7 Months and 100 lbs down!

Feb 01, 2011

As I type this I cannot believe that I have lost 100 lbs in 7 months! What other kind of "diet" or help could do that?

Even more amazing, is I cannot believe how much life has changed for me in those 7 months. I walk at a very brisk stride now, I go to the gym and pump iron 3 times a week, I ENJOY going out and doing things, I have dropped from the "Womens PLUS Sizes" (nearly a 30) to now shopping in the NORMAL size area and wear a size 16/14!

For nearly 15 years my wedding ring was pretty much MELDED into my finger flesh and could not come off unless I would have cut it off. Now I can play with it and it often nearly slides off on its own! Soon I will have to get a ring guard for it.

9 months ago I was in a wheelchair and relied on a service dog to assist me. I had active autoimmune disease, and my blood sugar was borderline diabetes. I was told my adrenal glands were messed up and I had sleep apnea. I could eat nearly 40 oz of food at a sitting! (Go measure 40 ounces...Go on, I'll wait.) that is nearly 5 cups of food. An hour later I would be hungry!
I could eat 3-4 LARGE bowls of cereal at one sitting, or a 28oz steak.

Now, I get filled up on 1/4 to 1 cup of food (depending on what it is). I don't get ravenously hungry and hour later. I am off nearly all my prescription medications (except for 5) and my Autoimmune disease is in remission!

Before I was often depressed or had a lot of rage inside. Like really BAD rage inside. Today I am so calm, mellow and happy. Before nearly every day I was in physical pain (around a 7-8 on a scale of 10) today I am usually about a 1.

My surgery was/is a great success and I am proud of myself. I am confident and grateful to my surgeon, my friends on here (Renewed Reflections) and my belief in a higher power.

I know that my surgery is a "tool" and not a magic wand. I do NOT dump at all, and so I must work that much harder to measure and read labels and cook and follow the rules...

So far it is working like a charm! This summer I plan to go horseback riding again. I used to own a horse nearly 20+ years ago when I was under 140 lbs. There is no way I would have put my fat butt on a horse when I was over 190. But now my health and energy and weight feel good enough to allow me to do the one activity I have always loved! So I look forward to riding on the trails and maybe taking up endurance riding or cutting! A local stable offers lessons and it may be a gift to myself. (Along with my martial arts lessons, another gift to myself!).

So has the surgery changed me? Yes..it has! ALL is a positive way. My life has JUST begun again, and I have begun to live...To truly be grateful for each moment, to be mindful of each of life's pleasures (and to be mindful even of the BAD things and the fact that we can learn even from those).

Be good my fellow Losers! The WLS is a very "wild ride" indeed...Like a Roller-coaster it goes up and down, and round and round and upside down and you have NO control over much of it. But you can either be terrified of it or you can work it, follow the rules and glean pleasure from each twist, turn and loop-de-loop of your adventure!
Warmly,
Jackie

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