Can it really be two years?!

Apr 09, 2010

April 9, 2010

Wow! I can't believe it's been two years since my surgery. Two years and two days to be precise! On April 7, 2008 my life changed. Yes, there have been ups and downs, but I wouldn't change my choice for the world. I wrote a reflection at 1 1/2 years out and thought another one was due.

My highest pre-surgery weight was 366 pounds at 5'2" tall - super morbidly obese. I was a bit lower than that when I began the WLS journey, as I had lost about 80 pounds on my own and was well on my way to gaining back the 80 pounds I had lost and probably 40 or so pounds more, since that was my normal method of operation. It was that final failed attempt at weight loss that was the straw that broke the camel's back. It was my last, "Okay, you can do this without surgery. You just have to have will power!" bit of insanity. As the pound crept back on yet again, I finally gave in an attended a WLS seminar. Fast-forward 7 months (see my previous post at 1 1/2 years out in my blog for the gory details of that stretch) and I was heading into surgery, scared but determined.

Since April 2008, I've lost around 180 pounds. There was one glorious day when the scale hit 183 pounds and I went to work and proclaimed that I was now half the woman I used to be. Since then, for the last 6 months or so, the scale has hung between 185 and 190 pounds. Still obese for 5'2" tall, but much improved from where I started. Would I like to get down further? Sure - who wouldn't? Is my life 100% better even if I never lose another ounce? You bet! I'll take it.

I have to admit, the battle is harder now. I read posts from people 2 or more years out who are regaining and I get scared. I like my life so much better now that I'm actually able to participate in it, and I don't want to go back. I like buying clothing in "normal" stores instead of Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug Plus, and from catalogs. I like walking into public places and not feeling like people are thinking, "Wow! Look how FAT she is!" I like that I can fit in restaurant booths and movie theater seats. I LOVE that I was able to fit in one seat on an airplane and fly to Italy last summer - and then was able to walk easily all over Rome, Venice and Florence. (Yes, I threw three coins over my shoulder into the Trevie Fountain!)

How am I keeping up the good fight? While I do allow myself to ocasionally eat things that are really not WLS friendly, I am careful about simple carbs. I NEVER eat pasta or rice, and I only eat potatoes in any form very rarely. I eat very little bread, and what bread I do eat is almost always some type of flat bread. The only cereal I allow myself is Special K Protein Plus (I figure if I'm going to indulge in cereal, it has to have protein in it). I also eat homemade oatmeal made with milk to up the protein content. Frankly, I got sick of eggs every morning.  One weakness I have developed is eating a few too many Ritz crackers. I'm working on weaning myself off of them. I do have one fast rule I NEVER break. Any morning the scale says 190 pounds, I eat strictly by the rules my NUT gave me when I began this journey. I focus on my protein goal and add a few veggies if I'm still hungry. Other than that, no carbs until the scale falls back below 190. Not even one teeny, tiny Ritz cracker crumb! I may never be skinny, but I'm determined to never weigh over 190 pounds again. Wish me luck!

Health wise, I'm doing well since surgery. I was able to go off my blood pressure medication early on. I take my supplements faithfully every day and my labs have been good so far. I do dump if I eat too much sugar (usually anything over 12 grams in a serving), but that's not unusual and I'm actually glad I do - it keeps me away from too much sugar. I don't have any trouble with my bowels as long as I take two Benefiber and 1 prune daily. So, overall, things are going well.

Now comes the moment of truth. Exercise. I have to be honest and admit that I don't do it. Probably if I did I could get some more weight off, but to be honest, I'll trade the extra poundage for not having to sweat! Overall I'm much more active than I was pre-surgery, but I don't do formal exercise. I know! I know! It was part of the package when I got my presurgery "training," but I've never been a physically active girl and I think it's unlikely I'll start at 50 years old.

I have an appointment with a plastic surgeon on April 19th to look into the cost of abdominoplasty. I have a huge panniculum that needs to go away. I'm tired of lugging it around with me. While I do have insurance, in Maine they will only cover abdominoplasty if you meet three criteria. I meet one (the pannus must hang below the pubic bone - hello! It almost hangs to my knees!). I COULD meet the second if I HAD to (recurrent skin ulcers that do not respond to more conservative treatments for three months - but who wants to let themselves go if they can prevent it, and who wants to lie to their PCP about the effectiveness of treatments?). The third, I don't think I can meet (if the pannus is a result of significant weight loss, the patient must have obtained a BMI of less than 30 - anyone know where I can buy one of those? I'm currently about 34 and figure I'd have to get down to about 155 pounds to get below 30 - ain't happenin'). Soooooo . . . here's hoping I can afford the surgery on my own.

I guess that's all for this update. Onward and downward (I hope!)!! For anyone considering WLS and reading this post, I wish you the best of luck. I can only speak for myself, but it was the best decision I ever made. The best gift I ever gave myself.

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About Me
Clinton, ME
Location
35.7
BMI
RNY
Surgery
04/07/2008
Surgery Date
Oct 20, 2007
Member Since

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