Thoughts and statistics on my one year anniversary

well, here I am on my one-year anniversary, and I have been thinking about all the things I've learned this year, and how much I've changed. So, here are my new statistics and thoughts.... 1. I've lost 108 lbs in the past 12 months. This is almost 91% of my excess body weight, 21 lbs more than my surgeon's goal for me (they shoot for 75%). In more fun terms, I've lost the equivalent of my best friend (she's TINY) AND her 2-month old baby!! 2. I haven't been this weight (131) since 5th grade. 3. According to the BMI index, I am now, for the first time since I was 4 YEARS OLD, considered in the normal weight range. Crossing the line from overweight to normal on my exact 1 year anniversary was just a bonus. 4. I no longer have diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, joint pain or sleep apnea. Things I've learned.... Chew your food. Chew it well. You WILL regret it if you don't. REALLY regret it. People will treat you differently as you lose weight. Sometimes better, sometimes worse....but differently. Shopping can actually be fun. The first time you are in a dressing room and realize that everything you brought in with you is too big...that's a REALLY good moment. Any insecurities you had before you lost weight...you'll still have them after you've lost weight. The first few times people tell you that you've lost too much weight are flattering...after that it just gets annoying. One piece of chocolate can actually be enough. This isn't a diet...it's a lifestyle. I can eat just about anything I want. Just not everything. Losing weight and becoming healthy FEELS better than food tastes. Not having physical hunger has given me a great opportunity to address my head hunger. I've discovered that I want to eat when I'm happy, sad, bored, depressed, watching TV, reading a book, celebrating, commiserating, and well...just about any time I'm awake... My weight will be an issue for the rest of my life. While I will never be overweight again, I will have to ALWAYS be careful. My family is the most supportive, loving group of people, and I am truly blessed. This surgery saved my life. Happy anniversary. (Please feel free to add your own thoughts and things you've learned....)

Great post! I know this is a long reply, but I'm pasting a fun (but old) document in from another post I read and thought it was really great. I hope it's new to a few readers out there: YOU KNOW YOU ARE A WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY PATIENT WHEN... "I have a date" doesn't mean you are going out. You have baby food in the house and no baby. "I'm a loser" is a good thing. All of your silverware says "Gerber" A wooden spoon isn't just for cooking anymore. "Welcome to the other side" does not mean you have died New clothes fall off the next week. You are excited about "hand me downs" The scale at Wal-Mart doesn't say "one at a time please" Going bald and getting wrinkles is a good thing. Jus****er for me please. Hitting the "Century Mark" is a good thing! You love the taste of Chewable Centrum Rug Rats Vitamins or biting the head off of Wilma People start calling you tiny When the word lap has nothing to do with a strip club!! When it's not Vikings vs. Bears but lap vs. open! When "No, I couldn't eat another bite" really has a deeper meaning! Other women are calling you "*****" behind your back. When they look at you resentfully in the plus size store because you really don't belong there anymore! When it's okay to say, "I haven't a thing to wear!" When you have to prove you are you on your license! When you start hogging the camera space and loving the pictures! Saying you're open doesn't mean your gay! You are noticing the color of people's eyes for the first time. You want to hug everyone who is morbidly obese and give them your surgeon's card. You are never without a bottle of water. When people look surprised when they see how little you eat. When you know all too well the definition of "dumping". When you can see your feet for the first time in years!! When you order a doggy bag the same time you order your meal. You're counting protein grams instead of calories You can say "Oh, I won't have any of that, I'm full" and really mean it Being too small for your britches. Having my husband say, "Honey, I can put my arm (not arms) all the way around you!!" When you go to your child's school and the other kids say WOW your mom is hot! When you go to the mall and you park in the first open space instead of circling for 20 minutes for a spot by the door. When you and your new best weight loss surgery friends are planning a date to get belly button rings...(or a tattoo!) You go out on a date and are really truly a "Cheap date" and not in the way that some think..... When one drink makes you a flipping floozy... When you run you don't hear a flapping noise.....oh wait you still do.....but at least you are running! When not throwing up counts as a really good day! When your tummy looks like a stitched up teddy bear or Raggedy Ann! When your husband takes your breath away in a moment of passion...but not because he is squishing your tummy! You feel like you have over-eaten after eating half a cup of something. Vitamins and calcium feel like a meal. When your pants suddenly fall to the ground! You go from size 56 DDDD to 32AAA and in one year and you didn't have a breast reduction. When the chef comes out from the kitchen and asks you "what's the matter, don't you like the meal?" You've just lost 100 pounds, and someone who hasn't seen you in a while says, "Gee, did you change your hairstyle?" When you bend over and see daylight through your thighs. You can cross your legs! When you say, "I just got these clothes last week and they're already too big!" Trying to cash a check and while looking at your ID the teller says, "That's not you!" Instead of the "Wonder Bra" you need a "Wonder Where They Went" Bra You walk into a store and see all the weight loss products and know you will never need to buy them again because now you have "The Tool." When you walk by a mirror and say to yourself "Who is that girl?" When people take a double look at you. When you go out for the evening and feel like Cinderella. When your obsession turns from food to your scale. When you say to your PCP "I want it right here, right now, on the examination table" and you don't mean sex! When they no longer have to call 911 and use the Jaws of Life to extricate you from the turnstiles at 6 Flags. When your boobs are no longer just big, but they're are now also looonngg. When the Sharpei you pass on the street reminds you of someone you know....Yourself!! When you start buying shoes that tie again. When your hand will fit in the Pringles can again, but you don't want any. When the thought of an "all you can eat" buffet makes you want to throw up! When the steering wheel in your car no longer cuts off the circulation in your tummy area. When you drop food, it actually lands in your lap. No more cracked toilet seats! You can avoid the handicap stalls in public restrooms because you can now "fit" in a regular stall. The thought of flying coach no longer sends you into a panic When your able to tuck a blouse into your pants When you are excited to be able to go to the thrift shops and get your dressy clothes When the flight attendant doesn't automatically hand the seat belt extender When you can drive your car with the steering wheel down, and you can bring the seat somewhat closer to the gas pedal, instead of using your tippy toes When people actually "see" you and talk to you, and not through you like you are invisible. When you order a child's meal, and take half of it home in a doggie bag You can buy panty hose at the regular super market when in a hurry. You actually want to wear a dress to go with the panty hose When checking for leaks doesn't mean looking at your panties!! When your spandex shorts are used for "jogging," and not merely used as an anti-chaffing between-the-thighs-shielding-device. When your exercise equipment isn't just for drying your fine washables anymore. When you start dropping things on purpose, just because you know you can pick it up so easily now. People who know you are concerned that you are working out too much. You mother says "Dear, you aren't eating enough." When someone gives you a hand and it's applause, not to help up out of your chair. You don't even notice the shock of horror on everyone's face when you turn to your spouse in a public place and exclaim that you are about to "dump." When your surgeon looks you in the eye and says, "I know you will be a success When your child or grandchild wants to sit on your lap-and they really can! When your boyfriend/spouse starts gaining weight because of eating your leftovers. When you can run up a flight of stairs and don't have to stand there for 10 minutes to catch your breath. When you have the biggest smile on your face of anyone in the room. When you realize that you are now the smallest girl in the office instead of the biggest one. You can't wait to wake up and start your day. You can sit cross-legged on the floor and you show everyone who will look. You can wear corduroy pants without starting small fires behind you! Your 1980's cloths you meant to grow back into just hang in your closet and look really stupid now, and you wouldn't touch them with a ten foot pole! Hiding the credit cards because Victoria's Secret is having a sale When your 12 year old sons clothes actually fit you, and you get excited when he grows out of them. Looking at all that money saved from food, but the spending it all on shoes Being able to do Taebo without being winded... but pilates still does you in Running into old flames, and saying "Do I know you?" You look forward to flirting with the new cute phlebotomist at your doctor's office. Your clothes start to fall off in a public place and your scream for joy, not embarrassment You go out to eat and ask if anyone wants to split a kids meal with you You have clothes left at the alterations place for months, because every time you go in to try them on, they are still too big and have to be taken in again "Cheating" means eating three crackers You stop looking for minimizer bras, and start buying water bras! When people you know but haven't seen since before surgery don't know you! When you wave and your upper arms wave back When you walk backwards no one feels the need to make a beeping sound You've ever eaten (and enjoyed) pureed tuna with pureed pickles When you go to one of your husband's friends weddings & everyone (including bride & groom) are trying to figure out where his wife is & who is that skinny woman with him! Having your neighbor say to you - "Oh, that really is you." And realizing that she thought your husband had gotten a divorce and married someone thin! Having to get a new driver's license because you finally weigh less than what you've lied about for years! You turn on the morning show just to see Al Roker! Before your surgery, it's all you can talk about...After your surgery, it's all everyone else can talk about!! You are actually bold enough to not only admit your weight, but post it on the internet! You can eat 1/4 of a chicken breast and feel like you just finished Thanksgiving dinner. You actually look forward to stepping on your bathroom scale! You are not embarrassed by anything that you have in your buggy at the supermarket! Your co-workers are getting diet tips from you instead of vice versa! You can actually fasten the seat-belt in your car with ease When it doesn't take your breath away to roll over in bed. You suddenly show your belly, scars, stretch marks, panni and all to complete strangers in Wal-Mart (or any public place for that matter) When you're no longer embarrassed to tell people you weigh 200 pounds and that you weighed over 300. When you notice that your chin is lifted higher than anyone else's in the room because you finally have pride and confidence. Being able to hang clothes in the closet without them falling off the hanger Looking for protein in everything. Having your children take your food because you are full not the other way around Buffet is not a way of life Not afraid of the elevator because of weight limits On the see saw the other person doesn't fly off into space When after a night on the town with some support group friends you go out to breakfast, order 1 meal, and split it 4 ways! And once you have finished eating, there's still a half of each quarter portion left on each plate! When your pet needs a gastric bypass because you feed it all your leftovers! When you call Lane Bryant and cancel your credit card. When you race to your scale for a quick fix instead of your fridge? When Crystal Lite is too sweet for your taste buds When you spend more time reading product labels for protein and carb content than you do reading any books. When Tony Little, Richard Simmons, Billy Blanks or any other fitness guru says "you can do it!" and you actually believe them When you spend a day in your room trying on clothes you shoved to the back of the closet/dresser When you buy a really cute top on sale because you know next summer you will be able to wear it When you tell people you have a surgery date, and they are overjoyed! You buy 3 Lean Cuisines a week...and that's your total groceries. You have to start putting your name in your underwear again because you get them mixed up with your kids. At parent teacher conference you giggle watching your spouse struggle to get out of the little desk you just got out of no problem. People stop asking you to bring something to the pot lucks because they know you will only bring a salad.

Congratulations Kate! These are definetely things we've all learned...that's for sure! You should be very proud!! Shelly

That was a great post! I'm glad to hear that you are doing so well!! CONGRATS This surgery saved my life also. I'm a firm believer that I would not be here today if I had not had it done..it's crazy how your body just starts attacking itself and shutting down with the diabetes, high blood pressure and the weight. The most amazing thing about this surgery is that I don't have to go back for seconds or thirds or even fourth servings of food. It's amazing that just a few bites of the right kind of foods will make you feel like you have eaten alot. It's still hard in my mind to accept that only just that little bit will do the trick. I agree with you on how your weight will be an issue for the rest of your life..I feel the same way and I'm going to have to monitor that for the rest of my life. Overall, I just take one day at a time