Im one year today

[Guest guest]

I briefly introduced myself a couple weeks ago and now Im officailly as of

this afternoon 1 year post op. I have to say I have loved lurking here and

listening to all the wisdom here for several months now. Its great now I

can join in (If you dont mind.)

I did write a synopsis of my first year I would love to share with you all.

Warnng: its long!!!

Before I share it Ill give my stat stuff:

I had Gastric Bypass with Dr Thirlby in Seattle WA. Hes conservative and

only bypassed about 16 inches of intestine. So I have to work hard at my

weight loss. I do a lot of exercsie and I eat right (Well thats debatable

sometimes) but I try to make good food choices and I follow the food pyrmid

logic of thought. Its seems to be working for me.

I started at 350 and lost 148 poudns in a year. I wish I could have gotten

thoses extra 2 pounds for 150 and weigh 200 but touche I will get it

eventually. I have an ambilical hernia and Gall stones so Im looking at

more surgery soon.

here is my synopsis I wrote today

I am one year post op today.

What has this year meant to me in terms of changes?

I have lost 148 pounds, the equivalent of a full adult. When I started my

journey last year I was 350 pounds. I never considered myself morbid obese

although the scales and all the charts said I was. I knew I was large, I

wore a size 30/32. I also had many problems with health. I use to have

Asthma and took daily medication. My legs swelled every day and my ankles

nearly doubled I size when they swelled. When I had my physical it showed I

had high but average cholesterol and my blood sugar levels were rising into

the too high area.

One year later I can report no asthma, no swelling, and my blood levels are

good too.

Losing weight is just a part of the picture, I can now shop in thrift stores

and regular stores (Verses the big lady shops). I wear a size 18 very

comfortably now. I am sure that will go lower as I get through year 2. I

no longer wait for the large handicapped bathroom stall when I’m out because

I can fit in a regular one now. I seldom look for the closest parking spot

when I go to the store; I use to drewl at the thought of getting an up close

one before. Now I often park farther back because it’s good for me. I also

can sit in a normal booth at a restaurant and have room to spare.

Food still scares me. I can tolerate anything except fried foods and milk

(I have always had milk intolerance tendencies anyway.) What scares me is

how it can control me if I give it a chance. The surgery especially the

early months I was in total control of food. I could eat when and what I

wanted and it wouldn’t call my name back. Unfortunately in more recent

months I started to tolerate everything better and now sweets and snacks

call on me so I have to be strong and let it know I’m not interested today.

I think protein shakes are my best allay to fight those cravings. And when

I’m not too stubborn to get a shake I win all the battles with food. At

least indulgences are kept small thanks to the surgery.

I try to eat like the food pyramid and its good for me to keep that blood

sugar level, protein is my major concern but I get in all the groups. I do

a lot of exercise so I need the complex carbohydrates. My exercise regimen

currently is to do water aerobics 2 nights a week, walk 2 miles 3 morning a

week and do one kick boxing class (I actually only do half a class and am

working up to more.) One thing is, I love to exercise now and that is an

oxymoron for me.

Attention is something that I have found to be a scary and almost not able

to trust situation. I need to start with my husband being the exception. He

always gave me the same unconditional attention and love at 350 and at 200

(right now.) In fact he didn’t care if I had surgery or even lost a pound.

He is my best supporter. But people who knew me at 350 are suddenly giving

showers of attention, and saying hi to me when before I was invisible. This

is men and women too. I just say thanks when they say things like you look

great and I move on. It’s very uncomfortable and I am hoping that in time

it will feel more natural.

In closing I want to say I am so glad I had this surgery. It’s been a

miracle year and part of me wants to know when is the dream going to end.

Its doesn’t feel real yet. I am forever committed to this tool and keeping

it in good working order. I’m still eating near 1/2 cup meals (If its soupy

I do about 2/3 cup) I hope I stay that way. I eat 6 to 8 times a day so I’m

getting my nutrition in. I worry about nutrition first in everything I do.

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[Guest guest]

Barb:

Congratulations and welcome. It's nice getting that first year behind you.

And you can join in all of the very, very sophisticated topics we regularly

discuss here. ;-)

Bandas

Austin, TX

RNY 4-28-98, Dr. Selinkoff, San , TX

Then: 305 Now: 180

125 pounds gone forever!

Im one year today

>

>

> I briefly introduced myself a couple weeks ago and now Im officailly as of

> this afternoon 1 year post op. I have to say I have loved lurking here

and

> listening to all the wisdom here for several months now. Its great now I

> can join in (If you dont mind.)

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks and Ill do my best to keep up with the gas, talk and other

sophistocated stuff. Ok? LOL

Barb

Reply-To: Graduate-OSSGonelist

To: <Graduate-OSSGonelist>

Subject: Re: Im one year today

Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2000 20:11:48 -0600

Barb:

Congratulations and welcome. It's nice getting that first year behind you.

And you can join in all of the very, very sophisticated topics we regularly

discuss here. ;-)

Bandas

Austin, TX

RNY 4-28-98, Dr. Selinkoff, San , TX

Then: 305 Now: 180

125 pounds gone forever!

______________________________________________________

Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com