Well I hit my 1-year surgiversary last week, on September 24, 2008.  The year has gone by so quickly, and so many positive changes have taken place.  I've lost about 190 lbs.! I've given away tons of clothes, and also had a garage sale in which I was able to sell a bunch of clothes that had gotten too big for me.  I can shop in "regular" stores now and most of my tops are size medium, most pants, shorts, skirts and dresses are size 12. 

I am starting to comprehend my new body size.  It was a long time before I began to understand that I have become much smaller.  Even now, when I look in the mirror, oftentimes my eyes go straight to my "flaws" -- the belly and behind I still have, for instance.  But more and more frequently, I see the weight loss.

When I was very heavy, sometimes I would catch a glimpse of myself say in a store window, and would be shocked at how huge I had become.  I was in great denial, and would try to convince myself that the glass must be distorted, or that it was a bad angle...anything to try to rationalize and convince myself that I could not possibly be so out of control.

Now, I catch myself sometimes in a reflection and think: Wow, is that really me?  That little person?

I have about 14 pounds to go before I reach my goal of 150 pounds.  I'm thinking of shooting for 135-140 pounds in order to accommodate the minor upswing that I see a lot of people experience after they reach their goal.  I don't think I will look too thin at that weight, but I will try to keep an honest eye on myself.

As for excess skin -- I certainly do have excess skin on my upper arms.  I carried a lot of weight there when I was fat.  My belly also has a lot of excess skin but not as bad as I thought it would be.  My inner thighs have "given out" but I can wear longer shorts and get away with it.  (I prefer longer shorts like bermuda shorts anyway, they're just more comfortable to me.

I love the way my husband looks at me, and how I feel when we embrace.  I have fun seeing people I haven't seen since before surgery, or shortly thereafter, and watching them register the changes in my appearance.  In some cases, I've had to reintroduce myself.  They recognize my voice, and I seem vaguely familiar but...... :)

I continue to be very very grateful for my RNY and the new chance I have to live my life in a strong, lean body. 

I am working right now on exercising regularly, getting in all my water, and tracking my food intake (I use FitDay).  I am very compliant with my vitamins and supplements.  I am learning that I still have trigger foods...one of them being sugar free jelly bellies!  Even though they're sugar-free, they're not calorie-free and I remind myself not to disrespect my new body by spending my limited calories on garbage "food".

So yay me, I've accomplished a lot and will continue to learn and fight the obesity that nearly choked out my life.

(Snagged from the Main Forum)

You know You've had Weight Loss Surgery When...

* I have a date" does not mean you're going out.
* You have baby food in the house and no baby.
* "I'm a loser" is a good thing.
* "Welcome to the other side" doesn't include death.
* New clothes fall off in a week.
* You get excited about hand me downs.
* The scale at Wal-Mart no longer says "one at a time please".
* Going bald and getting wrinkles is a good thing.
* "Just water for me please".
* When your rear end no longer looks like a mudslide.
* When you get excited that your incision was "only 4 inches".
* When the word lap has nothing to do with a strip club.
* Other women are calling you names behind your back.
* When you are glared at in the plus size department because you don't "belong there".
* When you really don't have a thing to wear.
* You have to prove you are the person on the driver's license.
* You start being in the pictures, not behind the camera.
* You want to hug everyone fat and hand them your surgeon's card.
* You are never parted from a bottle of water.
* When you order a doggy bag at the same time as your meal.
* Being too small for your britches.
* When the only way your nipples are where they belong is to roll them up, position them with your bra and secure with a ponytail holder.
* When you go to the mall and take the first available space instead of circling 20 minutes for one closer to the door.
* You truly are a "cheap date".
* When one drink makes you flipping floozy!
* When you run to the door and don't hear a flapping sound.
* You flip your shirt to show complete strangers your scar.
* Vitamins feel like a meal.
* You go from a 56DDDD to 32AAA in a year and didn't have a breast reduction.
* You've just lost 100 lbs and run into a high school friend who asks "did you change your hair?"
* You can cross your legs... both of them!
* Instead of a Wonder Bra you need a Wonder Where They Went Bra.
* When your obsession from food turns to your scale.
* They no longer call 911 for the Jaws of life to extricate you from a turnstile.
* No more Velcro shoes.
* When your Stairmaster is no longer used for drying your fine washables.
* your mother says "You don't eat enough."
* When your doctor looks you in the eye and says "I know you will have success with this."
* Having sex your husband complains that your hip bones are poking him.
* You can wear corduroy pants without igniting a fire.
* When you wave and your upper arms wave back.
* You safety pin your underwear.
* Someone phones and thinks your husband is sneaking around with some skinny mistress.
* Cannot blame the cat/dog for shedding.
* Cancel your Lane Bryant Credit Card.
* 3 Lean Cuisines a week and that's your total grocery purchase.
* The kids wonder what happened to the cake and cookie god...did he die???
* Having to constantly BLAME the dog for your gas!

Ode to pudunkadunk    
I used to have a pudunkadunk.
You know, extra baggage in the trunk.
I thought it was neat to have a large seat,
No matter what others thunk.  

So here I am, it’s almost a year.
Who would have thought I’d have made it here?
I’ve lost lots of weight, and I feel really great,
But I’m really missing my rear.  

Why should I miss my big hiney?
So big, so round and so shiny?
Feelings are strange, who can explain,
Why I preferred big over tiny?  

As a fat one I sure was reliant
Substantial, well-spoken, defiant
Now that I’m thin, this new shape I’m in
Is slender and strangely so pliant.  

With time and with plenty of use
I’ll acknowledge my new super caboose
I’ll get past this weird phase, I’ll thank God all my days
That my pants are now so very loose.  

Oh I could go on but I won’t now
Because this poem is admittedly low-brow
I’ll stop right here, there’s no need to fear…
We can both unfurrow our brow.

Well today is my 48th birthday. Last year on my birthday, I was severely morbidly obese. I had severe obstructive sleep apnea; high blood pressure; was a borderline diabetic; had almost constant headaches. My knees, hips, feet and back hurt when I walked. I would get winded just walking a block. I was doing all my pre-operative tests and consults and ready to submit my information to insurance, requesting approval for coverage of roux-en-y.

Fast forward to today....I have lost an astonishing 183 lbs. My life has changed in so many ways. I am just overweight, and about 20 lbs. away from my goal of 150 lbs. Blood pressure: normal. Pain: gone. I'll be doing my follow up testing for the other co-morbidities but I'm confident they're resolved too. No more pain when walking...I can walk a long time and experience no pain, no windedness.

While I continue to follow my eating plan, I am focusing too on strategies for avoiding slipping back into old habits. I see others struggle with this after the honeymoon period ends. I am committed to living the rest of my life thinner and healthier.

Happy Birthday to Me.
I once was obese
Now I'm almost normal
Happy Birthday to Me.

Happy Birthday to Me
I finally can see
My toes and my cheekbones
Happy Birthday to Me.

Happy Birthday to Me
Happy Birthday to Me
Save your dollars for plastics
Happy Birthday to Me

Muwah!

Here I am at 11 months out from surgery and about to break into the 160s. I remember getting out of the 300s....then hitting 250 was a wonderful day. Then I broke out of the 200s to see my weight on the scale start with a "1--". Now I know why they call it "Onederland". It is truly wonderful! As I near the 160s at almost a year out from surgery, I can hardly contain my joy. I am increasingly mindful, though, that I am nearing the end of my honeymoon phase and my joy is tempered by the knowledge that it is possible for me to undo all this great work by reverting back to old habits. So today I remind myself that I must be more conscious than ever before of my food choices, my intentional exercise and put to use, every waking minute of every day, all the things I have learned over the past year about myself and why I ate myself to severe morbid obesity in the first place.