Wow it's been a very long time since I've posted on my blog here.  Like so many others, once I reached my goal, I became very caught up in my new life and didn't visit this site so much.

It's my intention to change that and even though I may not blog here so often, or participate in the forums as much, I think it's important for myself and for others on the journey that I do just that.

In September of this year, 2010, I will be 3 years out from my gastric bypass surgery.  Every day when I roll out of bed, I am aware of my new, healthy, slim body.  I am sitting here, below goal, wearing a medium t-shirt and size 4 pants.  Size 4! 

I am so very grateful for having been able to have my gastric bypass surgery, not to mention the reconstructive surgery to remove all the excess skin.

2009 was a big year of surgery for me:

March:  gallbladder removed.
May:  tummy tuck and lower body lift.  The surgeon removed almost 250 square inches of excess skin from around my lower body.  It only weighed 5 pounds though because there was basically no fat in there.
October:  upper arm lift and breast lift with augmentation.

So that's 6 surgeries in 8 months.  Whew!  But I'm feeling great and loving life.

If anyone is reading this and wondering if such results are possible, they really are.  I am no one special, I have no extraordinary powers :).  I hope that my experience can give you hope for your own situation.

Key to maintaining my weight loss is my ongoing efforts at eating right.  For me, this means that I am involved in Overeaters Anonymous.  I "work the steps", including attending OA meetings 2-3 times per week, sponsoring others and having a sponsor.  As part of my pre-surgical evaluation, I was diagnosed with binge-eating disorder (not really a surprise there!) and was warned that if I did not address this, I would either not reach my target weight, or would manage to reach it but re-gain it.  As a compulsive overeater, I know that if I let down my guard, that is exactly what would happen.

So here I am -- continuing the hard work and reaping the benefits each and every day.  Life is good and I am grateful!!!

If there's any word or theme that is common to my blog, it is "grateful".  Or maybe, "relief".

I am grateful for relief!

I'm relieved to no longer be chokingly, dangerously, super morbidly obese. 
Relieved to have found a reversal for my health problems.
I'm relieved of the constant feelings of defeat and failure as a person unable to overcome my obesity.
Relieved to have found a means of recovery from my compulsive overeating through Overeaters Anonymous.
I'm relieved from worry that a chair won't hold me, a space will be too small for me to pass through.
Relieved to no longer be an object of disdain and judgment because of my size.
I'm relieved to no longer be the largest person in a room and just be normal, maybe even attractive.

And now that I've begun my reconstructive surgery phase, I am especially grateful that I have the means for plastics, and plenty of medical time off work.  Following my lower body lift, I am relieved of the bother and irritation of excess skin, both from a physical standpoint and an aesthetics standpoint.  Later on this year, I plan to have my arms and breasts done.

I continue to track my intake every day to ensure I get in the appropriate number of calories and grams of protein.  My pouch still "works"  and really speaks up when I eat dense protein such as chicken or ground beef.  I experience dumping if I eat too much sugar, e.g., last night when I ate watermelon and experienced some unpleasant, though not drastic symptoms.

I attend OA meetings twice a week and have completed my first 3 steps and am working on my 4th step.  I am now qualified to be a sponsor and am looking forward to helping someone else in their journey (and as they say in "program" -- service makes you slender).

Blessed.  Relieved.  Grateful!

I'm three weeks out today from my lower body lift on May 11, 2009.  The time has gone by very quickly and recovery has been easier than I anticipated.  I am sure that's because of the loving prayers and support of friends and family.  And even my cats who stayed by my side :).

I am in no pain, and the incision looks great.  There is still some swelling, but that's normal and expected.  I am back to work today and a little tired but otherwise fine.  I am very pleased with the results thus far!

Well, here I am 10 days out from my lower body lift on May 11, 2009.  My bandages are off, my 4 JP drains are out, the swelling's going down and I can see my new shape emerging already.  The incision looks great, no infection, no bruising.  Doc wants me to wear a Spanxx-type garment for a little while and to apply a vitamin-E cream to soften the incision.

I'm off my vicodin as of yesterday and just had a couple of tylenol today.  No pain to speak of, just an odd, tight feeling like I have an inflatable corset.  

I am so, so grateful to have been able to start on my plastics and am thinking of having my arms/breasts done in September.
Life is good and I am blessed beyond expectation.