You missed the icons, huh?

(an oldie but goodie from OH past)

 

I had to make an appeal to my insurance company to get my lower body lift covered and I won. (This was over 2 years ago) I had to prove FUNCTIONAL IMPAIRMENT. If the extra skin is causing rashes, discomfort, covering your pelvic area, or causing some other problem you might have a good chance. Your surgeon or your doctor will need to prepare a letter stating that the procedure has MEDICAL NECESSITY.

Good luck!!!  

Kimmie! How the hell are you girl!?!?!? We both have come a long way baby! 

Wow, thank you! That was a great time, you nor cal people know how to have fun, I got to make it back up that way soon. 

 
Hard to believe it's only been three years, it feels like so much longer! On this day three years ago I was in surgery having my insides rerouted. It was a long road just to get to surgery. I fought my insurance company hired an attorney, won my case, then I had surgery, recovered, and lost 110 pounds.

 

But that was just the beginning! I began to walk, then run, then I became a new person. Along the way I earned my college degree, seen many boyfriends come and go, completed four half marathons, and countless 5k races. Last summer I had plastic surgery to remove the excess skin from my torso.  I've been in therapy,  I've danced, learned how to surf, made so many new friends, traveled the world, and so much more...

In many ways my life began three years ago today. No longer do I live with high blood pressure, pain in my lower back or the risk of diabetes. I'm sure that I have added years to my life by shedding the extra pounds.  Despite all the victories and milestones the journey has also had it's low points. My relationships with my family has changed as I became a different person.  I had to end friendships that realized were no good for me. I've had to keep an eye on my drinking because the road to a new addiction can be a slippery one. I spent a little time in therapy to help me adjust to this new life. I still hear my inner-fat girl in my head...she pushes me to eat, to snack, to be lazy and I realize now that I will battle weight until the day I die. The RNY is not a cure-all, it's only the beginning of the journey. 

One thing that I know for sure is that because of this community I have been blessed with so many new friends. There's too many to count! My angels Lori C., and Shelly J., Jean, Naomi and auntie Diane, there's the old-time veterans like Stacie S., Marta, and Helen, Gus, Anna, Monica W. and Michelle. The crazy running fiends Kevin, Kirsten, and Kim., my dragon-slayer friends Heather and and Nikki... and oh so many many more...this journey would have been nearly impossible without you!!! 

I'm really sorry. I know your mom has been sick for a while...my prayers are you and your family. 

 I haven't been around as much, I'll try to pop in more often. I'm almost three years out from surgery now. I've been pretty good at keeping off all the weight I've lost, I just haven't reached goal yet.

I have a number of friends who have had WLS and sometimes contact me with questions and asking for advice. One of these friends just had surgery a few months ago and I was exchanging emails with her.  From the beginning I gathered that she wasn't too prepared for life after WLS. I don't know if she wasn't paying attention in her classes (she had the same surgeon as me) or maybe the info didn't "stick". 

The other day she mentions "I don't take my vitamins, I don't like them."

I immediately wrote her back and in the most diplomatic way I could, read her the riot act. 

Taking my vitamins has been the only thing I've been consistent with from day 1. I think in every other area though, I have slipped up, slacked off, or given up in one way or another.

 

So as I re-read the email I sent to her, I thought of how little water I drink. How much alcohol I will drink sometime, how I like to snack on sweets, how inconsistent I am with exercise lately....and I gave myself the same pep talk.

 

So....who else wants to get back on track in some area? Who else is slacking off? Who else can join me in preaching to themselves? Anyone? Hello? 

 

 

I think that what has happened here is sad. Part of the problem is the disagreements that have taken place, but the other part is that it's just easier for me to spend time Facebook...and that's where I see all my OH friends. 

When I posted on OH I personally preferred to stay on-topic. I posted about weight-loss, fitness, nutrition, etc...  Rarely did I mention my personal life, job, family except for maybe when it intersected with my weight loss journey. I just didn't like to reveal a lot about me in this forum where anyone could lurk and read about it.

On Facebook I talk about all the other parts of my life, and I know that only "friends" see it. SO it's rare that I come back here.  

 I don't know how to begin to address all the past hurt that has taken place here. There is so much that could be said about acceptance, forgiveness, maturity, pride, judgement and friendship. Where do we begin? 

This community once extended beyond the message boards. People met, went out, had fun together and then it all went south. Sometimes I think part of the problem was that some people couldn't set proper boundaries. Making this community your entire life is too much, making friendship from this site your entire life is too much, and that's when things get out of hand. Perhaps it's just an extension of not setting proper boundaries with food. Too much of a good thing can be bad for you. 

Anyhow, I'd love to see some folks again. It reminds me to stay on track and to stay healthy.  

 

YOU my friend, have been one of the most successful stories of WLS. You look fabulous.  I hope that the hater has not been harassing you. Let me know if you need anything. 

The best revenge is continue being you.... :D 

 Hi guys, it's been a while since I've posted here. It's just easier to keep up with most of you on Facebook.  I'm almost 3 years post-op (RNY) and about 9 months post plastics (circumferential lower body lift) for those of you who may not have seen me around the boards before. 

I signed up for the Disneyland Marathon again, this race was my first half-marathon and I want to complete it strong without the pain of blistered feet like I did two years ago.

 Anyhow, training and finding motivation has been hard. I find old habits wanting to creep back in. I describe it as my inner-fat-girl. The person I used to be when I was over 300 pounds before surgery.  Often times I don't want to run and my IFG wants to pick what I'm going to eat when I'm not being careful.

So while I was on this morning's run, I was thinking about how hard it was to get up and get going.  Even after I got dressed and ready to run all I wanted to do was lay around and do nothing. My IFG is lazy. Once I got out there though, I got moving and I felt really good, I was a lot slower than I was two years ago as a runner but my knees didn't hurt and my lower back wasn't suffering from sciatica anymore.

Even when I'm running there's a part of me that wants to relax, take it easy and this morning I was talking to myself to stay motivated. "Keep running!" I made it to the end of my four miles, and afterwards I felt like the healthy-me was proud. 

I'm sure there are lots of you veteran post-ops who can relate to what I'm going through.  Does your inner-fat-girl ever try to sabotage you? How do you handle it?  If you're new, it might be a while until you recognize your IFG trying to take over the show, but she will come back!! 

I never say good morning, but here I am...better late than never. Good Afternoon!! :)

Congrats!!! Everyday will get easier, sounds like you got it under control...I'd keep the pain meds close by though.