2 years out: From wheelchair to aspiring aqua exercise specialist-long

I debated about posting my two year surgiversary but decided I needed to present other outcomes. I have not reached my scale goal yet but I have given myself a new life. At age 58 (pre-surgery), I thought my life was close to it's end. I was nearly 400 pounds and at barely 5 feet tall, I was as wide as I was tall. I was severely restricted in my activities. I had to call ahead to see if there was accommodations for a person my size. Many of you know this song and dance. Beyond that I could not walk more than 30 feet and I could not breathe while I walked. Heck, in fact there were days I had trouble breathing while sitting still. When I went for my pre-surgical evals, the nurse had to bring a bariatric wheel chair to my car to get me to the office. Walking was extremely painful and for me felt like climbing Everest.

My co-morbidities were mounting. Abnormal mammograms, pelvic ultrasound: fat after menopause wreaks all kinds of havoc. I was unemployed, immobile, depressed, concerned that my future was in a scooter and public housing. I considered suicide as a possible solution. I could not see a way out. I felt like I was trapped in a box and every attempt at getting out was like hitting a wall.

After serious reflection, I decided that I was not ready to go yet. I had not finished with this lifetime. There was more I wanted. I finally saw that the only way out was in my control. I desperately needed to heal my body by reducing the fat on it. And I finally saw a way I could be in control of doing that. Actually the only thing I had control of was changing my body.

Prior to making the decision to have surgery I asked myself, Why should I cut my stomach for an issue that is in my head (disordered eating)? Well it does help. Once you get enough weight off to see the difference, it is encouraging. Once you see your health improving, your mobility, and not to mention, appearance changing for the better, life opens up again. Yes, I still work on my issues. It is a process. Check out my before and during pics. http://www.obesityhelp.com/myoh/photos/639254/album/6-months-before-surgery/

Today I can walk and breathe at the same time. My adult-onset asthma seems to have resolved.
I have embraced the water and exercise daily. In fact, I am studying to become an aqua exercise specialist. I want to insure that I stay on track and I want to market my classes to others who find it difficult to exercise.

I have met my surgeon's goal at my 1 year mark and have given myself life. (He promised me I would be healthy and wrinkled) Am I a normal BMI yet? Well, no, but I am healthy, happy and motivated to continue my journey. I encourage all of you who are still debating to give yourself the advantage of health and longevity. I know you still have something to offer the world.

Inspiring!! I am so happy you decided to have this surgery and that you are feeling better. I am 5 weeks out now and I can breath walking up hills now. I use to avoid hills but during my recovery I started adding a hill to all of my walks (hills are all around where I live) just to increase my heart rate a bit. It is all coming with time.

I am so happy for you and you look so happy now in your dancing picture etc... good luck with becoming the aqua exercise specialist. I have thought about doing this until I get more weight off for my knees. A neighbor just gave me a free bike so next spring I will probably take it out for a test drive and see how I like biking again. I am just going to put it in my basement for the winter and wait to get down to a smaller me yet.

Thank you so much for sharing!

Yours is one of the most inspiring WLS stories I've read. Thank you.

congrats, as nice as it is to reach a normal bmi, more important is gaining our health back, pulling back the life that obesity stole from us...

 you have done this so i applaud you for your success,  not only a you taking classes to  help you stay on track with your exercise, your wanting it to benefit others also...

I think the things that you have acheived the things your trying to achieve are so impressive...


again congrats you have done a fabulous job you have lost 144 lbs and that is amazing well done...

Thank you for responding and encouraging me. I have had to stay focused on my own goals, not to become jealous of those who are already at goal or compare myself to them and feel bad about it. It is validating to hear from you.

Wow, your story is such an inspiration.  Thank you so much for telling it.  

You have done a wonderful thing for yourself, and I congratulate you with all my heart and soul.  God bless you as you continue on your journey of living :-)
--Dorothy

WOW!  Congratulations!  And most of all, thank you for sharing your story.  I guarantee there are others like you and hopefully they see this and feel inspired!

Keep rockin' your sleeve!

 All I can say is...... wow.......  When i saw your post i had to join this website and tell you that.  I will be going to my first informational meeting with Dr Fowler's staff in Nov. I am excited and scared at the same time.