Two Year Surgiversary Today!
Hi Karen,
Happy Surgiversary!
I don't spend quite as much time at the computer on weekends thanks to this new life that WLS has given me, so I missed your post on Saturday, but what a beautiful testament to the life that you are now living and enjoying.
You are one of the many on here who was so welcoming when I came to this board almost a year ago as a pre-op looking for support. As I read your post, I could relate to so much of what you had to say and I am still less than a year post-op, but part of the things that jumped out to me, were your description of those pictures before WLS and the part about no longer feeling restricted because of the physical aspects of obesity. Like you, I feel a sense of freedom, I no longer trudge through each day, instead I am zipping and feeling as though each day is a blessed event to be lived and experienced fully! Thanks for your experience and love, I think it's appropriate that you live in such beautiful surroundings, they only enhance the beauty that shines through you!
God Bless you and I hope one day to give you an up close and personal hug, in the meantime, I'm sending you a cyber one!
Hugs, Laureen
My Mantra is that I do not determine my success by the number hanging in my closet, nor will I let the scale determine that success either. . . It is through trial and error I will continue to grow and succeed. . . Laureen
"Success is a journey, not a destination." Ben Sweetland
I remember when you first came into the OFF........and I identified with you because my own entrance was timid and hopeful, but full of questions and fears of being a failure. The gifts since surgery just keep coming and coming, and sometimes I forget to be thankful.
Life is now being lived, and thoughts of "I can't do that" are more rare these days than they used to be. I smile and express gratitude to my "Big Kahuna" when I read of the adventures of our sisters in here because I KNOW, as we all KNOW that when they were at their highest weight.....they would NOT have been trying any of those kinds of things.
Thank you so much for being such an active sister in here...and for your sweet words of congratulations. You keep up the great work you are doing, too! A success story for sure.
Aloha nui loa,
Maui Karen
You are such an important part of our OFF family, and I appreciate your participating so honestly and openly.
Thank you so much for your congrats!!
Aloha nui loa,
Maui Karen
Happy two-year re-birth-day Karen! 
You've done so well! I forgot to post mine Friday, which was my two-year. Am down to 131 lbs, and had hovered in the low 140s for quite some time and fingured that's where my body wanted to be...Well, had two episodes of idiosyncric edema, and put on prescribed Lasix for twelve months. During the elephant-sized extremities, one day weighed 158--knew something was very wrong! Actually had lost 29 (yes 29) pounds in four weeks from 158 to 129! So now I strive to stay between 130 and 134. And what a re-birth it has been! Keep up the fantabulous work and have a great day! Lots of love and hugs galore, Patti
I'm sorry you had an episode of edema.....I'm afraid I don't know what that is, but it sounds awful. Hopefully you are all over that, and happily living life as a "normal" sized person.
Thank you so much for coming in and sharing. It means so much to me...especially from people who had surgery at the same time as I did.
I'm very thankful this morning because as I've experimented with maintenance, it seems I can eat a lot of good food and still stay right around the same weight. Last night I nibbled all evening on protein bars, light ice cream bars, nuts, steamed clams in butter/garlic sauce and soy crisps and thought I'd gain this morning...but nadda.
Keep up the great work, and thanks again!
Aloha nui loa,
Maui Karen
