On this day in history!!

It seems only right for me to acknowledge that it was four years ago today that I had my by-pass surgery!!!  I have maintained a loss of 176 pounds - going from a 4XX maybe size 26 if it stretched to a size 10 in zip up jeans.  I would love to get the skin from my tummy removed and a lift for my breasts but with three college educations looming it may have to wait.  I truly feel the burden of obesity was lifted the day I had surgery - never to return.  I have found that as time goes on, the nightmare of my obesity and the glory of my post-op weight loss have both receded into a nice private place.  It seems as though me and my immediate family can barely remember when I was fat and don't really think about it in our every day life.  When one of us stumbles on a photo of me heavy it feels kind of shocking.  Was I really that big?!?  My compassion for myself and all the people that share the experience of being obese is always close in my heart.  I always wondered if I would forever feel defined by my experience (and be "the woman who lost all that weight") but have found that time has really made it possible to somewhat leave it all behind and move on.  I think that's great!  My health is amazing since surgery.  I closely monitor my labs and have had all normal results.  In addition I have also had normal bone scan, low blood pressure, low cholesterol, normal sugar, and off C-pap.  I had total knee replacement surgery this past December and I am really excited to enjoy it.  It was a great relief to do that huge body repair.  It was both physically painful and a reminder of what my body suffered as a result of carrying that extra weight around all those years.  I've just got to wean off the pain med I needed to cope with the bone-on-bone pain and surgery, and that will be great. Some stuff about post-op Patty......... -   I don't measure food, count or keep track of calories, protein, portions, etc. -   I weighed myself daily for about three years.  Now only when I go to a doctor or wonder if I'm     gaining weight.  Stay within about a five pound range. -   First year I did have gas that was shockingly bad in relation to overdoing fat or sugar.      Compared to pre-op I would say I hardly ever have gas now - even if I indulge in fat or sugar.     If I do it still is pretty stinky, but the frequency is way within normal range.  My husband has     more and he's skinny and has had no surgery.  -   I feel there is a disconnect between me and emotional eating.  I have had LOTS of stressful         times this past couple of years, but don't find myself comforting with late night eating anymore .-   I don't find body image too much of a problem.  I could be unhappy with all the skin, but find it     much easier to deal with than 176 pounds of fat.  Also, I'm 46.  My peers have all got problems    too.  Between balding, spreading and gaining, nobody is doing that great outside of     Hollywood.  Being able to know I fit in to the "normal" category makes me so happy that I     guess I am able to accept that I'm left with some baggage of my past weight problem.  Getting     rid of the excess skin would be WONDERFUL though!! -   I drink real Coke every day.  I am a Southern gal at heart!  I felt like I was on a slippery slope     allowing it back into my life.  Dr. Hong would not approve.  I figured if it seemed to cause a     problem I would stop, but it doesn't seem to have an impact and it makes me really happy. -   I take a Centrum multi-vitamin daily, and two Costco brand calcium pills at night.  That's it. -   I can tolerate everything except pasta.  For some reason it makes me feel sick and/or get sick.     I don't get it because rice, bread, potato all are O.K.  All meats and fine as well as real deal     desserts and sweets.  I hoped I would have an intolerance to bad things.  Dr. Hong said I     would be better being able to eat everything.  When you are so afraid of gaining it back you     don't think so, but I really am glad I can enjoy everything.  I eat anything I want - just not     large quantities.  I don't have seconds and eat about half of what my husband eats. -   I still hate exercise.  During the big weight loss phase I swam and found that to be great for     results.  It was really the only thing I could do and not provoke my knee.  Now I'm not doing any     thing formal, but live a much more active life overall.  I would like to do better, but still have     a problem motivating myself.  I do better cleaning out the garage or doing yard work, etc. -   I'm the biggest advocate for WLS and wish I had done it sooner.  I am rooting on you     people that have come after me. Anyhoo.....enough about me!  just wanted to note this special day for me.  I remember asking Dr. Hong how long I would have to go before he considered my weight loss a success.  He said about five years.  (I was about three months out!)  I hope to be able to send him a post card next year saying "nah nah I made it five years". Patty

Way to go Patty You are great. Happy Birthday to the new you. And many more  Taylor

Thanks Taylor.  I'm glad to see some guys on here - stick around! Patty

Way to go Patty, I hope to follow the path that you have lit. Keep holding on to the iron rod. Reynold

Welcome to the site Reynold!  So glad to hear you are getting your surgery. Patty

You are such an inspiration to me Patty!  Congratulations on all you success.  I can only hope that I do as well as you and that in four years and can still be as successful as you've been.   Thanks for sharing your story with us. Nola

I love to watch others follow behind me.  You are doing so great Nola!  It's always nice to see your face on here.  Patty

I am so glad to hear from someone who has arthritis in the knees as well and is doing great.
Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Vicki

I love my new knee!!!  Considering the X-rays say that my other one is 50% shot I can't believe how good it feels since I got the bad one fixed.  Maybe I won't have to do that one, but if I do I know now that it's tough but not too bad.  And so worth it.  I had hoped that just getting the weight off would make my knees better.  They were better, but with bone-on-bone they were still trouble.  I can't imagine going through the recovery for the knee if I had been my old weight.  Patty

"Between balding, spreading and gaining, nobody is doing that great outside of
    Hollywood. "  I don't know about that.  I recently got my AARP magazine (yep, I'm over the hill) with a picture of Jamie Lee Curtis on the front.  Then I realized that Kathleen Turner is the same age as me (53).  I looked at their recent pictures and, in my opinion, I look way better than they do age-wise!  Congratulations to you Patty on your amazing journey.  I think you look great and I'm glad to hear that life is fairly "normal" for you. Linda