One year ago today------------

One year ago today - my life changed - I had my RNY done. It has been an amazing year, actually exceeding my expectations. I feel great- thankfully have had no complications -  still am losing weight - albeit slower than it was - but as I approach goal - I am happy with that. So that I may inspire others -here are the numbers:
initial consult weight - summer 2005 - 283lbs
highest weight - Jan 2008 - 293lbs
one week pre-op weight - April 2007 - 278lbs
day of surgery weight - Apil 17, 2008 - 275lbs
one year post-op weight - April 17, 2009 - 184lbs

Goal weight is 180lbs.

I could easily be at or below goal - but I have not been as strict the last few months as I could be - and over the winter have not been walking as much as usual. Hope to get back out at it soon as the spring weather is here.

Thanks to all the folks here on OH for all your help, inspiration, support, laughs, smiles and even the odd tear. I am not on the message boards as much as time goes on - which is natural for a lot of people as they are busier and don't have so much time to be on-line as they feel better and are more active all around. But - I do pop in regularly to see what's on the go. And I'm ALWAYS here - for anyone - who needs to contact me for ANYTHING.

Happy one year surgiversary to me!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  Way to go Mary that is awesome, Happy One Year Anniversary!!!!!  You must find that you have so much more energy and are able to do things that you couldn't do a year ago??  I will be very happy once I am on the loosing end to a healthier me as well, this is my gold for this year, I want to be around for my boys and see them grow up. 

I am so happy for you....keep up the great work


Hugs
Beth

Thanks Beth - yes - the change in energy level was one of the things I noticed first - apart from the actual weight loss - I guess the loss of energy was so gradual - that until it started coming back quickly- I hadn't noticed it that much. And the little things - like getting in and out of the car so easily, drying off after a shower - how BIG the towel seems now - bending over to tie shoes - what a difference. This will happen for you too! Hope your waiting time is short and you are soon on the looser's bench! Good luck!

CONGRATULATIONS MARY C. HAPPY SURGIVERSARY!!!!!!!!!

You have done amazingly well.  You must feel so different with all of that weight gone.  I had rny 2 months ago and am still waiting for the energy. I can tie my shoes and cut my toenails and wipe....... You know what I mean. 4 pounds to goal. Oh you must be sooo happy. Can you eat whaever you want now or is there still stuff you can't eat?.

Thanks Maggie!!  The energy WILL hit you soon - it's amazing. I can't really eat whatever I want - eggs still don't go down well, I never would dream of eating a sandwich or a burger - too much bread - so I loose 1/2 the bread and do an open face thing - not that it's very often. I seem to have my favorites that work for me and stick to them. The "foamies" as I used to cal it when something didn't go down well and stuck there - is still too fresh in my memory - and I don't want to have it happen again. A few weeks ago I was SO wanting some potato chips - so I ate part of one of those small Halloween size bags - and yep - foamies - partially because I ate too fast and also didn't chew as well as I should have. And I also find I need to be relaxed and unhurried when I eat. A bit difficult at times - I'm an ER nurse - but I eat small frequent meals usually anyway. IT gets easier - but I am ALWAYS aware of what and how I eat. A small price to pay for feeling so much better! You are doing awesome - and the little things you are noticing will keep happening to you. Thanks- and take care!

Wow,we have something in common. I was an ER nurse  for 4 years. I was a nurse for almost 15 years and a  paramedic  for 8 years. I was injured severalyearsago and have not been able towork since. Occupational hazzard in the medical field.

I still haven't eaten in a restaurant or accepted an invitation to eat at any friends house's. I am afraid that something will not sit well and when that happens, it comes back up immediately. Noneof my friends know about my bypass and I don't plan to tell them for a couple more years yet.  I am hoping this fear passes. I miss eating out.  I am able to eat 1 slice of bread once in awhile. Enough to curb the cravings.

It's been a year for  you. Does it ever become second nature. Do you still have to measure your food or do you eyeball it now? 

Hi there - I'll measure something every now and then - just to be sure - but for the most part can pretty well tell what's a good portion and what isn't. As for eating out - I stuck to French Onion Soup for the longest time - it always worked for me and was a "safe" food. After 4 -  5 months I tried wraps - usually ended up peeling away a lot of the excess pita bread but - they worked- always takes me longer to eat than anyone else though - but they are all used to me by now. I never try something new when eating out - I did that once at Halifax Airport when I was a fairly new post op- 3 weeks - thought there was no reason I shouldn't be able to eat at least some of a breakfast burrito - TERRIBLE DECISION - I was so sick - wanted to throw up - couldn't I suffered the Slimies for almost two hrs until it finally worked it's way down. It's all trial alnd error girl - and you will get it all figured out. So sorry to hear of your work injury - happens too often. I love my job and hope to remain healthy and un-injured until I finish. And the RNY will go a long way in helping meout! take care and drop me a note anytime! Good luck-------------Mary

Congratulations !!!  I am so proud of you...you are such an inspiration to us all.  I can't wait to be 4 lbs from goal !!!!  keep up the great work ... Patsy

Thanks so much Patsy - you are doing so awesome yourself! Have a great day!

Happy Anniversary you sexy thing :) You have done AMAZING and I am so so so so proud of and happy for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!