I HAVE CHIP ON MY SHOULDER - 6 YEARS POST-OP TODAY FINALLY!!! ...Snippets of my...

At 6:00 a.m. in the morning on 2/5/07 I was being admitted for Gastric Bypass Surgery, doctor's first case of the day.  I remember the emotions ranging from butterflies in my stomach ... to anxiety... to panic ... to excitement .. to expectations.. to fear .. REPEAT over and over and over again all night long on the pre-op night.... BUT by morning time something had changed ... determination and longing for a healthier life without co-morbidities and limited mobility set in ... I wanted LIFE with QUALITY and QUANTITY of life combined ... to further enjoy my awesome family and friends and peers and the great host of cyberposters on here .. some that I have met IRL and others that I have maintained close contact with....

Through it all I have tracked my journey in a digital empowerment journal that I named "A picture a day keeps the pounds and the inches away" a goofy tool that works for me .... My comparison collages keep me in remembrance of where I was at and where I am ...I like to see the difference/feel the difference and most of all KEEP the difference.

My knees no longer hurt and my Achilles are strong enough to hit the pavement in a run or a sprint from a 5 to 10 to 20K you name it I have ran so many road races and will continue to do so that I have lost count ... I can shake my body to the music in intense aerobics ... or strengthen my muscles in weights ... pilates, body sculpting, Bikram, Swimming, Reformer you name it are my friends ...

What a difference in 6 years ... I went from a maximum recorded weight of 327 pounds to a total weight loss of 203 pounds and I have been in steady maintenance for 6 years now.  Diabetes, hyperlipidemia, sleep apnea, hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux and limited mobility are a note from the past as long as I keep on track which I intend to do ... I do not want to go back to twice daily glucovance nor toprol XL nor nexium nor c-pap nor zetia ... 

With a great vitamin regimen and lab monitoring I am healthy and mobile and living my life one day at a time, one choice at a time enjoying every single moment .... I treat each day as a gift and I am determined to make the most of all of it ...

Today on my 6th year surgiversary I made my empowerment collage... YESTERDAY AND NOW - SIX YEARS AFTER....

I went from having limited mobility to being able to run, jump, squat, swim and repeat ...

I even did a SITTING before and after collage this morning... YUP THERE I AM SITTING WITH CHIP ON MY SHOULDER!!!

CHIP is my awesome pocketbook poodle and surgivesary gift... he came home on Friday 2/1/13 in my pocketbook...

and is the cutest 'lil thing along with his brother Pierre and sister Pierretta who are toy poodles...

My awesome dogs are an addition to my life routine and I love them soooooooooo much ... I have always dreamt of having a huge old house with big yards and 4 dogs ... I can't wait to complete my dream before going back to Panamá....

If I were to pick words to describe my feelings post weight lost surgery I would definitely say grateful, healthy, mobile, happier than ever ... no regrets ....

My love life was great before surgery and it is as awesome now as together we grow older and enjoy our children with the expectation of having grandchildren some day ... in the interim we have our beautiful ferrets and our poodles and we are happy .... chasing dogs and ferrets LOL.... My DH is soooooooooo happy ... these dogs have worked wonders with him too ... he was tending to get depressed being disabled and all...

HAPPY SURGIVERSARY TO ME!!! Thank you for allowing me to share.... SNIPPETS OF MY JOURNEY ... 6 years post-op WOOT!

THANKS OH ... FOR ALLOWING ME TO SHARE AND TO RECEIVE AWESOME SUPPORT AND INSPIRATION FROM ALL YOUR MEMBERS PAYING IT FORWARD ON HERE ... SHARING EXPERIENCES/INFORMATION AND HELPING EACH OTHER BECAUSE AFTER ALL WE ARE BROTHERS AND SISTERS ON THE JOURNEY IMO...

I AM GRATEFUL!!!

You are awesome!  Congrats on such a fulfilling life.  You have been and continue to be such an inspiration to me.

You are gorgeous inside and out!

Thank you so much Kim for being such a great inspiration and support during my entire journey on here sharing my goofy snippets ... you have made my journey soooooooooooo happy especially seeing/feeling your support to me and soooooooooo many others on here ... THANK YOU for being an awesome friend of OH!!!

Happy Anniversary!!!!!  You look fantastic, congratulations.  Red IS your color, way to rock that dress.

Thank YOU Cajun!!! Your encouragement is invaluable .... YOU are such an inspiration yourself... you rock your journey sooooo awesomely and are always encouraging so many along the way.... Congrats to YOU!!! you ARE an inspiration to MANY of us...

Congratulations Martitalinda:

You are awesome as always!  You Rock!  Please keep posting your snippets, they are wonderful motivation for the rest of us too!

Thank you TESS!!! You are so beautiful ALWAYS.... 

Not quite the chip on your shoulder I was expecting to read about! I always enjoy seeing pics of your dogs and ferrets, and I really love seeing the pictures of your amazing transformation. Congrats on the milestone, my beautiful sister!

Thank YOU beautiful!!! That 'lil Chip on my shoulder is quite a character ... he barely weighs a pound and a half and he thinks he is mighty LOL ... and is a brat too.... Thank you so much for your support and encouragement always!

Thanks for your story it made my day.