3 year anniversary

WOW!! It has been 3 fabulous years - today is not only my surgery anniversary - it is my 42nd birthday, too.  On my 39th birthday, I asked Dr. Chua to please help me to be a happier, healthier person - a goal I hoped to reach by my 40th birthday.  My consult weight was 277, my surgery weight was 267 and today, 3 years later I am proud to be a happy and healthy 137 pounds!!  I fluctuate +/- about 5 pounds, nothing makes me dump any more, and I can feel myself sometimes slipping inot my old habits.  It never does seem to get any easier. but if I think about all of the things I can do now, and the fun I can have with my kids and my husband, it does get me back on track.  My biggest wow moment was when I shocked my then 6 year old daughter by getting on a bike - my kids were shocked - they didn't know I knew how to ride one!!  I do have some skin issues, and recently switched from UHC to BCBS insurance, so I will try again to have some reconstruction done.  Good luck to everyone on this journey - for me it has been a wonderful ride!!

Lynn, Happy anniversary!  I'm glad you are doing so well and things are going great.  I do have a few questions.  Have you had a hard time trying to maintain your weight?  Do you feel like you are on restrictive diet as far as how many calories you can take in to maintain?

It really has not been too bad.  I am a little obsessive about not falling too hard back into old bad habits.  I try to work out at the YMCA at least twice a week - either circuits or water arobics or something.  I have a +/- 5 pound limit that I put myself on before I freak out.  I still drink a protien shake every morning for breakfast - Release Amplify chocolate - 3 scoops for 60 grams of protein in 25 oz of water and 10 oz skim milk.  I can eat more than I could even a year ago, but not nearly anything considered a lot or a big portion.  I don't dump, but will get very sleepy or sometimes a headache if I eat too much refined sugar.  I still will get sick if I don't chew my food really well, or if I eat too fast.  I have not had a carbonated beverage since a month before my surgery.  I am a big fan of diet green tea and Crystal Light.  I don't count calories, but keep a mental note that if I snack too much or hit the junk, I try to consciously have a better snack or meal the next time I eat.  I still follow alot of the rules.  I don't drink while I eat, or for 30 minutes before or after.  On average, I would ballpark my daily calories at around 1200-1500.  I used to use FitDay religiously, but now only go back to it if I panic when I stay at the high end of my limit for too long.  Overall - very postive and honestly the best thing I ever did for myself. Take care

What is fit day?

fitday.com has a free food diary where you can log everything you eat and it counts calories and protein, etc.  It has alot of foods in it database, and you can add the information of the food that you eat if it is not listed.  It also helps you track your weightloss, if you chose to use that option.  I really liked it when I first started out - and sometimes go back to it if I feel I am too out of whack for what I need to be eating.  Now, it is a good "wake up" or even slap in the face when I snack too much and honestly log everything that I eat.  Check it out and see if it will work for you-good luck

Congratulations and Happy Anniversary!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy surgiversary! Three years post op, the time must be flying by with all the activities and fun you can have now. All the best Sher

Awesome journey!  3 years is great!  I hope you keep enjoying the ride!  I know I do. Debbie

Congratulations! I hope to be as successful as you are a couple of years from now. You said you fluctuate about 5 pounds, and I appreciated hearing that, because I do that all the time and it makes me a little jumpy. I'm hanging on to a few of those $#*^& pounds right now and I'm developing some kind of a tick or something because they've got me a little nervous. Reckon how long this "fluctuation" will last?