1 YR Surgiversary! Dreams become Reality!

[cherbear33 288]

First let me start by apologizing for my long story! Believe it or not this is actually the shorter version lol!

Last friday on July 18, 2014 marked my One Year Surgiversary!!! This has been an Amazing & Incredible year for me! I weighed in @ 205 LBS, which makes my Total Loss- 116 LBS Down!!! My starting weight was 321 LBS, day of surgery I weighed in @ 314 LBS! Only approx 70 more LBS left to lose & only 6 more LBS to "One-derland"!!! I can't wait!

Not only have I lost a huge amount of weight but I have also made so many other Dreams a Reality!!! I have had a GREAT year with my Dad (as the doctors are amazed he is still here & never thought he would make it this far) I got Baptized, also took & Passed my GED on the very FIRST try!!! Eventually I have plans to go back for something else but right now my main focus is my time spent & cherished with my Dad!!!

This Wild, Crazy, Emotional journey has all been worth it, even when there were times I wanted to give up or even regretted my decisions. In the end of it all.... Getting the Gastric Sleeve Surgery was & is the best decision I have ever made for myself! I would not trade the rollercoaster ride for one second!!!

I am so Thankful to all my Family & Friends for all the Love & Support throughout this year!!! I thank them for loving me & never judging me for my choices in this crazy thing we call life! I am so Grateful to have such wonderful people taking this journey with me & becoming a part of my lifes journey!!! I am also Thankful for having found this site & for all of you as well!!!

Most of all I want to Thank my Lord Jesus Christ for giving me all the opportunities that has made this year the Most Memorable, Special, Meaningful, Most Precious, Crazy, Emotional year ever! Especially with being so Blessed even now with my Dad as I almost lost him again 3 weeks ago. But God has answered all of our prayers & has continued to give me some more time with him!!! Which means more to me then anything else in the world!!!

I am beyond Blessed to have had the opportunity to share all of my accomplishments that I have conquered so far with my Dad by myside!!! I Love My Dad, he has been my BIGGEST supporter through this entire journey! Always cheering me on & telling me I could do it as long as I stayed in my faith! Thank you Dad for having faith in me & for me during the times I wanted to Quit & Give up!!!

I also had my one year PO visit with my surgeon. All of my blood work came back Normal!!! Except my thyroid. Just have to increase it a little, but everything else came back Perfect!!! Whoo-Hoo, that is Awesome!!! He said I am an Inspiration & that he is very proud of my success!

I was crying as I thanked my surgeon for helping me make my Dreams come true!!! He remebered when I was pushing so hard to get this done when my Dad almost died. (actually he did, but they were able to bring him back & then he was in a coma for 14 days) Dr. Judd & his office helped tremendously to get everything approved & done with the insurance within a month & a half of him coming home from the hospital!!!

Without Dr. Judd & his team I would have given up but they never let me! I thanked him repeatedly for changing my life & his response was " I simply gave you a tool to help you but you deserve all the credit because it was you who did all the work, you made all the food choices, you did all the exercise & you should be as proud of yourself for your success as I am of you!!!

As I showed him a picture of me when I had first came to see him he looked at it & then at me & said " you have to stand up & show me how you look today compared to this picture" & as I did he said I have lost an entire other human being! I was in tears but they were Happy tears!!! He was also proud to hear I went & took my GED! Or as it is now known as the TASC Test!

It was an Awesome feeling to know that not only are my family & friends proud of my success but so is my surgeon! It was nice to hear him telling his nurses & other staff of my success & accomplishments & not only with my weight loss but my other life victories as well!!!

His one nurse who took a moment to talk to me the day I was so upset over having had gained a couple a pounds while my dad was in a coma & was not able to get a surgery date set that day that I almost walked out of the office giving up all hope of having my Sleeve Surgery. She came over to tell me how proud of me she was & is because I kept pushing forward regardless of all that tried to stand in my way! I thanked her for taking the time that day to talk to me, calm me down, give me hope & for not just letting me walk out the door & give up all hope!

It was a FABULOUS day all the way around & an ABSOLUTELY AMAZING year & I DID IT!!!

Did I do everything by the book? NO

Did I never eat a "BAD" food again? NO

Did I slip & make mistakes along the way? Yes, Yes, Yes.... I am human!!!

Did I hit stalls? Yes

Did I ever eat too many carbs in one sitting? Yes

Did I survive & still succeed even though I made mistakes? Yes

Is it ok that I was not perfect during MY journey? Yes

I may have fallen off the horse a few times but I always got back on & am very proud of all I have lost so far & to be down 116 LBS in only 1 year!!!

I am proud of all I have accomplished & conquered this past year! I have had an awesome support team & Lots of Love from Family & Friends!!! I have also been blessed with having you all here on this site as well!!!

This past year is just the beginning of a whole new life.... Emotionally, Mentally, & Physically! There is still so much more I want to accomplish & conquer!!! I am setting Goals & I will keep pushing until I reach them ALL!!!

Having this surgery be so successful so far & being forced to come face to face with an emotional & mental rollercoaster ride & somehow finding the strength to continue, learning to overcome some fears, to accpet & conquer through it all... I know I can do anything now as long as I try hard enough, give it my all & NEVER give up! Because this life changing journey has shown me & taught me the true meaning of STRENGTH!!!! It may take me a while but eventually I will overcome & conquer more things in my life! Especially with the Lord & my Dad by myside, I can & will!!!

So many Dreams are coming true! The Stars are within reach & I am collecting them as I move one step closer to making all my Dreams come true!!! They are my stepping stones to a Happy, Bright, Healthy & Successful Future!!!! I am so excited to see all of what it may hold for me!!! AMEN!!!

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Edited July 27, 2014 by cherbear33

[cherbear33 288]

Here is a Flipagram video I made of this past year as well!!! I absolutely LOVE the song I chose for it!!! I hope you all like it too! It is another great song for this journey we are all on!!!

http://flipagram.com/f/FnMVAw9oaO

Edited July 26, 2014 by cherbear33

[IcanMakeit 1,318]

What an inspiring story. Congratulations on your fantastic weight loss. How wonderful that your father is still here for you and backing you up all the way!

It gives me hope that you admit to having made mistakes along the way, but you are still successful over the long term.

[VSGAnn2014 12,992]

You are awesome! I can't wait to find out what else you now do with your life.

I think you could do anything.

Ann

[Kissifur 244]

You look amazing and so much happier. You are smiling in every after picture.

[learning to love myself 8]

Your story is awesome! You should be so proud of yourself. Keep up the good work!

[ElectricBoogaloo 337]

You are so inspiring! Congratulations!!

[Who Dat 70461 331]

Wow, congratulations on your progress/success! You have a positive, can-do attitude that is infectious...keep on keeping on!

[ProudGrammy 8,322]

@cherbear33

man oh man girlfriend

you do talk alot!!

did i see, hear you right??

you lost 116 lbs!!

I knew i had been seeing "less and less" of you

you have worked so hard this year

the proof is in the "pudding"

you are such a success story

the world is at your feet, be careful don't trip

enjoy your new life

keep up the great job for the rest of your healthier, happier, longer life

happy one year surgiversary with many, many more to follow

kathy

congrats

Edited July 26, 2014 by proudgrammy

[Wndyyy 3]

Congratulations, you look wonderful!!'

[cherbear33 288]

Thank you very much to each & every one of you!!! I truly appreciate the time you all took to read my story & also to reply with so much support & kindness!!! That is why I love this site so much!!! May you all continue to be blessed along your journeys as well!!! Together we can all do this!!!

Edited July 27, 2014 by cherbear33