Four Years (with Pic)

Grim_Traveller
on 8/22/16 5:18 am

RNY on 08/21/12

Yesterday marked my four year surgiversary from RNY gastric bypass. If any of you are on the fence about this, run, don't walk, to your surgeon's office.

My high measured weight was 475 pounds. At 6"3", that was good for a BMI of 59.4. Today's weigh-in was 191.2, for a BMI of 23.9. I now weigh only 40% of what I once did.

It would take me too long to list all the positives. Simply put, everything is better. The negatives are small things. For instance, I still have a messed up idea about food, and what is a proper serving. When I see how little I can eat at a restaurant compared to what I once ate, it's almost embarrassing.

But that sort of stuff is in my head. I eat plenty, believe me. Most new postops would be shocked at how much I can eat compared to those first months. People who don't know me would never guess I'd had surgery. But it's hard to get rid of decades of meals where my eyes were most assuredly NOT bigger than my stomach.

I reached my final weight in a little under a year. My surgeon's goal was 250 pounds, my own goal was 225, and I have stayed within a few pounds of 191 for over 3 years. I have had three consecutive yearly checkups where my weight was within one pound. That has never, ever happened to me.

There have been a few keys to keeping me on the right path:

While I don't do any formal exercise, I walk a lot, and use a Fitbit to make sure my activity level stays the same from week to week. It's a fantastic invention.
I come to OH and read and post every day. One of the trends I noticed early out was people returning to OH from a prolonged absence. Every post started with "Hi everyone, I haven't posted for a long time, haven't weighed myself, and all of a sudden, I'm up 40 pounds." I was not going to let that be me. I'm here every day, and I weigh every day.
And last, MyFitnessPal and a $15 kitchen scale have been a godsend. I started weighing and logging my food about two weeks after surgery, when I started on soft foods. For those who think it is too much work and effort, I started because I was lazy. My nutritionists wanted a food diary, and I figured doing it online was easier that keeping a paper journal. At home, I weigh and log every bite, good, bad, and ugly. Today is my 1448th consecutive day logging food. I would absolutely, positively be eating more if I didn't.

Thanks to all of you who are here and contribute. You keep me coming back. In addition to meeting my fantastic, wonderful, incredible girlfriend through OH, I have met a number of amazing people, both online and in real life. You've all been a greater help to me than you can ever know.

I'm sorry for being so long-winded. Here is my 4 year picture, taken this morning by JB.

6'3" tall, male.

Highest weight was 475. RNY on 08/21/12. Current weight: 198.

M1 -24; M2 -21; M3 -19; M4 -21; M5 -13; M6 -21; M7 -10; M8 -16; M9 -10; M10 -8; M11 -6; M12 -5.

Deanna798
on 8/22/16 5:26 am

RNY on 08/04/15

Congrats, Grim! You have been such a positive role model to me over the last year. I want to say thank you for keeping it real with those of us who need to be smacked around occasionally. You have done so incredibly well, and have been such a positive force here on OH. It's those of you that have been here for years that keep me coming back every single day, even when I'm struggling to stay on plan. I KNOW that my success is only possible if I keep this lifestyle at the forefront in my life,and seeing you and the rest of the regulars here everyday keeps me here.

You have rocked your journey! Congratulations on 4 years of health! You deserve to be happy and healthy!

Age: 44 | Height: 5' 3" | Starting January 2015: 291 | RNY 8/4/15 with Dr. Arthur Carlin| Goal: 150

Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise. ~Proverbs 19:20

(deactivated member)
on 8/22/16 5:33 am, edited 8/21/16 10:54 pm

Congratulations. I think all of us here are really lucky to have your support and your insight on WLS.

You are a great person who is always there and you do care. You are not here to be a ball buster. Even though you do have a very good sense of humor.

Have a great day. Keep staying here and helping us all.

peachpie
on 8/22/16 5:35 am - Philadelphia, PA

RNY on 04/28/15

Awesome job Grim!

5'6.5" High weight:337 Lowest weight:193/31 BMI: Goal: 195-205/31-32 BMI

karenp8
on 8/22/16 5:36 am - Brighton, IL

Congratulations on 4 years of good health,Grim. I'm so glad you hang around here every day to keep us all on our Toes! Great job!

Kakesie
on 8/22/16 5:37 am

RNY on 02/19/16

Looking AWESOME, Grim! JB is one lucky lady!!! Congratulations on your 4 year Surgiversary! You are amazing and such a wonderful source of support to the rest of us! Thanks for being you!

Daisydoo02
on 8/22/16 5:37 am - GTA, Ontario, Canada

RNY on 11/15/13

Congratulations Grim on your 4 year surgiversay! Congrats on your incredible weight loss!

Thank you for being you! When I was first post op back in late 2013/early 2014 I was really a lost scared woman, someone turned me on to OH and I joined when I was a few months post op and it was your posts that I looked for on a regular basis. I was blown away by your success and whenever I had a question in my head sure enough when I logged on there would be words of wisdom and nuggets of info posted by you. You are one of the reasons I am so successful, so I thank you!!

I whole hardheartedly agree with all of your points above, Fitbit (yup got one), come on OH daily (yup I do), use MFP and a scale (yes to both), all major keys to our post WLS successes.

I feel blessed to be one of the people who can call you a friend and to have met you and your fabulous girlfriend JB in real life. You two are awesome examples of post WLS life and truly amazing people (hubby and I miss you two)!!

Not that I need to say it, but keep up the awesome work, and thank you for all you do for us in OH land!

BIG HUGS

Daisy