2 year surgiversary

Wow.  2 years.  I cannot believe how fast and how wonderful it was!  I feel very blessed that this process has gone so smoothly for me.  I am now recovering from plastic surgery that seems to have been highly effective at ridding me of the stomach massive sag, I have a bmi of 22.5 at the moment (not sure where it will land due to swelling), and when not recovering have a very active life.   The process brought my husband and I closer together despite his freaking out just a bit post PS (he is doing a little better now).  My family eats healthier, my husband lost of ton of weight during my wl phase, and we are just doing fantastic.  If you are on the fence, take the leap- it changed my life!

My weight loss plan:  Months 1-2, did the under 800 under 40 carb plan, struggled with low blood sugar.  Beginning month 3 started eating carbs and no impact on the weight loss rate,  Started cycling 15 grams and 30 grams of carbs throughout the day and it kept cravings and hunger at bay... Too much carb at once though and cravings and hunger kicked in.  As the months progressed the calories increased (per my bariatric team and simply increased need) and by 5 months was up closer to 1200 calories.  My exercise goal was 6 days a week for a minimum of 20 minutes, but most of the time I went well over an hour and doubled up on the weekends.  I wasn't perfect by a long shot, but did strive to be very consistent.  I also really worked on getting back on the wagon, as previous to surgery my plan typically fell apart at the first cheat.  I tracked and weighed food, set daily nutritional targets, went to my lab appointments, went to support group and in general if the professionals recommended it I did it. I stressed out a lot in those early months when I found out I had a large sleeve combined with not tolerating a low carb plan- remember, different paths lead you to goal, you just need to find your path.   I hit goal i 8 months, and believe me at the beginning of this process I was praying to just get to 220 pounds and thought that was unlikely.  

Maintenance has been great and has been smooth sailing for 16 months.  I hit goal, then hit a "fatty" rule.  If I hit 195, automatic weight loss mode kicked in. Didn't take long to realize that my weight fluctuates by 5 pounds (fluids) so I dropped the fatty rule down to 190.  I still was carrying extra weight, but I have cancer and I wanted some to help with recoveries should they occur.  As time has passed I have been very, very slowly dropping some pounds to my current level.  My last fatty level is 182 pounds, but it will need to be adjusted down a bit once I am done recovering from PS.  The doc took of 5 pounds of tissue so I suspect my new fatty set point will be around 178.  

I have a long, long list of positive ways this impacted me.  1. Husband lost 100 pounds with me. 2.  We are closer.  3.  Sex life is crazy good. 4. No more sitting on the sidelines!  5. No more seatbelt extenders, I fit in restaurant booths, and amusement part rides.  6.  Hubby and I go for long walks all the time.  7.  I enjoy exercising.  8.  Took up a new hobby, backpacking, that I LOVE!  8.  No more diabetes or high cholesterol.  9.  Overall health is vastly improved.  10.  Oncologist said the best thing I could do to help with the cancer situation was to lose weight- cancer is well managed at this point.  (super yay!)  11.  Love all of the clothes nsv's and especially that I can now wear tall sizes (too fat for them before).  

The only downside is dealing with work, and that has not been too bad at all other than people at work think I am sicker than what I am since I did not tell them and they assume it is cancer that has dropped my weight.  I feel crappy about that, but hey- my life and my business.  I just let people know whenever it comes up that the cancer is totally in check.  

I feel very blessed that I ended up in the bariatric center that I did.  I initially went there only because it was the hospital I went to throughout my childhood.  I did check for signs of quality, but in hindsight the program was an absolute perfect fit for me.  I also feel blessed to have found this website, as throughout the process it has been a constant source of information and inspiration.  Thank you Oh family!

& Congrats to you too on the 2 year mark!! it only gets better, imo from here, enjoy your continued health, and flatter tummy!

 

It's great hear that you are doing so well at the 2 year mark. Congratulations on all you've accomplished, despite the obstacles you've faced :). Just goes to show what commitment brings us. 

Great post--Thanks so much for the input you provide on this forum.  You have done so very well!  Bet you're loving the tummy- I know I am mine!  Huge smiles your slender way.  Bonnie

Congratulations!!

Congratulations on all your success!!! 

Congratulations on being two years out and having so many terrific SVs and NSVs.  I appreciate that you talked about how you've been working your maintenance as well.

congrats!  Great job!  WooHoo!!!

Congrats,
Question, How long was your pannis when it was removed? Mine hangs almost to my knee, do you feel better without it? I have to wait until I have stopped losing weight but I have been stalled for a while now and wonder if this is it for me.
Good luck with everything. My husband has also lost weight he has gone from a size 54 to a size 44 I am very proud of him.

Mine was extended done just a bit past the pubic bone- just enough for insurance approval.  You, on the other hand, should have no difficulty getting approval!  I am only a bit over a week out from surgery, so the swelling,drains, and such is still an issue.  But even with that and the scar lines being very raw, it is very evident to me that it was well worth it.  Yes, I do feel like once the recovery is finished I will be very happy with the results.  Even with the swelling I am still far flatter than I was pre surgery.  The doc took about 5 pounds off of me during the procedure, whi*****luded lipo (or at least that was the plan going in- didn't confirm that post op).  At the moment I do have a ridge above the belly button.  Prior to surgery I would have described my abdomen as having an upper belly (above belly button and hanging like a shelf) and a lower belly (pannis area).  The upper belly part is still a bit shelf like, but it is possible that is only from swelling- I can't tell.  He did a hernia repair while he was in there, and also relocated the belly button so it is entirely possible that it is just a normal swelling pattern.  I will know more in a few more weeks of recovery.