MAY 14, 2007 Monthly Support Meeting
Queens Metro Surgical Weight Loss Support Group
http://health. groups.yahoo. com/group/ Queensmetrowls/ It is another month and time for us to meet and see how we are all
doing. The meetings have various purposes. Some of us catch up with
old friends; others seek advice from others that have had weight loss
surgery and newbies look for advice from those that have had surgery.
Who else better understands you than another person that had weight
loss surgery?
Come and hear what motivational speaker Caroline Martin speaks about
her weight loss journey and her plastic surgery. Caroline had weight
loss surgery in May of 2003. Caroline will explain why and how she
has been successful at surgical weight loss surgery. I have known
Caroline for several years and we are fortunate to have her speak at
our group.
Caroline Ann Martin:
My name is Caroline Ann Martin. I am 5'5" tall, have a small to
medium sized frame and currently weight 142 to 150 lbs (my weight
fluctuates). From the age of 19 to 34 years, I lived my life as a
super morbidly obese person. During these years, I dieted my way up
to 370 lbs losing and regaining over 100 lbs several times.
In May 2003, with a starting BMI of 61.1, my life changed when I
underwent gastric bypass surgery. This, along with sticking to a
healthy diet and developing an active lifestyle allowed me to lose
225 pounds in just 16 months and gain a healthy weight and life.
At the onset of my weight loss, my hips measured 71 inches around and
I wore a Women's Plus Size 40 (6X to 7X). At 4 years post RNY, I now
wear a Misses Size 2/4 (XS). More important than size, I love that I
can physically do pretty much anything I want to now, without the
restrictions that my weight once imposed.
In May 2003, I had my RNY. I lost 210 lbs and reached goal within 15
months, then continued to lose an additional 15 lbs. In January '05,
I started with my reconstructive surgeries to remove an amazing
amount of excess skin that I was left with. I went through 3 rounds
of back-to-back reconstructive surgeries including a belt lipectomy
(LBL), breast lift, breast implants, extended brachioplasty, buttock
lift, circumferential thigh lift and vertical thigh reduction. I'll
need one more surgery consisting of a 2nd thigh lift and some minor
revisions and one major revision to my original reconstructive
surgeries, though this is on hold at the time given ongoing pain that
I've been experiencing from the first three rounds.
.
I run several Yahoo Groups related to these various issues including
but not limited to the Gastric Bypass Post-Op, Gastric Bypass Plastic
Surgery, Gastric Bypass Abuse Survivors, Gastric Bypass-Run Hike Walk
and Gastric Bypass Pennsylvania Yahoo Groups. I've been fortunate to
have the time to be active in these groups, and enjoy being involved
and giving back to others (as I've been helped myself).
.
Anyways, that's a little about me...
To visit me on the web, here are some links related to my WLS and
personal sites:
http://abutterflyem erges.com/ http://myspace. com/carolineam http://myspace. com/abutterflyem erges http://myspace. com/carolinemart inphotography http://picturetrail .com/carolineam (password is ps - please be
forewarned that there is nudity in some of the albums as well as
disturbing images from before and after my reconstructive surgeries)
http://health. groups.yahoo. com/group/ gastricbypass- postop/ http://health. groups.yahoo. com/group/ gastricbypass- plasticsurgery/ http://health. groups.yahoo. com/group/ gastricbypass- pennsylvania/ http://www.muscular trainingdevelopm ent.com/gallery/ member.php? uid=2014 http://CarolineAnnM artin.com (in construction)
The meeting location is:
Time 7:15 pm
C.A.P. 163-59 17TH Avenue
Whitestone, NY 11357
Walk down the ramp
There is ample street parking and easy access from Manhattan via
express bus or the Queens Transit Line.
Bring snacks if you want.
Please CONFIRM IF YOU WANT TO ATTEND. The meeting starts at 7:15 pm.
Lenny
Apri15@nyc.rr. com