5 YEAR Anniversary and Still Below Goal - AMAZING and you can do it too!!!
I received an email congratulating me on the 5 year anniversary of my WLS and thought it must have been a mistake. I didn't even realize it was the anniversary, much less that it had been 5 YEARS since I took the step that changed my life!
It has been a struggle, to this day I still have times that food won't stay down, can't eat certain things on some days but can on others, still have to be careful about being anemic or not getting enough vitamins, but people, the tradeoff is worth it! Before I lost the weight, I often had the same problems, stomach pain, constipation or diarrhea or whatever was ailing me, at least NOW I get to be a size 2/4 while I suffer through them!
Over the 5 years I have consistently lost weight then maintained it, only went up a bit once about 18 months ago, I put on 18 lbs for some reason, but got it under control and lost it again. A couple of years ago I had plastic surgery to remove some excess skin (brachioplasty/arms, remove skin from tummy, and breast implants to restore the volume). I would like to get my legs and butt done because they feel like they are on another body with all the excess skin still hanging on them, but not sure when I can afford the money or the time to recover.
I've been very active with plastic surgery consulting, I spend a good portion of my time talking to weight loss surgery patients about plastic surgery options, sharing my experience and pictures, and helping them find the right solutions for them. I work with several doctors in Beverly Hills and have helped many girls shed the skin of their former bodies! Literally!
Considering where I came from and who I was famous for being, my trip has been exceptional. You see, I am the founder of the world's first full time owned and operated BBW nightclub for plus size women, Club Curves/Club Moxie, which I opened in 1997 and is still going strong. I did a lot of public speaking, numerous media appearances around the world talking about size acceptance, been on many major talk shows and in many major magazines talking about the nightclub, size acceptance, full figured fashions and have been quite known in the plus size community. Then to go from one extreme to another, appearing to have "sold out" to get skinny, it caused a lot of controversy. I won't get into the discussion in this post but if people would like to talk about that I am open to the conversation. :)
I am physically living a different life now, but I am absolutely still the same person. I always thought I was sexy and attractive and that didn't increase with the weight loss, so there is no change there. Actually, since I have lost the weight, no one ever ever asks me out and I rarely date! I used to get ALL the action and attention, now people look at me but no one ever approaches me. Interesting to live in both bodies and both worlds. I have much more energy now and can't get around more easily, my health is improved but I have always been fairly healthy. I originally had surgery because of a serious back injury, and that injury has completely healed with only a few flare ups here and there, but none of the incredible pain I used to live with every day.
5 Years.
I can't even believe it.
Girls (and fellas) when you're suffering after surgery feeling like you will never feel better--you will.
When you feel like the weight isn't coming off fast enough--its going to be alright.
If you're thinking about WLS for yourself -- it isn't the "easy way" everyone says it is, but it CAN work, if you work it! But try everything else first, don't just have surgery, look at your options and decide for YOURSELF, not for anyone else, do what is right for YOU!
Thank you for reading my story. If anyone would like to talk about anything in the post please feel free to contact me through email or post here, I am open to talking about anything. I wish you all safe journeys of your own.
Shadoe Gray
It has been a struggle, to this day I still have times that food won't stay down, can't eat certain things on some days but can on others, still have to be careful about being anemic or not getting enough vitamins, but people, the tradeoff is worth it! Before I lost the weight, I often had the same problems, stomach pain, constipation or diarrhea or whatever was ailing me, at least NOW I get to be a size 2/4 while I suffer through them!
Over the 5 years I have consistently lost weight then maintained it, only went up a bit once about 18 months ago, I put on 18 lbs for some reason, but got it under control and lost it again. A couple of years ago I had plastic surgery to remove some excess skin (brachioplasty/arms, remove skin from tummy, and breast implants to restore the volume). I would like to get my legs and butt done because they feel like they are on another body with all the excess skin still hanging on them, but not sure when I can afford the money or the time to recover.
I've been very active with plastic surgery consulting, I spend a good portion of my time talking to weight loss surgery patients about plastic surgery options, sharing my experience and pictures, and helping them find the right solutions for them. I work with several doctors in Beverly Hills and have helped many girls shed the skin of their former bodies! Literally!
Considering where I came from and who I was famous for being, my trip has been exceptional. You see, I am the founder of the world's first full time owned and operated BBW nightclub for plus size women, Club Curves/Club Moxie, which I opened in 1997 and is still going strong. I did a lot of public speaking, numerous media appearances around the world talking about size acceptance, been on many major talk shows and in many major magazines talking about the nightclub, size acceptance, full figured fashions and have been quite known in the plus size community. Then to go from one extreme to another, appearing to have "sold out" to get skinny, it caused a lot of controversy. I won't get into the discussion in this post but if people would like to talk about that I am open to the conversation. :)
I am physically living a different life now, but I am absolutely still the same person. I always thought I was sexy and attractive and that didn't increase with the weight loss, so there is no change there. Actually, since I have lost the weight, no one ever ever asks me out and I rarely date! I used to get ALL the action and attention, now people look at me but no one ever approaches me. Interesting to live in both bodies and both worlds. I have much more energy now and can't get around more easily, my health is improved but I have always been fairly healthy. I originally had surgery because of a serious back injury, and that injury has completely healed with only a few flare ups here and there, but none of the incredible pain I used to live with every day.
5 Years.
I can't even believe it.
Girls (and fellas) when you're suffering after surgery feeling like you will never feel better--you will.
When you feel like the weight isn't coming off fast enough--its going to be alright.
If you're thinking about WLS for yourself -- it isn't the "easy way" everyone says it is, but it CAN work, if you work it! But try everything else first, don't just have surgery, look at your options and decide for YOURSELF, not for anyone else, do what is right for YOU!
Thank you for reading my story. If anyone would like to talk about anything in the post please feel free to contact me through email or post here, I am open to talking about anything. I wish you all safe journeys of your own.
Shadoe Gray
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Highest Weight: 350 Lbs Size 28
At Surgery: 308 Lbs
Goal: 150 Lbs
Current at 5 YEAR Anniversary: 134 Lbs Size 2/4
Highest Weight: 350 Lbs Size 28
At Surgery: 308 Lbs
Goal: 150 Lbs
Current at 5 YEAR Anniversary: 134 Lbs Size 2/4
Wow..some people would get back handed from me if they claimed I "sold out" just to be "skinny" but I know exactly what you mean..I never ever wanted to be "skinny". I wanted to be healthy and it was never about just being skinny or beautiful or plastic surgery or any of those things the superficial world sees..Health..and only that. In mind and body. period.
Congrats to you! You've come a long long way! I hope to be following right along behind you in this journey..I'm only about 8 months behind you but I can see there are plenty out there who are successful even if they have a momentary gain..it's all very encouraging. Thanks for posting.
Congrats to you! You've come a long long way! I hope to be following right along behind you in this journey..I'm only about 8 months behind you but I can see there are plenty out there who are successful even if they have a momentary gain..it's all very encouraging. Thanks for posting.
Yes, RNY worked for me but it also requires a lot of work from me!
Before Surgery: 214
Highest Weight: 240
Now: 125.6
Goal: 130
Before Surgery: 214
Highest Weight: 240
Now: 125.6
Goal: 130
Awesome story and boy did I need to hear it - so scared that this 15 pounds is stuck with me. When you lost the 18 pounds - please tell me how you did it. I have got to get the weight off!!! I can't even remember what we are supposed to eat - I seem to eat all the wrong things - ANY any ANY advice would be greatly appreciated!!!
Chris
Chris
Well, I wanted to be skinny. I was relatively healthy but my quality of life was not good. Quality of life is important too! After all, it impacts your life 24/7 just like bad health does.
Anyway, I'm interested in the whole "fat acceptance to skinny" aspects. Personally, I believe in accepting yourself at the size that you are and being as healthy as you can be at the size you are. But, let's face it, the heavier you are, the more it limits you. So I don't see anything wrong with having WLS either. (Obviously, as I had it myself.)
The way I look at it is: my stomach was broken so I had surgery to fix it. I had surgery to take out my gallbladder when it was diseased. I had surgery to have my two kids without dying. I take pills to help my over-active bladder and my allergies. These are all treatments for medical conditions and all equally valid.
Having had some run-ins with some people who are more formerly part of some official "fat acceptance" organization, I suspect that's not how they see it though. I can imagine some of the stuff that was said to you.
Anyway, I'm interested in the whole "fat acceptance to skinny" aspects. Personally, I believe in accepting yourself at the size that you are and being as healthy as you can be at the size you are. But, let's face it, the heavier you are, the more it limits you. So I don't see anything wrong with having WLS either. (Obviously, as I had it myself.)
The way I look at it is: my stomach was broken so I had surgery to fix it. I had surgery to take out my gallbladder when it was diseased. I had surgery to have my two kids without dying. I take pills to help my over-active bladder and my allergies. These are all treatments for medical conditions and all equally valid.
Having had some run-ins with some people who are more formerly part of some official "fat acceptance" organization, I suspect that's not how they see it though. I can imagine some of the stuff that was said to you.
HW - 225 SW - 191 GW - 132 CW - 122
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