This is such a big day for me..... I started this journey around age 13 when I joined Weight Watchers with my mom. I remember the lady teaching me about the food groups I would be eating and how to measure my food. I remember in 9th grade the popular girl telling me she noticed that I lost weight and looked good, I felt so good at that moment, and that my hard work was paying off. Fast forward 31 years, 2 kids later; a lot years of being self-conscious of my body image, size and how I always felt fat next to my freinds. A lot of my money spent on Weight Watchers, Phen Phen pills, Jenny Craig and every fad diet that came along. I knew I was never going to lose the weight AND maintain it off the rest of my life.. It just seemed impossible for me....

I am grateful for 1 year ago today. I am grateful for being able to put my surgery expenses on a credit card. I am grateful to Dr. Aceves and Dr. Campos and his staff. I am grateful for the person that invented and pioneered the Vertical Sleeve, I am grateful to my husband for saying yes I can have the surgery, and yes I changed my mind you can go to Mexico. I have been grateful everyday for the past 365 days for taking the leap of faith and having this particular surgery. I still think about it everyday.

My stats- I went from a size 18 to a size 8 and I kissed Lane Bryant goodbye forever. I liked her because I was on the smaller side in her store..... That was my rationalization as I snuck in and out of her store hoping to go unnoticed by someone I might know. Now it's Macy's and Nordstrom and Target and Loft. I would like to say you will save money on food by not eating as much or spending as much on ordering in a restaurant. The truth is you will more than make up for it going shopping and finding that most of the things you try on actually fit you, look good on you and you have to try on a lower size than you thought you were.

For those who are thinking of taking the journey, or are newly sleeved, all I can say is it's worth it! I won't say it's easy, it's not a cake walk, there are days I miss my intimate relationship with food and I want to be able to gorge myself silly. There are times when I go out to eat with new people I've met in the past year that don't know about my surgery, I get anxiety about how I am going to maneuver through ordering small on the menu because it's obvious I can't eat much and silly for me to order a big plate. In trade-off I don't miss the guilt every time I ate, or the embarrassment of what I ate in front of people, or the embarrassment of seeing myself in pictures that reiterated the denial I wanted to be in. Also, I lost a lot of hair. Honestly, I have thin hair and not a lot of it as it is... the surgery thinned it out more. I am bummed about that, but it doesn't take away from my happiness of being "thin." I take Bioten and a multi-Vitamin everyday, hoping my hair will get back to where it was before surgery.

I feel like I was given a gift of a vehicle that I can use to control my intake. I work hard to get the Protein in and I still stumble with my love for sweets, but I don't have the everyday guilt and shame I carried around all of these years. It feels awesome to walk in a room and I am not the fattest, I am one of the thinnest or what I consider average. I have 2 small children - 5 and 6 years old. I did it for them, so I can teach them to eat better and take better care of themselves. I want them to be proud of how their mommy looks and takes care of herself as they grow up. I wanted to be healthier and have more energy and a more positive outlook on life, I am a better parent because of the surgery.

I need to exercise more, I really haven't exercised much the past year. I never liked it but I did it to help control my weight. I know it's good for my health and will help me tone my body, I need to incorporate it into my life. My next step is focusing on maintaining my size 8 and being healthier through exercise.

Thank you for reading about my journey.... I used this forum to give me courage to have the surgery and a place to go when I needed questions answered or forum of friends that can relate to me.... I am grateful for this forum too.

Thank you so much for sharing your story. I am getting sleeved on Monday 4/23 and was looking specifically for someone who is a year out to share their story. Thank you! When I read realistic stories like yours, it strengthens my resolve for a journey I expect to be both challenging and exhilarating. Continued good luck to you (and your children are ADORABLE!)

These are the stories I like to read. I'm just starting out on my journey, and while Im scared at the idea of having surgery, I KNOW its the right thing for me and my kids.

Your story is awesome, inspirational, and heart warming. If I may ask, what was your starting weight and what is it now? Did you have any complications?

Congrats on your success, and happy 1 year surgiversary!!

HI! I was so scared, it's a LIFE CHANGE and it's permanant! My start weight was 210.5, I was hoping to reach the weight I got married at (158), and my goal was to see 155! Pre-surgery I focused on the idea that I was making a life change because continuing to stay as the same was not an option, and the journey of Weight Watchers AGAIN was just another set up to fail and I knew it. I can do WW for 3 weeks really good, then I am just sick of it. I knew that if I did this, I had not choice after the 3 weeks. And yes, I sat there a few months after the surgery and had the conversation with myself that this sucks because I want to eat a big meal and I can't and never will. To tell you the truth, it's a bummer! But I would do this all over again in a heartbeat, it's all a trade-off!. I am currently 143.5 and shocked I surpassed all my hopes. I had no expecations because I didn't know what to expect but knew I wanted to reach at least the weight I was when I got married. As far as complications, I had none. I can't speak for how other people experience their aftersurgery but I can tell you that I drove Mexico myself, drove home myself. The hardest part was the first 3 months. My energy level and feeling well were perfect. The food intake and struggles with what to eat, what I liked and what I could keep down, including quantities, was very trial and error. I threw up a lot the the first 4 months or so, just because I was always a fast eater who didn't take the time to chew, chew, chew and my mind not catching up to my body feeling full while I still had food in my mouth and swallowing it caused a lot of my problems. It just takes time to heal and you have to be patient during that time and know the tolerance increases over time. The other thing that I miss is you can't eat a meal and drink at the same time. Not because "you aren't suppose to" but because your body won't let you. It's very uncomfortable and your stomach gets filled by the liquid and can't intake the food. You are hyperfocused on these things the first 6 months.

The last thing I want to say is my "AHA" moment came a few months ago when some cashier asked to see my driver's license. I handed it to her and as I glanced over I realized I weighed less than the weight on my license said... I smiled the entire day knowing I made the right choice... that was when I knew the surgery had far exceeded my expectations!

Anyway, sorry for the long-winded response. I wish you so much goodness on your life change and if you need a surgery support friend, please feel free to write, call or text. One thing I didn't have and still don't is someone I know who has had the same surgery as me. I relied heavily on reading the website forums here for advice and information. Wendy

Wow - I feel like you wrote my story. There is so much I relate to that I could just say DITTO and be done. I'm almost 8 months post-op and I have had the same sort of issues (both good and bad) that you have had. I've never been able to eat very much (seems like I have a super restrictive sleeve) and my most difficult learning curve has been learning how much I can consume. I've always been a fast eater and used to joke about the "chewers". I spent the first 2-3 months throwing up just about every day because I would inevitably screw up one of my meals. But, slow learner that I am, I have finally mastered my intake and feel like every hardship along the way has been worth it.

Congratulations and thank you for sharing your story. Your smile and your beautiful children's smiles say it all. It's wonderful to be able to relate to someone and to feel their happiness jumping out of the computer screen.

Wow - I feel like you wrote my story. There is so much I relate to that I could just say DITTO and be done. I'm almost 8 months post-op and I have had the same sort of issues (both good and bad) that you have had. I've never been able to eat very much (seems like I have a super restrictive sleeve) and my most difficult learning curve has been learning how much I can consume. I've always been a fast eater and used to joke about the "chewers". I spent the first 2-3 months throwing up just about every day because I would inevitably screw up one of my meals. But, slow learner that I am, I have finally mastered my intake and feel like every hardship along the way has been worth it.

Congratulations and thank you for sharing your story. Your smile and your beautiful children's smiles say it all. It's wonderful to be able to relate to someone and to feel their happiness jumping out of the computer screen.

Thank you Sara for your kind words, it really touched me! It's actually nice to hear from someone that seems like they have had the same challenges as me. I love that you are close to goal, and my guess is you will fly past your goal and be surprised where you land! I bet you are shocked to see yourself in the mirror... feels great, huh! Wendy

BTW, chewing is overrated! lol....

Oh I am having to learn my lesson with eating fast. I'm so used to it. I'm about 2 1/2 months post op and it is a daily struggle to chew slowly. I have had the foamies/spit ups that come up a few times. I have also eaten a few times to an uncomfortable point and am trying to avoid that at all costs. It's still a learning process for me at this point.

BTW, chewing is overrated! lol....

We would SO get along... LOL

Congratulations, enjoyed reading your story...hope you stick around...I want some vets to help keep me in line down the road and into the furture!

I am posting my "I made it" photo! I am going to weigh the same one year from now, dammit!!! My friends say I shouldn't lose more weight because I will start looking gaunt.... no one has ever told me that before!!! lol..

Thank you everyone for your support, I hope I can give back to inspire those who are thinking about taking the journey, ready to be sleeved and are newly sleeved. It really does get easier and easier..... I had the foamies, the spit ups and the throw ups for the first 4 or 5 months. It seems like it will never end, but I promise you it does!

Starting BMI - 35, today it's 23.9

Terrific! Congratulations on all your successes!

What an inspirational story! Thank you for sharing it! I am new to the forum and looking at the Gastric Sleeve procedure. Paperwork has been sent, waiting to hear back to see if I am a candidate.