8 Month Surgiversary Update

8 Months ago today I had RNY surgery at St. Joe's in Toronto, and what a ride it has been! I'm down 117 Lbs. When I started Opti, I was 304 Lbs, and this morning I was 187. It's so hard to believe.

I've been sick for a month and haven't been able to be as active as I like, until the past 4 days, where I've finally been able to get back on track. Today I walked for 3 hours, yesterday I went bike riding, the day before my friend and I went on a two hour nature hike through some very hilly terrain, and the day before that I hiked alone on an easy, flat trail for an hour. So it feels great to be moving again.

My weight loss has slowed down a lot, but the NSV's are better than ever. Today I fit into size 12 pants! I was so happy I was jumping up and down in the change room. I feel euphoric! I was wearing size 24 pants, very tight size 24's, pre op, and now I can fit into a 12! I'm half the size I used to be! That totally blows my mind.

When my friend and I went hiking, we chose super hilly trails with rough terrain; loose gravel, big rocks, huge tree roots, muddy dirt, etc., and I was able to do all of those hills without needing my asthma inhaler, and not only that, I talked the whole time, even going uphill. That is miraculous to me, because I could never do hills before, let alone talk while doing them. Especially after just going through a long bout of bronchitis. I had a harder time going down the hills than up (my balance is not great, lol). I can't believe it.

My weight and my asthma were crippling before, and now I feel like I've been freed from the prison of my body. I hated my body, not just because of how it looked, but because of how many restrictions I had. It is so freeing to be able to walk for hours, to ride my bike, to KNOW I can do these things.

Every year a local farmer makes a giant corn maze and every year I want to go. At Halloween, he hires students to dress up and scare everyone in the maze, and it's so much fun, but it can take upward of 2 hours to go through the maze (more in the dark with a flashlight, lol) so I haven't been able to go in over 15 years, probably closer to 20 years. This year I'm going! And I know I can do it. I don't have to worry that I won't be able to keep up with my friends. Some of my friends have a hard time keeping up with me now. That is such a huge change.

This surgery has given me my life back. It's the best thing I've ever done for myself. I'm so glad I didn't chicken out, lol.

Here are some photos from the hike the other day:

Thank you all for your support. Big hugs!

Beautiful pictures ! and Congratulations to your whole success story. You are doing such an amazing job and you always inspire me!!

Thank you so much! I'm blessed to live in such a beautiful area.

Kathy, I smiled the whole read through your post. Your journey is really amazing. You are son inspiring to me since we're so similar... similar starting weights, similar health issues. You give me so much hope.

Today is my one month surgiversary and as I read your post, I am already no longer a very tight size 24 pant (which is where I also started)... but I can't even imagine being half my size in 7 more months. I used to think "maybe". As the journey has started, it's seemed tougher in some ways than ever. Yet, a month has past and weight is coming off.

Thank you for your renewed inspiration and always sharing your journey.

Thank you so much! Hang on to that hope with both hands and watch what happens. You're doing great! The weight will continue to come off and soon you'll be saying you've lost half your size as well too! It's a great tool.

I'm so looking forward to seeing the rest of your journey.

Thanks Kathy. :)

Kathy and I had surgery close to the same time- and I was also wearing tight 24s and now wearing size 12s. I also bought a few skirts 2nd hand that the lady said were large- 2 were a size 10 and 1 was a size 8- 2 of them fit - including the size 8- it's stretchy and a big make but still- that was so exciting for me. So believe me- it's definitely doable and I'm sure you will get there.

Thanks Teena! It's crazy some days to believe it!! I appreciate your response :)

Very inspiring, I am so looking forward to getting further in my journey!

Thank you!