One year ago today I had VSG. I can't believe how much has changed in such a short amount of time! I look back to that day and I remember a very scared, very sad, very over weight woman! So desperate for a change to happen! My husband, so supportive, my number 1 fan standing next to me, holding my hand telling me just how proud he was of me taking this huge step towards being healthy.

Each month I would shed negativity along with the weight. Slowly a shift in my soul was happening. I was feeling stronger, more confident in myself. Fast forward a year later, 97 pounds later!! Now when I look in the mirror I like the person looking back at me. Not only because I am thinner, because I am a strong, confident, healthy, smart woman who is in control of her life!

Continued success to all my sleeve brothers and sisters who have walked along and supported me through this wonderful journey!!

Lesley

Hello everyone! I just wanted to let you all know that I had my tummy tuck on Thursday Feb 28th. All I can say is "holy hell, am I in pain!" This surgery is no joke! I had a complete tummy tuck which included removal of panni, muscle wall tightening, and lipo.  The surgery took 31/2 hours. Before they closed me up they injected my abdomen and incision from hip to hip with a 72 hour lasting anesthetic. I can't remember the name, it was something like epiquil? They had given it to me since I get really nauseous from heavy narcotics. When I woke up my stomach was tightly wrapped in a layer of gauze, a very thick layer of foam, and an abdominal binder. I also have 2 JP drains, and for the first day a catheter. They did not want me getting out of bed the first day so I just laid in bed. As long as I didn't move, I was ok. The second day they removed my catheter and helped me out of bed to go to the bathroom, and to sit in a chair. It was painful, but manageable. Leaving the hospital was really hard!. I was wheeled to the car, but trying to get into an SUV is hard work! My husband basically had to lift me into the car, and even though he supported my weight, it still hurt like a mother!!

I have done a lot of research on what to do to prepare for post recovery. I rented an electric recliner, a raised toilet seat, I bought men's pajamas since they have the open fly in the front so that I could pull drains through. I am taking Bromelain which is a pineapple extract which aides in tissue repair, and flushes out fluids. I have also watched countless hours of video blogs, but just like having a baby, you can't fully understand the amount of pain that is involved until you experience it yourself! I am in the very early stages of healing, and I know that it will be quit some time before I start to feel better....but it is so worth doing if you have a large amount of excess skin, and fat left over!

My surgeon's name is Dr Boss, he is located in Paramus NJ He was wonderful! He even took a picture (per my request) of my panni that he removed! I can't wait to see it when I go for my follow up this Tuesday. I am excited for this appointment since it will be the first time that they will remove my abdominal binder, and I can see my new tummy!! They will check my incision, and look over the measurements of fluid that my drains have collected. The drains will be removed between 7 - 14 days. It will take up to a full year before I can see the final results. I am committed to continuing my healthy eating, and healing. Next month will be my one year anniversary from VSG. I am so grateful for my weight loss journey...it has been quite a ride!

Lesley 

Hello everyone, I hope all is well with you! I am doing well. I am holding steady at 140lbs. I am 10 pounds away from goal. It's amazing how the mind works. When I started this journey I had 100 pounds to lose which seemed soooo far away, and impossible to reach. Since then I have lost 90 pounds, and the last 10lbs seems just as far away, and impossible to reach!  I find that I am sinking back into old habits, which is mindless eating. I find myself reaching for crap food when I am board. I need to refocus, and rededicate myself to a healthy lifestyle.

I have set a goal for myself this month. I am going back to drinking protein shakes, upping my water intake, eating less then 40 grams of carbs, and walking a few days a week. I am scheduled for a tummy tuck on Feb 28th. My goal is to try and lose that last 10lbs before surgery. I am very excited to reach this goal, and have a flat tummy as well!

Wishing you all continued success on this life long journey!!

Lesley

Hello everyone, happy holidays to you and your families!! Time has really flown by!  Well, it has been a sad couple of weeks for our family. My beautiful sister in law, my husband's sister Suzanne passed away 9 days after Thanksgiving. She was only 48 years old. Suzanne had been sick for quite some time. She received radiation when she was 17 years old to battle Thyroid cancer. The radiation destroyed her heart and lungs. She had lung surgery, and 2 open heart surgeries to try to improve her health. Her last surgery was about a year ago, and she never quite recovered from it. She was an amazing woman, who despite her illness kept pushing through life. She worked in NYC up until her death. Suzanne was not married, and didn't have children, so her friends and family meant everything to her. Everyone comments on how my daughter looks just like her, which is a huge compliment. We all love and miss her so much!!

On a different note, my weight. I have managed to lose 5 lbs this month which I am very excited about. My weight loss has slowed down almost completely! I have to admit that I haven't been making the right food choices. I try to make protein the most important thing that enters my mouth, but with the holidays, mainly dessert, I haven't been so good. My eyes still are much bigger than my stomach. In fact my family will look at what I put on my plate and comment that there is no way that I can finish, and they are always right!! I love my sleeve so much!!! It always reminds me when I have reached my limit. Without VSG I would have put weight right back on. My very tiny pouch has also made me refocus on what is really important. Food is not the "end all, be all" of my life. My family and friends are what matters. For example, all the holiday parties that I have been attending. In the past I couldn't wait to see, and eat all the delicious food. Now, I redirect all that excitement into "catching up" with friends and family. Really enjoying all the stories, music, etc...Of course I do have a bite to eat, literally a bite and I am satisfied! I really don't feel like I am missing out on anything. I really feel empowered!! My family and I spent the day in NYC, and food was not my main concern. The kids wanted a NY hotdog and pretzel. I had a bite of my daughters hotdog, and a bite of my sons pretzel, and I survived!! LOL!! I didn't snack the rest of the day, and when it came time for dinner I made a healthy food choice, and when it was time for dessert I ordered a coffee. It felt so good not being controlled by bad food choices!

I want to enter 2013 with continued weight loss. I am sooo close to goal. Exercising continues to be a challenge for me. I last about 3 weeks, then I lose my drive. Exercise is so important, and I really would like to make it top on my list for 2013!! Wishing you all continued success on your weight loss journey! Happy and healthy New Years to you and yours!!

Lesley

Here I am 85 lbs slimmer! Only eight months ago I weighed 230 lbs! I was feeling fat, ugly, ashamed, unattractive, and hopeless. Today I feel slim, pretty, great full, and full of promise! This journey has been an amazing one! I have learned that food is not the most important thing in my life. I can now go out with family and friends and focus on having fun just being with them, instead of thinking about food. It really is freeing! My husband and I just attended a wedding this past weekend, and I have to say that this was the first time I really noticed how MUCH food there was. I just thought it was way too much. Don't get me wrong, I had just as much food at my wedding too. But it was a break through for me. I didn't feel that I needed to walk around to all the food stations and check out what they were serving. Instead I chose one thing, and then focused on connecting with people. It was a great feeling!

This past month I have not lost any weight. It is the first time that this has happened since surgery. I am not freaking out, at least not yet! I am 15 lbs away from goal. I hope to get there before my 1 year surgiversary, maybe sooner? The one new thing I have started to experience is hunger pains. I have read from the vets on here that usually around 10 months or so this happens. As I understand it, when we have WLS a hormone called grehlin is severed. The hormone starts to reproduce over time causing us to feel hungry again. I am trying not to focus on this new symptom, however, it's the first time in 8 months that I have actually felt hunger. Thankfully, my small pouch reminds me that I should make small healthy choices!!

Thanksgiving is only 2 days away, and I have much to be thankful for. My family and friends, and my health!

Wishing you all a happy and healthy Thanksgiving!!

Lesley