Happy surgiversary to me
I'm officially past my one year surgiversary now and down what amount to just about half of my former self as my daughter pointed out. It was not a year without bumps in the road. Not unexpected, but certainly more rocky than I had anticipated. Everyone here warns of the "roller coaster," but for those of us who think we know better, there is not warning enough.
My ride included a couple of strictures and a gall bladder removal plus about six months of being altogether sick and miserable, but for the most part that is behind me now. I still have bad days where the pouch reminds me he is there, but most days, I am in control.
They say that a picture is worth a thousand words. And that's truly the case except in cases where the picture is one's "mental picture" of himself. And then the picture becomes invaluable and sometime frightening.
I remember in 1979 or so, going to a hospital sponsored weight loss program. It was a 26 week program with meetings, weigh-ins, nutritional training, exercise training, forced support group, etc. For the first 13 weeks, participants ate only a liquid supplement for each meal. No food at all, only the nutritionally balanced liquid formula. After that, you were reintroduced to foods slowly and trained a healthier way of eating, etc.
Part of the initial screening was an exercise where we were shown a series of perhaps 8 drawings of people, beginning with a very underweight person and becoming progressively heavier. We were asked to indicate which of the drawings looked most like our body type. I discovered that I simply didn't have an accurate picture of myself. In fact, none of us did. We all saw ourselves as thinner than we were. Odd considering we were all in a weight loss program.
My contention is that our incorrect body image has a great deal of influence in keeping us heavy. If I cannot see myself as heavy, I am not motivated to do anything about it. Beyond that, once the weight comes off, I do not see myself as thinner. And, therefore it becomes easier to let a few pounds slip back on. And then a few more ... The "fun house mirror" through which I see my body creates a real problem. Or at least it has in the past.
Today at my one year surgeon follow up visit, I got a big boost in my fight against an incorrect body image. The staff showed me a picture of myself from my first office visit. Heavier by nearly 200 pounds, BMI in the high 50s, blood pressure thru the roof and diabetic to a point of being out of control. I looked in the mirror and saw a new person for the first time in a long while. And I renewed a commitment to look beyond the fun house mirror of body image and stay focused on the new me. Thanks to all for your help in keeping me focused over this past year. And, let's all try to remain focused in the coming year.
My ride included a couple of strictures and a gall bladder removal plus about six months of being altogether sick and miserable, but for the most part that is behind me now. I still have bad days where the pouch reminds me he is there, but most days, I am in control.
They say that a picture is worth a thousand words. And that's truly the case except in cases where the picture is one's "mental picture" of himself. And then the picture becomes invaluable and sometime frightening.
I remember in 1979 or so, going to a hospital sponsored weight loss program. It was a 26 week program with meetings, weigh-ins, nutritional training, exercise training, forced support group, etc. For the first 13 weeks, participants ate only a liquid supplement for each meal. No food at all, only the nutritionally balanced liquid formula. After that, you were reintroduced to foods slowly and trained a healthier way of eating, etc.
Part of the initial screening was an exercise where we were shown a series of perhaps 8 drawings of people, beginning with a very underweight person and becoming progressively heavier. We were asked to indicate which of the drawings looked most like our body type. I discovered that I simply didn't have an accurate picture of myself. In fact, none of us did. We all saw ourselves as thinner than we were. Odd considering we were all in a weight loss program.
My contention is that our incorrect body image has a great deal of influence in keeping us heavy. If I cannot see myself as heavy, I am not motivated to do anything about it. Beyond that, once the weight comes off, I do not see myself as thinner. And, therefore it becomes easier to let a few pounds slip back on. And then a few more ... The "fun house mirror" through which I see my body creates a real problem. Or at least it has in the past.
Today at my one year surgeon follow up visit, I got a big boost in my fight against an incorrect body image. The staff showed me a picture of myself from my first office visit. Heavier by nearly 200 pounds, BMI in the high 50s, blood pressure thru the roof and diabetic to a point of being out of control. I looked in the mirror and saw a new person for the first time in a long while. And I renewed a commitment to look beyond the fun house mirror of body image and stay focused on the new me. Thanks to all for your help in keeping me focused over this past year. And, let's all try to remain focused in the coming year.
KenHud
RNY 5/17/10 highest: 407 lb - maintaining a loss of 200+ pounds and enjoying life
RNY 5/17/10 highest: 407 lb - maintaining a loss of 200+ pounds and enjoying life
Glad you're doing better...Yeah, there can be some bumps in the road. I'm sure there were many of those days when you were saying..."WHAT HAVE I GOT MYSELF INTO"!! After my RNY I had to go home with a cathater for about 10 days. One of those "what have I... But it gets better. You can do so much more...Be out there living life rather than looking in from the sidelines. Soon the maintaining will become the focus...A whole nother set of issues. Enjoy the ride...
I totally can relate to what you are saying about body image. I never saw myself as big as other people did. Even when I was over 500 lbs and wearing 7X clothing I was able to get around and just avoided things that I knew I couldn't do (airplanes, amusement parks, booths, hiking, etc...). This surgery has been extremely liberating for me and my body is rapidly getting to be the size it should be. I am thankful that I finally mustered up the courage to have it and am not looking back.
Look at what you've done in a year. Losing half of yourself and and removing all of those co-morbidities. You are an inspiration and I look forward to following your progress as you enter into a maintenance phase soon. I'm hoping that I can have nearly as good results as you at my 1 year anniversary. Keep it up!
Look at what you've done in a year. Losing half of yourself and and removing all of those co-morbidities. You are an inspiration and I look forward to following your progress as you enter into a maintenance phase soon. I'm hoping that I can have nearly as good results as you at my 1 year anniversary. Keep it up!
9/9/09: Highest Weight: 506.5 lbs 9/20/10: Tufts Start Weight: 492.4 lbs
2/7/11: Surgery Wt: 462.5 lbs. 9/16/12: Current Weight: 287.8 lbs.
4/15/12: First 5K - BAA 5K - PR 35:49
OneFinger
on 5/19/11 12:10 pm
on 5/19/11 12:10 pm
Your progress in a short year is amazing!! Congratulations.
I can totally relate to the body image issue. I recently saw a picture of myself that was taken last summer. I had no idea how big I had become. Even at my all-time top weight, I was able to somehow overlook the truth and "saw" myself as a smaller person.
Now, I don't mind having my picture taken and I see myself in a different light.
Keep up the good work.
I can totally relate to the body image issue. I recently saw a picture of myself that was taken last summer. I had no idea how big I had become. Even at my all-time top weight, I was able to somehow overlook the truth and "saw" myself as a smaller person.
Now, I don't mind having my picture taken and I see myself in a different light.
Keep up the good work.
High Weight = 310 Surgery Weight = 300 Dr's Goal = 200 My Goal = 190 
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