Four-year checkup

Hi everyone:

Just got back from my four-year checkup. This is actually the closest to my four-year anniversary of my surgery that I've had my checkup; all the other ones were in August because in the first year after my surgery, the center had to cancel that appointment and reschedule me in August. So this year, the PA who sees me had me schedule it closer to my actual anniversary date, which is Sunday (June 29). Anyway ... all is well. She was showing me my before pictures, and oh my God, was I horrible looking! So obese! The first photo I was at 312 pounds or so, but then they kept me waiting almost a year, so the second photo I was at 347 or 350 pounds ... I got depressed and kept eating and eating and gained so much more weight ... not what you want to do before surgery. I did lose about 23 pounds in the two weeks prior to surgery, however.

So, here are my four-year stats:
170.5 pounds, down 177.3 pounds
Waist, down 16.5 inches
Hips, down 20 inches
BMI, down 25 points (BMI is now 28.8)
My fat percent is 39.6 percent (desirable range is 23-34 percent; the PA said that means I should lose about 14 pounds, but that could be taken care of by getting plastic surgery, something I may do in the future, but not right now)

I lost a whole 1.5 pounds in the 10 months since I saw them last. Which means I'm pretty much maintaining my weight loss (take that, Mom, who thought I'd gain it all back); it's been hard because I have been stress eating, but seeing the psychologist has helped me talk it out and keep away from bad habits. 

The ultrasound on my gall bladder came back and was all good, so whatever the pain is in my belly isn't from the gall bladder. Oh, and my blood pressure was 108/70.

So all is good. This surgery is lifesaving! If only my knee replacement was as successful ...

First of all - CONGRATULATIONS and great work!  Wow!  I'm a complete newbie waiting to go to my first info session - hearing your 4 yr results is really inspiring.  thanks for sharing! Now, I hope you don't take this the wrong way, but I burst our laughing after reading your post  a second time.  You should lose 14 lbs??!!  Are they kidding?!  How could they even say that to someone who has been through WLS??  Hee hee!!  If someone told me I had to lose 14 lbs, I'd hug them and kiss them right on the lips!  What great news that would be!! I'm still laughing...   compare losing 14lbs to almost 200 - how could even be taken seriously!?  congrats again! lara

Let me clarify that: I asked the PA if  I should be concerned about the percentage of body fat being above normal and she said yes and no, and that it meant I should lose about 14 more pounds, and that probably could be lost by having plastic surgery and removing the panni (the loose fat and skin hanging from my belly) ... so it wasn't unsolicited advice ... she didn't just tell me I needed to lose another 14 pounds; she was actually very happy with my progress and praised me for how far I had come.  Thanks for your words of praise too ... if you had seen me four years ago, your eyes would have popped out; you wouldn't have recognized me; I was carrying around a whole person.

From one "further out" to another, good for you!!!  You've done well.  At this far out, maintaining is all we need to do.  It sounds like you have done just that.  Those demons don't just go away after 4 years, as you know full well.  I'm sure you are like me - determined never to "go back there".  You are an inspiration to all the "newbies" on the board.  I hope they figure out the pain in your belly! Jon

Jon, it's hard to keep those demons at bay, that's why I went back to counseling. I don't think I will ever be able to control them without some help. As for the belly pain, it's not keeping me from eating and I'm not losing weight from it, so I really think it's irritable bowel in another form. When I was obese, it was diarrhea; now it's constipation. Go figure.

CONGRATULATIONS EILEEN God bless, Annette

Congrats!  Great Job!!  They should hand out medals for doing so well!