Hello to all,
My journey is not complete. I am not here to tell you that I have figured it all out, or that it is easy. I have lost 87 lbs with the gastric sleeve surgery and diet. I lost the weight from January to July 2011. I have been at the same weight since July 2011. Once I began eating regular food, my will power left to use the sugar free diet that got me to my current weight of 200 lbs. I pretty much ate what I wanted, regular sugar; have gone through holiday's and birthday's and gained and lost only 1 or 2 lbs, I know that I will not regain the 87 lbs. I ate well according to the diet plan at first, then ate poorly slipping in the rich buttery foods that I love, but, I ate only a little of everything. If I ate too much or too fast, I would have to throw up. I am now determined to reach my goal weight of 145 lbs by spring 2013. My stomach is small, but I ate too many liquid or empty calories and the wrong foods.
The beginning of my story is typical, I ate too much in general as a lifestyle, between meals, too rich food, and have a job where I sit most of the day. My knees were weak and I did not want to have knee replacement surgery, so I had to get the weight off quickly or I was going to be in a wheelchair. I was a mature first time mother, and the doctor just said to me, "All we care about is having a healthy baby." I gained 75 lbs with my pregnancy 20 years ago. I had a 9.5 lb baby, and kept the rest of the weight. I ate what I wanted, but because I was moderately active was not sickly. I went to the Doctor and was told that I was pre-diabetic, and this information was the last straw. At the time, my insurance did not cover the gastric sleeve surgery. I went on a letter writing campaign in Cincinnati and went all the way through the Anthem appeal process and was denied for the sleeve, but approved for the gastric bypass. I did not want the bypass, don't get me wrong for some the surgery is a good alternative. However, my friend had the bypass surgery with good results, but she has been sick ever since she reached her goal weight. My friend had complications with her surgery, could not keep any food down and now is in a nursing home having gone from 338 to 105 lbs. I again went on a letter writing campaign indicating that Anthem in other cities were covering the gastric sleeve, that was May 2010. By December 2010, Anthem changed their policy and allowed for the gastric sleeve. I went to Dr. Curry in Cincinnati, he is a very good doctor. My surgery in January 2011 went well with no complications.
I feel fat now at 200 lbs, and am no longer basking in the glow of the 87 lb weight loss. I am ready and willing to do what I know to do to lose the remainder of the weight. My plan is to pull out my gastric sleeve diet plan and start the plan again from the beginning with the pre-op diet to get my body and taste buds ready to finish what I started.
I will tell anyone, the gastric sleeve is the best surgery, and it will get you to your goal if you remember to keep your eyes on the prize.
I hope this inspires you to go for it.
Karen
