One Year Surgiversary (with Pics)

SO here I am a few days past my One Year Surgiversary. It was last Thursday the 23rd. I have lost 165 pouinds including 20 lbs pre-op. Woop! Woop! My birthday happens to be the 25th so last year on my Birthday I was coming home from the Hospital. I think about how many years Birthdays or New Years would pass and I would say "next year". I have been someone who lost significant amounts of weight in my life but never kept it off. I lost 100lbs 5x and 75-80 lbs a few more times... I obviously never kept it off. This is the first time I have hope of keeping it off.

In my life my highest was around 420+ I didn't use a scale in those days. I started this journey at 383. I am 5'11" tall, and was a tight 28. Could have worn a 30/32 sometimes, but I just wouldn't buy it if I needed that size. Now I am a Large/size 14 in most things. There are the outliers that are 16's and 12s in my closet but I would say I am a 14. This is equal to the smallest size I have ever been in my adult life (28 years ago). That fact that I have a few Medium tops and size 12 dresses in my closet is amazing to me... that I could possibly be headed into medium clothes.... It is even hard to wrap my head sometimes around that now I can't shop in Plus sizes. They have size 14's but they are bigger than the regular 14s.

I attribute a good part of my success to following the rules and sticking with it. The old "slow and steady wins the race"... I would also add support is key. The support here, I come on almost every day as well as the support groups at my hospital and in my community. I am lucky to have great local support in the community with groups that are patient lead and have people from all different hospitals. They also do a bunch of fun things... like now I am taking a Martial Arts self-defense called Krav Maga because of a free class they sponsored.

Non Scale Victories -  we can all think of them, but one of the things I realize I don't have to think and worry so much. Will I fit into the booth? Will I fit into the chair? Will I break the chair? Do I need to order 2 seats on the Airplane? Am I feeling up to going up the stairs? You get the idea...

So thank you all for being here for Me... and here's to many more surgiversarys!!

Before Surgery on 7/23/14

Photos from this last week:

And on my Birthday - First my hanging out Vets on Motorcycles charity even look :) and Second, for my dinner out bought this outfit in May while in Chicago with my daughter-in-law... It was too small then. :)

I love seeing people's pictures, so I hop you do too. Thanks for sharing in my Journey. Cynthia

whoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooohooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!

Such an amazing transformation and journey.  You are such an inspiration, and I always appreciate your generosity in answering the questions and offering help to members of the OH community.  Wishing you only happy days ahead and continued success on your journey to a healthy life.

Thank You, that was so sweet.

Cynthia, congratulations!!!  I love this post.  The photos are beautiful.  Thanks for your inspiration over the past year.  You've done an amazing job. 

Thanks Lanie, You have been an inspiration too

You look amazing! My surgery is 1 week from tomorrow and i can only hope to have the results that you have.  This post hashelped to push sine of the nervousness away.  Thank you! 

I was a nervous wreck before surgery, I didn't necessarily tell other people that, otherwise they might try and convince me out of it... Good Luck!

YOU LOOK AMAZING!

You look wonderful and are very inspiring to me as we're of a similar size (well no longer for you of course)!  Congratulations on your success.  Here's to many more!