Before & After RNY with Kathyjs, losing 135lbs!
November 28, 2017Why I decided to have WLS
I gained 65lbs. with my first child. It easily came off and I was back to 135. Two children more and still weighed 135.
At this point, my husband told me that I was too fat for him to be seen in public with me. I thought, fat? I will show you fat, so my love affair with candy and pop began. I was 170lbs when we divorced.
My second hubby called me, Gorda. So my dieting began. I never made any lifestyle changes. When I reached the weight of 200 pounds, the doctor gave me the drug, Fastin. I lost a lot of weight very fast, collapsed and ended up in ICU. Since I hadn't made any lifestyle changes, I was back up to weighing 200 pounds again. My husband left me for my skinny best friend.
My third hubby (and last) didn't care how much I weighed and neither did I. I really didn't even think about my weight. At this point though I had bags of candy hidden all over the house. If we went somewhere for dinner, I ate before we went so they would see that I only eat a little of food. I spent my days on the computer in a craft chat room. We all got together in Missouri and it was there I overheard someone say they didn't realize Kathy was a whale!
If I was sick I would go to the ER because they didn't weigh you. I really didn't know what I weighed. Time passes and my knees gave out. I went to Mayo and was told I needed new knees but not before I was under 200lbs. I had been dieting because I knew I would be weighed but was shocked I was 287. My doctor told me that I should have RNY and asked the nurse to schedule that. The nurse said it wasn't that easy. I thought WOW, surgery to lose weight and that's all I would need. Surprise.
Before & After RNY with Kathyjs
OH Username: Kathyjs
Total Weight Loss: 135 pounds
Surgery Type: RNY
Date of Surgery: September 18, 2003
Surgeon's Name: Dr. Tim Thompson
The counseling began and at this point, I was told about ObesityHelp.com. It felt so good to not be judged and everyone supported me right up to the day I had surgery. I would look at the before and after pictures and would think, no way would I have a chance to be 'normal' again. I had nutrition classes, exercise program, weekly counseling. My life was about to take a 360. I started the journey the first week of January. And had surgery Sept 18, 2003. Thanks to OH I knew the work on my part began. I weighed 265 the day of surgery.
Dr. Tim Thompson did not believe in protein shakes so I was started immediately on a soft diet. Gerber was my friend. I tried to find the ones with highest protein level and lots of skim milk. I was eating 2 ounces, 4 times a day. The OH chat room was my support group.
My relationship with food was now something I needed to live, no longer lived to eat.
I pushed away from the computer after losing 135lbs and just went on with my life. Not a day went by or to this day that I don't realize I had RNY.
To this day I don't feel hunger, blessed! So many people couldn't believe I kept all the weight off so I thought well maybe I can help others so I returned to OH. I do tell it like it is but I shudder when I hear the words, last meal splurge or the cheat days. Success is work, I know now this is a total lifestyle. Thank you to OH for being there for me throughout my journey.
A Special Milestone
- Being able to have my knees replaced!
- Crossing my legs.
- Being able to wear blue jeans that zip up.
- Walking up to a glass door and seeing this tiny person looking back to see where she was and realized it was me. To this day, that surprises me.
How has ObesityHelp.com been a part of your journey?
OH was referred to me by a counselor at Mayo. I immediately went to the website and was thrilled to see people struggling just like me! I felt like this was where I needed to be for support. The before and after pictures made me excited to see this could actually happen. They made me realize this is a lifetime commitment.
In 2003, there was a chat room on the OH site and we shared our struggles. Cheered on those who just had surgery, listened to those who got insurance and reasons they couldn't have surgery so we tried to encourage dieting.
To this day, I have a dear friend from OH that I have never met. One member even came to St. Mary's Hospital when I had surgery. She was a total stranger but that's an example of the support OH offers. After surgery, I left OH and got busy with life. I no longer hid behind a computer screen. A year or so ago I realized I was a success and returned to OH to encourage some and tough love some.
Share Your Before & After Success!
Celebrate your own Before & After WLS Success, milestones, non-scale victories, and inspire others! The OH team wants to hear from you to share your weight loss surgery journey. Visit our Before & After Submission page for details.
