7 years post op and I couldn't be better!!! It was worth it.

It has been an interesting road. Prior to surgery, I weighed 325 pounds. My doctor asked me to lose some weight before surgery, so on surgery day January 9, 2001, I weighed in at 292. I got down to 150 after a year. My weight has fluctuated over the years but nothing that was not manageable. Most of the fluctuation had to do with depression that I fell into after losing my little brother who was killed in a very tragic work accident in September 2003 seven months prior to my wedding in 2004. I had no desire to work out while I still maintained very healthy eating habits I was able to lose that weight for my wedding and have been doing well since then. I even had the excess skin around my stomach removed 4 weeks before my wedding. (Maybe that wasn't so smart from a healing perspective, but it sure was wonderful not to have to carry that skin under my wedding dress!!!) It has been a year now that I have become extremely interested in working on the nutrition end of things and maintaining healty eating habits with people who cannot workout much or have any type of surgery. I recently had my gallbladder removed and I am now getting back into the swing of things. I don't follow any diets but I make myself very aware of how foods work or don't work in your body (how it works with your blood sugar, digestion, etc.) I know where foods fit in on the glycemic index and that has worked for me. There are foods that I don't eat and to be truthfully honest with you, I don't miss them at all. (Foods that do absolutely no good for you body) I believe in not depriving yourself of things you like (i.e. dessert, but only once a week) It takes discipline in the beginning but is now a way of life. There are no second guesses for me anymore. It's just making smart choices that are smart for your life. I no longer keep the lifestyle that I used to have where everything was more important than I was. Now, I come before my lifestyle and what people or society thinks I should do or what I should look like or dress, etc. The most important thing for me now is that I am healthy and in shape.

Been a long time thought I would check in and read up on others I see you and I are 7 years out I am in Fresno Ca. area and Dr. Higa was my Dr. I have done well lost 170 and keeping it off I have to. I care for family menbers who has health problems and also a apartment manager so I stay busy. I just lost my father March 7 this year he was 93 years old a good man. I told my husband I still have to long roads to go he looked at me and said what are they? I told him caring for him and now my mother so I thank God each day for helping me have the surgery so I can help others and get around as well as I can. I pray you keep your health and have fun and keep up th egood work. God Bless Barbara Parker my e-mail is [email protected]