M_8ankz

"As I look back over my life, and I think things over, I can truly say that I've been blessed" I'm headed in to get my labs drawn for my one year appointment that is coming up very soon! I am just in shock over the fact that I was able to take this journey. I am so happy with the decision I made over a year ago to pursue WLS. I would have to say, without a doubt, that is the best and hardest decision I have ever made. There were days when I wanted to give up and had eaten badly, but I got back on the saddle and rode this one out! This morning I stepped on the scale to discover that I have lost 98lbs! That is 4 additional lbs to the last time I checked. I now completely understand that this is life-changing. I will never stop maintaining what I have worked so hard for. I have spent $$$ on vitamins, co-pays, supplements, medicines, etc. I am invested and I want to protect this investment of good health with living healthy. I feel like a different person when I step into public places. I am no longer as insecure and ashamed as I walked around feeling for years. I feel like I might cry through my entire appt this week. They have a picture of me the day before surgery. I have not seen it, but I know I am bigger than my license picture. As a reward to myself (and getting tired of people focusing and questioning that I am the person on my license) I am going to the Secretary of State to get a new picture and new license mailed to me. This will be another little happy gift to myself. It truly is the NSV that make me so content. Congratulations to the people that are celebrating their one year surgery anniversaries with me this month! I know I was on this site 24/7 as I rested after surgery. I am so appreciative for all the great advice on the blogs and chat rooms here. I couldn't have made it so well through my first month without this site. I started back when this site was verticalsleevetalk.com. Thank you everyone for the encouragement when I needed it, and the advice to give me discipline. I am emotional now just writing this. We have all made it over hurdles that we didn't know we had the strength to do.

Thank you! I know it is small, but I like getting little things for myself.

I was sleeved on January 22, 2013 by Dr. Brian Gluck in Muskegon at Mercy hospital. Dr Gluck is truly an amazing surgeon! I am almost at a year and have lost 98lbs so far! No severe complications, and I rarely ever had;/have dumping syndrome.

i agree with FRED1977! I noticed that if I wore new clothes within the couple of months after surgery, no one would say anything. But if I happened to wear old clothes that were noticeably too big, i would get all the comments in the world. Keep your head above all that and keep looking at the finish line for yourself

I hope you are so pleased with your progress! Keep up the good work!

CONGRATS! YOU MADE IT! I COULD NOT SLEEP THE NIGHT BEFORE MY SURGERY AND I WAS NERVOUS! GOOD THING YOU AREN'T. IT WILL BE OVER BEFORE YOU KNOW IT. MY ADVICE? USE THE BELLY BAND UNTIL IT GETS TOO BIG

These comments brought tears to my eyes! I decided that instead of just being on this site sucking up information, I could actually attempt to give

Today is the day that i saw so far off in the distance 4 months ago. A day where I would exhale and quietly rejoice with myself. A day where I found contentment in myself that I haven't had in many years. I rushed around to get ready for work this morning....I was running VERY late. Before I grabbed my purse I stepped on the scale, somewhat blah, and had a little surprise. I was 199.8! Time stopped at that moment as I stood there staring. I slowly stepped off the scale and just stood there. Alone in the bathroom I took a moment to be thankful. Thankful that my surgery was even an option, and thankful that my body took so well to it. After today I am going to continue all the work that it took to get to this point. I now know today, how strong of a person it takes to have WLS. I feel like I have accomplished so much more than just smaller numbers on a scale. I gained confidence, contentment, and healthy knowledge.