what a difference

what a difference a year makes!!  tomorrow will be 1 year since i have had open rny surgery in order to make myself feel better --  i can't thank my surgeon and his team enough --  they are still so helpful and very realistic when it comes to living day by day --  it's nice when you can be honest with your surgeon and nut and not have to lie about what you eat and how often and stuff --  they have never belittled me or ross -- and that's not found all too often in the medical field when it comes to obesity --  i also can't thank the members of this message board and the other message board that i frequent  enough for the information that everyone shares and is very open about their own journey's --  i have not stepped on the scale yet -- i will do that tomorrow morning before we leave for boston -- but i'm guessing that it will be an even 100 lbs lost in 1 year --   i have more confidence in myself --  i still haven't learned how to shop yet -- the other night in burlington coat factory i asked some teen what size she was buying and she said a Medium -- i had to ask her what size that was in numbers -- i ended up buying 2 winter coats -- one dress one ski jacket --  i still pay attention to what i eat --  i read nutrition labels and i can tell you want brand is lower in sugar than the other brand -- i never thought i would read nutrition labels and memorize them!  when we went to the doc's yesterday we actually took the stairs in the parking garage instead of the elevator --  i don't look for the 1st closest parking space anymore --  i can walk now --  i can breath now --  i can walk and breath at the same time now!  i'm not lazy anymore -- well a little bit --but nothing like a year ago --  i can share my lap with the dog --  i can cross my legs --  i don't feel the car 'bottom out' when we get into it anymore --  i don't have to pull into burger king -- in fact i have no idea why i used to -- that food just sounds gross now --  i have tried soda -- 3 times -- i don't miss it --  i ate halloween candy -- i don't miss that either --  i don't miss pasta or rice -- i have had it and it just taste pasty to me now --  i can spot a  person who has lost a substantial amout of weight in a crowd because of the skin  i don't look 'sick' because of the amount of weight i have lost --  i still research this surgery every day --  i try to pass on factual information to the new person who is researching any type of WLS --  i can tie my shoes --  i can button my jeans -- i can wear jeans!  i can do alot of things now that i wouldn't even attempt a yr ago because i knew that i would be out of breath in no time --  and i attempt new things :)  i have never had a complaint or a complication from WLS --  i have had many compliments tho :) if you are new -- educate yourself -- you are your own best advocate -- don't choose a surgeon just because he was the first one in google or yahoo or the phone book -- research them -- and it's not necessary to spend a fortune to have WLS -- if you follow the directions of your insurance plan then it will be paid for -- just follow the directions -- keep it simple -- don't complicate it -- you can not fail the 6 month diet -- you will be fine on a liquid diet if need be -- you don't have to drink protein shakes -- you can get all your protein requirements from real food -- not everyone's hair falls out -- not everyone has drains after surgery -- not everyone dumps -- everyone is different -- you are unique -- you can pave your own road in life -- what do you want? good luck to everyone :) and have a Happy Thanksgiving!! last year my thanksgiving meal consisted of morphine pump -- not too bad either -- and some very very nice nurses who took wonderful care of me  ok back to wrapping my g/sons clothes before we leave for boston in the morning take care roberta i am living today

HAPPY TURKEY TO YOU TOO.  HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY HOLIDAY. AND AMEN TO ALL U SAID HUGS, JACKI

Roberta, That was a goreous post.  Thank you for all of that - and congrats to everything you said. Have a wonderful turkey day - sans the morphine pump! Pam

Roberta, that was a wonderful post.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and Ross!!

Congratulations and Happy Surgiversary to you.  I absolutely agree that the surgical team at PA Hospot is the best.   I hope you and Ross had a great holiday. Talk to you soon. Jeanne

Roberta, Thank you for that posting..as someone who just had WLS 4 days ago, it's very inspirational.  Thanks for helping me with some things, like: that my progress, results, and experiences may be different from everyone elses. Thanks for being straight in your responses and not b.s.ing around.  I always enjoy reading your responses and your advice(which is always sound).  Just wanted to drop you a line to say thanks and to congratulate you on your anniversary and your successes!!!  We are neighbors(I live in Pitman, Gloucester Co.) and would love to meet up some time!!! Blythe 

great advice!!!! I second everything you said...it takes time to share/type wisdom and I really thank you for doing that..... That's why I love these boards in general...so much real, genuine, common sense advice to be gained here.... Bernadette

Hi Roberta, I went a way for the Thanksgiving Holiday!  So I didn't see your post till now.  I hope your Holiday was good, and Congratulations on your 1 year anniversary!!!  So when you stood on the scale what did it say, you probably lost over 100lbs, as good as your doing.  Well I wish you continued success and give me a call when you have a chance. Melissa

on thursday morning the scale on the floor said 130.4 -- loss of 98 lbs in 1 year -- i'll take it!!  my daughter was shocked to see me -- she said i didn't look like her mom  my daughters friend who has always been rail thin due to thyroid cancer since the age of 5 gave me some good tips on how to buy bras and where to shop for clothes  my g/f said i looked too thin  in the face some people didn't say anything at all because they didn't know what to say  some just dropped their jaws and said WOW  and of course i just sat back and soaked it all in :)  roberta

Congratulations Roberta!  You are awesome!!!