1 Year Ago Today...

I was beginning my life all over again. Today is my surgiversary, and what a roller coaster ride this year has been! I'm in awe that it's been a whole year since I was rolled into the surgery room. I haven't had any surgery related complications, which I am so very grateful for! I have lost 101 lbs, then proceeded to begin the 'bouncy' game with the scale, and as of today I am down 98 lbs from my surgery date weight. My surgeon wanted me to lose 106 lbs, I wanted to lose 119 lbs. I've been in this plateau and watching my weight bounce around for about 4 months now. I don't think our window is closed when we reach one year, I think we will forever have this tool and we have to work it (and hard work it is!) to continue to our goals. So, having said that, I am determined to still make it to my surgeon's goal, and after that I'll see if I can make it to mine. But if I never lost another pound, if I bounced around this same 5 lbs for the rest of my life, I will still be happy. I feel better, I look better, I'm healthy, I look 'normal' - people that meet me now and find out I had WLS can't believe I was ever big. So aside from those numbers on the scale, I am actually right where I had hoped and prayed I'd be after having WLS. I'm a size 9/10 (my originial goal size - revised to an 8 during my journey), I've lost more weight than I thought I'd be able to when I first went in for a consultation, I've gained self confidence, I'm healthy, I'm active, I don't fear being in public anymore. I am forever grateful for having been given this tool. To my August buddies ~ you ladies have been my strength more times than you'll ever know. When I'm not posting, I'm still reading, still using your encouragement to help me continue on the journey. I know when I need somewhere to turn to, I can come here. I love you all so very much. I am very proud of each and every one of you and all you've accomplished. Here's to us girls ~ and to another year of accomplishments and possibilities! Connie 269/171/163 surgeon's goal/150 my goal

Connie! {{{hugs}}} I am so glad you are feeling better about things! It's hard to not get down on ourselves. I do it too. Especially lately. I feel so blah and tired and just not motivated. But I think it's other stresses in my life that are causing it. I too would be completely satisfied if I didn't lose another lb. I feel so much better about myself most days. I am not afraid to be seen by people I know. I used to hide if I ever ran into someone from HS. My husband and I went to his 20th reunion on Saturday and had a blast. I knew alot of the people he graduated with. And for the first time in forever, I wasn't stressed about seeing them. I felt good and looked even better! There was a guy there that was always madly in love with me. He is married with baby #4 on the way. He just kept staring at me. He eventually came up and told me that I was looking good. He made my day! And I actually met one of his classmate's husband who had surgery last June. We had alot to chat about!!! And this goes out to all of you: ANYTIME you need support, love, an ear, a shoulder to cry on, I AM HERE FOR YOU ALL! I couldn't have done it without ALL of you there to support me. Congrats to us! We survived our first year AMAZINGLY! Looking forward to the next one! Love you all, Lori

Hey Connie, congrats, girl! You look wonderful and the journey has been worth it. My anniversary is Thurs and I am not looking forward to it. I see my surgeon who has the wonderful (not) habit of making me feel awful about myself and this time I've only lost 10 pounds since I last saw him. He is going to be abusive again as usual. I know I said this the last time, but I come to the conclusion that I won't put up with his sh**t this time. I will not be back if he treats me like I'm not doing this right. I'm not like everyone else, so quit trying to make this journey of mine like everyone elses. That's what I want to say to him...have wanted to say to him since last october. Well, I should have made this appointment for a different day to celebrate, but I didn't because I thought I would have lost 100 pounds by now. I am only 5 away from it, but that feels like 50 to me right now. I too appreciate all of the responses from our August buddies. They have helped me get through the depression and hard times that come with the journey...like now. But I will try to remember that I am doing something I have never accomplished before. I post to let you all know how it goes on Thursday. Think of me and say a little prayer that I'll be strong and tell him off if I need too. Thanks, Lori 293/197/150

Hi Lori, I just read your reply and I'm like you. I dread going to my doc appointment on the 11 of this month. Because the last time I saw him, he made me feel bad about not loosing enough weight at the time. And this was back in April. I had only loss 16 pounds and 3 months and he said that was not enough. Well I had an appiontment schedule july 13, but I cancel it because I still hadn't loss enough weight be his standards. Since the last time I saw him I have loss between 16 to 18 pounds and I'm afraid thats not enough for him. If only I could get down to 184 by the August 11 I would be so..... happy that nothing he'd say would faze me at all. I weighed 189 this morning and it seems like the scale want go any farther down than 188 for me. I don't know what I could do to get the scale to move down by the August 11. I only need to lose 5 more pounds and that will be 100 pounds for me too. My goal is 160ish but I don't know where he wants me to be. I'll let you girls know what happen after my appiontment. Congrats to you on your weight loss and keep up the good work. Take care !!! Carolyn Jc C. 284/189/ 160-ish!!!!!