I was a "super healthy" fat person until surgery changed my life. Was it worth it?

[mamapope 1]

Such an inspiration. Thank you for sharing your story. I am planning to be sleeved in October and I am so excited to be borne again.

[SeaGirl 193]

Bravo to you! I've read many of your posts over the last year and I am so thrilled to see your beautiful face! I just posted a similar thread because I feel this moment is very cathartic in my life, the moment of realizing that everything that I was so happy about and so good at when I was 230 lbs, is now happy on steroids after WLS. I appreciate your post, your pics and all of your success from the standpoint of sisterhood. That, my friend, is truly priceless! Rock on!

[cutiecake 178]

You told the story of so many so very well, I actually cried, you described my own world so much ,I totally relate , thank you for the inspiring words, makes me realize how much I need to do this, can't wait!

[Ageekygal 38]

Thank you, thank you, thank you for your post! I read it and saw myself. All my lab tests--wonderfully normal including the EKG. I am the life of the party--people literally change the dates of parties and BBQs if I am working (I work at a hospital and have alternating weekends) so I can attend. I admit, my knees and back get painful if I walk too far, gardening is getting tougher and I am getting lazier to the point of being a couch potato so that is why I am doing it! I will be 56 when I get my surgery this fall and I can't wait to feel better and have more energy!

I am glad there will be a more active future for me

[Tamlyn 107]

I am so happy for you! You look positively radiant!

[Lizy♥ 1]

When I started this journey I was 5.3 and 264 pounds. I had no health issues. I did martial arts, I went to the gym regularly, I loved to swim laps for exercise, and I didn't have any aches or pains. My blood counts were good and I *thought* I was very happy with myself. I had friends, a successful business, a happy husband and kids, an overall great life.

I decided to have surgery because I didn't want my body to start breaking down and I knew it would. While I could do all those things above, I was starting to get very tired and increasingly lazy. After an hour of laps, I just wanted to sit in my pool chair and read. After a three hour martial arts day, I wanted to sleep on the sofa. I was finding myself watching my family do fun stuff more than participating and I was getting increasingly nervous about going places like the park because I was wondering how I was going to cover up the huffing and puffing and the excessive sweating.

Looking back, I was truly fooling myself into believing that my life was normal except for my clothing size. My biggest dread was going to school events and being the fat mom. I hated that not only for myself, but for my kids. I knew they would never say so, but what child wants to have the super obese fat mom in the room? I was very self conscious about going out in public, never wanting a hair out of place, or my hair and outfit less than perfect. (By God, I may have been a fat person, but I was going to be a perfectly groomed fat person 'cuz that would fool people! Just like wearing all black would fool them or not actually eating in public would fool them.)

My mental armor against my obesity was a louder laugh, a bigger smile, a heartier personality, and I was always told that I was a bit intimidating because I oooooozed self confidence. (I am thrilled to say that I have maintained these characteristics, so I did gain something from my time as an obese person.)

Here I am, 1 year later, 111 pounds thinner (but still 5.3. HA!). I hit my original goal of 159, and am now about 3 pounds away from my stretch goal of 149. I really think I want to get to 139, but really, if I never lose another pound, so be it.

I still swim, do martial arts, I TEACH kickboxing, and I zumba my heart out several days a week. I no longer sweat excessively, I can not only keep up with the family, but I am most often the one who WANTS to go out and do physical things. After a great exercise session, I have MORE energy as opposed to flopping my happy arse on the couch for the rest of the day. I am down from a size 20 to a size 6 and I was able to squeeze into a size 4 the other day. (I turned blue, I couldn't breathe, bend or sit, but I buttoned those b!tches!)

I have done several mud runs and am always looking for more opportunities. I am looking into becoming a certified Zumba instructor and am attending a 3 day martial arts camp without fear of not being able to keep up. I can go into public looking like a wreck from the gym and no longer feel like people are looking at me as the sloppy fat woman, and if I buy a cup of fro-yo or have junk food in my cart, I no longer feel the judgmental stares. (And the meat heads at the GNC actually WANT to help me instead of just ringing me up without eye contact.)

As I start this summer as a thinner person for the first time in 15-20ish years, every day is a wonderment. I am wearing shorts. I am buying sleeveless dresses. I have floppy skin, but I don't care!! I can buy clothes anywhere I want and I have the freedom to spend my day without focusing on how I look, what I am going to eat, who is looking at me judgmentally, if I am going to be able to fit in a space, if I am going to crowd someone. I can be so much more spontaneous in my schedule and I am always looking forward to trying new things. (A super cool perk? If I get something on my clothes or need a quick change of outfit because something comes up, I can run into the store, buy something off the rack without trying it on and I KNOW it's going to fit!!! WHAT!?!?!)

Life was good before. Life is freaking AWESOME now.

Before.

Now.

And the fun stuff!

You are truly inspiring and I hope to one day accomplish atleast half of what u have. My journey just began on Feb. 12 and still have a long way to go but you give me courage to know that I too can get there. Thanks God Bless!

[Nicolanz 1,484]

I want to do a mud run, it looks like so much fun!!!!! Congrats to you! You are doing great!

[I will what I want 271]

Omg you are hilarious. And an inspiration and gloriously beautiful covered in mud. Thanks for making my evening with your post!

[minniexoxo 34]

You are absolutely beautiful!!

[Bombs 353]

Couldn't have said it better! Great job, LL! Needed some inspiration after a tough weekend!

[JoJoV23 11]

What a wonderful and inspirational story. Thank you for sharing and you look FABULOUS!!

[Sassypants92201 76]

I could write your same story. I am actually going to have my daughter in law and son read this to try to help them understand. They don't understand why I don't just lose the weight. (They are both tiny people who are not necessarily healthy but skinny) I have yo yo'd my entire life and always worked out, ran, biked, rollerbladed, etc.

[Mississippi Girl 124]

Thank you so much for the wonderful testimony. It's always good to hear a positive experience. I am so proud that you're living life to the fullest. That's amazing. I had surgery on 3/10/2014, and it has changed my life for the better. I am down 25 pounds and would love to loose another 15 to 20. I am already doing things I would/could not do prior to my surgery. Again, I'm so proud of you!!

Mississippi Girl

[JeanZ_RN 378]

Way to GO, LL! You are indeed an inspiration (but I think I'll skip the mud runs). Sleeve on!

[jjinWA 511]

I too cried when I read your post. I am scheduled for surgery mid June. I sooooooo very much want your success story to be mine. I WILL get there!