Lyngolean

I have been struggling with being larger than I want to be since I was in my late 20's. It got worse through 3 pregnancies. I would always lose a lot of weight after delivery (when I didn't feel like throwing up any time I didn't have food in my stomach and had the benefit of burning calories by nursing), but I think I became an emotional eater (or perhaps being an emotional eater just caught up to me more due to age and not exercising as much). In any event, I put on approximately 120 pounds over the course of about 25 years. Despite over the course of 24 years, trying Weight Watchers multiple times, Overeaters Anonymous, seeing a nutritionist, addressing emotional eating in therapy for 7 years solid through an eating disorder program, and my own tracking of more healthy behaviors and successfully losing (and regaining) 540 pounds, I accepted I was not likely going to be one of the 1% of the population who can successfully lose and keep off a large amount of excess weight without the help of surgery. I went to 2 different information sessions about a year and a half prior to my actual surgery, and 6 months after those sessions, decided I wanted to start the process. Additionally, I had the example of my husband who was sleeved in 2010 with excellent results. I saw some of his struggles up close and personal and naturally wanted to avoid doing something so difficult. However, I wanted to be rid of my excess weight even more. 12/5/2017 I had my first consult with a PA who is a bariatrician who recommended the sleeve for me. I proceeded to go through the preparatory appointments: 3 sessions with a dietitian, one session with a nurse clinician, a psychological assessment, a slew of lab work, an abdominal ultrasound, consult with a physical therapist to discuss the role of physical activity in weight management, and the consult with the surgeon. My insurance company had their own process where they require WLS patients to have 5 phone appointments with a health coach, 2 with a person with a background in exercise and 3 with a dietitian. I felt very supported by everyone with whom I met and that every one of them wanted me to be successful. My surgery was approved within 2-3 days of having been submitted. I guess the timeline gets a little confused in retrospect- I didn't meet with my surgeon until I was approved by insurance. Anyhoo...once I had the consult with the surgeon, surgery was scheduled about 1 month out. I followed a 10 day liquid protein diet during which I lost 15 pounds, and since my surgery, about 2.5 month ago, I have taken off an additional 50 pounds. I try to keep a list of all the changes I notice since surgery. It's a very long and beautiful list. Mainly I just feel LOADS and LOADS better. Kind of a humorous observation: I've noticed that I get rather attached to my clothing. That is not useful or helpful when one has undergone WLS. You quickly undergrow clothing, and need to exchange for smaller sizes after a pretty brief period of time. I was sad to part ways with my largest sized clothing, which I did about 6 weeks post-op. I went down 2 sizes with that first clothing change. Now I'm outgrowing my thrift store finds. and needing to resupply again. I don't usually like to shop, but this is for such a happy reason, and not terribly expensive due to sticking with thrift stores. My biggest concerns at this point are getting to my goal weight (or the vicinity thereof) and STAYING there!  It's  journey for sure, and a once in a lifetime opportunity.