Four More Years

HI all, well I missed posting on my 4 year surgery anniversary last week but better late than never.  Wow, my life is so much better than 4 years ago when I had a bmi of 41, couldn't pick up something that fell on the floor with out taking a Tums because of acid reflux, couldn't shop in more than one store per day, and had to complete all activity by mid afternoon because my back would hurt to much.

Four years later I can do pretty much what I want, have kept my weight to 121 which is below goal, haven't regained (except my low weight was 117 which was too low) and am enjoying life to the fullest as a thin person. I still get giddy once in awhile when I realize " yeah i am NOT FAT anymore".

The most important thing is I feel I have truly replaced my bad eating habits and am pretty confident I will not revert. Wasn't so sure of that two years ago as a new maintainer. I still have plenty to learn and rely on this forum but its become part of my routine to be conscious of eating properly but without obsessing. I still need to do better about exercising as I am old enough to have to worry about bone loss but overall I am very healthy and feel like a million bucks.  Really think i need a face lift to match how i feel but whatever.

The early stages of maintaining can be scary but keeping the weight off is possible. Its important to believe this truth in order to make it happen.

Thanks so much to everyone who has supported me through my journey. The journey isn't over but I'm cruising comfortably at the right altitude.

And I am so proud of this group - started by me 3 years ago and now over 1200 members. We rock.    Diane

Congrats on your continued success! And many thanks for leading the way!

Congratulations! 

Thank you for posting this update.  It's very helpful to those of us on the brink of maintenance to read this stuff.  :)

Well done.

And Congratulations.  You are an inspiration!!!

Congrats, Diane!

Thank you for starting this group. I don't participate that much, but I check in every day to read. I just commented on a post Elina made on the made on the main VSG board that I believe a support system is even more important multiple years out than it is in the beginning. So thanks!!!

Lizanne

Congratulations Diane.  Four years, is an eternity to maintain in VSG years. 

Congrats!  So thankful for those that have gone before me!!!  I wanna be like you!

Congrats Diane. Thanks for the affirmation that the early stages of maintenance can be scary. It helps me to know that you feel that way and have been successful for 4 years. I am 13 months out and about 6 months in maintenance and I am scared that I will revert to old habits and weight gain. I struggle with that because I don't trust myself or the process fully yet. I am working on it because I don't want to project failure and have a self fulfilling prophecy. Congrats on your success, your 4 year surgiversary, and for showing us that long term maintenance is not a pipedream. You are an inspiration.

thanks mimij. yeah that first maintenance year or two can be frightening because you are gradually able to eat more volume and you worry that will get worse and worse and as you experiment with more normal foods you get scared you will revert. but if you have done your homework and developed new habits you will get there. keep tracking food and such and stick to your weight loss habits only up the calories a little until you find the sweet spot where you maintain. its all about habits. set goals for every three months or so to be at the same weight and then pat yourself on the back for getting there.    it is so worth it.   diane

Congrats on 4 Diane !!!!

It's a weird time...... sometimes it seems like it's been forever....... than other times it seems only like a year.....

frisco