It's pretty amazing to me how this surgery has changed my life. My one-year anniversary is coming up and I can't believe the number of ways my life and health have changed.

Obviously, the main one, is how I look. People who have not seen me in awhile are simply blown away. I am half the person I used to be. Original size was 28 and now I am a 12. My wardrobe that was very carefully collected and cultivated over the years is completely gone. Ask me if I care. Shopping today is a THRILL!

I have not told people how I lost my weight and the only ones who actually know the truth are my family. Works for me .. I know people around me are very critical of this surgery and I don't feel like fighting the fight, you know? It's my business and my success .. I am very happy.

I was on a plane recently, too. Can you say 'snap me in' without tightness or asking for an extension? Freedom, baby .. it's incredible. I can even cross my legs in the seat. And not feeling like I am squishing the person next to me is an amazing success. Paint me happy!

I eat quite a bit more than I did perhaps 6 months ago but I have never gained any weight back. I exercise (very easily, I may add) about 5-6 days a week and I can actually run for the first time in over 20 years. My foods remain healthy choices with high Protein and veggies being the main options. I have zero cravings for chocolate which I found weird. My pre-op tastes were sweet and post-op are definitely savory.

Wearing high heels now is sooooo easy and comfortable, too .. that rocks!

I did experience the hair-loss factor quite heavily in the 8-9 month post-op period. Nothing you can really do and I didn't subscribe to special shampoos or Vitamins .. it's a body/system thing and you have to roll with it. I have a lot of hair and very long hair, too. My bathroom floor was quite a mess every day for a number of weeks but then it suddenly stops falling out. You will survive this .. I can promise you that.

I will need follow-up tummy surgery. My weight fell off so fast that I wasn't able to even try to exercise my way through it so I do have that apron that needs to be removed. I have gone for two consultations and I have to wait another 6-8 months before anyone will consider this since my WLS is still considered quite new and I am expected to continue to lose weight over the next year. I am not at target weight yet but I suspect I won't really get there as I always felt I was too thin by those standards. Regardless, should it stop today, I am fine, happy and healthy.

Thanks for reading and best of luck to you!

Congrats on the success!! I totally related to your point about having a carefully cultivated wardrobe. I'm feeling the same way. I have loads and loads of (really nice) clothes that all fit me now (and for the past decade), but nothing in a smaller size at all. I am feeling reluctant to get rid of anything, which is the first indication I've had that I on some level might believe this won't work for me after all. Weird. I know things already don't fit, but I'm a bit in denial.

I also hear you about not posting photos.

Cheers!

For the first few months, my weight dropped quite dramatically. I was constantly looking at my wardrobe to find things to wear as I am sure, like many people, I had quite a size range. I had it in my mind I had clothes for 'months ahead' but the truth for me is that I went through my entire wardrobe and zipped past sizes I expected to wear (but didn't) in less than 6 months post-op. I got to the point where I tried on my smaller clothes once a month and I could see the difference each month and there were many things I never even got a chance to wear. Talk about thrilling.

Don't feel reluctant. I think that is a natural feeling because we have all dieted and gained back and tended to keep that larger wardrobe 'just in case'. I guess we knew deep down that diets don't work. But this does. Trust me.

I just did my second consignment and the store couldn't believe these were my clothes. They were new-ish but much much larger than the woman standing before them. The owner asked me if they were actually my clothes! As I was preparing the clothes for this consignment, I was holding up items I had worn mere months ago and can't believe I was that big. I had been dealing with my brain not catching up to the image in the mirror plus the comments I had received from others so after I looked at my old/large clothes recently, any remaining denial flew right out the window.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Congrats on the success!! I totally related to your point about having a carefully cultivated wardrobe. I'm feeling the same way. I have loads and loads of (really nice) clothes that all fit me now (and for the past decade), but nothing in a smaller size at all. I am feeling reluctant to get rid of anything, which is the first indication I've had that I on some level might believe this won't work for me after all. Weird. I know things already don't fit, but I'm a bit in denial.

I also hear you about not posting photos.

Cheers!

Eloquentblue, thanks for sharing your success story! It is very inspirational! I bet you look fantastic!