Before and After RNY with Darlene’s 165 Pound Weight Loss!
February 23, 2016Celebrating Darlene's Journey Before & After RNY!
I made the decision to have RNY Gastric Bypass in the summer of 2005. I recall an occasion when my father who was dying of lung cancer, looked up at me in his frail state whispered: “Please don’t fall on me”. I took notice of the fear in his eyes of being crushed by my body size.
A few days later I attended my daughters 9th-grade graduation. To my surprise, the photos showed me that I was larger than I had ever imagined. While I realized I was quite a bit overweight, it didn’t bother me. I didn't have any serious health issues other than high blood pressure and the occasional back and knee aches.
Before and After RNY WLS
OH Username: Huney C
Total weight loss: 165 pounds
Surgery Type: RNY Gastric Bypass
Surgery Date: September 8, 2005
Surgeon: Dr. Joseph Afram
This has been one special journey. This year I am 10 years out from surgery and my tool is still working perfectly. I started out as a normal weight woman. I managed to gain weight after having three children ballooning up to my highest of 350 pounds.
After my daughter's graduation, I decided to inquire about WLS. Within weeks, I was approved and my journey began September 8, 2005. Within days after my surgery, I lost a few pounds but not lots. The weight gradually melted away. As my body melted, the old me started to come alive.
I admit, I really had a hard time adjusting to the meal plans simply because I am a very picky eater. I hate vegetables, salads, fruits and anything healthy. I tried to stick with this but I noticed I was miserable and thought I would eventually fail. I was not happy and wanted to eat like everybody else again.
In time I learned that depriving myself wasn’t good, I realized that eating things that satisfied me in moderation was the best method for me and it worked, I became much happier.
Today, I cannot eat more than a few bites at a time. My typical meal would fit on a saucer and I still cannot consume that. My friends have nicked named me “2 bites”. I still dump from over-eating or eating the wrong things. I am a believer in finding what works for you and stick with it.
From the beginning, I have walked consistently for exercise. I never had a goal weight. I just knew that I didn’t want to be as large as I was. At my lowest weight of about 150-160 pounds, I found that I looked abnormally thin and had quite a bit of wrinkly skin everywhere. While I have filled in as to be expected over time, I have so much hanging skin. At times, it becomes uncomfortable and embarrassing, especially during the summer when strapless dresses are in season. I wear them, however, I look as though I have wings.
I also have the typical apron for a stomach and a lot of thigh skin. To some degree, it makes me feel as though I’m still fat. It's difficult to find clothes that fit properly and the skin tend to move around in looser fitting clothes. Due to finances, I have no expectation of ever having the skin removed, however, I love the new me and would do it all over again.
I am now 42 years old and in what I would consider perfectly good health. There were no complications of any kind with my surgery or after care. This has turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
I can keep up with my teenaged children which I love. In fact, my 17-year-old daughter often raids my closet, and I never thought that would be the case! I wrestle with my 15-year-old son and practice basketball with him. The most pleasured aspects of this is I can also keep up with my 24-year-old daughters children who are 2 and 4 years old.
Throughout the years, I have had many critics tell me that I’ve taken the easy way out. This has not been easy in any way. It’s a daily challenge to eat properly and not fall back into old habits. A few people have had the pleasure of seeing me dump. Anyone that has gone through this process knows that dumping isn’t fun at all.
While the experience has made me physically and mentally better, I must say I lost my best friend in the process. My husband just couldn’t deal with the sudden transformation. He asked me not to have the surgery. Having my weight loss surgery was something I had to do for myself to make me better inside and out.
A Special Milestone / Non-Scale Victory
I have had many milestones since losing weight. First and foremost, I returned to school and earned my Associates Degree in Business and Finance focusing on Human Resources. I have become very active in my community. I volunteer with a national youth organization, and my unit is named the Upper Marlboro Young Marines. I have been able to participate in many parades and marathons.
I have visited Hawaii twice and climbed Diamond Head Mountain! To those of you that have visited Diamond Head Mountain, you know this is a great feat. I’ve climbed Duns River Water Fall in Jamaica and have walked the stairs at the Panama Canal.
How has ObesityHelp.com been a part of your journey?
It would be a great pleasure for me to be helpful to others in their journey. In fact, I have several friends and family members that have since done so. Some with great success and others who just didn’t learn to adjust. This may not be for everyone, but I am a strong advocate of the process. You’ll get out of it what you put into it. ObesityHelp.com gave me a resource that let me know I wasn’t alone. It took my fears away and provided an abundance of information at the start. It was nice to have the forums to be able to express my thoughts and fears without being judged or deterred from my decision.
Share Your 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.
