My 3 year anniversary

So today is not only the 20th anniversary of the release of Nirvana's Nevermind, but it's also my 3 year Surgiversary!   I wrote up a blog post about it:   An auspicious day   To answer the sort of questions that pre-ops have....   I never thought 3 years ago that I'd be where I am now. I really worked my sleeve for the first 6 months, for the first year really. I tracked every bite, lick and sip that crossed my lips. I weighed every day. I tracked my exercise. I exercised as much as it took to keep my weight loss going at a good clip. (My surgeon wants to see 50% excess weight loss at 3 months and 80% at 6 months and that's what I aimed for and exceeded.) I ate to program about 95% of the time.   The second year was about consolidating my results. I still was mentally in 'weight loss' mode. I wasn't losing any more but I was still tracking, weighing daily, and worrying constantly about regain. I eased up a bit on the food, incorporating more indulgences as I realized that my exercise regime could support them.   This past year has been about living. I still weigh daily, but I stopped tracking my food and my weight remains stable. I still workout a lot but it's because I've embraced the life of an athlete, not because I am afraid of regain. I eat much more like a normal person now. Only with a lot more protein.     As I enter my 4th year, I'm not sure what the future holds. I still weigh pretty much every day, but I may start easing up on that. I can tell how I'm doing by looking at my body and feeling it and the scale never surprises me. I am still active on the boards, but I find my social life revolves more and more around triathlon and less around WLS. I also want to clean up my eating a bit. Not because of weight issues, but because I think I'd do better at triathlon if I ate better. Pretty much all of my goals these days are around athletic accomplishments and visiting places I want to see before I die. (Like I want to go to New Zealand and Zorb and see the Grand Canyon. And do a Double Century Bike Ride.)   I do plan to get plastic surgery but not until I pay off my car. So in about three years. My loose skin is not as bad as some and I'm sure there are people out there who would think I am crazy to get PS, but my loose skin bothers me and it gets in the way when I'm biking. I think getting rid of it will be the last step on my path to being a normal weight and having a normal life.

Hi Marie,

Congratulations on completing your 3rd year of post surgery!  You are a prime example of how much WLS can change one's life. It is truly a gift and a second chance at healthy life.

You are my hero. I admire you and all of your accomplishments. You have definitely been an inspiration to me, along my journey of WLS and learning to live with the sleeve. I want to be like you, when I grow up. LOL!

I just finished my first year, and what I am doing now, sounds like your second year. I have made peace with exercise and I am actually thriving with it. I don't know, if any triathlons are in my future, but I love exercising and seeing the changes in my body. I need PS too, but will have to save some money and pay off my car. I love my sleeve!!!

Wishing you the best,

Gail

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and congratulations on all of your accomplishments!!! You are an inspiration to me and I enjoy reading your posts. Thank you for sticking around to help and give hope to us newbies!!!!

What a wonderful account of the new you and your journey! Congratulations on your success!

Marie, what can I say?  I get a little teary-eyed thinking how far you've come and how you've pushed yourself to compete in the triathlons. Thank you for staying with us LWs and sharing your perspective, and playing devil's advocate with me. Happy surgiversary, babeee!



--gina

Warmest congratulations. I'm following much of what you did, except not quite so enthusiatic on the exercise!  I do go to the gym almost daily and find I miss it when I cannot get there.  I made the 50% loss at 3 months, and I think I beat the 80% by 6 months.  I'll find out for certain at my 6-month appointment this week.  Tracking every bite is sometimes a pain, but that and exercise I am certain are what has helped me be successful at this.  I hope you never totally move away from the WLS boards.  Your posts and blogs have been very helpful to me, and I know to others, too.

Thank you for the great post.  It is encouraging me to continue with many of the things that I have started to do for this journey, like tracking food, high protein (still working on that!), and exercising.  For the emotional part of the journey, I've been working on letting work get to me, and part of that is to plan a trip to New Zealand.  I'll be going around Christmas time, and doing treking and going to wildlife preserves.

Although our pre and post surgery times are consumed with the surgery, it is great to get past it.  Thanks so much for sticking around to support the newbees.  Life goes on and we appreciate you and a greater distance perspective.  Congrats on the new you.

Congrats, Marie!!!! You are truly inspiring.

Meg

Congratulations on your success.  You have inspired me to step out of my comfort zone and find an exercise program that I enjoy and also competing.  You have shown me that anything is possible!!  Thanks for staying around and helping us out.
Linda