had to do something. The something I

chose was the MGB with Dr. Rutledge. ***Shout out to all my littermates!***

Faith is a wonderful motivation! I am so proud to report that I have lost

55

lbs. and feel fantastic! I belong to a wellness center where I do 30

minutes

on a treadmill every single day. For a total aerobic workout, I also ride a

stationary bike and an arm bike. In addition to the daily aerobic workout,

on M-W-F, I also do an extensive muscle regime: 100 lat pulldowns with 50

lbs. weights, 40 Leg Curls and 40 Leg Extensions with 50 lbs. weights, 40

Rowing Pulls at 70 lbs., 50 Leg Presses at 110 lbs., 20 biceps curls at 8

lbs., and last but not least 40 abdominal crunches.

Whewwww I am tired just typing all that! But I wanted you all to know the

extent of my health turnaround since my MGB and how tough the complications

are!

Before I close, I want to point out another ugly complication of the MGB.

Every night when I walk out of that gym, I feel deserving of my wonderful

life. I feel proud of myself and determined to go after what I want because

I deserve the BEST. I don't feel like the fat chic who needs to take what

she can get because she is weak and proves it in how she looks, which is how

I have felt for many years. Post MGB, I don't feel weak or " less than. " I

feel FABULOUS! and damn it, people are treating me that way! They are not

treating me differently because I have lost weight, they are treating me

differently because I require that they do. They can just look at me and

see

that I am a " Phenomenal Woman " ! That I give and expect to get respect and

compassion. I love this complication the most. I feel like I am going

through a whole body and mind make over. I love what I see!

Here's to us all loving what we see and feel.

Warmly,

Beth in Florida...... >>

[Guest guest]

well put beth, bravo. Jillian Bopeep

Jil

342

BMI 54

MGB 11-15-00

crossing over very soon indeed, can't wait! :-)

[Guest guest]

Thanks so much, Beth. I'm one week today. I hope to be where you are when I

am 3 months out. And thanks for Maya's poem. Love her, and it. Keep it up,

phenom!

PhillyJude

[Guest guest]

Beth: Thank you for the smile on my face, the quickness of my step and the

lightness of my heart this morning! It will be a phenomenal day!

Flo in land

[Guest guest]

Hi Beth..

Congratulations to you as well! I definately know the feeling.. In 14

days I had lost 22 lbs and I feel wonderful! That morning when I out my

pants one they were not tight like they had been for so long.. They didn't

cling to my legs! THEY FIT ME!!!!!! I actually had room to grab my pant leg

without stretching them!! It was a glorious feeling and I feel so proud of

myself because of the steps I took to do this for myself. I walk around with

a smile all the time now and I see the difference in people's attitudes

towards me.. i even had one young gentleman hold the door for me when I went

to CVS the other day.. I was about 40 ft away from him and he just stood

there holding the door waiting for me and my son to get there and walk

through.. Then he even opened the second door before I could even tough it!!

It was great!! I'm not depressed anymore.. I feel I have a reason to live

<of course I always had a reason to live if for nothing else but for my

son>.. I feel I can give back to this world in some way and people won't

stare at me for even trying to accomplish something.. I don't worry about

what others think anymore! I am so happy to be alive and on my way to being

healthy instead of a statistic! God brought me to Dr R and I KNOW he <God>

wouldn't steer me wrong! There is a reason for everything and there was

definately a reason for Dr R coming into my life! For that I will always be

greatful!

In my thoughts and prayers,

Terri

POST-OP!!

10/25/00

BMI 55

308 1 week before surgery at PCP office

302 the morning of surgery at hospital

286 2 weeks after surgery!! 22 lbs gone FOREVER!!!!

200 First goal!

" But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate

you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. " - Luke

6:27-28

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> Terri Congrats on your Complications! I am proud to report similar

> complications.

> Three months ago tomorrow, I took a leap of faith. I borrowed what was

for

> me, a large sum of money, drove hundreds of miles, and allowed my

digestive

<SNIP>

> Here's to us all loving what we see and feel.

> Warmly,

> Beth in Florida......Enjoy the poem by Maya Angelou:

> Phenomenal Woman