WOW Five years!

Wow so I realize in the midst of all of my work craziness this morning that yesterday was my 5 year anniversary of my WLS.  CRAZY!!!  It blows me away that it was that long ago.  Not to mention that so much has happened since then:

July 8, 2004 - Surgery with Dr Chute-starting weight 360
December 2005 - lowest weight 185
January 2006 - Got pregnant with Bella
February 2006 - my mom's cancer returned
October 2006 - my mom passed & Bella was born

June 2007 - Plastic surgery (230 day of surgery) post surgery 205
July 2009 - Ok this is the first time I have admitted my complete weight gain - I believe that I am ready to do something about it :)  trying to get back on line more often to get the support and accountability I need.  Ok so here goes - current weight is 235.  Which is not horrible I am still leaps and bounds happier than I was at 360 but I can feel the difference in my health and while every claims I still look great I am not feeling it.

This is a forever tool I know that mine is still working - I still dump - not as easily as I used to but I do.  I even still have restriction on portion for the most part.  I am basically eating around my surgery....carbs, junk, and grazing has been what has done it to me.  I know what I am doing wrong its just the point of making myself do the right things.

On the personal front - I have met a great guy - we have been dating for about 10 months.  Super happy with that portion of my life.

Job front - I am again for the second time in 10 months losing my job.  Due to the budget cuts to Health and Human Services they are closing my center down and I will be unemployeed as of September 1st.  Not quite sure what I am gonna do yet so if every one could keep me in their thoughts and prayers that the right window will open after this door closes.

Sorry this got to be so long.....if you made it to the end thanks so much for taking the time to read it.

Jenn

Jenn, congratulations


you have alot to be proud of, including your honesty!   It's always nice to hear from further outs and for me personally, someone who has gone through plastics.

Thanks so much!  Plastics was one of the hardest things - MAN did it hurt.  But oh so worth it!

Jenn

yep, I agree. Plastcis is HARD and it's not for everyone - but it's worth it in the long run

Jenn,
 You KNOW you've got MY support. I am a living testiment to the fact you can still loose weight after a regain with this tool. Being honest with ourselves is step one. Step 2 is getting back on the wagon, and step 3 would be JOGGING along side that wagon (hahaha).

Congratulations on 5 years and the awesome progress you've made. I know that I pull away from help, but I think that this has be a forever part of my journey...and sounds like it needs to be part of your's too!

Change - good or bad - is stressfull, and stress brings out the old coping strategies. These are the devil!!!I know you can do it and I'm glad I get to be along for the ride!
Cheryl

Thanks so much!!  I don't know what I would do without you! 

You are so right with everything that you said.  The family as a whole is already working on healthier choices and activities.    This past Sunday we made the trip around Lake Calhoun.  Was tough on Jordan but he made it. Boy did he sleep good that night.  Now Miss Bella I swear she ran half of the lake.  Not to mention stole everyone's heart that we passed.  If only I had her energy. :)

Thanks again.....you are the best!

Jenn

Good to see you, Jenn!  I think about you fairly often, wishing you'd haul yourself (and the adorable Miss Bella!) to coffee!  (Jordan, too!  Trav's there with me at least every other time!)

You were there at my very first coffee in Crystal... and my very first "girls night out", too!  I know you've been through a lot with the jobs and the moving and all, but DO KEEP YOUR FEET IN THE OH WATER!!!  Not a lot of 5 year people hanging out here, we can all learn from your journey if you'll allow us to - the good, the bad AND the ugly.   

I'm proud of you for admitting that you've been struggling.  Now get your butt back in the game, k?

Thanks so much Darla!  I am planning on braving coffee on Sat with the kiddos in tow so no telling how long I will be able to stay.

I look forward to seeing evreyone on Sat.

Jenn

I also might make it to Juice's game.....Jordan's uncle actually plays for his team, we haven't seen him in a very long time.

Congratulations Jennifer! FIVE years is fantastic! And you still have a smoking hot body!!!

And most importantly, I think it's awesome that you shared your story here. It's so important for the newbies to realize that this is a life-long journey. Yes, we have been given an awesome tool, but the reality is, the first 6 months are truly the best in terms of weight loss and after a year it REALLY slows down and by making choices to "work around" our tool, there will be weight gain.

I think we all go into this thinking that "we won't be a statistic" and for many people that mentality fits. But I'm here to tell you that this isn't a quick fix and certainly not the easy way out. People need to "fix" their eating issues before surgery otherwise those same issues will pop up and the weight will return.

I'm a little over 2 years out and I've taken my tool for granted for about 18 months. I wish I could have done things differently, I wish I was a skitch (skinny *****), but because I never dealt with the reasons I was a food addict, I sit here today 22 pounds up from my lowest of 209 and feel fatter today than I did when I weighed 332lbs.

I'm kind of rambling, but I just want all the new people on this journey to realize that the doctor isn't going to do surgery on your brain - only your tummy - please get help with the brain side of this journey before you jump in with both feet or you may end up in the same place you started.  By the way, don't get me wrong, I would do this surgery again in a heart beat - I just would have done things in a different order.

Jenn - again...congrats on your success and thank you for your honesty!!

Tracy

Jenn....Happy 5 Year SURGIVERSARY!!!!!!!!

You look just beautiful!!  Congrats on finding Mr. Right too!!  I am happy for both of you.

Sorry to hear about the job loss...Times are crazy right now in this awful economy. Hope you find another job soon.

As for the weight gain....don't be so hard on yourself. You know what you need to do and you can do it!!

Hugs....connie d