wantstowin2

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Celebrating my 8th year of my weight loss journey.  I have maintained my weight and weigh 116 lbs., give or take, for a long time now.  I still walk 4-5 miles every day and am totally dedicated to this walk.  After I walk in the morning, I feel centered, focused and free!  Losing weight has made me feel like I'm not a prisoner in my own body anymore and I feel like I could do anything!  I am able to work again and get down on the floor and play with the kids, tie my shoes without having to catch my breath and things like that.  It's great to be able to go into any clothing store and find my size!  I do feel it's important to have a support group which I am still looking for in Los Angeles (hard to find a good one).  My family is so proud of me and that makes me feel great also.  I wake up every morning and the first thing I think of is my "new" body and how wonderful I feel! 

 

Wantstowin2

Hi all,

Just returned from the 10th annual conference held by ObesityHelp.com.  I have very mixed feelings as I write this.  I am forever grateful to this website for they helped me with research and resources before and after my gastric bypass surgery.  In the beginning years, I met (online) some very wonderful people and did some emailing for a while.  But, as time goes on, and we each have our own lives to live, I started being lax about reaching out to people on this site.  Anyhow, it made a big difference in attending this past weekend's conference.  I felt very alone and sad that I didn't know anyone there.  I am still having problems reaching out to people and I found this to be especially intimidating at this conference.  No one came up to me and introduced themselves.  Although it seemed like everyone was with either another girlfriend or pack of girlfriends, I'm sure I'm not alone in feeling this way.  There were some good discussions, and I really enjoyed Diane Vogel's talk about relationships...  Very informative and fun!  She's a kick!  I think ObesityHelp is a wonderful cause and I hope to start reaching out on this site to meet people who are on the same journey as myself. 

Wantstowin2 

(Bypass: 12/1/2005 @ 232 lbs.; 10/7/13 @ 115 lbs. and feeling great!)

 

 

 

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to check in with other gastric bypass graduates.  Am wondering how other people who are 7 years out are doing and what they are doing with their lives.  I have been very successful with keeping my weight off, but am having trouble eating at times.  Never thought I'd be saying that, but really have to eat the right things for me and make sure I eat at least three times a day.  Am walking four miles a day 7 days a week, but have not added other exercises to my program.  I feel great most of the time and am forever grateful for this surgery.  I weigh 117 lbs and am 5'1", and I feel wonderful in my clothes!  I still feel like it's a dream and not reality, but am just going with what I've been doing the past 7 years and just keep on trucking!

Best to all,

Wantstowin2

I can't believe it has been 6 years since my gastric bypass surgery.  A lot has happened since that time, including a complete lifestyle change.  I have been walking every day (4 miles) for the past 6 years and that keeps the weight off and helps me stay focused on what I need to do in order to maintain my weight loss (down to my goal weight of 125).  I feel empowered each day and happy to see what I will make out of the day.  I am taking tap dancing lessons once a week and love it!  I still find it amazing each time I walk into a boutique and look at normal sizes or when I look into the mirror and see my reflection.  I feel awesome and not afraid to admit it!  Life is now worth a lot to me and when I have a bad eating day, I try to remember where I was for most of my life and where I am now...  Quite a difference!  I joined a support group, not for gastric bypass grads, but for weight management so that I can be monitored.  I still don't trust myself and, at times, I'll see my old habits creep into my new life.  When that happens, I never ignore it for more than a day and the next day I am back on my program.  I have had no complications from the surgery and it was definitely one of the best and most important decisions in my life.  I am curious as to how everyone else has been doing six years or more out, but in looking at the December, 2005 forum, nobody has written for a few years now.  Nothing tastes as good as thin feels!

Wants to win 2

I had the gastric bypass surgery on December 1, 2005 and didn't have any complications.  I have gotten down to my goal weight of 125 and have maintained this weight for over 2 years now.  I have completely changed my lifestyle from the way it was before.  I used to be a couch potato, sleeping in until 11:00 in the morning, eating all the time, and sitting/lying on the couch watching TV all day. I was very anxious and depressed from the inactivity in my life and all the sugar and carbs I was inhaling.   I couldn't work because I was in bad shape physically and emotionally.  I couldn't walk more than a block at a time before the surgery; I walk between 4 and 6 miles a day, every day.  My compulsive behavior has been directed to healthier things, rather than compulsively eating.  

One thing:  I have met several people who have had gastric bypass surgery and have been out for a few years.  A lot of these people have either gained back the weight they had initially lost after having the surgery, or they never got down to their goal weight.  I have noticed that none of these people who have gained their weight back, or never lost it in the first place, do not exercise.  I find that this is the key to my successful weight loss journey.  The support group that I was attending right after my surgery folded 6 months later, so I joined Weight Watchers, which I have found to be very helpful and inspiring.  I also think it's important to keep drinking those protein shakes every day because they do curb your appetite and give you lots of energy.  

So far, my weight loss journey has been an incredible, wonderful lifestyle change for me.  I am happy, energetic, and I basically have a new life.  I feel free for the first time!  My family and friends have been awesome in their support, which has also helped me tremendously.  

My mantra:  JUST DO IT!

Good luck to everyone in their weight loss journey!

 Wantstowin2