My One Year Surgiversary

[IcanMakeit 1,318]

Today is my one year surgiversary. I am so glad that I made the decision to save my own life by losing weight. At the beginning of the process, WLS was not part of my plan. (I had gone through the whole pre-op testing process five years before and then backed out of having the lap band.) I started dieting in Jan. 2014, lost weight steadily for a few months, and began to enjoy the improvements to my health and appearance. I decided that I didn't want this to be just another diet, where I lose weight only to find it again within a few weeks or months. I then talked to my PCP and he suggested that bariatric surgery might help me with maintenance.

Within three months of that conversation with my PCP, I was sleeved. My family was amazed that I changed my mind about bariatric surgery and had it done so quickly, but they were all so supportive, it made me feel even more secure in my decision.

Just like so many other people, the initial post-op period was unpleasant, but I was lucky that the worst of it passed within a couple of months. Then it was a pretty steady period of loss until I reached my surgeon's goal in December 2014. The goal he set for me, 135 lbs., put me near the top of the acceptable BMI level. At that weight, I looked so much better than before, but still looked a bit chubby.

I had set my own goal at 125 lbs. because I remembered feeling pretty good and strong at that weight back in my college student/dance minor days. I didn't really advertise that goal. I had no confidence that I would reach it. But I must have gotten a second wind after my breast reduction at the beginning of December. Not only did I surpass my surgeon's goal, I surpassed my own secret goal. I have now lost 132 lbs. and look and feel like a new person.

Changing my lifestyle has really been facilitated by my VSG. It has given me better control of my eating habits and the weight loss (and breast reduction) has made it possible for me to exercise without pain.

I won't have my one year follow up visit with my bariatric surgeon until next week, but I'm expecting to hear good news, just as I did at my 9 month follow-up. Pretty much everything I was suffering from when I was overweight is either improved or resolved.

[wascott 395]

Wonderful! I hope my weight loss journey goes that well.

[*Lexie* 1,486]

I'm so inspired by your journey. Congratulations!

[jane13 2,256]

that's a wonderful story to hear. I am six days post, and it gives me incentives.

[CocoPebbles1030 59]

Congratulations!

[MistyAnnMoon829 387]

That is so amazing! I'm excited to read this! My 1 year is coming up in a couple months and I am just shy of losing 100 lbs. Then I strive to lose another 25 at most on top of that, and reading this makes me think that I can!

[kempermorris 144]

Amazing story. Great success. I'm 5 months post op & have lost 102lbs. I have another 100 to go. Good Luck to you