X-post: What a difference a year makes

Today is my one year surgiversary. Had my one-year follow-up at my bariatric surgeon's yesterday and everything was fabulous. I've been asked to speak at a couple of upcoming seminars about the sleeve and will have nothing but great things to say about mine.

Weight wise, I weigh 155 lbs and have lost 164, so well over half my total body weight and 100% of my excess weight. I no longer have high blood pressure, high cholesterol or sleep apnea and my joint pain has decreased dramatically.

Inches wise, here's the tally:

Neck 16" to 12" = -4
Upper arm 15" to 10" = -5
Chest 53" to 35" = -18
Waist 51" to 30" = -21
Hips 56" to 41" = -15
Thigh 27" to 19" = -8

Most importantly, I can do anything physically I want (except running much due to knee damage from the years of obesity). Hubby and I hiked 5 miles in the mountains yesterday before my appointment and it didn't faze me at all. Before, a hike from a distant parking place to the store left me winded and in pain.

And now, the obligatory before and after (the after taken on yesterday's hike):

Heartiest congratulations!!!  As we keep saying, you don't even look like the same person!  You look absolutely fabulous ... and your quality of life must be over the top!  Well done :-)
--Dorothy 

Thank you. I do feel fabulous, and I feel like I'm living life rather than watching it wistfully from the sidelines.

Wow!
You look fabulous.
Congratulations.
Lynda

Thank you!

Awesome!!!! Way to rock your sleeve!!! You look absolutely fabulous and much younger.

Congratulations!!








gail

Thank you!

You just glow!! So happy for you--congratulations.

Lizanne

Thank you. I feel sooo much better, it's hard to imagine how I lived my life like that for so long.

Fabulous story and pics. You not only lost 160 lbs but you lost about 20 years in age too!  You look great and must be so proud of your success. Stick around with us for the maintenance phase of life. I get giddy just reading the success of  others.  Diane