3 years ago,

Apr 27, 2010

Dr. Jones saved my life. 

That's no lie, nor an exaggeration.  I was well on my way to killing myself with my weight.  Diabetes, blood pressure, debilitating aches and pains...  did I mention diabetes?  Well, they're all gone today.  (except for minor, but chronic, knee pain when I do a lot of walking.  Gotta have something to bitch about, right???  )

At 3 years out, I can list a whole mess of improvements to my life, thanks to WLS.  I'm off all my meds.  My thighs divorced a long time ago, I no longer require seat belt extenders, have plenty of room in restaurant booths and movie theater seats, you name it.   Buying clothes in NORMAL stores.  No more sweating like a hog or getting winded at the THOUGHT of walking more than a few feet.  I LIKE looking at my hands!

And sometimes, ONCE IN A WHILE, I catch dudes looking at me with appreciation, rather than disgust.

I'm maintaining a loss of about 165 pounds (depending on the day).  I'd like to lose a few more, because I still weigh around 210-215.  But at 5'11" with a bigger build, I don't even know if ONEDERLAND is realistic for me and my lead pipes.  All I know is I will never lose respect for my tool, and if I never see a 1 at the front of my weight, I'm not going to wig out on myself.  I'm so much healthier now than I ever was before!

3 years ago, being 3 years out from WLS seemed like an impossible fantasy.  But here I am.  I made a commitment to myself that if God saw fit to allow me to have this surgery, I would follow the rules as closely as I was humanly able.  Vitamins, water, protein, no more carbonated drinks, support and follow-ups with my clinic...   I'm no angel, I put things in my mouth that I really don't need or shouldn't have.  (I still love Fritos, and Hot Tamales are pure evil, although it takes a very small quantity to satisfy those cravings these days.)  But compared to before?  I'm able to say that most days, I'm proud of myself.  For behaving most of the time, and for looking and FEELING so much better!

Life is not perfect, stress still happens, and it rarely has anything to do with my WLS.  I could have lost more weight if the lousy year I've had didn't cause me to do some stress eating, but I KNOW what I'm doing, and have found that I CAN rein it in and peel off whatever pounds might find their way back.  I have this gift for the rest of my life, and I intend to do right by it.

So at the risk of sounding arrogant?  YAY ME!!!!  

2 Comments