- Username: SassyItalian
- Location: Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis
- Member Since: 8/29/2010
- BMI: 21.2
- Post Op
- Surgery Type: VSG (12/21/10)
- Surgeon: David Wernsing, M.D.
Before & After
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Goals
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I am 2+ years sleeved. After much research I decided to go with VSG (do your research!). I'm from South Jersey, now living on the beautiful Caribbean island of St. Kitts for veterinary school. With the help of VSG I am now healthy, vibrant, and physically strong. VSG gave me the confidence to go after my dreams and start making myself a priority. If you are thinking about the sleeve and have any questions, feel free to message me. Remember, you will get out of this what you put into it. You must want to make the changes necessary to be successful. My journey has been amazing..xoxo Kristen 
Carpe freakin' Diem! I made it! on June 20, 2012 7:26 pm
I made it! I am successfully settled into my new home here in St. Kitts. Killing it at vet school, getting good grades, and living the good, healthy life I have always wanted.
Truthfully, at this very moment, I am living my dream. And as I always say, VSG helped me get here. Really. The life change that came with my procedure gave me the confidence to go after what I have always wanted, to be a doctor of veterinary medicine. The changes helped me hold my head high in my interview, and that confidence helped get me here.
And I love this tiny island, away from the comforts of home. It nurtures the active, adventurous spirit that has been awakened in me. I was a former couch potato (I dreaded the walk from the parking lot to the supermarket for heaven's sake!). Who now takes every single opportunity to be active and healthy outdoors. I am tackling my bucket list- Every day, (besides studying and sitting through science lectures!) I swim in the Caribbean Sea, or snorkel, or paddleboard, or play soccer, or beach volleyball, or hike a volcano, or train at the gym, or lift weights, or run, or go out dancing and let myself be twirled all over the floor by hunky boys, having the guts to salsa when admittedly I have no clue what I am doing, and as of next week, I will be adding SCUBA diving to my exercise repertoire, getting open water certified.
This is MY time. I am here, learning just as much about myself as how to practice medicine.
The new life I have been given is a truly beautiful one, and I am writing a different page of it every day. And you will write yours, too. In your own unique handwriting, as it comes along, on your own very personal journey.
Cheers my friends!
xo
Sass
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Moving to an island, Volcano bodies, and other... on March 16, 2012 9:03 am
I have been running around like a mad woman for my move to St. Kitts for vet school. Been so focused on paperwork, visa applications, student loans, vaccines, and doctor's visits that I have barely come up for air! But it is still so EXCITING!
One of the neatest things is..I just got my housing assignment and my apartment is on the top floor of a building overlooking the Caribbean Sea..I still have to pinch myself to remember it is all going to be real in 39 days.
I feel like all of this amazing change in my life is possible because of my VSG. Today, 15 months postop, I am feeling like a new person. I walk around HAPPY and smiling. So many people have stopped me and told me I have a glow, an aura. For someone who was often depressed pre-op, this is a total change.
I feel like VSG has given me the confidence to go after what I want. I now have the self-esteem to go after my dreams and make them mine. VSG has stripped away the obesity that seemed to drown me, to define me. It has let my true self shine through and I am so happy I made the decision to have bariatric surgery. I am ME again! And I'm celebrating it.
So.. I have also been busy working on my volcano body. What is a volcano body, you ask? Ok, so its a term I made up..sort of.. and it has 2 meanings. Sassy's defines a Volcano Body: 1) A human body in good physical shape, able comfortably to climb 4 hours up a Caribbean Volcano and/or 2) A rockin', hot as lava, athletic, bikini body.
I have been working since November at the gym, 4-5 days a week, lifting and doing cardio to be able to climb the island's volcano, the highest point in all of the Eastern Caribbean. And of course...the aesthetic benefits are amazing! I have tone! My stomach has muscles! And I have a confession...I've gotten a little out of control with bikini shopping..I think my collection is nearing 10! I never, ever, ever would have thought this was possible.
Just wanted to update yall on my move and remind you that ANYTHING is possible in this life, more to come!
Peace Out Friends!
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Building Confidence on January 15, 2012 8:04 pm
I wanted to blog about this so I can go back and re-read it when I forget..or feel lost.
One of the hardest struggles during my weight loss journey and life in general is working on my confidence. Often, I am the one who believes in me the least. I forget how far I have come, all that I have done, all the HARD work I have put in to get where I am. Sometimes I am my own worst enemy.
I am working on learning to be kinder to myself, more confident in myself, and loving myself more.
One of my girlfriends told me tonight, "You are the most accomplished person I know". It made me literally take a step back. It made me look at myself, almost as an out of body experience. And what I saw amazed me.
I have taken back control of my life. I made the step to change my life with VSG. I took on the unknown and kicked its ass into submission. I have put my dreams out there to the universe and went out and took them for myself. I am in shape and healthy, and In 100 short days I will be moving to the Carribean for veterinary school, those were my dreams. And I made them happen.
I forget sometimes how powerfu I am. My life over the last few years proves to me that I go for what I want and dont take no for an answer.
So, Kristen, read this and remember these words when you are down and questioning yourself. You are POWERFUL, SPECIAL, KIND, DESERVING,BEAUTIFUL, and SMART. You are a force and only you can hold yourself back. Nothing can stop you if you believe in yourself!!!!!
Love yourself and the rest will follow. AND, keep reaching for your dreams!
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Getting into the best shape of my life! on January 6, 2012 7:50 am
My goal this year, my aspiration..is to get into the best shape of my life. I am building healthy habits when it comes to exercise and plan on keeping them forever.
Truthfully, I didnt religiously exercise during my losing phase. I never hit the gym for weight training. Exercise was less formal, and usually outdoors..walking, hiking, kayaking. But since having plastic surgery, its really motivated me to get my body as close to "perfect" as is possible for someone who has lost 120 pounds.. And I mean perfect for ME which means defined arms and legs, but still curves in all the right places.
I have been consistently going to the gym for the last 6 weeks and I've started to love it. I am seeing the results, new tone, new muscles. I feel stronger, healthier, sexier. It lets me get my frustrations out, it gives me an endorphine rush as close to sex as possible, and it helps me sleep peacefully at night. I find myself bouncing around when I walk, with a new pep in my step.
And I am thankful to have someone new in my life who has encouraged me, inspired me to be fitter and healthier. Its really refreshing to be encouraged rather than guilted for going to the gym too much or talked down to about my body. No more. I am only letting those into my circle who inspire me.
So..my goal for 2012 is to be happier, healthier, and fitter for my move to the Carribean and for life in general. I want to rock my string bikini and climb that island volcano without getting out of breath!
Here's to new beginnings!
xo
Sassy
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Taking risks..learning to ignore the 'what ifs'... on December 2, 2011 6:24 pm
I play it safe. Often. And im sick of it.
What do I mean? I mean I often guard myself, censor my thoughts and emotions, in fear of making myself vulnerable. Sometimes, I'd rather live safely and with regret versus taking a risk, putting myself out there, and possibly stumbling and falling and getting hurt..
But I always seem to end up hurt anyway, so why the heck am I guarding myself? What's the point of missing out on opportunities because im afraid to get hurt, when protecting myself doesnt work anyway?
I think I would rather go through life with scars than to live with the "what ifs" from things I wish I experienced.
No, im not talking about jumping off buildings all of a sudden, its more of an emotional risk taking...
That's it. I've decided.
Let's see how this unfolds.
xo
Sassy
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