hokiefan
1 year update
Jul 28, 2009
One year ago my life changed. Not just a little but entirely. I knew going in to the operating room that I was making the right decision. I really never wavered from that belief. A year later I am 1000 times more sure of my decision.
Words really can’t describe how my life has changed. I remember how I used to look, how my body used to hold me back, and how I was in many ways stuck living a life I was not intended to live. I didn’t know then but in comparison I know now. Don’t get me wrong, I had a great life but there was so much I missed, some much that hurt, and so much I wanted. While surgery doesn’t change your life, it changed how I am able to live mine. There are moments that feel like my surgery was just yesterday. But I think about the last year and all the things I have done that I never could have done 12 months ago and I can’t help but know that I am so lucky.
I think I am at goal, my losses have slowed substantially. I have a plastic surgery consult tomorrow and might have a better idea then. But more it is a mind issue. Is a 6/8 small enough or since I have the chance should I aim for smaller but does my body have weight to give up. And then isn’t it ridiculous that I would want more considering how far I have come? This is still a mental challenge for me, part of which stems from never acknowledging either pre or post-op what my size truly was/is.
In the last year I have:
- lost nearly 130 pounds eating some yummy food
- traveled to several places including
- wore a bathing suit, in public and walked around like it was no big thing (and I’m not just referring to my boobs and butt being no big thing ~ because well they aren’t)
- worked out regularly and enjoyed it (and no Starr, not just for the eye candy, though that helps)
- made some amazing friends on these boards and in IRL. For the MADS who took care of me pre-op ~ I could not have done this without you.
- Checked just about everything off of my “why I want to have surgery” list
- Cured my high blood pressure and high cholesterol
- Made my doctor tear up she was so proud of me
- Bought at least 5 wardrobes ~ some just an item to two but now the closet is filling up again
- Started dating…I feel like I have and continue to spend my life getting men to see past how I look and get to know me…it’s a little different post-op for sure though
- Went from a size 24 to a size 6 or 8 (I even fit, though not attractively, into a 4 last weekend)
- Lost over 109 inches (based on the 12 measurements I track) including some highlights such as 17 inches each from hips and waist, 11 inches from my bust, and 10 inches from my upper thigh. Wow, I am just calculating these for the first time and even I’m a little surprised.
- Began living the life I know I am destined to lead. I am still the same person I was just with a lot more confidence and self-assurance.
I have only one con and I think I have figured out the situation. From shortly after my surgery to now, my hips have hurt. The pain has gotten progressively worse. Well the other night my massage therapist finally figured out what she thinks the problem is. My knees pronate in, which puts pressure on my hips. So why didn’t they hurt before…well likely because my thighs were so big they pressed my knees out removing the pressure from my hips. Even my con is a WOW!!! Hope to see a doc soon to see what can be done to correct this.
My advice if you are a pre-op or newly post-op. Follow the advice of those who have been here a while (and I don’t necessarily mean me). I am very happy that I stayed away from carbs as long as I did. The protein first rule was key and I still live by that.
