Measure your success by more than just a number on the scale!
So let's measure our success by more than just a stupid number on the scales. Let us count the ways to measure:
**How do you feel? Physically? Emotionally?
**How many medications have you kicked to the curb?
**How is your energy level?
**How do your clothes fit? How many items of clothing have you had to give away because they were clown clothes now? When before surgery you thought you'd never fit in to them again???
**How has your attitude towards exercise changed? Do you exercise and feel oh so good afterwards?
**How proud do you feel that you are conquering some of the demons that have plagued you for your entire life?
**How many inches have you lost?
**How much easier is it to do the everyday, mundane things like tie your shoes?
**Have you become an obsessive leg crosser?
**How do you feel about fitting into an airplane seat now?
**Do you finally feel like you will reach a "normal" weight and not be a "failure"?
There are so many ways to know we are successful that have nothing to do with a hunk of metal. Enjoy all of these other successes and, above all, EMBRACE THE JOURNEY!
Pre-ops, this applies to you too. Enjoy every day because we are all changing our lives for the better!
Good health and smaller butts in 2009!!
I feel great since I had my RNY except for the complications. Emotionally I was on a roller coaster for a few months.
Medications that I have kicked to curb 2 blood pressure, 2 diabetic, a cpap machine, cholesterol.
Energy level is the best...
As far as clothes go I never kept anything that was to small for me...I hate clutter so for me I had to get new clothes. I have given away about 20 bags of clothes.
I walk, and do a stepper and resitant bands everyday. The only time I dont exercise is after surgery except for walking. I enjoy exercising more so now then when I did it 20 years ago.
I try not to use the word proud because thats not a virtue I want. I am extremely happy with myself that I finally got my addiction and weight under control.
Not sure about the inches I did not start measuring that till about six months ago.
before surgery tieing my shoes wasnt that hard of a deal...now I dont even think about it.
OMG yes I cross my legs all the time...and sit like I use to when I was younger...
I can ride in a n airplane without trouble I just chose to drive..sorry i am to independent to allow someone I dont know to be in control of where I am going.
I feel that with what I have gone through that if I screw this up then I am a real jerk. My weight is not an issue not what is is making sure I keep it off.
**How do you feel? Physically? Emotionally?
I feel better than I have in years and years physically. I feel better emotionally for the most part but I still have some demons to defeat...they only operated on my stomach and not my brain!!
**How many medications have you kicked to the curb? I only take one medication right now and it should go away at my next checkup! I gave up blood pressure meds, anti-depressants, hi-colesterol medication, insulin for diabetes, medication for gout, no more meds for my achy joints (imagine getting 163 pounds off my joints how relieved they must have been!) I was taking a lot of medicine and can't remember them all right now. Now I just take a handful of vitamins!!!
**How is your energy level? My energy level is great. I can walk 2 or 3 miles at a time and I use my encumbant bike and do Curves for Women 3 or 4 days a week. I can walk the entire mall when my daughter wants to shop. I use to find a bench and park it unless she needed an opinion on something she found.
**How do your clothes fit? Great How many items of clothing have you had to give away because they were clown clothes now? When before surgery you thought you'd never fit in to them again??? I've given away several car loads and taken a lot to a consignment shop as well. Now I only have the size I can wear now and some I've been picking up at bargain prices for the next size or 2 down!!!
**How has your attitude towards exercise changed? Do you exercise and feel oh so good afterwards? I still don't like to exercise but then again I don't like to take medicines. I think it is now as important as taking medicines for me to exercise, eat right and drink the water.
**How proud do you feel that you are conquering some of the demons that have plagued you for your entire life? I am proud of myself and hope I can eventually conquer all the demons that plague me!
**How many inches have you lost? I'm not sure but I'll check next time I go to curves. I've gone from a tight 32/34 to a 18 and a 5X top to a XL!!!!!!
**How much easier is it to do the everyday, mundane things like tie your shoes? It was impossible for me to tie my shoes before.... I can now do it all by myself!!!
**Have you become an obsessive leg crosser? Oh Yeah!!
**How do you feel about fitting into an airplane seat now? I've not flown yet since WLS but I wouldn't be afraid to now. I don't have to have my car seat back all the way and the seat belt cutting me in two.
**Do you finally feel like you will reach a "normal" weight and not be a "failure"? Yes I do! I've started and failed on soooo many diets and it's awesome that I'm not on a diet any more and have been successful at this! Life is good...no comparison!!!
This is the ride of my life.....what an amazing tool I now have!!!
Very insightful Kimmie...I am impressed!! LOL!!
**How do you feel? Physically? Emotionally? Physically great! Emotional...I get frustrated a lot with the weight coming off so slowly!!**How many medications have you kicked to the curb? All of them! (was on BP med)**How is your energy level? Awesome...especially in the a.m.**How do your clothes fit? How many items of clothing have you had to give away because they were clown clothes now? When before surgery you thought you'd never fit in to them again??? Went through two sizes of clothes already! I have had to replace everything including shoes....I did not have any smaller size clothes before surgery, so had to buy everything....so worth it though**How has your attitude towards exercise changed? Do you exercise and feel oh so good afterwards? I don't jump for joy for it, but I can do it without feeling like I am going to die from it - I have become friends with exercise!!**How many inches have you lost? 60 or so - but I have not measured in 3 months
**How much easier is it to do the everyday, mundane things like tie your shoes? Way easier...I actual look forward to tying my shoes!! LOL!!
**Have you become an obsessive leg crosser? Gosh, yes
**How do you feel about fitting into an airplane seat now?I love flying, love it, love it!!!
**Do you finally feel like you will reach a "normal" weight and not be a "failure"? YES!! I already feel more "normal" than obese - and am nowhere near done.
on 1/13/09 4:44 am
Very good post.
Honestly, I said when I hit a size 14 if that's all I ever got, I'd be content. I'm in a 12 now for everything but those dang Levi's....they zip, but I want them to fit RIGHT. At the same time, I'm wearing a pair of sz 12 hiking pants I bought right off the rack at Academy Sports-in the "normal" section, and I did feel, yes, proud, when they zipped up just fine today. I savored the moment. It's really hard to find plus size specialty clothes like hiking pants, biking pants, riding pants....they are out there, but DANG, you pay through the nose for them-these pants were on sale and I paid 12 bucks for them....I'm so tickled.
I was also able to buy a good used English Saddle-plus sized saddles are few and far between and this was a special present from the shopping gods. I actually bought it to resell and buy one that fit, and by golly, this one fit just fine. To be physcially able to enjoy horses again is probably one of the greatest successes I have had so far.
Love that I can tie my shoes now....LOVE it. Last time I sat in an airplane seat I did a wiggle from side to side admiring all the room I had-then explained to the guy next to me that I used to fill the seat up. He laughed and so did I.
I don't think false pride or pride at someone else's expense is a good thing, but taking pleasure in what you've worked hard to achieve, that's fine with me.
Oh, exercise. Hmmm. I do ok as long as I do something I enjoy. I love doing groundwork with horses, and moon dog is going to start ground work in agility soon. One thing I've noticed is that my recovery time for an all out effort is over night now, and not three days-so I must be getting a little more fit.
I also said that I would be happy to just be a size 13/14 but now that I can wear 14 pants most of the time, I know I was wrong. Of course, I am still way too big around the middle and that's what I still hate. But all good things to those who exercise patience. But I don't think I'll be ready to stop losing when I get to a 13/14 on the top. But that's a good thing. Makes you work harder!
on 1/13/09 5:28 am
1) Physically I feel like a new person. The only thing that hurts is my right hip and I am getting that fixed soon. Emotionally- I feel tough enough to have re-entered the dating world for the first time in more than 15 years.
2) medications- I no longer take BP meds and have reduced one of my arthritis drugs
3) My energy level is improved but not yet where I would like it to be
4) My clothes fit great. I am in a size 12 pants and looking at getting some 10's soon. I have no idea how many articles of clothing I have gotten out of my closet- too many to count.
5) I still don't really like to exercise while doing it but love the feeling after. I am no longer wiped out after doing a hard cardio session like I was pre-op.
6) I dont' know that I had any real demons pre-op I am more confident now that before (see the part about dating)
7)I think the last time I measured I was down something like 45 inches (measuring only one arm and one leg)
8) everything is easier I bound up stairs instead of huffing and puffing I no longer look for the shortest route around my school building
9) leg crossing- yep addicted have even learned to balance the laptop on crossed legs!
10) I KNOW that I will reach goal. I finally committed today to staying away from the evil carbs and get back on track.
40 pounds lost pre-op
