Anniversary - 7 years

Hi Everyone, I haven't written in a while but I do go on and read what everyone is up to. Today makes seven years that I made the best decision of my life. I had made the decision to make my body feel better not just look better. Was it easy no, even though I was told by one of my doctors that I took the easy way out (also the same doctor who constantly told me to lose weight - smh). I had (notice had) lost a total of 117 lbs in less than a year. After having vsg four months later I was told that I had breast cancer again and my doctor was saying "but you're still smiling" and my response was you do what you need to do and I was losing weight. Well over the past three years dealing with other health issues and moving to a different area I have gained about 45 lbs back and I am not happy. I feel terrible, clothes don't fit and I know it's just not healthy. It's not that I don't know what to do, it's you fall back into old routines. You learn how to work the sleeve the wrong way.

So with that said, today is a new day and I am back on track and I am going to lose what I have gained. Maybe not the total 45 lbs, but I will get back down to where I was.

Do I regret getting the sleeve - never!!! I did this all on my own, told no one in my family because I didn't want anyone to talk me out of it. The only people who knew where my co-workers and they were all supportive. And now, they are supporting me again with getting this weight gain off for good!!

To anyone thinking about it or to anyone getting their surgey I wish you all the best and you will not regret it.

Best to all,

Toni

Happy Anniversary Toni!! I love your story and thank you so much for sharing with us.

Love the positivity and I know you will be able to shed that extra weight in no time. I have my VSG surgery on April 3rd. I am looking forward to joining everyone on loser's bench.

Sending much love

Shana

Thanks Shana!! Sending you good vibes, best wishes, and all the best with your surgery!! You can do this!!!

Much love,

Toni

The problem with taking off the excess weight now is that metabolism slows down drastically after the big loss from surgery.

Before surgery, I could just set my mind to losing and drop five to seven pounds a week. That does not happen anymore. I have to work hard to drop one pound a week. Forty five pounds would take me forty five weeks.

I have had regains and lost them several times in the last nine years. I cut 500 calories a day from what I need to maintain. My goal is 136 and I maintain on 1400 calories a day. So to lose I stay at 900 calories a day.

I wish you the best, but just want to caution you that it will take time and patience to get the weight back off.

Oh I know, I've tried a few times to get this weight off. It all seems so easy at the beginning weight just drops off. Now, it's worse than before I had the surgery to lose this extra weight. It's extremely had now, but it has to be done and I am going to do my best at getting it done.

Thank you for understanding and your support!!

Happy anniversary! You can do this! Your tool is still there so work it girl!

Happy Anniversary, and welcome back :)

Happy anniversary! You got this! Work your nutrition plan.

Happy Surgiversary! Yeah, regain sucks. But you can do it. It just takes re-asserting yourself. Putting that focus back to your diet and exercise until it becomes habit again. And checking in here everyday for accountability. The daily menu accountability is the best. You will get momentum again. Then it begins to be fun again!

Hi, bxbeba --

Based on this post alone, you are such a winner.

I send you wishes for the best possible results on all fronts. I love your attitude.

Very, very best to you. :)

Ann