Before & After VSG with GoBlueGirl1998!
July 5, 2016Celebrating GoBlueGirl1998's Before & After VSG Journey!
I grew up as a larger child, but I was always athletic. I played basketball, ran track and was on the soccer team in high school. Even though I was larger I was still somewhat fit.
After my senior year of high school, my physical activity stopped and my weight crept up to 325 pounds. At age 25, I lost 120 lbs and I kept it off for about a year or so.
In an effort to lose weight, I started running. Even when my weight began to creep back on, I still continued to run. Eventually, my weight got down to 250 pounds and I stopped running. Before I knew it, I weighed 291 pounds at the age of 39.
Between the ages of 25 and 39, I would diet, lose weight, go off my diet and gain even more weight back. The yo-yo dieting was a constant struggle. I knew how to lose weight, I just didn’t know how to maintain it.
My mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at 60 years old and my dad had suffered from Rheumatoid and Lupus. I moved back home to take care of them. My mom also has diabetes and they have found correlations between diabetes and Alzheimers. My dad’s weight had nothing to do with his ailments, but they made me want to get as healthy as I could be. I soon realized that I couldn’t take care of my parents properly if I couldn’t take care of myself. I was in my 30’s but I was obese. I didn't have any comorbidities but I felt as though I was on borrowed time.
I started researching weight loss surgery options, and I found ObesityHelp where I learned about VSG surgery. I did as much research as I could and attended a few seminars. One of the factors that went into my decision to have WLS was my parents. After much consideration, I knew having the VSG weight loss surgery was the option for me.
Before & After VSG
OH Username: GoBlueGirl1998
Total Weight Lost: 125 pounds
Surgery Type: VSG
Surgery Date: 10/24/2014
Surgeon: Dr. David Chengelis
With the support of my parents, family and friends, I had surgery October 24, 2014. I was lucky because my surgery went smoothly and my recovery was easy. It was the best decision I've ever made.
My dad got sick in January 2015 and passed away on January 27, 2015. I lost my best friend. It was up to me as the only caretaker for my mom. I was three months post-op and my life had been turned upside down. When I lost my dad, I lost my biggest cheerleader.
My mom couldn't be left by herself so that meant I wasn't able to go to the gym, yoga or pickup basketball. I made the investment and bought a treadmill and hand weights. I miss the gym but I love my treadmill. Although it isn't an ideal set-up, I wanted to make my surgery successful. I wanted to make my dad proud and I want to be there for my mom.
Taking care of my mom is a full-time job in itself, plus I hold down a full-time job. This has changed me drastically because I have become the kind of person who doesn’t take excuses anymore. Life can get tough at times but I've found if you really want something you will find a way to achieve it.
A Special Milestone
I recently finished my fourth one-half marathon. I did a few before my VSG when I had lost weight but this is the first one I've finished as a post-op!
I can now proudly say I’ve lost 125 pounds and I’m a runner!
How has ObesityHelp.com been a part of your journey?
ObesityHelp has been a big help through all of this. I encourage people to keep posting to ask questions and give advice. My advice may be a little more no-nonsense than others, but it’s coming from the heart.
Share Your Own Before & After Success!
Do you have Before & Afters, special milestones and non-scale victories from your journey that you’d like to share? The OH team wants to hear from you! Visit our Before & After Submission page for details.
