Before & After VSG with Kari C., losing 151 pounds!
March 14, 2017Why I decided to have WLS
My struggle with weight goes back as far as I can remember. Some of my earlier memories were of my pediatrician discussing my weight with my mother. From a young age, I can recall being on various diets. None of which stuck or truly helped me lose the weight and keep it off. I can remember always feeling hungry and always wanting to eat.
As a teenager, I ballooned up to over 200 pounds and was miserable. But despite being miserable and made fun of, the weight gain didn’t stop there. Throughout my early twenties, I continued to gain. By the time I reached 30 years old, I had enough. My weight had peaked at 320 pounds and I knew if I didn’t do something, I was going to die at a young age. I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, was pre-diabetic, and suffered from high blood pressure, high cholesterol, chronic psoriasis flares, and infertility. My husband and I had gone through years of fertility treatments with no luck.
Completing normal daily tasks had become a chore, walking up and down a flight of stairs was daunting. I was tired all the time and becoming withdrawn socially. In October of 2012, I began my research into weight loss surgery. Over the course of three months, I read any research article, blog post, or testimonial (good or bad) that I could get my hands on. Finally in January 2013, I took the leap and began the process to regain control of my life.
Before & After VSG
Name: Kari C.
OH Username: kc82
Total Weight Loss: 151 pounds
Surgery Type and Date of Surgery: VSG on May 28th, 2013
Surgeon's Name: Dr. Carlin
My Surgery and Post-Op Life
My life changed for the better the morning of May 28th, 2013. My surgeon, Dr. Carlin, was absolutely amazing and I put 100% trust in him and his surgical ability. The surgery itself went smoothly and I had no complications. Although there was a little pain, I found it to be minimal and was up walking the halls within hours of surgery. I spent two days in the hospital where I joked around with my surgeon, sipped water and broth, ate some Jell-O, and looked forward to the start of my new life.
Once I came home from the hospital, I followed my post-op diet as close as possible. For me, it was easier than I anticipated because my cravings for food were gone! I didn’t feel hungry and I was focused on my goal. A part of me expected the weight to start flying off, but I quickly came to realize that wasn’t the case! At one month post-op, I had only lost 11 pounds. The feeling of disappointment was great, but I continued doing what I was supposed to do. Before long, my weight loss picked up and the pounds started melting away.
Over the course of the first year, I was able to lose about 146 pounds, getting down to a weight of 165 pounds. I felt great! I was able to maintain my weight loss by healthy eating habits and exercise. I didn’t go overboard with exercise, but I knew it was important to move my body. And since I had lost so much weight, it was easier for me to move and enjoy exercise.
If I could offer one piece of advice to new weight loss surgery patients after my 3.5 year journey (so far); take advantage of the first year! That is when you will lose the most weight and you’ll want to stick to your new eating habits! Get in as much protein as you can, as that’s key! I found that when I wasn’t meeting my protein goals, the weight loss slowed or stopped completely. When I got in all my protein, the weight started coming off again. The same remains true 3.5 years later!
A Special Milestone
A special milestone for me was the day I found out I was pregnant! I was 2.5 years post-op and in complete disbelief! After so many years of wanting and trying for a baby, it finally happened! Our son was born on June 15th, 2016 and has been the greatest non-scale victory I have encountered to date! I am convinced that without this surgery, I would have never been blessed with a baby. And because of this surgery and my weight loss, I was able to have an incredibly healthy pregnancy and delivery! I gained 40 pounds while pregnant, however, I lost 45 pounds within two weeks of delivery; therefore I am maintaining at a weight lower than when I became pregnant.
How ObesityHelp.com has been a part of my journey
ObesityHelp.com was a HUGE part of my journey! It is the first place I started my research into weight loss surgery and it is where I was able to locate local surgeons. It was also where I found friends and gained support on this journey! When I talk about my surgery with others who are considering surgery, I always direct them to ObesityHelp.com! I wouldn’t be where I am today without this community!
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.
