20 months, 10lb gain, New York and loving my sleeve!!

Ok so I told myself up until about my 2 year aka 24 months out I would TRY to come on here and cronicle how my life is changing, evolving etc on my WLS journey. 

July 26th marked my 20 month surgiversary...on that day I weighed 201.2lbs.  When I returned from Palm Springs AND New York City after doing what I wanted, eating and drinking as I pleased I weighed a SEXY (cause everything about me is sexy) 211.2, that's a gain of 10lbs.  I know many of you would have been and are in a panic over such a declaration BUT the reality for ME...if I am sitting for long periods of time, like flying across the US or driving to Vegas, I suffer from edema and ALWAYS have since I can remember.  It boils down to about a 5-20 gain, each and every time.  At 39 I'm just used to it.  NOW my weight gain is different then before WLS.  Before my gains I gather would be MORE then just bloat...after all you just read I ate EVERYTHING not nailed to the ground and OH how I drank in Palm Springs.   On top of that my vacation gains would remain GAINS.  If I lost the weight it would take MONTHS.  The difference NOW is that the minute I touch my toe back in MY town it is so EASY to get back on track.  As of this morning I weighed in at 202.0 (hopefully I'll be that on Monday cause that's the only weight that counts...ya know the day I had surgery and all, lol).  I love my VSG cause no matter what it's HERE to do the work as long as I REMEMBER it's here with me.

The upside of my WLS journey: 

I STILL almost 2 years out have NO physical hunger (Thank God) and I pray that it continues.  When I am here in town I eat on a schedule just because it's easy for me, but when I was away it was always my friends who mentioned being hungry and then I'd think, oh yeah we ain't ate, lol.

I STILL could almost care less about "where" to eat, except I HAD to keep having pizza from this one place in NY ohhh and let's not mention the Banana Pudding OMG this banana pudding had like a mousse(sp) consistency.  Believe me I WILL be getting a piece of Pizza AND some Banana Pudding the next time NY sees me.  Before I always had an opinion and lusted for food.

I STILL have GREAT restriction...of course I can eat more then the first year but as many have said it's no where near what I used to could shovel in my mouth...NO WHERE NEAR.  I can say easily that I can eat about 6-10oz (total weight) depending on what it is etc.

I have a sugar limit.  To much (which varies) sugar and I get nauseated.  Doesn't mean I won't stop wait a few hours and eat some more (see head issues) but I do get sick.

I now weigh 25lbs LESS then the goal I had invisioned for myself back when I was 345.  I found an old journal entry and my goal was to weigh 225.  I can't believe I have surpassed that goal and am currently (not very hard) working on MY ultimate goal of 185.

I look f*cking GOOD.  I mean I looked GOOD before but being the superficial world we live in I look GOOD to MORE people and well I love people!!

The downside of my WLS journey:

My head issues (yes I do have SEVERAL) are still there.  I eat when I'm bored....the last few days being at home...even though I planned out my meals, I found myself opening and closing the refrigerator and pulling out the cake and ice cream (which must AGAIN be banished from the house).  Oh yeah and the crackers, I think if it were NOT the fact that I was upping the protein I would have NEVER got those 10lbs off considering I kept eating crap.

Hmmm don't sure if it's a down side, but I can eat ANYTHING but as they say "just not alot"  So while my good friend in New York couldn't finish all her crust I DID...yeah me cause it was good, lol!!

Did I mention head issues already.  Cause lord knows I have them.  Now by nature I think I should have been a therapist cause I'm the one my friends come to, so I don't actually go to a therapist.  But many a day, my "normal" self makes a call to my "therapist" self and we have a nice long chat.  Yes ok so I might suffer from multiples, but since I know, they know, all my friends know and now yall know...I "think" I'm ok.  Seriously if you have issues, think you have issues PLEASE talk to someone, cause this journey is for a LIFETIME and during life we take many roads and if you are holding onto some stuff, bumps in the road will happen.  I have seen many a friend GAIN the weight back because the OLD issues COME BACK and you CAN out eat ANY surgery.  These are personal and online friends who have had either the RnY, LapBand and yes our precious VSG.  So beware this surgery does NOT fix your head.

Well there's my story!!  I have about 15lbs to loose until I reach my GOAL weight.  Honestly if I wasn't living such a "normal" life I would have been there.  I have some Plastic Surgery scheduled for October 4th...I'm going to request an extra quart of fat be taken out...   New York was f*cking AWESOME...I should have gone there in my fat days cause skinny Michelle is more reserved (yeah I don't get that either) but FAT Michelle would have shredded that city in a heart beat!!  Palm Springs was HOT and again FAT Michelle was ALWAYS ready for a party and on FIRE...now I need naps and sh*t, rofl!!  Ok so I guess it's because I was young and now I'm "older" haha!!  

Here's a shot of me at an all White Party in Palm Springs....

Ms. Shell, you are truly a Rock Star! Love the post, love your look, and LOVE the attitude. You are fabulous!

You go!  So many things you said struck a chord.  Thank you for being so candid about your journey.  Yes you do look F*CKING good.  I had to laugh at your comments about looking good to more people..I've felt that way myself and wondered..what was wrong BEFORE?. Not a damned thing but their head.

Bravo that you can take a trip, enjoy the heck out of it and get back on track.  I understand that one.  When we were traveling earlier this year all the food out there is SO tempting.  Here it's easier to stick with my plan because there isn't anywhere to eat out. LOL  Congratulations on your loss since you've been home. 

I can relate to the head issues.  Right now things are a bit stressed and while I'm not physically hungry, that head hunger creeps in and I find myself grabbing a SF cookie or chocolate.  Still better than before WLS and now they're SF, but still!  And why is it that THOSE are the days exercise is harder?  The ol' checks and balances get out of whack.

You look great!  Enjoy life.  Jerry McCain said it best "Come on baby and strut your stuff!"

It's so clear in the photo that you're happy with you.  Bravo! 

---jan---

 

 

 

dude on the right doesn't know what "all white" party means, OK? LOL...

you look GREAT!

and, I agree and feel everything you said, ms. shell.... i freakin' LOVE your attitude, too... you're optimistic, positive and realistic about it all... not beating yourself up...

we all have lots to learn from you, and I thank you bunches for sharing!

love you!

Lori

I liked your post Ms. Shell. I have a feeling you look good at any weight!! NYC is f***ing awesome.  I feel like a rock star when I am there.  I hope when I've reached your milestone, I'll have the same kick a** attitude you have.

My head issues are raging some days. I eat out of boredom, but not nearly as much since surgery. Yipee!  I have a bunch of stress relief squishy toys on my desk that I grab instead of eating. I've broken 3 in one week :-) Better than eatling more food than my body needs though.

Thanks again for the post. 

Ms. Shell,

Wow, what a great post and thanks for sharing your experiences.  You are hot lady and have so much to be proud of.   I loved NY too, can't wait to go back.  Congrats and many thanks!

Hugs,
Barb

New York,New York ...city so nice they had ta name it twice....Too true, I loved it when I was there it is an amazing city ...as are you dear lady!!! Three things I loved about NYC... PIZZA, PEOPLE (watching people is a hoot... being one is too )and the freakin' hot dogs. OMG!!! and I don't normally like hot dogs or didn't until then!! I was in the Bronc's delivering a load of tomatoes to Hunt's Point Market and one of the guy's that worked there brought me a dog to die for...I still can taste it( it was that good not that bad LOL ) and that was 26 years ago!!! My mouth waters everytime I think about it.

Ms. Shell's, thank you for sharing some of your journey. I agree with you 100% no matter what surgery we have...there are always going to be the head issues...they only "fixed" our stomaches not our heads, that is our job and a never ending one I might add. You are a good mentor for any WLS surgery and you can be proud of that fact.

You a a beautiful Woman!! Keep up the good work.

HUGS
JOY

I envy your freedom in every way Ms Shell.   My "fatty" days kept me inside or at least in the back of the room versus the front where I typically could be found before I gained weight.   I love that you continue to do what ever you want even if it's not "PC" on OH.  Looks like ya'll had a great time... still rockin sexy no matter what!  YOU GO GIRL.

See you at LBC coffee soon!

Brandi