VSG Maintenance Group
My one year anniversary
on 10/17/11 5:38 am, edited 10/28/11 11:48 am
My one year anniversary came and went last week. I didn't post because I was to depressed, you see, I expected to 125 pounds at the one year mark, my original goal. But, since I stopped losing I upped my goal. The truth is though, I had a 6 pound bounce back and my weight is really 157. I just cannot bear to change my ticker and signature. But, you know the truth now. This is the weight my body seems to want to be. So, I decided that i would stop beating myself up and just continue exercising, following the rules and getting in good shape. maybe I can turn some of the leftover belly fat into muscle.
I'm wearing a size 10/12 pants and size medium shirt, which is sure better than a 22/24 pant and a 3x shirt.
I still am in the overweight category according to the BMI calculator. I need to be at 145 to be normal.
However, The kids and I went out shopping on Saturday and I kept catching glimpses in store windows at myself. In every single window, I looked like a normal sized women with a nice figure. I didn't even look a little bit overweight. At first, I thought it was the windows making me look thinner than I really am, but I kept driving my kids crazy by asking them to stand in front of the windows so I could see if it made them look thinner. It didn't, the windows reflected exactly how my kids look. Which means I looked great! Could it be possible that this weight is normal for me? Maybe I should stop obsessing and start enjoying. However, I am not going to change my diet, or add calories, just in case my body gets bored at this weight and decides to lose again. I don't believe it will happen though,because of the bounce back. But who knows, maybe I am wrong.
Even though I have great restriction, I still was a slow loser the whole time. I guess years of yoyo dieting, and fad diets have taken there toll on me. However, my metabolism seems fantastic. I have no constipation at all, am regular and bulky every single morning, and never ever have to take anything to make me go. So, you would think I would lose faster, but no.
My surgeon told me I am a complete success story. Him and his colleagues looked me over good and all of them had positive pleased expressions on their faces. They said I am at goal. That I look great. I told them that I was at least 10 pounds or so from normal BMI, and their reply was that the chart just wasn't accurate because everyone is built different. They noted that I am very muscular and healthy (I was wearing shorts and a T-shirt). They also said (for example) that some women who start at 300 pounds or more may only get down to 220 pounds, but for them, that is a realistic goal. They said that not everyone was meant to be a super model and that for those women 220 pounds is healthy for "them", and gave them vast health improvement. Everyone has a different "healthy" weight, and it Doesn't always fit into the BMI chart/box. So the 150's is my healthy weight range according to them.
Sooooo, I choose to be happy with my weight loss. I have an apple shape, so most of my weight loss came from my back and stomach, which is the most unhealthy type of obesity. My surgeon said that my weight loss was more significant for health improvement than someone who lost more weight and more evenly, or carried the weight in their lower body (butt and legs).
I have seen much improvement in my health/quality of life over the past year. Here are some high lites:
1. No more CPAP
2. Normal blood pressure
3. lower cholesterol (still not ideal)
4. I have balance again
5. I can wipe
6. Relations are better
7. I am no longer touching the steering wheel with my belly
8. I can no longer gorge and stuff my face
9. I am treated better by the general public
10. No more plus sizes
11. I may live longer
12. I have more self worth
13. I am back to being equivalently as good looking as my husband. I no longer think he can do better. Even though he has loved me thick and thin without ever wavering in the past 21 years. It's nice to feel "as good looking' as him.
14. Self confidence, people see "me" now. Before, they only saw "fat" (so sad, our society is anti-fat)
15. I can put my socks on "after" I put on jeans. OH my, I can wear jeans again. And they feel good, they hug my curves instead of torturing and chafing my hide.
16. I wish my breasts would have gone away, but I lost nothing there. They are still huge, heavy and dense.
17. My labs are perfect so far. (I still need to get my one year labs, so this could change)
So, all in all, I have to say. I am so glad I got this surgery. It has been the best thing I have ever done for myself. If I had not gotten this surgery, I would still be 222 pounds, but I doubt it, I probably would have gained more weight. If I were to guess, I would say that i would be at 275 right now. Thank God and my surgeon for this surgery, if it had been an option, I would not have gotten WLS because I would not have gotten bypass surgery of any kind. I am rather fond of my sweet darling little pyloric valve.
I'm not perfect, and this post isn't perfect. It's just my 2 cents.
Some post surgery facts:
1. I had to have my gallbladder taken out 6 months post op.
2. I did the cottage cheese capacity test. The results at a year out were 8 ounces.
3. Capacity for dense protein is 3.5-4 ounces. (nothing more can be eaten after this). This has not changed since around 4-5 months post op.
4. I still take/need a Nexium PPI everyday.
5. I don't need plastics. Maybe if I lost more I would need it.
I also want to thank all of the wonderful people who were their for me from the beginning, even before I had surgery. You have been so patient.
This board has been invaluable to me this past year. I don't post a lot, but you can bet I am always reading and am always here stalking the boards!
you have listed so many reasons to be proud of your self and your achievments, and your surgeon is thrilled with your results..
I hear you on the boob thing i did have a approval for consult with a plastic surgeon to see about a breast reduction, which i must get back ontop of now im in Indiana... I think for me it probably accounts for some of the weight that could make me lower .. which maybe also true in your case?
I wish you all the best as you enter the next stage of maintenence..
Linda
6lbs under goal weight
Join US On The VSG Maintenance Group Forum!!
http://www.obesityhelp.com/group/VSGM/discussion/
on 10/17/11 7:37 am
Oh man, I would love a reduction surgery. I had not thought about the weight of these things! I'll have to have my husband hold them up while on the scale to see the weight difference tonight. I'm sure he will thinks it's some kind of weird pass.....ha ha ..BUT....I want to know! This is encouraging. I hope they weigh 10 pounds, then I can consider myself in normal BMI!
Around 20 years ago, a good friend of mine had me hold them up while she was on the scale (I totally forgot about that until now), because she wanted to know how heavy they were. Her breasts were something like 15 pounds. She had reduction surgery sometime after that. Her breasts were causing neck and back pain.
It seems like my weight loss calories and my maint calories are the same....so, no changes, I am maintaining already. Let's hope I can be successful over the long haul. Here's to doing my best!
on 10/17/11 7:41 am, edited 10/17/11 7:46 am
I see we are practically surgery sisters. Am I reading it right, are we the same weight? Are we also the same height?
Congrats on your success as well. You look slim and fantastic!
on 10/17/11 7:45 am
You look fantastic! Congrats on your success!
I see you are a l taller, but around the same weight and you look very slim! That makes me feel better about where I am. Plus I finally believed my reflection in the windows and mirrors!
