My surgiversary is this week!

It's hard to believe that it's already been a year!! Thursday and Friday are Fall Break (Yaaaaaaaaaaahoooooooooo!). Pardon me while I take stock. I'm doing this to stay accountable because I don't ever want to go back.

Just 1 year ago I weighed 333, down from my high of 354. I huffed and puffed when I climbed the stairs at work, stopping midway up to catch my breath. My chest fluttered and my back ached all the time. I hated wearing dress clothes and looked forward to casual Friday beause it meant I could wear jeans, and those were the most comfy things I owned. (I still love jeans though). Look at my profile pics for the high weight.  I hardly ever wore jewelry. Every Friday night was pizza night, and we'd order 2 large pizzas. Leftovers? When there were any it was maybe 3 pieces. I could keep up with DH on how much we ate. Always went back for seconds in the kitchen. Unless it was hamburger, meat was breaded and fried...we ate a lot of fried foods and a lot of fast food. I cooked like I was taught..chicken fried steak, gravy, etc. Fresh bread at most meals...my bread machine misses me! LOL

It's hard to believe that  1 year later, I can climb those stairs without stopping and without holding on to the railing. I love dress clothes and look forward to wearing some for the colder weather. Dress pants and skirts fit me, and I'm loving wearing my Mom's vintage Sarah Coventry jewelry. I still love casual Friday because it's jeans and football season.  Pizza **** seriously misses us as does McDonald's and Not-a-burger.

Today, leftovers means enough for me for 2-3 days to take to work (yay!). My back no longer bothers me, and I feel so good. I didn' t know I felt so bad! I wish I'd done this so much sooner, but I"m glad I finally had enough and did it. Even packing my infected incision from Nov-Dec was worth it. I'd do it all again.

I treasure all of the friends I've met here. Friends who can understand where I've been and where I'm going. Friends who don't judge me and who share common experiences. I am eternally in Dr. Walton's debt as well as the rest of the WeightWise staff. You gave me my life back. Rita, I love you. You're the best packing nurse in the biz...and you're a great handholder, too. Jess, thanks for kicking my butt when I needed it pre-op.

Please continue to send up good thoughts for my darling DH. He is having his lungs scoped on Thursday to see what this nodule is all about. I hope they can cure the cough. Friday night was a good night for him..not as many coughs. So, maybe it's resolving. I don't know.

Anyway, 1 year later....here are the stats:

Highest-354
Consult 333 (June 2007)
Surgery 303 (Oct. 2007)
First weigh-in after surgery on 2 week diet: 289 and tears of joy. Strong ones.
Nov. 24, 2007 daughter's wedding: Size 18/20 dress too big, but the first time since before she was born that I was that size.
June or July 2008: Onederland. I truly believed I was the one who wouldn't get there because I was stalled for so long in the 200's.
Today's weight: 180 and size 8. I feel like I'm at goal. I'm satisfied. Doc's goal is too low. So, I've adjusted.

The last thing I have to say: Nutrisystems, I've proved you wrong. I went for a consult once and was told that I had too much weight to lose..that it wasn't doable. You always say "Results not typical" whi*****ludes Valerie Bertinelli's Jenny Craig Commercial. Well, guess what? Dr. Walton was right in seminar: "Results typical."

I'm not posting this to be vain or to brag. I just truly am thankful and am taking stock of everything on this momentous occasion.

Happy Surgiversary!   You've come a long way baby.

Thanks so much. I can't believe I wrote such a long winded post. Yikes!

Thanks for the one year post.  It has been so wonderful to watch you on this journey.  You have been inspiring to me.

I am so happy you and Johnny came to dinner on Friday.  I had missed you.  Glad you found your way back to us.  I will be thinking about you guys on Friday.  Hopefully you will get an easy resolution to DH's health issues.

Denise

I'm so happy for you, Charlotte. I found myself teary-eyed. Maybe it's because I'm similar in weight to what you were at surgery, and seeing how far you've come gives me hope. I'm still praying for your DH, for healing.
Blessings,
Mary

Thanks, Mary. I appreciate it. All of it.

Me too, Denise. Me too..on everything you said. I was afraid that something I said had made someone upset, so I quit going to support group and quit posting here. I've missed you all. Thank you for the kind words about the inspiration. Ruth was mine. I"ll never forget what she said at my first support group meeting about that it would happen for me, and that I would get to wear boots again.

I think every one of us can be in inspiration to someone beause we all have a different story to tell.

We have missed you too, and you are definitely an inspiration! So many on here are. Those of us who are still fairly new rely so much on those of you who have gone before us. I am glad you are posting again and hope to see you at support group too.

Congratulations on your 1 year surgiversary -- you look fantastic!

happy birthday to you happy birthday too you....ooh yeah...GO POKES!!!!!!!!!!

Charlotte~  That is such a wonderful post!  You have come a long ways and have much to be proud of.  I will continue to keep your DH in my thoughts and prayers.  Many *hugs* to you...  I think you're vain or bragging... I think you have a lot to feel pride in.  Happy 1 year Surgiversary!