The "easy" way out...5 years and counting!!!

Well well well so I said it WLS is by far the EASIEST way I have lost weight and maintained (for the most part).  The EASIEST way I only gain 5lbs on vacation.  The EASIEST way I have been able to get back on track after said vacation.

I know some of you WLS people loathe when folks says you took "the easy way out' by having surgery.  But stop and think in 2012 don't most of the things you do in your daily life take the easy way?  When was the last time you did NOT hop in your car and "run" to the store right up the street?  How often do you wash clothes using a wash board and hang them out to dry?  Look up a word using the HARDBACK of Websters Dictionary?  I was on WW for YEARS on and off and I never achieved that 10% key chain.  I dieted and never lost more then 30-45lbs.  WW was HARD.  While I don't have the history that most of you have...especially since I LOVED being fat (although I was aware how unhealthy I was), this is by FAR the easiest thing I've done to LOSE weight and so far maintain over 50% of my EXCESS weight loss.

Has EVERY aspect of WLS been easy.  Well NO, but just like having a car I've run out of gas (**** gas was almost 5 bucks a gallon), I've had a blown engine, needed various repairs, but you DON'T see me walking everyday and *****ing about how HARD it is owning a car...WHY...because no matter the pain of owning a car it's EASIER then the alternative of walking everywhere??

So here I sit 5 flipping YEARS out from my decision to have WLS.  I had my 5 year ANNUAL (thank you for keeping up with me Kaiser) labs and check up yesterday.  While I was 10lbs UP from last year, I have managed to maintain over 50% loss of my excess weight which makes me a WLS success as far as MY perception and the stats.  Never in my life had I ever lost more then 45lbs total...going from my heaviest 345 to my maintenance weight of 300lbs (and this went on from age 25-37 when I finally made the decision that I needed surgical intervention.)  In September 2006 I weighed 325lbs so I joined WW yet again.  Hoping to get the 25lbs off and back to my 300 "maintenance" weight.  My mother celebrated her 76th birthday that month.  It was her LAST birthday.  My mother died December 8, 2006 from obesity related illnesses.  It was THAT moment that I woke up and realized I had to do something more then WW.  By the time my mother died I had lost a whopping 7lbs in 3 months on WW.  My research lead me to my Gastric Sleeve.

I won't bore you (if you are still reading) with all the "small" details of the last 5 years.  They are available to read on my profile at your leisure...

What inspired my post was not just the 5 year anniversary of my WLS, but the fact that I just spent 10 days on vacation, eating whatever I wanted, when I wanted (my fat girl isn't DEAD she's just CONTROLLED) and YES I gained weight, approximately 6lbs, but what amazed me most...wait for it.

TODAY when I woke up it was EASY to get back on track.  I did enjoy the last few days since vacation enjoying some foods here and there, but I had already resolved when I stepped on the plane 16 days ago, then when Saturday the 1st hit I would be back to my new "norm."  Here I am the girl who could never lose more then 45lbs.  The girl who never saw under 300lbs for 20 YEARS.  The girl who LOVED her fat life eating what she wanted when she wanted.  That girl who I love like no other woke up this morning made her cup of protein coffee, planned out her meals for today and is ready to get back to her NEW lifestyle.

While I struggle (almost everyday) it's EASY to make the BETTER choices.  It's EASY to not have crap in my house because I know I will eat it.  It's EASY to fall back in my new "habits."  It's EASY to remember why I had surgery.

Ms Shell

Thanks =)

Congrats on FIVE years - that's great !  And congrats on being happy with the decision after five years, even better.

Did you enjoy Thailand?  Great place, no?

Tom

Thanks Tom!!! Thailand was amazing!!!

Im not sure if I have anything more to say than ....I ******G LOVE YOUR ASS. One of my biggest privileges this year has been being able to train and finish a half marathon with you **** the scale....you are a rock star in my book. You have done so much more than a lot of people who have WLS and take the "easy" way out - and that's why I just love love love you. 

My dear Alison YOU have shown me so much MORE in my 5th year then all the other years combined.  Thank you for being my friend and for helping me achieve that 1/2 marathon goal!!

Just loved reading this.  5 years is just so amazing.  And I don't throw that word around casually.  What a great success!!

I thank you for throwing that word today...my journey has been nothing short of AMAZING!!!