Kelly B.
2 Years Post Op!
Jan 12, 2013
Two years ago I was recovering from surgery and figuring out this new way of life! Eating was so hard, managing the pills/vitamins with all that water was atrocious! It seemed like brain surgery to manage all of it in a 24 hour period. Trying new foods and dropping weight but still feeling sluggish -- Those first few months were tough but well worth it! I am a different person two years later -- and I am still in a discovery of "kelly" phase. This surgery was a life saver -- physically and mentally I am strong. Emotionally, I am getting there -- it's not perfect and I hid my emotions with my eating for years and years so I don't expect to just change all that in two years when it took me a 30 years to get here. Therapy has been helping and I still continue to go. My progress is just that, progress -- moving forward -- not giving up.
Ok, so for those that are considering surgery and just now seeing this post -- I know you want the "meat" of what 2 years does with this surgery:
Start weight - 260
Todays weight - 127
Start size - 22
Todays size - small/4
Original goal -- 140 (met within 11 months, but continued to lose down to 132 lbs for next 11 months, now at 127 with lowest weight being 124)
How did I get there and have maintained? I followed the diet plan given to me almost to the letter for the first year -- I didn't exercise a lot but I am extremely active. Water and protein are my friends -- sugar still makes me sick (Thank you Lord) -- No carbonated drinks AT ALL!! No beer, no diet coke, nothing but coffee, water, wine. I hardly ever eat fast food - yuck! I eat off of a salad plate to keep portion control -- sometimes my hunger is much bigger than my pouch! Water is awesome -- I drink around 80 oz per day.
Body differences -- I need surgery. I look great in clothes but I look like a 60 year old lady naked (no offense to 60 year old women) -- I probably am worse than that -- The problem areas are my lower belly, my boobs, and my butt. All those places you want to look good! My face is good for the most part since I have strong bone structure but I could do with a little filler around the mouth area as it sags a bit.
Mentally/emotionally -- I am stronger than before. I don't take too much from people like I used to. I feel more confident and I smile more. I still have a lot of work in this area though. This is truly where I am trying to find who "I" am. It's a journey I guess will be never ending but hopefully soon I will know more of "me". Hard to explain.
Marriage -- we are getting divorced. It has nothing to do with the surgery or what I went through over the last two years. We had issues way before my surgery. There were no other parties and in fact, we remain very good friends. If anything, I think my surgery helped me deal with the situation that I ultimately faced. I was strong enough to keep it together, deal with the trauma, support my kiddo's, and still be there for him somewhat. Life happens....
Me -- I am going to make a bucket list for 2013 -- I am going to explore this new way of life. God willing, I will learn to have more acceptance and give myself some peace in life.
That's my two year update -- God bless you all -- thank you for allowing me to share my experience -- keep losing out there!