WOW Moments!

Kayaking again and doing a 3 mile hike and enjoying it. Not trying to catch my breath or stop every 2 minutes to rest. Two months ago this would have never happened. Not without a medivac helicopter anyways.

I took my grandaughtrs, ages 2 &3, to the park yesterday. I had my WLS in August of last year. It was the first nice day in the NE in a loooong time. I was able to run,play hide and seek, kickball. I didn't get tired or out of breath. I even went down the slides w/ them on my lap! I didn't worry about not fitting or having people look at me funny. THIS is why I had RNY, to enjoy life w/ my family. What a beautiful feeling and a beautiful day! I am still smiling and enjoying the simple pleasure of enjoying life like a "normal" person. Just had to share. Alyse

I was asked a similar question at my one year appointment with my dietician and I had several "awakenings"!
1. I can shop in a "normal" clothing store now that I've gone from a size 24 to a size 10
2. I don't have to worry about flying and wondering if I'd need a seat belt extender or if I'd be overflowing into the persons seat next to me.
3. Having lost 120 pounds, that is equivalent to carrying a person around on my back (no wonder I was always tired,winded, and had back problems!!!)
4. I am not so self conscious when I have to walk in front of a crowd.
5. I simply feel good, alive and am very thankful for this new chance in life!!!
6. It's fun getting dressed in the morning knowing that everything in my closet fits (I used to hope that what I had in my closet would fit, being a size 24).
7. Being healthy enough to do fun things with my kids. We went to the Big Apple last summer and walked lots and lots of miles. If I was still 273 pounds,there is no way I could have done what I did.

My favorite WOW moment are

Running a half marathon at 1 year out....in 2 hours and 47 min...thats 13.1 miles BTW
Bending over and breathing
Buying clothes off the rack
Loving who I am and being happy in my skin
Going from a 22/24 and 1X/2X to a 7/8 and M
Smiling like I mean it in pictures! 
Being able to wrap a normal sized towel around me and not having any gaps.
I'll make this as PG as possible..seeing my private area without the aid of a mirror or lifting my belly up!! 
Caring about myself once again! 

The biggest "Wow Moment" for me.....

I am 10 years out  from WLS....and there have been so many "Wow Moments"  but the biggest by far......Has been being able to keep the weight off for this long.....

I have been over weight since I was 6 years old....on a "diet" since 11 years old...I would lose weight and then go off the "diet" and gain the weight back plus more.....

So, my "Biggest Wow Moment"  was when I knew I was in control over food and it no longer had control over me!!!

You have know idea how "Empowering that is"!! Or perhaps you do understand.....

Enjoy all your "Wow Moments"!!!!

Hugs,

Ginger

 This post has been very inspirational to a person who is just starting out and wondering if this was all worth it :) 

Thank you!

for me.....IT HAS ALL BEEN WORTH IT!!!! And would I do it again....in a second!!!!  But in the end...or I should say....the further out you are.....you get out of it what you put into it.....and keep putting into it.....Remember it is a journey for a lifetime....not just to a destination to whatever your goal weight is!  Hope that makes sense.

Good Luck with your journey!

Hugs,

Ginger

I just have to ditto what Ginger said, it has been more than worth it. I would do it again in a second.  You absolutely have to make more effort after a couple of years but it's still so much easier to stay in control. Make the most of the first year,  follow the rules and exercise! It's never that easy again but it's also never as hard as it was before surgery.    Peace, Leslie

Thank you so much for posting this!  I am only six days past RNY surgery and so much of what I have read on this site has been negative-about weight gain and problems with sugar, etc...I am a realist. I know that there is a possibility I may gain weight back (if I ever start losing it :) ), but when you are six days post op and restricted to popsicles and soup and protein shakes that make you gag, reading about someone who did it, and keeps doing it, makes it a whole lot easier to "stomach."  Congratulations!

Hello,

The reason you hear so much about weight gain and sugar is....some people go back to their old eating habits before surgery.  Or they never created healthy habits after WLS.  This is no magic surgery, only a tool to help you get where you want to be.  Once there the hard part starts....maintaining the weight loss. 

But I and many others are proof it can be done.  The surgeon does surgery on our stomach....not our head.  We have to fix that part...and sometimes it takes counseling...and it does help to go to a regular support group.

You can do this!!!  Something that helped me tremendously was realizing I was addicted to carbs and sugar.  I stopped eating bread, rice, pasta, potatoes and sugar once I had surgery....and the cravings completely went away...I don't want them, crave them or even think about it any more.

But a person has to see what works for them.  Exercise is key along with a healthy diet....although I do no "diet" any more...I do eat healthy....

And love the food I am eating and also the exercise....which before surgery I couldn't say that.

Good luck on your journey...listen to your surgeon and you will do fine.

Ginger