Cecelia B.
9 months out WOO HOO!!!
Jun 03, 2011
I cannot believe it has been 9 months since my surgery. WOW what a difference. I am so happy I did this. My health is so improved. I am 157lbs smaller than I was when I got serious about this journey. I have had so many improvements in my health I cannot believe it. Last March, 2010, I weighed in at 385 lbs and I am only 5'4". I could not breath, or walk, and hardly smiled. I had diabetes, heart trouble, HBP, sleep apnea, and arthritis in my knees, back and shoulder. Even tho I was a leukemia survivor, I was still killing myself with overeating. I was anxious about everything, and frequently sad. Totally bereft of hope for a brighter tomorrow.Then I was approved for surgery. I let go of my desire to have the VSG because I was told it could be 2+ years before it was an approved procedure for Medicare and I trusted my doctors recommendation for the RNY. I had been so reticient to have the RNY, but I knew the universe would not give me more than I could handle. Also I knew I could not wait another 2 years or I might not make it. I am so happy I did not try that.
I have been mostly overjoy with my decision. (Mostly, because there were times I did not think this was such a good idea.) It was more painful than I expected, more difficult to slow down my eating, harder to take small, well chewed bites, but it is all worth it. Getting past 6 months was a challenge some days. I am still overjoyed with my decision. I have everything I wanted, except knees that work well. I am healthier, happier and less anxious 99 % of the time. Life still throws me challenges, finances, tornadoes, pain to name a few, but I can take charge of my eating now and that is BIG. I had tried to take control of my eating for so many years and Failed, Failed, Failed......but now I spend lots of time taking care of myself and I love it.
My challenges at 6 months was the slowing down of the weight loss. I was losing almost 15 lbs a month. Then at 6 months that went away. I felt like I was hungry all the time and I began eating more. I discovered sugar free candy and began eating 5-6 per day. I did not think about protein first, but ate anything I wanted, including some fast foods. WoW...that was a shocker. Finally I regain some sanity and came back to reality. I think I lost 3 lbs that month. Now I am back on track. I am drinking protein 2-3 times per week, eating healthier, decreased the SF candy and am back to losing still more weight. Not 15 lbs a month, but not 3 lbs either. more around 7-10 lbs.
I am joining a new class next week based on Michelle May's book Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat. It is about being mindfull of your body while eating and it is a great approach to weight loss and retraining your mind to eat to live. I am so excited because this class is 8 weeks long, two friends are joining me and I expect success for myself. I know this surgery caused me to lose weight, but I feel I still need assistance to help retrain my mind back to (maybe not retrain, but learn for the first time) healthy eating habits that can help me maintain this new life. I have heard as we all do that WLS may not last forever. For my part I want to do everything I can to maintain this healthier me. It is a constant goal to make this a success. And this new approach is a balanced, healthy way to learn new ways of listening to what my body is telling me what I really need and how much I need.
I hope all on this journey with me are continuing to learn new things about themselves. I look forward to my continued success. MY goal is to be down to goal weight by my birthday 4 more months, 48 lbs. WOO HOO!!!
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About Me
St Louis, MO
Location
35.0
BMI
Surgery
09/03/2010
Surgery Date
Jan 31, 2004
Member Since
