Holy Cow....I almost missed my 3rd surgiversary!!
Aloha OFF family....I was just reading "mystic's" post about her third surgiversary and realized that she and I have the SAME SURGERY DATE ! It slipped past me without my really thinking about it, but I must come and share where I am today.
July 26, 2006........oh my.....what a transforming day that was. My son came from Calif. as a surprise to take me to Honolulu and he took a couple of pictures of this enormous, unhappy looking woman on the morning of our flight. I look at those pictures now and am so glad he took them....but, oh my ......what a fat, unhappy woman I see in those pictures.
Here were are ... three years later and I look in the mirror and see a rather skinny woman......Ha! I was fortunate to have had one of the last free tummy tucks 8 months ago. (Kaiser no longer includes PS in their WLS program) ..so I do have a flat belly with a rather cute scar from hipbone to hipbone.....Ha! What is really funny and I wouldn't share this anywhere but here .... is that when he did the skin removal, he moved my pubic hair up to where the scar is...so I have to SHAVE that every now and then. Just looking down at that makes me laugh........how funny to have a flat belly, a scar, and then hairs just below my belly button that need to be shaved!! Only on here would you understand and find that funny as I do.
Weight wise ... I think I was plumbed very well so that everything passes though without sticking to my buh-tocks or anywhere. It used to be that if I ate a hamburger.......it became part of my body!! Now...it seems to just fly through. I am grateful to my surgeon. I need to write to him and thank him for changing my life. As most of you know....I started out at 319 lbs......and went down to 153 in about a year and a half. I was TOO thin......and have gained back a few pounds .... and could even gain a few more. But what a wonderful place to be....NEEDING to GAIN A FEW POUNDS!!
I can't believe that I've been coming into the OFF for over four years now. This has been a place of support, understanding, humor, sadness and comfort. Thank you all for being part or my journey.....and I wish for you success ....whatever that means to you. Sometimes success doesn't mean reaching goal......it means getting healthy.....free, and happy to be alive.
With so much aloha,
Maui Karen
July 26, 2006........oh my.....what a transforming day that was. My son came from Calif. as a surprise to take me to Honolulu and he took a couple of pictures of this enormous, unhappy looking woman on the morning of our flight. I look at those pictures now and am so glad he took them....but, oh my ......what a fat, unhappy woman I see in those pictures.
Here were are ... three years later and I look in the mirror and see a rather skinny woman......Ha! I was fortunate to have had one of the last free tummy tucks 8 months ago. (Kaiser no longer includes PS in their WLS program) ..so I do have a flat belly with a rather cute scar from hipbone to hipbone.....Ha! What is really funny and I wouldn't share this anywhere but here .... is that when he did the skin removal, he moved my pubic hair up to where the scar is...so I have to SHAVE that every now and then. Just looking down at that makes me laugh........how funny to have a flat belly, a scar, and then hairs just below my belly button that need to be shaved!! Only on here would you understand and find that funny as I do.
Weight wise ... I think I was plumbed very well so that everything passes though without sticking to my buh-tocks or anywhere. It used to be that if I ate a hamburger.......it became part of my body!! Now...it seems to just fly through. I am grateful to my surgeon. I need to write to him and thank him for changing my life. As most of you know....I started out at 319 lbs......and went down to 153 in about a year and a half. I was TOO thin......and have gained back a few pounds .... and could even gain a few more. But what a wonderful place to be....NEEDING to GAIN A FEW POUNDS!!
I can't believe that I've been coming into the OFF for over four years now. This has been a place of support, understanding, humor, sadness and comfort. Thank you all for being part or my journey.....and I wish for you success ....whatever that means to you. Sometimes success doesn't mean reaching goal......it means getting healthy.....free, and happy to be alive.
With so much aloha,
Maui Karen
Congratulations, dear one!
Time really does fly, doesn't it? Especially when you have a whole new life to experience. I can hear the pure joy in your words.
You've been such an inspiration to me and, I'm sure many others. I'm so lucky to have had you to guide me through those first few months where I was learning what on earth I had done. You helped me feel confidant that my decision was the right one and that I could succeed.
Enjoy today and all the rest to come. You so deserve every one of them!
Hugs and smoochies
Time really does fly, doesn't it? Especially when you have a whole new life to experience. I can hear the pure joy in your words.
You've been such an inspiration to me and, I'm sure many others. I'm so lucky to have had you to guide me through those first few months where I was learning what on earth I had done. You helped me feel confidant that my decision was the right one and that I could succeed.
Enjoy today and all the rest to come. You so deserve every one of them!
Hugs and smoochies
Susan
Hi Karen,
I remember your surgery as it was a few months before mine. You are such a great example of a successful post op. I remember your food diaries where you were so precise in what you ate and you set such a good example of not eating white stuff.
That is funny about where you have to shave now since your plastic surgery but the concept of a flat belly is way beyond me. Just cannot get my mind around that.
Wow, 153# at 5'11" means you must really look thin. How does that feel? I mean did you have to adjust to looking and feeling thin? Was it positive for you?
Congratulations on being 3 years post and doing so well.Now that you have a new sexy body,have you had the urge to date or get social with men or anything? Just curious as I am trying e-harmony at the urging of a psychologist I am working with, not much luck as yet. Not sure I like the whole process but giving it a try.
Karen
I remember your surgery as it was a few months before mine. You are such a great example of a successful post op. I remember your food diaries where you were so precise in what you ate and you set such a good example of not eating white stuff.
That is funny about where you have to shave now since your plastic surgery but the concept of a flat belly is way beyond me. Just cannot get my mind around that.
Wow, 153# at 5'11" means you must really look thin. How does that feel? I mean did you have to adjust to looking and feeling thin? Was it positive for you?
Congratulations on being 3 years post and doing so well.Now that you have a new sexy body,have you had the urge to date or get social with men or anything? Just curious as I am trying e-harmony at the urging of a psychologist I am working with, not much luck as yet. Not sure I like the whole process but giving it a try.
Karen
Aloha my sister in surgery dates!!
You reminded me of how faithful I used to be in writing down everything I ate every day. I also have a page that shows what my weight was on a weekly basis......and I quit that when I hit 153. Now I look back at that and am amazed that I'm still in the ball park..........except I creep up to 160 occasionally. It seems to fall back off so easily..........amazing!!
I wish I could show you a picture of my belly before the PS. If you can imagine grabbing skin in both your hands.....that's what it used to look like. I was SO LUCKY that my plastic surgeon took me as one of his last patients.........and he did an excellent job. I cannot grab any skin now.......but it's funny because my tummy is numb........flat but no feeling.
How are you doing? Are you happy with your results? I cannot even imagine being in the dating game again. You are very brave...Ha! I have become such a recluse, I can't imagine a man in my life........Ha!
Thanks for caring....
Aloha nui loa,
Maui Karen
You reminded me of how faithful I used to be in writing down everything I ate every day. I also have a page that shows what my weight was on a weekly basis......and I quit that when I hit 153. Now I look back at that and am amazed that I'm still in the ball park..........except I creep up to 160 occasionally. It seems to fall back off so easily..........amazing!!
I wish I could show you a picture of my belly before the PS. If you can imagine grabbing skin in both your hands.....that's what it used to look like. I was SO LUCKY that my plastic surgeon took me as one of his last patients.........and he did an excellent job. I cannot grab any skin now.......but it's funny because my tummy is numb........flat but no feeling.
How are you doing? Are you happy with your results? I cannot even imagine being in the dating game again. You are very brave...Ha! I have become such a recluse, I can't imagine a man in my life........Ha!
Thanks for caring....
Aloha nui loa,
Maui Karen
Karen,
Congratulations, warm hugs and hooray for you. Thank you for sharing this special day with us, and all the other days also.
Your words describing success are the best. I may have to borrow them for my support groups.
WLS brought us together, forming a rare bond. I am so glad to be your Sister.
You do more than inspire, you care about others. Thank you for being YOU.
Kisses
Annette
Congratulations, warm hugs and hooray for you. Thank you for sharing this special day with us, and all the other days also.
Your words describing success are the best. I may have to borrow them for my support groups.
WLS brought us together, forming a rare bond. I am so glad to be your Sister.
You do more than inspire, you care about others. Thank you for being YOU.
Kisses
Annette
Annette 
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