Thoughts From Three Years Out

After losing and regaining 100+ pounds three times and facing at least one knee replacement, I thought I had reached rock bottom. Once again, I tried to get my weight under control. At about 300 pounds in November of 2014, my DH experienced sudden cardiac arrest in the middle of the night. Morbidly obese and totally out of shape, getting him out of the bed and performing CPR until first responders arrived pushed me to my limits. Something HAD to change.

In January 2015, I began the six month process of preparing for VSG surgery in May 2015. Now, on my three year surgiversary, I can tell you I have successfully maintained a 200+ pound weight loss (from my high weight of 345) for close to 2.5 years. People often ask what has made me one of the "successful ones". I am here to tell you that maintaining your target weight range after VSG is very doable.

VSG is a lifestyle change for the rest of our lives, and making that shift in my head was crucial. Here are some of the changes I've made. Take and/or modify what might work for you:

1. I view my smaller stomach and pyloric valve as a powerful combination I need to respect whenever I eat. Eliminating drinking a half hour before, during and a half hour after meals followed by eating dense protein first closes that valve and allows my restriction to work for me.
2. I weigh myself daily and log that weight and my intermittent measurements on My Fitness Pal. I've logged in and done that for over 2000 consecutive days. If my weight is above or below my target five pound range for three days, I am committed to logging my meals until I'm back in that range for three days.
3. I try to eat unprocessed, natural, foods as much as possible. Refined sugar and carbs make my mood shift, my joints ache and make the positive changes that anchor me difficult to respect.
4. I keep an ongoing list of potential triggers / slider foods. Why is it ongoing ? My body's response to foods/activity changes, and I see it as my job to identify and address those changes.
5. I am an active member of the OH VSG Maintenance forum. The daily opportunity to interact, reflect and "journal" helps keep me accountable and sane.
6. I keep active on a daily basis, in gratitude for the health I've regained and in celebration of what my body is able to do. I'm a firm believer in use it or lose it.
7. I continue to find ways to enhance my spiritual and emotional growth. I did formal individual and group therapy before my VSG, and find regular "booster shots" very beneficial.

I worked just as hard preparing for maintenance as I did preparing for surgery and the weight loss process itself. We've got this !!

Very uplifting & inspiring!

Just, Wow! I want to be like you when I grow up. I so appreciate your "grounded-ness". Thanks for being here!

Very inspiring!!

Great post! Congratulations on your 3 year surgiversary!