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

[VSGAnn2014 12,992]

@@LipstickLady ...

I've just found your showstopper thread! What a stunner OP. Your kind of WLS success is what I want.

Thanks also for your good sense, straight talk and encouragement. I've truly appreciated it.

Ann

[LipstickLady 25,682]

@@LipstickLady ...

I've just found your showstopper thread! What a stunner OP. Your kind of WLS success is what I want.

Thanks also for your good sense, straight talk and encouragement. I've truly appreciated it.

Ann

You are too kind. I'm so excited for you as you start your journey!

[Spreble21 3]

The title of your post scared the crap out of me! What an amazing story. Thank you for being so inspirational to so many of us. You look amazing!

[OceansideMom 16]

Liplady, I too was the healthy, active "fluffy" one with the great attitude, beautiful smile and winning personality. I even taught aerobics while being 200+ and my classes were packed. Thought I was okay but the minute I hurt my foot, back, knee, whatever body part gets tired with all the weight I didn't have the energy to fight back. The weight starts to come on...200 becomes 212 and then 220 so fast! I could easily see 250 in the near future.

I was sleeved Monday 8/25 and am down 12 pounds so far....at least going in the right direction!

Your honesty in your shared story is truly inspiring. You deserve this!! It's in NO WAY the "easy way out". Keep it up lady! Keep inspiring, we got newbies like me coming everyday feeding off these great stories!

To all of you out there fighting for this story to be yours (like me), just believe it will happen! And YOU deserve it!

[LindafromFlorida 1,542]

Enjoy the journey. It sounds cheesy, but it's true.

Every size lost, every new pair of pants bought, every teeny victory is to be savored. The first time you can back your car up and actually turn around in your car seat comfortably, the first time you paint your toenails and can breath while doing so, the first time you can cross your legs, or wear a regular sized garment, or get up off the floor without rolling to your knees first, or wrap your fingers around your wrist, or feel your hipbones, your sternum, your tailbone...

There are so many little things that you will do and then realize you DID (cuz ohmygawd you've not done that in SO.FREAKING.LONG). When the scale stops moving for a few weeks (but your pants keep getting looser) you have to rejoice in all the little things that are happening to your body along the way, because those are what add up to the big things.

No one will ever see your number on the scale (unless you shamelessly tell people like I do at times), and rarely will someone know your clothing size (well...uhm...) but they WILL see you bounce up the stairs without huffing and puffing, they will see your confident posture and smile as you shop at a regular store, they will see you run after your kids or for the bus...

This WLS thing is awesome. Ridiculously awesome. Enjoy every minute of it.

You are the most positive, happy, inspiration on Bariatric Pal! Keep leading us beautiful!

[LipstickLady 25,682]

Y'all are so sweet. I'm happy that so many are feeling the same way as me. It's freaking fabulous.

[chachaheels 1]

You are stunningly beautiful...Truly an inspiration.

[purplepassion70 6]

Your story is inspiring, I saw myself in there when you spoke about being dressed well and having hair together while being overweight. I think I was to complacent as well but look forward to my new life. I was sleeved on 8/26/14.

[tynoodles11 26]

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 look fabulous!!! My mouth is hanging open!!!!

[jajmj 40]

Amazing story and kudos - you look amazing!!

[DevineMissM 59]

What a great inspirational story. I too am a healthy fat person. I am 64yo and I do need knee replacements but nothing else wrong. Your story serves as inspiration. I am tired of watching life go bye.

[chip305 51]

Thank you so much for this post, you nailed how I feel and how I hope to feel after surgery! You are truely an inspiration!

Edited September 4, 2014 by chip305

[Chrystee 838]

Thank you!!! I feel the same! I've fit.. I crossfit, swim, bike, try to run.. etc. I just cannot get this weight off. I'm so glad I've started the process.

[lblondon 34]

Y'all are so sweet. I'm happy that so many are feeling the same way as me. It's freaking fabulous.

You've described me in your original post, well apart from me being a tad taller. I'm only 5months in but I've already got the me back that I'd forgotten, if that makes sense. Thanks for your post

[ljbobcat 7]

You an an amazing inspiration for me!!!! Thank you for posting. I am up for that amazing life and you represent it so beautifully!!! My surgery is Oct. 6th and I can't wait for the transformation of me! It is posts like yours that show what is possible! THANK YOU!