The new me :))

Hi Kell & everyone :))
I know this is the wrong place to do this but this is my "Forum home" so I thought I would post a picture of the "new" me. On June 20, 2005 I had invasive gastric bypass surgery and have lost very close to 140 lbs. It was a medical necessity, not a vanity thingy LOL. However, I am pretty please with the results_being that I am almost 53. Here is a photo from a Charity Ball we attended last night for the American Heart Association. I won't be posting any "before" shot, hahaha :)) Love and God bless, Margo

You look simply ravashing Margo. Congrats on the new you.
Sidney

Congratulations!
What an accomplishment you have done for yourself.
So Happy for you on your New You LOOK......
Great photo
;)

Congratulations my friend. You are absolutely stunning! I hope you both had the time of your life! So beautiful.. inside and out!

You look fantastic! Most important is how you feel, and I'll bet you feel great.

WOW Margo, what a gorgeous gown and what a gorgeous woman. You must be so happy to be feeling and looking so good.

You are beautiful Margo. I should look so well. Joan

You Grow Girl!!! It must have been a tough decision and the RIGHT one. You look ravishing!!!!!

Carol

You go Girlfriend!!!! You look great!! I'm so proud of you! Give Mom and Jack my love.

Oh Margo! You look stunning and absolutely beautiful! I can see why you are pleased! And your DH must be so proud of you!

Way to go! You look super! Congratulations on a wonderful accomplishment :-)

Margo, What a fabulous photo, You look great. My sis in law had this done, lost over l00 pounds, but she looks so unhealthy and has aged tremendously from all the stress.

It's a dangerous surgery, You look like you cam e through with flying colors. That is a fantastic accomplishment!!!

kathy

Thank so much everyone! I really do appreciate your very kind words.
I am down 75% of all my medications for blood pressure and thyroid and off of all the other stuff completely, except vitamins. That's the best part of all, feeling so much better. It seems the more meds you take the more you need. At one time I was on 3 blood pressure meds...one of them actually made me very sick to my stomach for half the day. It turned out I did not have arthritis in my hips and knees, just the weight made them ache all the time. Now I really do feel like crawling around on my knees planting & weeding, lol.
God bless you all, Margo

Margo,

So very proud for you!!!

Judy

It's wonderful that you have been able to cut down on your medication and that you're feeling better. You look great, too!

Wow you look wonderful.

I have struggled with my wieght all my life, this christmas i went all out baking and really regret it now, but seeing people have success is really encouraging.

Good job, and wow on your meds, thats amazing too, i bet you feel like a million dollors.

steph

Congratulations on the new you!! You look great!
I'm so glad to hear that your health is so much better,
I bet you will enjoy gardening all the more!!
Bonnie

Congratulations with the new you, Margo. That is something of a accomplishment. Remember, on the way to 53 is no age. Lene is 53 and is looking good. So are you. The 50's is said to ne the best years of our lives :)

I believe that, Tonny. If my Mom had not died, these would definitely be the best years of my life. I love my 50s.

Good for you, Margo. I bet you feel so great.

Congrats.
I had mine done in 2003 but it has not been a permanent loss for me. I lost 100 lbs the first year and kept it off about 1 year afterwards but the pouch has gradually restretched and even though it is not as large as before, it is large enough to allow too much intake to maintain the loss. I found out recently that after bypass, the body only tolerates 1000 k per day without gain Also, where lots of post ops will dump if they eat sugar or certain other foods, I am not intolerant of anything which doesn't help. I am having to cut my calories way back and hit the gym again to take off the 30+ lbs I have regained. I was never able to reach goal either but 100 lbs was better than before.

Margo you look great, my daughter had the IGBS and she was in the hopsital 6mo, it was a long drawn out process for her. She finely recovered and is off most of her med and says she feels great.

Ruth

I fortunately still have my mom, but are also aware, that nothing last forever. LAst time I saw her we named a double after her and gave her the honor of placing the name tag. She loved that a lot. Lene lost her mom last summer. Isn' t it funny, how a mom still means safety to us, when we get older and how we suddenly feel lost and vulnerable, when she is not there any more?

Congratulations! You are stunning ! You should be so proud of yourself !
Very beautiful couple!
Great photo of the day ! You made the news !

WOW!!! Way to go...

Margo, you look fantastic !! Congratulations.

Patricia

Congratulations, you look terrific.

Margo,
Congrats!!! You look great!!! I had my surgery in 2005. I've had tons of issues with it because of other health problems. I've been able to keep off about 95 pounds. I hope I can keep it off. I could loose another 20 pounds. I'm so afraid of gaining it back. Sadly I don't get dumping syndrome so I can eat anything.
Are your friends supportive?
Mickey

Thanks again everyone !! I really appreciate all the very kind words.
No, I don't get the dumping syndrome, I can eat anything just very small amounts. Half of a sandwich, half of a bowl of soup. If we go out to eat I have a card that says I had gastric bypass surgery and they will let me order from the children's menu which I never done. I usually order an appetizer or a cup of soup and I'm full. The biggest thing for me is getting 60 units of protein daily. I order from bariatriceating.com every other week for cheese snacks and the bottled drinks that you add water to. Sometimes that and a "Campbell's soup at hand" are my meals for the day. It does require will power to not eat the bad things. I don't want to ever gain my weight back so every morning I sort of determine what I will allow myself for the day and I stick to it. I've been at 147 for over 6 months so I feel that is where I am supposed to be. I use a Tony Little Gazelle (glider) for exercise and I walk a lot. It just feels so good to not hurt bending and stooping that I won't allow myself to get into a comfort zone eating whatever I want. I want my stomach to stay happy with 3 or 4 ounces of whatever I eat. Doesn't mean I won't have a small treat once or twice a week, I just won't let it be a habit, that's how I got fat to begin with, LOL!
My friends and family have been great. I love to cook, so I do....a bunch, for my family. They don't insist I eat. They are proud of me. It's funny sometimes they say "waitress, I need more..." because I will sit with them but seldom fix a plate and if I do it's usually a salad with cheese on it for protein. Every day it is a decision to enjoy but not over do. It's been almost 2 years, so the habit is there for me.
Ohhh...guess what else!!! Hubby has lost over 40 lbs just stopping eating when I do. He says he gets full faster now and we box it up and bring it home for lunch the next day. He said he didn't realize how much he had lost until he went to the cardiologist for his annual check up and when they weighed him he was down 40+ lbs. Doctor was very pleased.
Good luck Mickey, it does get easier once it becomes a good habit.
God bless, Love, Margo

Margo, you and Jack look marvelous. I am so proud of you!
I used to weigh 354, so I know how hard anything having to do with dieting is.
You look like a million bucks and I am glad you feel great too!
Congratulations and God Bless!

What a triumph Margo!

I am baking brownies tonight so, YES, I do cheat on my diet once in a while LOL !!
God bless everyone, Love, Margo

You look great, Margo. Congratulations!!!

Thanks so much Ada, I'm very glad I had the surgery and even more happy that I had very few complications :) God bless, Margo

PS....How are your brug babies coming along for Spring ? I have my very first "cots" on Double Dark Rosetta X Bergkonigin. I am very excited.

Margo, I have very few Brug babies this year. My plant time is very limited due to taking care of so many (5) sickly elderly family members. I can't wait to see what your DDR X Bergkonigin grows for you.

Big hugs Ada, I totally understand your situation. My Mom is totally bedridden and my DH, Jack, has had 4 heart attacks in the last 8 years. I am their caregiver. I do have a young lady that comes a couple times a week to let me run errands and such.
If DDR X Bergk does anything at all for me, you'll get a piece for sure. I planted 3 seeds of DDR X Bergk, so hopefully she will do well for us.
God bless you and those you are caring for, Love, Margo

WOW! Margo, I am very impressed, you and your hubby both look terriffic.
I saw someone at Jan's funeral that I had not seen in two years. I didn't even recognize her when she came up and spoke to me. She also had the bypass surgery for health reasons and lost over 100 lbs.
My brugs are coming up and looking good.

God bless,
Chris

Congrats!!! You look great!!!
A friend of mine had bypass surgery several years ago. She cheated from the start and has had no weight loss to show for her surgery. You should be proud of your success. Keep up the good work and attitude.

Betty

Thanks so much, Margo. You're a Sweetie.

Wow Margo, you look stunning. Keep up the good work, it was hard getting to where you are I am sure.

Hello Margo,

I've never chatted with you, nor did I see your before
picture, but based on the new picture from the ball,
you look MAHVELOUS!

Congrats on a new life, a new body, a new you!

:-) Karen Marie