VSG Maintenance Group
X-posted: Two year surgiversary (May 31st) and other rambling
Today marks the two year anniversary of having my Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy.
I honestly don’t even know where to begin...
I suppose I’ll start with how I’m doing. As always, I am insanely busy with work and school (one of the main reasons I’m not on the boards much these days). I had a few set backs as far a school goes, two of the classes I have to have to graduate are only offered this coming fall and spring. And being the only two classes I have left after this summer semester, it means graduating almost a year later than I had originally planned... alas, everything happens for a reason (or I tell myself that so I don’t go postal) so I’ll keep on keeping on.
My boyfriend Dave, (who I met after finally starting to date again last summer) is absolutely amazing. Really, I wish there were more words to describe how incredibly happy he makes me and how well he treats me, but that’s what it is. He is patient, kind, and understanding of all my post-op weirdness. He tells me daily that I’m beautiful and perfect just as I am, including my excess skin. I couldn’t have asked for more... well, I could have, but really... does it get a lot better than that?
Which brings me to maintenance and where I am now 2 years post-VSG. I have maintained my weight loss with a few fluctuations here and there. I’m currently a few pounds up from where I generally like to sit, but nothing extreme (I’ve had a few higher sodium and carb days this week, my own fault entirely), and nothing a few days back on my weight loss eating plan won’t take care of. For the most part, I maintain within a 5 lb range. That range has changed a few times since hitting my original and then my doctor’s goals.
At one point this year I dipped down to 121 lbs and realized that while I was happy with it and thought I looked ok... my friends, family, and co-workers were all pretty concerned that I was too thin and not taking care of myself. Looking back at it, I realize that I got to the point that I was obsessing over how low I could get that number on the scale. I wasn’t quite ready to part with the joy that seeing that number go down brings. While I was still taking care of myself nutritionally, I was being unhealthy about the number on the scale. So I changed it. I went a few weeks without weighing and let more carbs into my maintenance plan, and put a few pounds back on. And guess what?! The world didn’t end. Life didn’t come crashing down around me, and I realized that as long as I’m in a normal BMI range and stay at a relatively stable weight, I’m not going to over think it or stress myself out over it.
I’ve worked DAMN hard to get to where I am, and I continue to work at maintaining that. I still run at least 3 times a week. I just ran my first “big” race this month, the Tough Mudder. And every time I put on my running shoes, I’m still amazed at how far I’ve come.
Two years ago, I was terrified that I would never lose the weight I needed to lose. I was scared that I wasn’t strong enough to do the things required of me post-surgery. But I was, am, and continue to surprise myself each and everyday when I wake up, look in the mirror and see the girl staring back at me that I still don’t recognize half of the time. I’m still learning who that girl is, and the things she’s capable of. Of course, I didn’t think I was capable of losing 200 lbs, but if I can do that... well, this “new” girl I see in the mirror must be capable of just as much, if not more.
Well, if you made it through all of that... my apologies, I’m sure my ramblings aren’t all that interesting. And as always, it wouldn’t be a post from me without some photo whoring...
Somewhere around my heaviest
A few days post- VSG (around 303lbs)
My Birthday this year with the boyfriend
And a before and after
p.s. A special thanks to my other vets and maintenance buddies, you are some of the most incredible people in the world and there are more than several of you that have been an inspiration and there to give me advice or a kick in the ass if needed. For all of these things, I can never say thank you enough! XOXO
Leah
Congrats on two fantastic years (and many more to come!)
I totally get the "seeing how low I can go" feeling- it got me at one point too... dipped into the mid 130's, and while I was really uber happy to see the BF% drop along with the scale, I was starting to gross my own self out with the way my body felt to me- xylophone chest and bruised backbones if I leaned up against a hard chair.. plus the fixating on the scale was starting to trigger some unpleasant mental chatter. Happier (and a bit curvier) in the mid-140's for sure!
It seems many of us have to walk through the tough stages of post-op self-discovery to find our own comfort zone, really happy you found yours, and a nice guy to enjoy it with!
