2 YEARS post OP...how time flies SWIMSUIT ED.
My posts have become few and far between, something I did not expect to happen. But I wanted to do an update as I celebrate my 2 year surgiversary to let you know that I'm here, doing well, and to encourage anyone on the fence, on in the difficult first stage of the surgery that time WILL pass (fly, in fact), and the surgery DOES work. And soon you too will be asking where two years went.
Drumroll...the unveiling of swimsuit photoshoot 2012...
The rest of the post goes as followed: I gab, I give you my stats, I gab a lot more, and then there are pictures. Feel free to skip the gabbing :) That being said, I'd be more than happy to answer any questions you have to the best of my knowledge. Thanks for caring!
I had the vertical sleeve gastrectomy on May 26, 2010. My sister (blair94 to you, I think) also had the surgery the same day, about 2 hours later. Talk about testing my parents' blood pressure. This is probably the best gift I can imagine receiving. It was truly the gift of life, I believe. My parents paid, out of pocket for this. I know that it is by no means a small expense--but my recommendation to you is FIND A WAY. And believe me, I am not the type of person to give glowing reports of the surgery without good cause...this is a complete reversal from how I felt after the surgery (if you don't believe me, check out some of my early blogs). So if you are just a couple weeks out, feeling hungry, wiped out, and generally pissed off about the fact that you had the surgery, are hungry AND still fat, I can completely relate. Take a deep breath, take a prilosec, and then come back here to hear about my story.
If you want to see my year post-op blog, go here:
http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/brownblonde/blog/2011/05/
I kept regular posts for the first year.
Stats:
Start weight: 277lbs.
1 year post-op: 164lbs. (-113lbs.), size 8/10
18 months post-op: 151lbs. (-126lbs.), size 8, few 6's
2 years post-op: 150-151...maintaining now, size 6, even tried on a couple 4's but don't dare wear!
Measurements:
Waist: 46.5 to 33
Bicep: 18 to 11.5
Chest: 48 to 36
Hip: 49.5 to 38
Thigh: 33.5 to 23
Dress size: from 20W to 6 misses
Two years ago I was wheeled into that surgery room weighing 277lbs. I had a good life. Sure, I had the minor annoyances of being overweight (okay, maybe not so minor, and I will go into more detail later), but I had really no major health problems. I'll be honest, my greatest motivation in having the surgery was for the appearance, and maybe moreso that I wouldn't have to constantly wonder if the treatment I received was due to my weight. There was this great cloud of "what if" that followed me around. "Were those whispers directed at me?" "Would that guy have asked me out if I were thin?" "Was this professor treating me differently because of my weight?" "Was I not asked to be a bridesmaid because I'm too fat?" Some of these are fair questions, some were not. In either case, I wanted to live life free of these haunting questions. I knew life as a thin person (and I can attest to this now) would not be all roses. But I wanted the benefit of knowing this was life. Not wondering if this is life because I'm fat.
The important things don't change. My sister and I sat at the computer looking through old photos the other day. At first I was aghast at the "old" me staring back. How could she get so big?! She looked sickly! She must've been terribly unhappy. Yes, it is a shock at first to see myself 125lbs. larger. But after a few photos flipped I remembered that girl. I identified with her and I remember that, while she was not treated as well by others or by myself as she deserved, while her choice of clothing was greatly limited, and while she experienced fat annoyances like not being able to cross her legs, in the scheme of things, life was and remains pretty good. My life has good bones and it still does. As I looked through holiday photos I remembered that the people who were most there for me then are still my rocks. I have a wonderful family and close-knit group of people who love me and they are still the most important influences on my life. They are thrilled with my surgery in that, as my mom puts it, "I'm just so happy that now everyone else can see the 'you' I always saw." Awwww
I onced posted "My favorite things" about all the things I imagined life would be like post-surgery
http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/brownblonde/blog/2010/04/
I can tell you that I've experienced some, not all though. My feet aren't as fat, but I still have trouble wearing heels too much! I got a pair of boots last Christmas and I love wearing boots. I wear skirts and dresses tons now. I like going out and getting attention. I still have a "rounder" face and don't wear my hair up so much, I still hate exercise, my legs still sweat together, and I absolutely do have a fear of swimsuits (unless my fab sis is taking the photos and I'm posting on OH for my surgiversary!).
Things I love best about not being 277lbs. anymore:
I can find an outfit anywhere, anytime, for any event. I would end up in tears at my wit's end too often in the past, feeling desperate and like I couldn't wear anything for a special occasion.
Never having to think about my size with regard to chairs, narrow corridors, etc. I liken it to having a "boat" car where you have to consider where you can "park" or not. Now I can sit anywhere!
CROSSING MY LEGS. This is the absolute best thing in the world. Probably worth the price of surgery, alone.
Not always having to pull my britches up. Especially when it's raining, and you're holding your bag, umbrella, and trying to keep your pants up!
Underthings that fit!
Purses stay on my shoulders better.
People treat me like a normal person...which sometimes carries with it the unfortunate experience of hearing what people really think of overweight people (I *knew* it. For all those people who said weight didn't really matter, well let me tell you what I've had confided in me is not very nice to former me)
Just living...everything from go-karting to skiing to white water rafting. These are all things I never even tried in the past.
Now for the photos:
Before:
Photoshoot 2012:
Thanksgiving 2011
Drumroll...the unveiling of swimsuit photoshoot 2012...
The rest of the post goes as followed: I gab, I give you my stats, I gab a lot more, and then there are pictures. Feel free to skip the gabbing :) That being said, I'd be more than happy to answer any questions you have to the best of my knowledge. Thanks for caring!
I had the vertical sleeve gastrectomy on May 26, 2010. My sister (blair94 to you, I think) also had the surgery the same day, about 2 hours later. Talk about testing my parents' blood pressure. This is probably the best gift I can imagine receiving. It was truly the gift of life, I believe. My parents paid, out of pocket for this. I know that it is by no means a small expense--but my recommendation to you is FIND A WAY. And believe me, I am not the type of person to give glowing reports of the surgery without good cause...this is a complete reversal from how I felt after the surgery (if you don't believe me, check out some of my early blogs). So if you are just a couple weeks out, feeling hungry, wiped out, and generally pissed off about the fact that you had the surgery, are hungry AND still fat, I can completely relate. Take a deep breath, take a prilosec, and then come back here to hear about my story.
If you want to see my year post-op blog, go here:
http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/brownblonde/blog/2011/05/
I kept regular posts for the first year.
Stats:
Start weight: 277lbs.
1 year post-op: 164lbs. (-113lbs.), size 8/10
18 months post-op: 151lbs. (-126lbs.), size 8, few 6's
2 years post-op: 150-151...maintaining now, size 6, even tried on a couple 4's but don't dare wear!
Measurements:
Waist: 46.5 to 33
Bicep: 18 to 11.5
Chest: 48 to 36
Hip: 49.5 to 38
Thigh: 33.5 to 23
Dress size: from 20W to 6 misses
Two years ago I was wheeled into that surgery room weighing 277lbs. I had a good life. Sure, I had the minor annoyances of being overweight (okay, maybe not so minor, and I will go into more detail later), but I had really no major health problems. I'll be honest, my greatest motivation in having the surgery was for the appearance, and maybe moreso that I wouldn't have to constantly wonder if the treatment I received was due to my weight. There was this great cloud of "what if" that followed me around. "Were those whispers directed at me?" "Would that guy have asked me out if I were thin?" "Was this professor treating me differently because of my weight?" "Was I not asked to be a bridesmaid because I'm too fat?" Some of these are fair questions, some were not. In either case, I wanted to live life free of these haunting questions. I knew life as a thin person (and I can attest to this now) would not be all roses. But I wanted the benefit of knowing this was life. Not wondering if this is life because I'm fat.
The important things don't change. My sister and I sat at the computer looking through old photos the other day. At first I was aghast at the "old" me staring back. How could she get so big?! She looked sickly! She must've been terribly unhappy. Yes, it is a shock at first to see myself 125lbs. larger. But after a few photos flipped I remembered that girl. I identified with her and I remember that, while she was not treated as well by others or by myself as she deserved, while her choice of clothing was greatly limited, and while she experienced fat annoyances like not being able to cross her legs, in the scheme of things, life was and remains pretty good. My life has good bones and it still does. As I looked through holiday photos I remembered that the people who were most there for me then are still my rocks. I have a wonderful family and close-knit group of people who love me and they are still the most important influences on my life. They are thrilled with my surgery in that, as my mom puts it, "I'm just so happy that now everyone else can see the 'you' I always saw." Awwww
I onced posted "My favorite things" about all the things I imagined life would be like post-surgery
http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/brownblonde/blog/2010/04/
I can tell you that I've experienced some, not all though. My feet aren't as fat, but I still have trouble wearing heels too much! I got a pair of boots last Christmas and I love wearing boots. I wear skirts and dresses tons now. I like going out and getting attention. I still have a "rounder" face and don't wear my hair up so much, I still hate exercise, my legs still sweat together, and I absolutely do have a fear of swimsuits (unless my fab sis is taking the photos and I'm posting on OH for my surgiversary!).
Things I love best about not being 277lbs. anymore:
I can find an outfit anywhere, anytime, for any event. I would end up in tears at my wit's end too often in the past, feeling desperate and like I couldn't wear anything for a special occasion.
Never having to think about my size with regard to chairs, narrow corridors, etc. I liken it to having a "boat" car where you have to consider where you can "park" or not. Now I can sit anywhere!
CROSSING MY LEGS. This is the absolute best thing in the world. Probably worth the price of surgery, alone.
Not always having to pull my britches up. Especially when it's raining, and you're holding your bag, umbrella, and trying to keep your pants up!
Underthings that fit!
Purses stay on my shoulders better.
People treat me like a normal person...which sometimes carries with it the unfortunate experience of hearing what people really think of overweight people (I *knew* it. For all those people who said weight didn't really matter, well let me tell you what I've had confided in me is not very nice to former me)
Just living...everything from go-karting to skiing to white water rafting. These are all things I never even tried in the past.
Now for the photos:
Before:
Photoshoot 2012:
Thanksgiving 2011
Hey Brownblonde!
You are inspiring (and darn cute in that bathing suit, just to be able to wear a two-piece- don't fret it, you look great in it!!)
Happy you stopped in, and gave such a cool update! I've hit my one year, and couldn't be happier.. and I remember reading your posts back when I started lurking on OH well before that! (hugs) to you, enjoy your trip (it's coming up- right?) and have fun in and out of the water!
You are inspiring (and darn cute in that bathing suit, just to be able to wear a two-piece- don't fret it, you look great in it!!)
Happy you stopped in, and gave such a cool update! I've hit my one year, and couldn't be happier.. and I remember reading your posts back when I started lurking on OH well before that! (hugs) to you, enjoy your trip (it's coming up- right?) and have fun in and out of the water!
Wow! What an inspiration you are! Thanks for posting! I was a little down in the dumps today cause I was 214 on sat. and been at 216 all week. I know I am doing what I am supposed to do and it will come off but it is such a mental battle!
Congrats on your success and new life!!!
Congrats on your success and new life!!!
VSG 3/07/12 HW:260 SW: 249 CW:164
Hey Woman! I remember you from my Newbie days! Thanks for posting the update and it's great to hear from you! You look fabulous, awesome, beautiful!!!!
Deb
Deb
Goal Reached in 12.5 Months
HW: 274 Pre-OpW: 266 SW: 254 CW: 125 GW: 145
You must permanently change your lifestyle if you want your weight loss to be permanent. You can do it!
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