4 year surgiversary

I got an email today reminding me it is my 4 year surgiversary.  It was the best decision I have ever made in my life and I have not regretted for even one-second taking this step.  I have maintained easily a 142# wt loss.  If I stay with the program of eating protein first, minimal carbs my weight stays easily in a 5 pound range.  If I start eating too many carbs it goes up a few pounds and I just go back to the basics and it is fixed.  That is such a relief after a lifetime of struggle.  I found a new passion for sculling and love to exercise for the first time in my life.  I also love shopping, and can for the first time buy clothes that I love not just that "fit".  I can run around with my grandchildren and no longer look at physical activities and think about how I can get out of them.  I run up stairs, and work out with a trainer.  All because I want to not because I have to!  So far my only health problem was a kidney stone that I am sure I got from not drinking enough water.  I get Vitamin D3 injections to keep my vitamin D up and all of my lab so far has been good.  My cholesterol is low, my good cholesterol is high, my hemoglobin A1c is low as is my fasting glucose.  It is really a miracle and I will forever be grateful to Dr Stewart in Denton for giving my  life back.  Go for it.  If you have been fat all your life and a low carb life style feels good to you it will be well worth it.  

Grateful to be 4 years out.  

Congrats to feeling so good!!  It is great to hear that you have been so successful!!  

Sounds great. Good for you. You took the changes that were made and ran with them. Nice.

Happy surgiversary!

--gina

Wonderful--congratulations!!!

Nicolle

Nicolle and Major Mom you were such inspirations for me in my first year.  And when I get off track I always get back on here and see what Major Mom has been eating and it is always helpful.  Nothing feels better than success.  I was terrified to take this step.  I spent the day today remembering how I felt the day of surgery and the day before and how scared I was of every sensation for the first few weeks. Now it is just life and it is so much simpler with 140# gone.  

Hi, I'm new to here and am thinking about getting the DS but am feeling fearful. It sounds like you have really great success and are very happy with the surgery. I have been wavering between the DS and Sleeve surgery. I'm not sure which to get as I have to lose 150 lbs or more. I noticed that you mentioned that it is a mostly protein diet. Can you eat carbs?  I was also wondering if you have had any complications and what the pros and cons of the surgery are. I would so appreciate any input you can give me on the surgery. I have been contemplating weight loss surgery for 10 years and I just want to make the right decision. 

Thanks...M

On carbs, the simpler the carbs the worse they seem to be for me in several ways. First off theres quite a lot of bloating, particularly if I eat bread or biscuits (cookies? I'm English) and that can be quite uncomfortable bordering on painful depending on how hard i hit them and then theres the issue of absorption. I'm pretty certain sugar is almost wholly digested by the body regardless of DS. This is because enzymes in the mouth can break it down and pass it straight into the bloodstream. So you get the double edged sword of dumping (spike or anticipated spike in blood sugar which the body then overcorrects with insulin and causes a big drop in blood sugar) and the fact that eating these carbs massively slows weight loss and can even cause regain (which is really quite difficult otherwise) DS gave me a life, whatever complaints i have pale in comparison to that. Hope this helps. Sarah x