VSG Maintenance Group
Two year surgiversary today!!!!! x-post from Main *long and lots of pix*
Hi all my OH friends,
I'm so thrilled b/c today is my 2 year surgiversary! It's hard to believe that two years ago i was getting 80 percent of my stomach cut out, terrified of my choice, and not totally ready for all the changes that were to come!
First -- pre-ops and people trying to decide whether to have VSG: this surgery is a GREAT tool!!! restriction is GREAT when you start, there are some basic rules about protein (at least 60 g), carbs (fewer than 40 g), cals (my NUT says no fewer than 1100; other programs are much lower), water (lots!), and exercise (lots). I have followed a lot, not all, and i am far from perfect. But at 2 years out i have maintained 75 percent EWL (excess weight loss), minus about 105 lbs, and down from a tight 24 pants, 26/28 tops (because of my 42DDD boobs) to 12 petite/petite M/36B!!!!! i did have plastics this October (tummy tuck and boob lift). my feet have sthrunk back to a 5 1/2 from 6 1/2!!!!!!! you can see my ribs. i have a waist again. i have collar bones!
how has my life changed: I can MOVE!!! i can walk all over the place, jump (don't laugh, but i literally couldn't lift myself off the ground when i was at 260), even run a little. i run up and down stairs instead of huffing and puffing and walking down crab-wise. i don't need a seatbelt extender on planes (that was one of my first and favorite NSVs). there's a good 2 inches on either side of me in movie or theater seats. i can cross my legs AND sit cross-legged. my insulin resistance in in remission and i'm off metformin. my psych meds have been reduced slowly but surely and i have stopped taking one (geodon -- first to go!). i get compliments from friends at work who have watched my journey. i was totally open about having the surgery, which in my office meant lots of cheerleaders. i'm really glad that people knew. and i eat much more healthily -- for the most part!
and i'm just plain happier!!!! 
the surgery is not a panacea. there's lots that i am still working on about eating, compulsive eating, emotional eating -- you name it! and 2 years out, able to eat waaaay more, it's been a struggle. i'm trying to clean up my act right now b/c i'm so not getting the required stuff/amounts and eating CRAP!!!! but i know there's a path to "cleaner" eating and i know i can do it - it'll just be HARD!!!!!
Okay, so, pictures:
summer pre-surgery: 260 
summer 2009 (with my partner!): 
summer 2011 (my first "skinny" pic): 
fall 2011 
last summer: 
last summer at work (casaul friday!) 
AND TODAY!!!!!!!!! 
(side view to show off boobs and tummy!) 
You guys have been sooooooooo supportive. thanks for being there for me! xoxoxoxo
Ann 
