1 YEAR post op

[longer-life 139]

Loved your pictures. I think I will do the same, when I grow up and be like you. Congratulations!!!!! Oh.....uhm.....can you come over and paint some stripes on my daughters bedroom wall? They look beautiful.

[Shea 13]

You have done an amazing outstaning job. You look like a completely different person! Congrats. I loved the slide show!!!!!

[exoticheart 5]

You look absolutely amazing and thank you for your words, yesterday I started feeling like Im losing so slow now and have been the same weight for a month and am only 3 1/2 months out, I started to feel like what if this is it and will always be above 200 ... You brought me back down to earth and realized eventually it will happen to me and for all of us..........thank you

[hadouni 301]

Incredible and congratulations!

[mamasez 9]

Congrats on your awesome progress, Sarah! You were pretty before your surgery but you are healthy-pretty now. Keep up the great work!

Thanks for the encouragement! I get sleeved 10/17 and hope I am as successful as you have been! You are an inspiration!

Mamsez (AKA Leah in TX)

Today I am 1 year post op. I haven't been on the forums in a while, but will probably be around more. I have a few recent pictures, but need to get some more! I will share those once I get some more pictures with my hair down, and makeup on!

Today has kind of been an emotional day for me. Thinking back this time last year, I was all kinds of nervous. The pain after surgery was pretty bad, I won't lie, but I would do it all over again. This surgery really did save my life!!! I was on 3 blood pressure medications before surgery, today I am on NONE! My blood pressure was PERFECT the other day at the doctor. He said I am doing great. My labs are all perfect except my cholesterol. It was 202, which isn't horrible. I am not even sure what it was before surgery, so it has probably come down. I have a family history of high cholesterol, so it might just be something I have to deal with, no matter what my weight. But I will keep any eye on it, and have it rechecked once I lose more weight.

I am at 236 pounds today. I was hoping for it to be lower, but I can't complain. I have lost 133 pounds!!! I look back on my pictures and can't believe I was that big, and I did not look well. People comment now how great my skin looks and how healthy I look. I get embarassed by the nice comments, but it feels good at the same time, if that makes sense. It's still hard for me to see myself how I really look now. I catch my reflection in the mirror and have to stare sometimes because I don't believe its me. I am guessing I will be that way for a while.

Last year at this time, I could not even walk to my mailbox and back, without getting out of breath. I would shower, and not even be able to get dressed. I would have to lay in bed because I couldn't breath and I was exhuasted. Very, very sad for a woman in her early 30's. My mailbox is maybe 30 feet away. I would walk to get the mail, and back in the house, and have to bend over the kitchen counter to catch my breath. THATS SCARY!!! I have no problem now, and walk as much as 4 miles! I feel great. I wouldn't even grocery shop, because I couldn't make it around the store, even leaning on a cart. I eventually just drove thru drivethru's, which just added more weight. I love shopping now!

The only issue I am having now is my knees. Its weird because they never hurt before, even at 369 pounds. The doctor thinks its arthritis, but I am going to the ortho to make sure. It is probably all the years of being overweight, and playing sports when I was younger, catching up with me. I am sure they would be a lot more painful now if I had that 133 pounds on them.

I am also still losing hair, but I have kinda gotten over it. It will come back eventually!

I still want to lose more weight, maybe get down to 175ish. My original goal was 165, but that may be too thin. I just can't wait to be under 200. The weight loss has slowed way down, but thats okay. I have come to accept that. As long as I am not gaining, I am good!!! I eat pretty much anything now, but try every day to stick to a plan. Its hard! People tell me not to lose any more weight, but I probably do look thin or healthy to them compared to what I was.

I am in a size 18 misses, sometime even a 16!!!! I started at a size 30/32W!!!

I have days where I am still down, mostly about my skin, but its much better to see all the hanging skin, than to see all the fat that was there. I eventually want to have plastic surgery, once I am at goal and have the $$$$

If anyone out there is thinking about VSG, DO IT!!! I can't emphasize how much I LOVE my sleeve! My aunt is a nurse at the hospital where I had the surgery, and she tells all her VSG patients about me

And for those of you out there that think that you are a slow loser, WHO CARES!!! YOU ARE STILL LOSING! DO NOT COMPARE YOURSELF TO OTHERS! I was caught in that "comparing myself to others who had this surgery" and it gets you no where, except feeling like CRAP about yourself. Just focus on your own weight loss and exercise plan and your sleeve will do what its suppose to do.

Here is a slideshow I made, that shows my journey over this past year, in pictures. I hope you enjoy!!!

http://smilebox.com/...a&blogview=true

[DebSee 1]

Well done! Your progress is inspiring. Thank you so much for sharing!

[joy134 0]

I just watched your video and wanted to tell you that you look terrific! I don't even know you, but I am so proud of you! LOL

I am scheduled tomorrow am for sleeve & a little emotional!

Keep up the good work!

Joy

[MsLadyKanKan 6]

WOW Congrats to You...love the pics. You look great!!! Thanks for being an inspiration!

[sasicas 194]

Such a difference in a year! You look great!

[Debvzw 48]

great job. I can't wait until I am a year out. It seems so far away.

[Nichelle 21]

Wow, you look so happy. Congratulations on all your success. You slide show is so inspirational, almost makes ya cry. WTG, girl!!