One year later & the stairs that changed my life.
It has been one year today that I had my VSG. After all the years of telling myself and others that there was no way that I would ever have weight loss surgery I finally did. Due to some extremely bad choices that I made in my personal life and the almost end of my marriage God led our family to a new church. Little did I know that at this new church our Sunday School class was on the 5th floor. That meant walking up 3 flights of stairs. Of course there was an elevator, but I wasn't going to use the elevator because that was for the handicapped and fat people, and to me I certainly wasn't fat. Sunday after Sunday I struggled to get up the stairs, really thinking that I needed oxygen at the top. When reaching the top I would have to go into the bathroom so that I could recover from the hike up the stairs. Well one week my husband suggested that we take the elevator and by that time I was game with it. After riding in the elevator for several Sundays with the fat women I decided that my life had to change and that's when I decided to make a change. I attended the seminar with Dr. Walton and I knew this was what God intended in my life. I prayed to God asking Him that if having the surgery wasn't His will that He would put a stumbling block in front of me that I could not get around. Well there was never a stumbling block, and almost 3 months to the day that I had my first appointment with the Dr. I was on the surgery table. I praise God, I believe that it was His plan all along. I never thought that it could have been this great, or would have changed my life so much. Now I can run up those stairs at church, the same ones that led me to weight loss surgery. It was simply a set of stairs that changed my life. I wish that I had had the surgery years ago, but I know it was in God's time. Before I had surgery when I looked in the mirror I didn't see a fat person, but now that I am at this point when I look at pics of me before it is shocking to me. I can't believe it when I see them. I have been overweight all my life so I guess I just didn't know any different. Losing the weight has made me feel so much better physically and mentally. Losing the weight does not change the cir****tances in your life, it just makes you more healthy, and in turn I believe more capable of handling them. I have learned that food is not medication for the soul or a broken heart. Food was my medication for everything in my life, boredom mostly. I still get bored, and sometimes I still reach for food, but the food is healthy low carb now. Sometimes I just don't know if I can even handel another pork rind. I am a little disappointed in myself because I have not reached goal yet, I have about 8 lbs. more to reach goal and I know if I had stayed on coarse the whole way and never gotten lazy here and there that I would have reached goal. But it's still within reach and I know I can do it, it will just take more time. And if I never reach goal, that's Ok, I love my new body now, I feel good, and am so glad that I did it. Thanks to all on this OK forum you all have been such an inspiration to me, and all of us here. Lisa 
I'm half the woman I used to be!!
What a story! What a journey! I rejoice with you on all the positive changes you have experienced. 88 lbs. in a year, with only 8 to go--amazing! What an inspiration you are.
Blessings,
Mary
ObesityHelp Support Group Leader and Support Group Coach
What a wonderful story! I enjoyed reading it! It puts things into perspective doesn't it. When you sit back and reflect on how far you have come and the way you feel today and the way you felt just 1 year ago.
I'm really happy you are such a success story and now you are posting your story to help others come to their own decision about WLS !
Thanks!
Hugs
Kim J!.
When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me." Erma Bombeck
19 lbs lost before surgery
9/3/09 Full TT, MR, BL, BA, Arm Reduction and Lipo 10-12 lbs skin/fat removed
After coming to my honey moon period and watching it go away. I realized my goal was not going to be there for me.
I groaned and I moaned and I had to ask myself why is it I have had such a rough road.
The answer came to me...if we are to reach goal right when we thing we should the journey would be over...
if goal meant health then not meeting goal does that mena death.
The answer is simple. the goal you or a surgeon sit for you is a goal something to reach for not something that has to be meet. I would far rather be where I am right now then be where I was 21 months ago or even 12 ...forme reaching goal is being healthy and I am that today. The number that is put on the chart is just that a number it can not make me or break me..The only thing it can do is make my clothes smaller.
I am content with how I feel how I look. I would love to be a size 12or 10 but IF i never make it thats okay cause now I can climb stairs, out walk the younger folks, go shopping all day long and have the energy of a an 18 year old.
So my friend dont worry about being at goal..worry that you are letting some number control you.
I wish you happiness I wish you good health and above all I wish you love....
I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN ABOUT LOOKING AT PICTURES OF YOUSELF FROM BEFORE SURGERY. I MAKE SCRAPBOOKS FOR ALL THE OFFICERS THAT RETIRE FROM OUR DEPT AND I AM A PICTURE HOG. EVEN WHEN I WAS FAT I WAS IN ALL THE PICTURES AND I DIDNT CARE HOW I LOOKED. BUT NOW WHEN I LOOK BACK AT THOSE PICTURES(CAUSE I SAVE THEM AND PUT THEM IN EVERYONE'S SCRAPBOOKS) I CRINGE AND I AM ALMOST EMBARASSED THAT I LET MYSELF GET TO THAT POINT! THEN I SMILE AND SAY LOOK HOW FAR I HAVE COME AND I WILL NEVER GO BACK TO THAT AGAIN! WOOHOO! WE ROC****EP UP THE GOOD WORK AND CONGRATULATIONS!
[ I'm half the woman I used to be!!
