Goal Weight Reached!

Hello friends -

I had VSG on 6/6/16. I set weight loss goal of 100 lbs at the start of all this not really knowing where I would land, and have been hovering around this the last week.

It has been a wild, scary, fun, thrilling, emotional ride. I can say it was very difficult (and still is at times) but so worth it since I now have my life back. Here are things I've experienced that I could only imagine before surgery:

• Traveled to Italy and London
• Dating (men who wouldn't have looked at me before) with a very different, more selective mindset
• Hiking
• Shopping in size 10/12 (before surgery was 20W)
• Becoming reacquainted with parts of my body that have been hidden for years (wrist, collar and pelvic bones, definition in my arm and shoulder muscles (from lots of hard work at the gym)
• Seeing my heart rate drop back down quickly at the end of my cardio workouts
• Holding a 60 second plank
• Being called skinny (me? really?)
• Wearing heels again
• Having a 112/65 blood pressure reading at my 18 month check up
• Being told I'm an ideal patient by my weight loss team

Some things I've learned (the hard way):

• Respect your sleeve and don't try and pu**** The foamies are awful and if you call 911 in a panic, the firemen will look lost about what to do when they get to your house and you tell them you had gastric surgery. I'm ashamed to admit this really happened. Thankfully, symptoms subsided shortly after they got to my house.
• Chew, chew, chew... (is still something I forget at times)
• If you don't drink enough water, everything else is off. Same for regular BMs.
• Keep protein with you (nuts, protein bar)
• People will still judge you for having surgery...but who cares?
• My emotional eating problems didn't magically go away. I still have to manage them. Every day.

I'm so thankful for this incredible community of generous, supportive and knowledgable people for all their wisdom and willingness to take the time to help those of us who are new. I have an early resolution for 2018 to stay connected here pay it forward by sharing my experience.

Happy Holidays all... and thank you!

Lisa