VSG Maintenance Group
X-post: Three years post-op tomorrow!
Hello, all you sleevers and soon-to-be sleevers! I won't have a chance tomorrow until later in the day to opine about three years of living the sleeved life, so I thought I'd do it a day early!
First of all, getting sleeved saved my life. I was 55 years old and at my worst had been 292 pounds. I had been overweight since my mid-20s. Fought it tooth and nail with every resource I could come up with and every ounce of my being. Up down up down up up up. By the time I had surgery, my body was ruined. Of course the skin issue was a giant thing, but more critical were my knees, hips, and worst of all, my lumbar spine. Dragging all that weight around for so long was starting to break my vertebrae down.
I was at the orthopedic surgeon's office in terrible pain, and he looked me straight in the eye and said, "You need back surgery, but you are too fat for the surgery. If you do not have weight loss surgery and get this weight off immediately, you will be so broken that I will not be able to fix you." Well, something in me cracked that day. I came home, went online, found out about the sleeve, found Dr. Alvarez, and in a year I was down 100 pounds and had a four-level spinal fusion. I have had some complications with the fusion, and I am partially disabled now (have a hard time walking), but I am convinced I would be in a wheelchair ... or worse ... if the orthopedic surgeon had not spoken to me so bluntly.
The weight loss process was easy! I followed Dr. Alvarez's guidelines to a tee, pretty much for the first year, I believe. After I got to my goal, I experimented with eating more variety, some goodies, and a few more carbs. Maintenance was easy, and as long as I ate protein first and veggies next, I had no problem staying at 150 pounds. Life was good!
Then, as I said, I had complications from the spinal surgery. Spent days in the hospital and a month in a nursing home and lost an enormous amount of weight. (They couldn't figure out how to feed my sleeve!) I was skin and bones, and the doctor (not the ortho doc) told me to gain weight any way I could. Helloooo, don't tell me that! I'm a sugar addict and compulsive overeater! Well, I started back eating junk, and now I am 25+ pounds over goal. Hooked on the garbage again. So a word of warning to you newbies. STAY AWAY FROM JUNK CARBS AND SUGAR!! It satisfies nothing and only causes you to crave more of the same!
The good news is that I am ONLY 25 pounds overweight, not the 125 it would be were it not for my sleeve! Also, once I get the garbage back out of my system, the weight will come off again. I have a chance now, thanks to my sleeve.
And that is where I stand now. You OH folks out there are my family and my support, and I am grateful beyond words for all of you. Take good care of yourselves, eat your protein and veggies, and drink your water :-) And thanks for listening to my story!!
--Dorothy
First of all, getting sleeved saved my life. I was 55 years old and at my worst had been 292 pounds. I had been overweight since my mid-20s. Fought it tooth and nail with every resource I could come up with and every ounce of my being. Up down up down up up up. By the time I had surgery, my body was ruined. Of course the skin issue was a giant thing, but more critical were my knees, hips, and worst of all, my lumbar spine. Dragging all that weight around for so long was starting to break my vertebrae down.
I was at the orthopedic surgeon's office in terrible pain, and he looked me straight in the eye and said, "You need back surgery, but you are too fat for the surgery. If you do not have weight loss surgery and get this weight off immediately, you will be so broken that I will not be able to fix you." Well, something in me cracked that day. I came home, went online, found out about the sleeve, found Dr. Alvarez, and in a year I was down 100 pounds and had a four-level spinal fusion. I have had some complications with the fusion, and I am partially disabled now (have a hard time walking), but I am convinced I would be in a wheelchair ... or worse ... if the orthopedic surgeon had not spoken to me so bluntly.
The weight loss process was easy! I followed Dr. Alvarez's guidelines to a tee, pretty much for the first year, I believe. After I got to my goal, I experimented with eating more variety, some goodies, and a few more carbs. Maintenance was easy, and as long as I ate protein first and veggies next, I had no problem staying at 150 pounds. Life was good!
Then, as I said, I had complications from the spinal surgery. Spent days in the hospital and a month in a nursing home and lost an enormous amount of weight. (They couldn't figure out how to feed my sleeve!) I was skin and bones, and the doctor (not the ortho doc) told me to gain weight any way I could. Helloooo, don't tell me that! I'm a sugar addict and compulsive overeater! Well, I started back eating junk, and now I am 25+ pounds over goal. Hooked on the garbage again. So a word of warning to you newbies. STAY AWAY FROM JUNK CARBS AND SUGAR!! It satisfies nothing and only causes you to crave more of the same!
The good news is that I am ONLY 25 pounds overweight, not the 125 it would be were it not for my sleeve! Also, once I get the garbage back out of my system, the weight will come off again. I have a chance now, thanks to my sleeve.
And that is where I stand now. You OH folks out there are my family and my support, and I am grateful beyond words for all of you. Take good care of yourselves, eat your protein and veggies, and drink your water :-) And thanks for listening to my story!!
--Dorothy
Highest weight: 292 Pre-op weight: 265 Goal met: 150 Six years out: 185 and trying to lose again!
Congratulations, Dorothy! So many victories! You chose life! Many cyber-hugs to you!
Janet
Janet
My health. My responsibility. This day. Every day.
----Dr. Connie Stapleton, my recovery conscience
"If you're going through hell, keep going!"
----Winston Churchill
"Kindness is the new black."
-----Mally Roncal
----Dr. Connie Stapleton, my recovery conscience
"If you're going through hell, keep going!"
----Winston Churchill
"Kindness is the new black."
-----Mally Roncal
Dear Dorothy,
I don't get on the board as much as I used to. It was so good to see your post. You are an inspiration to many of us. I totally agree with you about the sugar/carbs. It's crazy old behaviors and it can sneak up on us. I'm doing well, gained a few, don't want to weight, but can tell by my clothes....still loving life and getting more used to my new body every day and in every way. Love you girl!
I don't get on the board as much as I used to. It was so good to see your post. You are an inspiration to many of us. I totally agree with you about the sugar/carbs. It's crazy old behaviors and it can sneak up on us. I'm doing well, gained a few, don't want to weight, but can tell by my clothes....still loving life and getting more used to my new body every day and in every way. Love you girl!
