VSG Maintenance Group
After being obese for so many yrs, what is it like to...
I am 61 and 2 yrs post op. Just feeling lighter on my feet is my day to day reward. I went for a four-mile walk with my husband yesterday and I was shocked that I wasn't even really that tired. I couldn't walk a half mile pre op. I can get out of the bath tub with no problem; I can get up off the floor; I can jump up and down without killing my back and knees. I was very fortunate in that I had been thin as an adult, so it was much like coming home to my old face and body. Except for the skin, of course. I got a facelift last year. The saggy body just gets hidden under my clothes. My upper arms are a give-away that I have lost weight, but they aren't too bad for my age, so I'm not bothered by them. Tummy and upper thighs look the worst, but I just don't wear shorts or bikinis!
The emotional part is that I can no longer numb my feelings with food, so riding that roller coaster has been less than pleasant. I still don't do it well, and still very much WANT to numb out with food. Some days I give in. But with a teeny tummy, I can't do the damage that I used to do. And now my numbing out foods are much healthier. I will go to fruit or extra yogurt rather than dive into a half gallon of ice cream or a whole pizza.
The other rewards are what others have talked about: Clothes shopping, being able to fit into an airline seat, not being the fattest person in the room, no fear and dread of running into old friends, and the incredible blessing of not being plagued 24/7 with that insatiable hunger.
The emotional part is that I can no longer numb my feelings with food, so riding that roller coaster has been less than pleasant. I still don't do it well, and still very much WANT to numb out with food. Some days I give in. But with a teeny tummy, I can't do the damage that I used to do. And now my numbing out foods are much healthier. I will go to fruit or extra yogurt rather than dive into a half gallon of ice cream or a whole pizza.
The other rewards are what others have talked about: Clothes shopping, being able to fit into an airline seat, not being the fattest person in the room, no fear and dread of running into old friends, and the incredible blessing of not being plagued 24/7 with that insatiable hunger.
I was 65 two years ago when I had the surgery.
Besides the usual feeling good, looking good, enjoying clothes shopping, I realized the other day how freeing it is when I am in a restaurant and I can order anything I want and not be self-conscious about what people around me are thinking and/or judging me about what is on my plate. In fact, if I do order a dessert I think they are probably wondering how I can eat that and be so thin and are a little jealous.
The same goes at the grocery store. No one judging me by what is in the cart.
Besides the usual feeling good, looking good, enjoying clothes shopping, I realized the other day how freeing it is when I am in a restaurant and I can order anything I want and not be self-conscious about what people around me are thinking and/or judging me about what is on my plate. In fact, if I do order a dessert I think they are probably wondering how I can eat that and be so thin and are a little jealous.
The same goes at the grocery store. No one judging me by what is in the cart. 
(23 prior to surgery)
I'm 5'8"
The old broad
