1st Anniversary

This past year has flown, especially compared to the year leading up to the surgery.  I spent most of the presurgery year in therapy with a psychologist, which was kind of tough for me.  Like many others with weight issues I had never spent that much time focusing on me.  I really liked my therapist and credit her with preparing me to make the decision to change my life with the surgery.  My faith in God's plan for me, my concerned primary care physician, and my husband were also integral to reaching the decision to move forward with the surgery.  The impetus for the therapy was an emotionally barren colleague.  He is about my age & had some unnecessary cosmetic work done (and lied about it) a few years ago.  In the following months the same thought would randomly come to me whenever he said or did something particularly bigoted or clueless: "Why did he waste his money on surgery when it would have better been spent on a shrink?"   When my PCP suggested the surgery, I decided it was time for me to put up or shut up, so I scheduled an appointment with a psychologist to work through my head issues before I had the surgery.

Anyway, for me therapy was a good move.  I think I was as prepared and committed as I could have possibly been by the time the surgery occured.  I haven't been perfect in the past year, but I've never  consumed anything that I didn't consider the consequences.  I would say that my eating and drinking have been on target 97% of the time.  Exercise is another matter.  I'll give myself a 75% on that.  Of course, compared to the old me, I'm way more active even when I'm not out walking or exercising.

Changes in my life include:
1.  I'm now in the "normal" weight range.
2.  I weigh less than my skinny husband did when we married.  Heck, I may weigh less than I ever have as an adult.
3.  I have ENERGY and enthusiasm.
4.  I've recovered the old me and am renewing old passions and investigating new interests.
5.  I've gone from size 24 to 4.  It brings a tear to my eyes to type that.  Of course, I'm back to buying bigger tops and smaller bottoms.  I thought my boobs might shrivel up, but they're hanging in better than expected.  My thighs are very scary. 
6.  My husband really stepped up during this period and I have more respect and love for him than ever before (not bad after 33 years of marriage).
7.  I don't need nearly as much refrigerator or pantry space.
8  Money's pretty tight, because I was self pay & wound up having a second surgery due to internal bleeding.
9.  I don't allow guilt trips to make me feel inadequate.  I looked our youngest son (37) in the eye today and said that routine child care is his problem, not ours.  He didn't appear to know how to argue with that, which is a first for him.  I've told him no before, but it always left me feeling terrible which would lead to comfort food, which would lead to more carb cravings........

Observations:
1.  It's weird, but true, men my age & older seem compelled to comment on my weight loss and even hug me.  I work in the public in a small community so everyone feels like they have a vested interest in my progress.  I guess the surprising thing is that I hadn't noticed before that people didn't touch me much which may have been a vibe from me.  I'm not saying that all the guys in town are dirty old men, but today in about an hour and a half, four different guys commented extensively about my weight and three of them hugged me (I avoided the other one).  Conversely, the younger guys I work with don't seem to know what to say, so they never mention my weight loss. 
2.  Most women are supportive, but the jealous natured ones aren't any more supportive of me than they are of anyone's success at anything.
3.  If you tell people what they can do to help, most will try to do it.  Family, friends, and even strangers gave me clothes without strings attached.  My job requires professional dress.  Hand me downs and consignment store clothes have kept me well dressed.

Congratulations on your success! Thanks for being such a positive inspiration!!! Best of luck and I hope to be joining you in skinnyville! I am just 2 weeks out and had many thoughts of buyers remorse, but after hearing stories like yours, I am back on track, I look forward to be where you are today!
hugs and best wishes,
Merrilee

Thanks for sharing!  You've done wonderfully well in only a year!  I just want to make it down to a Size 14!

Thank you!  I thought I would be ecstatic to be a Size 12, but I blew through that size.  I'm now wearing some 4s (pants, tops are an 8).  Of course, I was a little person hiding in a round body.

Good luck!

Congratulations!!!!!!  You are skinnier than your hubby - love it!!!

Thanks all.

Duover, you're doing great. The journey seemed so insurmountable in the beginning, that I actually thought if I could ever hit a size 12, I would be overjoyed. And I was overjoyed, but realized that I hadn't finished removing the layers hiding the tiny petite person I was born to be.

Merrilee, the worst should be over. Your energy level and stamina should increase as you get back on some solid food. On my journey, I've felt better every day for a year. I had no clue how bad I felt or how far I was removed from the true me.

Amy, you've been inspirational. Thank you. When I met my hubby 33 years ago he weighed 135 (5'10.5") and I weighed 145 (5'.5"). He looked like a concentration camp refugee and I was voluptuous to be charitable. Over the years, he put on 50 # (most of it needed) and I put on 100#. Since my surgery, he's lost about 15# & is what I consider perfect. Sharing his dinner with me when we eat out has been good for him!

Thanks again for the encouragement.

Lois

So exciting to be 1 year out and doing great! THanks for the advice. I am living on consignment clothes right now too.

Thanks Jenny.  You'll be there before you know it.  I may always shop consignment stores now that I've gotten the hang of it.  Of course, I've also begun to shop for brand new sales clothes or at discount stores.  It's kind of fun.  I used to think I hated shopping.

Best wishes on the rest of your journey.

Lois

Congrats belatedly on your 1 year!   You're very inspirational to all of us.  Thanks so much for sharing with us.

Thank you, Moto.  This year has gone really fast.  I still feel like it was a miracle.  I'm happy to know that I could inspire someone.  I'm also thrilled to report that my step sons have both been inspired to lose weight on their on own, which was  much needed.  The oldest may wind up having surgery, too, but for now I'm just glad to see them acknowledging that they have a problem.

Thanks again,

Lois