TaliTali
Five Year Surgeryversary
Oct 29, 2013
I can't believe it's been five years since my DS surgery. I have gone through so much (life wise) and because of my surgery I was able to keep up with and just keep on trucking through it.
Stats first, I was 32 when I had my surgery, my highest weight was 310 pounds, and my surgery weight was 295 pounds. My CC is 150cm and I had a 2oz stomach at the start.
I weigh 155 pounds (on average). In a typical week I bounce between 154 and 157. I maintain this with ease. My original weight goal was 145. I could get to that weight but I generally don't want to work that hard to push down to it. It just takes being more diligent than I want on a daily basis--it's not HARD, just not interesting to me. I wear a size 8 (small) across the board with some 4's and 6's through in for good measure. Maybe it'll be my year 6 goal.
I have my small tummy days and my big ones but mostly I'm disinterested in food. I do protein drinks a lot with some bars thrown in most days. I eat my protein first at all my meals. I can do about 5oz at a time on average, again, some days I can do WAAAAAY more in a sitting and some days a couple bites is all I get in. I don't do structured exercise if I can help it but I enjoy moving.
My labs are great, I followed Vitalady's plan from the start and have tweaked it as needed. I have very low ferritin but great iron labs otherwise. I've done a couple of infusions but not long enough courses to make a great difference.
About 300 days ago I started making sure I got a minimum of 30 (I do 60 grams 98% of the time) grams of protein into me within the first 30 minutes of waking up. I mention the number of days specifically because I've done it EVERY SINGLE DAY, through vacations and being away from home.This made a HUGE change in how my midsection looked and overall how my skin began to change. At one point because I'd lost nearly all my excess fat in my stomach (I had a little roll left) and it was just so firm, I freaked out, I admit it. If I stay off gluten my stomach stays flat. If I eat gluten I get a bloated stomach. I have a few rules for eating that I follow for a comfortable life. I dislike the way gluten makes me feel so I don't eat it, sugar makes me feel icky so I am cautious how I eat it (never ever ever combine it with gluten or cheap dairy), but I do eat carbs like rice, potatoes, corn, etc. I don't restrict carbs just gluten.
Life is really good for me. The first year post-op I went through some crazy things and came out shining on the other side. I lost my job about 3 weeks after returning to work post-op, I went through major financial issues, entered a serious relationship, packed up my home and moved 3,000 miles to the east coast and moved in with my boyfriend. I promised myself when I moved there that I wouldn't accept anything but 100% action at getting to know people. I lost my first 100 pounds in that year so I was well on my way to looking "normal". I went through a second job loss and move back to the west coast. I did SO much and did it without hesitation. I just jumped it and got it done.
I find it amusing that I have friends who don't know me as an obese person, they only know me as thin.I frequently get the comment of, "You don't look like someone who was obese." I'm never sure how to take that one but I take it anyway!
I love my life. I do more than I ever thought possible. With surgery, I was able to start living NOW and not waiting years to get to my goal weight. I had amazing support through it all and continue to share that support with others.
I've become an advocate for weight loss surgery, am a certified support group leader through BSCI, and co-lead a support group here in the Seattle area. I do some individual coaching on the side and like to think I'm pretty good at it!
A lot of people ask on the forums about side-effects and downsides to surgery. I hear complaints about wrinkly and saggy skin, etc.
I have all these things, I'm not different than anybody else in that respect but I knew going into this I'd never look like a teen model. I knew going in I wouldn't have plastics because they terrify me. I don't look as awesome with my clothes off as I do with them on but you know what? I look a helluva lot better now with all my sags & wrinkles than I did at 310 pounds. I'd take every single wrinkle over a pound of weight any day.
I know what makes my body work at maximum efficiency and what makes it bog down. I don't put cheap gas in my car OR in my body.
