Happy Anniversary to Me!!!!!!

Lawdy how time flies! It seems so hard to believe that it's only been three years. Three years ago at this time, I had already ripped out my stitches by moving the recliner in my room. Anybody surprised? I've been thinking about this journey quite a bit over the last few weeks and I've come to a couple of realizations. The first is that I genuinely like people who have had wls. I know many local people who've had surgery and of course all of you. After attending a local brunch for wls folks a couple of weeks ago, I marveled at how warm and friendly all the people were. I don't think it was my imagination that these people were much nicer than the average group of people. After a while, I realized that most of us who have spent a lifetime being fat worked very hard on our personalities and developed much empathy for others. My second realization in the last few weeks is that I'm forgetting what it was like to be overweight. When I was helping my sister with the kids, I ran up and down the stairs in her 3 story house dozens and dozens of times everyday. I hauled loads of laundry up and down, toys and the vacuum cleaner and four small boys. My sister has been in a state of depression for months, no make that years, and the house looked like a cyclone hit it. I washed 60 loads of laundry. I know because that's what it said on the new bottle of detergent that I used up. The first day there, I ran 4 loads of dishes through the dishwasher and washed a ton more by hand. While I ran up and down the stairs, my sister sat on the couch and yelled up the stairs at the kids. I kept thinking to myself, "Why doesn't she just get off her butt and go upstairs?" I started to get frustrated with her and then I remembered how exhausting it is to be heavy. I forgot how much effort it takes to walk across the room, much less climb a flight of stairs. I take my ridiculous amount of energy for granted. I forget how difficult movement used to be. My friends, I hope we are all here a year from now to celebrate another year of success together. Hugs to you all, Connie

I'll be here! I'm not goin' anywhere until I'm kicked off! Why oh why can't we figure out how to get together and meet each other in person? I'm with you, Connie, the physical ability to move remains my greatest joy and I continue to marvel at how easily I can move, like a kid who's just learned to ride a bike. I love to move - and when I go a day without moving, I feel like pooh. And I don't mean the cute little bear pooh. The other four-letter kind of pooh. Other physical changes are not so great, though - like sex is very, very painful - is anyone else dealing with this? I'm wondering if it's because everything was moved around and shifted with the abdominalplasty and lower body lift, including my private innards. I'm telling you, I'm in serious pain - which sucks when I finally have the body to really enjoy sex. I've researched but come up empty-handed - so I'll throw this very personal issue out to anyone who might be able to give me some advice. Anyway, you hang in there and be sure to take care of yourself as you continue to take care of everyone else. Love you, tons - you know that. M.

Reenie, I sent you an e-mail. Hugs, Connie

Connie You have been through so much of late & to still have that positive attitude is just wonderful. Happy anniversary & I will always be here, too!! Take care & keep telling your great stories. We Love them & YOU!! Marilyn, the Bearlady

Count me in too!! I'm not leaving unless y'all tell me to beat feet out of here......and even then I'll lurk!! As always, Connie you get right to the heart of the matter. Yes, it's wonderful to move around without effort; and yes, it's so easy to forget how difficult movement was in the bad old days! My knees no longer bark at me when I'm on my feet for more than a short while. On the subject of Post-WLS folks: You make a great point and one that I hadn't considered before. It makes lots of sense that Former Fat Folks are nice people....If you can't wow them with your looks, you must fall back on personality to get by. Also, when you must deal with the misery of obesity in a society which worships THIN and reviles FAT, it makes you more aware of and sypathetic to the troubles of others. I've noticed that most of us seem to be the ones who patch our friends and loved ones back together when all hell breaks loose. You, Connie go above and beyond in this department!!!! Happy Anniversary Connie, and I hope that year #4 post- WLS is the "Calm After the Storm" for you and your loved ones. Be well, my friend. Mike