My 1 Year Surgery Anniversary! (BEFORE & AFTER PICS!)

[Proud2BMe 1,016]

On May 12, 2015, I had my weight loss surgery in Tijuana. I had a procedure called Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy, or "gastric sleeve" for short. About 80% of my stomach was removed. The normal human stomach is about the size of a football. My new stomach is the size of a banana. As a result of the surgery I can only consume small portions of food, ranging from a few ounces to a cup of food, depending upon what I'm eating. However, the amazing thing about this is that I am fully satiated from eating so little. When our stomachs are full they send signals to the brain that makes us feel satiated and we stop eating. Since my stomach is so small I get those signals way quicker and with very little food. So I feel satiated off of a few ounces of food while a person without the surgery may have to eat an entire plate of food, or more. Before surgery I could eat an entire large pizza by myself in one sitting. Today I can't even finish one slice. I believe the surgery, along with quitting smoking, saved my life.

My Stats:

Highest Recorded Weight - 388 lbs

Weight at Time I Decided to Have Surgery - 370 lbs

Weight on Day of Surgery - 350 lbs

Weight One Year After Surgery - 190 lbs (and still losing!)

Goal Weight - 170 lbs

Total Weight Loss To Date - 180 lbs

Highest Recorded BMI (Body Mass Index) - 50.2

Current BMI - 25.8

Largest Pant Size - 46

Current Pant Size - 32

Largest Shirt Size - 4X

Current Shirt Size - L to XL

I want to give a shout out to my niece, Jazmine, who thought it was funny to say that my legs are so skinny they look like teenage girl legs. Trust me, I am taking that as a compliment! I would rather have "teenage girl legs" than massive tree trunks. Also, a shout out to my friends who told me that I went from a "2" to an "8" on a scale of attractiveness. That was much appreciated! Finally, a shout out to my bestie Michelle who told me that "Now there is no one out of your league, only people beneath you." (Kind of a mean-spirited comment but a definite ego-booster!) LOL

So what's next? Well, I have 20 more pounds to lose and then I will be at my goal weight. I also need to start saving for my plastic surgery to have my excess skin removed. It's weird because even though I lost the weight I am still majorly self-conscious because the excess skin is so ugly. I would not be comfortable at all with taking off my shirt in public. Even after the surgery I will still probably be majorly self-conscious because I will have so many scars. I will probably look like a sexy Frankenstein's monster. So it will be real ironic if after all this is said and done that I still would not feel comfortable taking off my shirt in public. All I can do is take it one day at a time and hope for the best.

BEFORE and AFTER pictures below!

Edited May 12, 2016 by Proud2BMe

[VSGAnn2014 12,992]

You've changed your life. And still are. So impressive.

[Clementine Sky 708]

Congratulations! You look fantastic, and you definitely should be proud of yourself.

[BelgianGuy 350]

Impressive changes, congrats !

[KindaFamiliar 3,867]

Great work mate...

You must be so pleased...

Congrats!!

[jane13 2,256]

@@Proud2BMe - you have done a great job and very inspirational to a lot of newbies! Keep posting!

[Justaprettyface 45]

Congratulations ! Love to see the before & afters. Very inspiring!!

Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

[barbarahadz1 84]

Well done. You look great and you really did save your life!

[LaffeyTaffey 27]

Great job! Keep up the great work!!!

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[Jazzcat 43]

Congrats !!!!!

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[Lenoralogan@yhoo.com 13]

Wow u look amazing keeo it up

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[FatNoMore9869 32]

@@Proud2BMe

Yes you should be proud like you I was once heavy.

I'm only 6 months out and have lost a whooping total of um... 150 pounds. I feel great as I suspect you do as well. Keep up the great work!!!!!

For me

Weight:280

BMI:44.6

Day of surgery : 210

Goal weight : 110 or 100

Total weight loss 150 still losing!

Now

22.4 BMI

Largest pants 20

Current pants 5

Shirts then 1xl now small

I have the attitude if I can change anybody can change.

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[Ebele 1]

@@Proud2BMe You have done so well, I love reading and seeing what it will be like if I stick to the plan (I'm currently half way through my 2-week liquid diet pre-op and I'm starving), so you are giving me the motivation to tough it out. My op is on the 31st of May and I'm now going to remember your gorgeous face and body and use it as my motivation. Congratulations! I wish you every success in the last 20 pounds.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

[cb11 18]

Great job!

Edited May 23, 2016 by cb11