It's my party~ 5 years today post op

I am so excited. I had no idea how fast 5 yrs would go by but its here. The 3-4 yrs I was overweight I was so uphappy and did everything to try and loose until I turned to surgery, I lost 83 and have maintained it ever since. My weight gain came after a stroke and I was unable to walk never the less was dependent on my disabled husband to get my meals. Lack of exercise was most likely a problem for me since I was a runner my whole life every morning at 5 am. Now I just use my Pilates with a rebounder daily and I get cardio and strength all in one machine. I love it and have been  using this machine without rebounder (upgraded two yrs ago) since 2001. This is what game me back my leg strength to walk again.

I guess I want to say I am very thankful for all caring my surgeon  has given me, I still go every 6 months for checkups, he runs all blood and asks me a billion questions and seems thrilled with my sucess. I think "he" is my sucess, knowing I have to report to him keeps me straight as an arrow. I know his support is important to me and I don't understand why patients are dismissed without follow-up with other surgeons.

Since I have removed all wheat, barley, oats and rye and especially gluten from my diet, I don't need "Iron IV Infusions" anymore since I am now not having gut issues. Celiac Disease was stealing my stored iron and other nutrients and all my life I had severe anemia due to this. 
I take my vits, all of them every day, B12 twice a week and I even see a drop of a lb or more every now and then. As of today I am still 120 down from that ugly 213. I never was overweight in my life until 2001 and I pray every day I stay this healthy that I can maintain it.

You can also be sure even though I do not post very much anymore, I do read the board and this has always been my support. Thanks all.
~Ginny

Wow!! What a story.
Congratulations Ginny & Thanks for sharing.

Thanks Candace, It's been quite a journey.

Ginny, I'm SO glad you are still around and still at goal...awesome. I've missed reading how you are doing but totally understand that life gets in front of alot of things..

I always think of the Celiac possibilities in my health. I'm always worried about it. They didn't really rule it out but haven't decided to do any biopsy or go further on it. I think they're waiting for the reactions to get worse and obvious, personally. I stay with the whole grains but I know that the breads and grains are what causes so much gas and gut problems.

I'd forgotten that you're a year and a half ahead of me...

Congrats on the 5 year mark.. I'm going to really celebrate this July when it's 4 years for me. I'm thinking that I need ski lessons for my surgiversary...payable for the winter of 2010..LOL. maybe!

See ya around!

Hi Dawn,
So glad to hear from you!!!!

The whole grains is what I was doing thinking I was doing good but in fact it was the worst I ever felt. I was diagnosed in 87 but no one took the time to tell me exactly what to do...just no gluten and I had no idea what it was or where I would find it...OMG it's everywhere  and it was killing me.If I had not had WLS I wouldn't have ever figured it all out. I knew exactly what I was eating because I was using Fitday and every time it went right back to wheat  & gluten. I don't get the bloated feeling anymore, like your middle expanding....I have found many good alternatives using GF corn pasta, Bob's Red Mill makes so many GF products but all of them contain many carbs and you know I was never a carb person so I basically stick to wild king salmon, its less dense than sockeye, which I have a hard time with...also do good with cod and artic char and then there is always the good shell fish...but its hard to get wild fish  here so I order it from Alaska and it gets delivered overnight, I get about 30 lbs at a time and I never have to leave the house to try and track fresh fish down... between all the fish and the 4 grams of Omega 3  I take daily, I believe this is the reason my weight is stable.

I know you love the grains...I always read your posts...you might want to try eliminating some of the grains just to see how you feel...I see lots of people without Celiac now eliminating just the gluten and loving it...thats good for me because the food stores are starting to finally get with the program. I was at Whole Foods today to pick up a few things and they added so many new products since last month. I have been ordering things online for awhile but its nice to be able to read the labels because of all my food allergies and I am sick of greek yogurt every day...did that for 2 years.






 

 

Hey lady, sorry I missed your anniversary date.  I am still in awe that 5 years are here already.  Kudos on maintaining your weight!

Hi Dana, Good to hear from you, Can you believe 5 yrs has past...your boys must be getting big!
Love your picture in avatar...its the best part of the entire game seeing him looking at that baby with tears in his eyes.