Question:
Veteran Post-ops what has been your most memorable moment since your WLS?
I am a newbie post-op and I thought it would be fun and inspirational to hear your stories. Thanks everyone! Peace and Love--Karen -25lbs :) — karen D. (posted on September 30, 2001)
September 30, 2001
I am only 6 1/2 wks post-op so not quite a veteran. However my most
wonderful feeling so far is.....Eating to survive not surviving to eat....I
dont crave the food like I used to and I LOVE IT! What is yours so far?
Good Luck
— Melissa S.
September 30, 2001
My very first thrill is when I truly felt I could make my goal weight,
that light bulb moment came with the loss of my first 100 pounds...Then
another 68 pounds went...putting me well under my personal goal to get
under 200 pounds..(I allowed myself to have small goals still fearing the
weight loss would stop) Now here I sit at my perfect weight for my height
of 140 pounds.. Every time I pass a mirror or see my reflection in a store
window is a celebration all over again.. The pride in my walk, my
mannerism, my persona, all these things are just a part of how my health
and well being is and will be forever changed.. My beginning weight was
367 and I'm a very happy stealth 140 pounds now and loving life :) My
complete story in on my profile page as well as a link to all my before and
after pics..
— Victoria B.
September 30, 2001
A milestone that stands out in my mind most of all is realizing one day
that I actually looked people in the eyes as I walked instead of looking
away, or seeing them look away first. Then seeing that they now looked at
me and I never saw pity or disgust in their eyes!! Knowing I now walk with
confidence and with the ease of good health, while holding my head up and
taking my place in society without fear of being left out because of my
size.
— Jo C.
September 30, 2001
Most memorable: Going to a baseball game and sitting in the stadium seat
and sensing something was "wrong" only to look down and see that
what was "wrong" was that I was sitting there, with elbows at my
side and I wasn't touching the seat anywhere along the sides.. not arms,
not hips, not legs. I FIT!
— BethVBG
September 30, 2001
I was in the jewelry store with my husband and we were just browsing,
looking in the different cases. A couple of times sales associates
approached us and we would tell them that we were just looking. As we
continued to look I glanced up and saw that another sales associate was
standing there and I simply nodded my head to acknowledge her and looked
back down. Suddenly I looked back up and realized that I'd been looking in
a mirror and had nodded at myself. It's fun and amazing when people you
haven't seen in a long time don't recognize you but when you don't even
recognize yourself it's a major feeling of satisfaction!! Another great
thing is that for the first time in our lives together (almost 20 years) I
weigh less than my husband!! When we're out together I no longer feel like
people look at us and think "What's that nice looking man doing with
her?" I am 17 pounds from goal and EVERY small milestone is sheer
joy!! Good Luck to you!!
— ronascott
September 30, 2001
I have two most memorable moments, if you don't mind me saying both of
them. My ring size was a 9 1/2. My X had boughten me a really pretty
saphire ring a few years back, and I wasn't wearing once the weight started
dropping off. I had it sized and just got it back last week, to a 6!! My
fingers are smaller than my sister's whom I always thought had tiny
fingers. Then the other night, I was sitting on my boyfriend's lap and he
told me I was hurting him. Not because I am too heavy, but because my butt
was to boney!! It was great. Never thought that was gonna happen. I am
down 126 pounds and only about 5 pounds to goal!!
— enjo4
September 30, 2001
I can't narrow it down to only one - but they all involve tears of
joy...weighing less than 200 pounds for the first time in years and
years...asking my husband to point out someone that looked like me - and
she looked "normal"...fitting into a size 14 for the first time
in over 20 years...and last, but not least, weighing less than my husband
for the first time ever! I tend to cry over happy events and I've been
doing a lot of crying lately. I've been given my life back and I am so
thankful!!!
— georgiacarol
September 30, 2001
hi. I'm only 9 months post-op, so I hope to have lots more memorable
moments, but the best so far was going into a sports apparel shop to buy my
husband and myself baseball jerseys (one Chicago White Sox and one Chicago
Cubs!). I told the guy that I needed a large for my husband, but wasn't
sure what size would fit. He took one look at me and immediately pulled
down a MEDIUM! I was slightly shocked, but put it on. I couldn't believe
that it just about fit. The buttons were soooo close, and I needed a large,
but it was so flattering that the kid thought I could actually fit into a
medium. I was used to clerks immediately checking to see what their biggest
size was. I was wearing 3x men's jerseys pre-op. My husband, who is
actually on the thin BMI side, can't even wear a medium, so needless to
say, it made my day. I now have a new White Sox jersey. The SAME SIZE as my
hubby's Cubs jersey.
— Maria H.
October 1, 2001
<p>Here are a few:
<ul><li>Looking at a size 12 and thinking it is too small only
to find that it is so baggy I have to go back and get the 10
<li>Shopping in the petites department (where I belong at 5'1")
for the first time--and wearing a medium (I stared at my reflection for
about 15 minutes--I couldn't believe it was me!)
<li>Mowing my own yard
<li>Grabbing a bite to eat while I'm driving and realizing that for
the first time there is nobody staring at me like, "My God, she must
eat ALL the time!"
<li>Looking through my closet to find the large shirt (I have two the
same in large and x-large) because the x-large is too baggy--and then
realizing I am WEARING the large
<li>Feeling so great and full of energy even though I am only
consuming 1000 calories a day. If I had been on a diet of 1000 calories a
day I know I would feel like I was dying!
</ul><p>The truth is that there are constantly moments when I
realize I can do something new that I couldn't do before--or that I don't
have to do things I used to do to get by.
— ctyst
October 1, 2001
Having my ex-husband drop by and not recognize me. ;^)
— Suzanne B.
October 1, 2001
I have many, but here are some:
* Weighing less now than when I was married (and less than my hubby now-
who can pick me up and carry me over the threshold)
* Playing soccer, refereeing soccer, and generally LIVING on a soccer field
all day without dying (earning money for it too!)
* CONSTANTLY being amazed that I fit into a size 8-10
* Having my hubby walk past me because he still isn't used to how small I
am
* Seeing people for the first time since I lost 139 pounds
* Roller coaster riding with my kids
* Roller blading, tennis, golf, biking, jogging, weight lifting- you name
it- I am trying it- as well as training to run a marathon
* Looking FORWARD to family reunions, weddings, and class reunions (25th
next summer)
* Being treated with respect, looking people in the eye and heving them
look back
* flirting and being flirted with
* sex- 'nough said
* Port o Potties don't scare me anymore- I know I won't get stuck
* Being able to wear my 14 year old daughter's clothes and being told we
look like sisters- and she isn't embarrassed!!!
* many, many more- new ones every day STILL- I thank God for this surgery!
— M B.
October 2, 2001
What a great question :)) I'm almost six months post, and I would have to
say my greatest milestone has been riding rollercoasters. I went to
Paramount's Kings Island here in Cincinnati, and I got into this seat and
the ride harness fit right over me, no sucking in my gut or anything. It
was so fabulous I almost had to cry :)
— jammie B.
April 13, 2005
April 13, 2005
I guess I am really a veteran 17 years and very near my goal weight. I
think one of my most memorable moments was the first time I saw my brother
after getting below my goal weight. He had not seen me or any photos of me
during my weight loss. The first time I had seen him for about 1 1/2 years
he did not even know me. He thought I was just another customer in a
restuarant my mom was managing. Another memorial time was about two years
ago when my grandaughter had a birthday party at the skating rink and
begged me to skate with her. I DID!! I was 51 years old and had not been
in roller skates for about 15 or more years. I skated well and had no
mishaps.
— linda G.
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