One year ago today!

beckie
on 12/27/05 12:31 am - CT

ERMINIA AND DEBBIE!!! CONGRATS ON THE ONE YEAR!!!!!

One Year ago today.... at this time..., I was in the prep area of my hospital getting IV's hooked up, blood pressure taken, and getting dolled up in my "show your hiney to the world" nighty. I had my surgery at 9:00 a.m. weighing in at 258 pounds. I was just 26 years old (just turned 2 days before), I had high blood pressure (155/110), I was a diabetic, severe depression, Cholesterol issues, just to name a few. My family has a huge issue with heart disease at a young age and I was told that I would probably have a heart attack by the time I was 35 if I didnt get the weight off. My father had a heart attack and a quadruple bypass at 44 yrs old, my Grandmother had a triple bypass at 62. HER brother had a pacemaker at 37. My future looked full of Heart attacks. SO.. Surgery... thats where I was... Wheeled into the OR and put on the "T Bed" as I called it. (body straight and arms out to the sides). The put a blanket on me, and talked to me about my Christmas gifts and events. The last thing I remember is a nurse saying "Rebecca, what a beautiful name... and you have such beautiful eyes". I woke up about 5 hours later.... poked my head out of my blanket in the recovery room and my nurse came over ... all I wanted was her to hold my hand. She did and I went back to Sleep (such a baby). FAST FORWARD.... ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ 12/27/2005 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Here I am, One year later. I still have not weighed myself so I cant tell you how much I have lost. * I can tell you that I went from being on 8 medications per day to taking my vitamins only. * I have gone from having sore knees and a sore back to being able to do anything I want without stress on any part of my body. * I was a severely depressed girl hidden behind the smile and the smart ass sense of humor. Now, I smile because I want to and because it comes from my heart. * I used to wear a size 16-18 pants... my new pants are a size 11 Juniors. * What I lost in Fat.. I gained in confidence and love for myself. I am a different person because of WLS. I really am.. I am more confident in myself, my decisions, my actions. I am more cautious of who I give my friendship and especially my heart to. I laugh more and cry less thats for sure! Although I may not always know that girl in the mirror... as she is much thinner that *I* am... and *she* can do so much more than *I* can... I am enjoying getting to know the new me... the new things I can do.. The new places I can shop and the cute things I can wear... the new bones I can see that I never saw before... the realization that I am sitting Indian Style... my boyfriend can lift me up!!! The "fat Girl" mentality is definitely there and will probably never go away... something I need to deal with and find ways to MAKE me realize how far I have come.. Just another twist in the WLS journey that you are not prepared for. My mind certainly did not keep up with my weight loss and I have found ways to "show" myself my success.... (i.e.; trying to lift a big bag of dog food (55 pounds) and cant, buying jeans that I am positive wont fit me and cry real tears when they do fit, having friends and family members constantly remind me about these little moments when I am having a "I'm a failure" day). Here is to another year of being healthy and full of life. Thank you all for being on this journey with me. Beckie (estimated 75 pound loss)

Christine G.
on 12/27/05 2:32 am - Queens Village, NY

Congrats on your anniversary!!!

Emmi
on 12/27/05 3:19 am - Hartford, CT

Beckie Congratulation to you too!!!!!! First I want to start off by thanking you for always being there for me for listening to me complain, and just letting me vent when I was feeling down and for always giving me a boost and telling me how great I look! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU YOU ARE A GREAT FRIEND AND I AM VERY HAPPY WE WORK TOGETHER AND THAT WE HAD SURGERY ON THE SAME DAY AND THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GO THROUGH THIS WONDERFUL YEAR TOGETHER. WHAT A RIDE IT HAS BEEN!!!!! One year ago, I went into the operating room 342 lbs and today I weigh in at 203 lbs. 139 lbs gone forever

from a size 32 to 14 petite

Am I 100% happy........UMMMMM NO but will I ever be .......UMMM NO but I do know that I'm 100 % more healthy and just like you no more meds just my vitamins

Its great to see that "I" am not the only one feeling this way. What I was never able to quite put together myself in words, Beckie, you have. Thank you. It's a wonderful feeling to know that there are others out there just like me, who feel and think the same as I do. You are right... what we have lost in fat... we have gained in confidence and love for ourselves. I am now able to smile because of this confidence and love as well. I'm no longer a character... pretending that everything is alright.. and that I'm happy with who i am. I smile, walk, run, lift, and even fit into BOOTHS in restaurants comfortably now. I dont have to be afraid anymore... I now can do what I could not for many years. We have all come a long way together. Being able to share this experience with you all, will be an everlasting memory. We have not only become close friends throughout this journey.. but we have become a little family

However, yes, and as you have stated... the "fat girl" mentality, may never leave us...with the support of our family and friends

, we will constantly be reminded that we are no longer those beautiful "fat girls"... we are those beautiful woman... who with courage and strength have overcome the struggles of carrying extra weight.. and who have become confident and content with whom they are..

Congradulations all & Together... lets all keep SMILING!

With love... Erminia...

(Yep I do consider myself sexy!!!!!!!) 342/203/150 someday Sorry Beckie, I know I haven't updated my pics but you know me.. I keep putting it off.

Debby Marcus
on 12/27/05 9:45 am - Wallingford, CT

RNY on 12/27/04 with

Hi, Erminia! Congratulations to you on our shared anniversary! In some ways it's hard to believe that it's already been a year, but sometimes it feels like even longer. Hope to see you again soon, Debby

(deactivated member)
on 12/27/05 4:00 am - CT

RNY on 12/28/05 with

Beckie sweetheart you are making me cry. If I had a kid sister I would want her to be you. What a stupendous lady you are!!! Look at what you have done in a year- okay now I am verklempt- I am barely able to see the keyboard. I have often looked at your profile and updates and smiled about your progress- not just the weight loss- but like you said- the confidence boost- the personality emerging- you have truly blossomed. I am sure you were always a beautiful girl- you just needed a push to be able to show it. Dammit I wish you were my sister so I could feel as proud of you as you must be of yourself!!! BIG HUG!!!!! Tomorrow I go in- andI start my new life. I can't wait. If I do half as well as you I will have succeeded.