Just thought I'd post a quick update for my family here at VST. Today I am exactly one year out from surgery. On August 30, 2011, Dr Patrick Domkowski changed my life and introduced me to Rex, my new sleeved tummy. The short of it is that I'm now 117 pounds lighter than I was last year. I'd have given my eye teeth to lose that weight before surgery, but I just never managed to do it! Rex and I have had one heck of a ride and I couldn't have predicted how this year went if I'd have tried.

I lost a best friend. She died suddenly in January, but she was one of my biggest supporters every single day. I'm proud to tell Lynn that I have lost more than her entire body weight. I've lost a couple of other friends along the way. They are still alive, but jealousy has eaten both of them alive. I wish them both well on their journeys. Mine is going a different direction than theirs apparently.

I've gained a TON of family, right here on VST. I want to thank all of you for your support and well-wishes this year and I will continue to try to give back to those who are following in my footsteps. It's wonderful to come here and post the absolutely most bizarre questions and KNOW that someone here has experienced the same problem. You guys have been MY support group even when no one else in the world seems to understand! Thank you all!

So, I'm still about 50 pounds away from my surgeon's original goal for me, although he thinks I'm completely successful. I've lost over 1/3 of my total body weight, more than 72% of the total weight I wanted to lose, and I'm still working my plan. I will get to my goal...then I'll reach the goal the plastic surgeon set for me.

I'll post pictures tomorrow. My house was hit by a tornado on Monday and I've spent most of this week cleaning up from that. I am very lucky that my damage is minor and that no one in my community was injured. My final act of clean up was to go through my closet, which got drenched, and sort through my clothing. Everything that's in there now is either the correct size or too small (for the moment) and I'm sending another six bags of freshly washed, dried and folded clothes off to bless someone else.

I have to work tomorrow, so I'll take and post some pictures after I get dolled up for that!

Again, big hugs to everyone here and, for the newbies, THIS is why I had surgery. So that I could live my life without being held back by anything. All this week I have worked from sunup to sundown on cleaning up, repairing and helping others. Pre-surgery, I could barely walk from my front door to my car. This week, I've proven that I am capable and able to do ANYTHING I need to do, from hauling tree limbs to climbing on a roof to help patch it. I'm living, not merely existing. I love life!!!

Sweet....congrats. Boy o boy does time fly. You have done great and I'm sure you will continue to. Keep up the good work, can't wait too see pics.

beautifully written! you are doing great. sorry about the loss of your friend and the tornado. about the other friends that you have lost, im not sorry that you weeded out the junk...for a true friend would support you through the good and the bad. I have been fortunate not to lose any friends since my surgey, however I only have a few really close friends that I know I can rely on no matter what. I just celebrated my one year on the 16th of this month too! I posted new picts on my profile for it cause the old ones I had on there were from like 30 pounds ago. you are so correct about living life now instead of surviving, or just getting by.....what a difference a year can make in the life of a sleever! congrats on your surgiversary!

Lissa -

Your message was such an encouragement to me today. Congrats on one year out and 117 pounds gone forever! I have been plataeuing and reading your story helped me remember I have a long journey ahead and there is no need for me to worry about this little pause. In another 9 months I hope to get another 50 pounds off and catch up with you!!!

Celebrating your victory today!!!!

Congratulations !!! Because of people like you, is that people like me ( at the point I'm at) have courage and motivation to keep going ... God bless you and keep up the good job!!

Sent from my iPhone using VST

Chicago, Thanks for celebrating with me! You'll reach your goal. Stick to your plan and you'll get there. Enjoy the journey, as my friend FavoredOne says!

Sassy and ChiTownGirl, thank you both for your well wishes!

Ebe, I post for people like you, to pass along the encouragment I got from others who have gone before both of us!

Lissa,

Congrats!!! I guess you don't realize how much you've helped us along the way too. You are always there to help others and this is a true inspiration. I'm 5 1/2 months out and have followed you closely as well as read your responses to some of my posts. You have paved the way for many of us and the fact that you are still on here helping others speaks volumes. Many year+ sleevers move on and you have stayed to motivate and we appreciate you so much. So today I Celebrate your weight loss and have no doubt you'll make it to goal.

Also, your friend may not be here physically with you, but she's here in spirit and lives in your heart. Remember this when you miss her the most.

Hugs to you!!!

Julie

Happy Surgiversary Lissa! This post made me happy, sad, hopeful, and thankful. Thank you so much for sharing your story.

wonderfully written, you are amazing and thank you for giving back

Congrats on your success! You ARE an inspiration!! xoxo

Congrats, Lisa! You are an inspriation to us all. Sorry to hear about your home. I'm not on here as much as I used to be, but I do check in from time to time.

wow, Lissa! you are truly an inspiration! you are very strong and successful. we're all proud of you and love being a part of this family!! can't wait to see pics!

Happy Surgeriversary!!! What an amazing year it's been for you! Congratulations on all of your successes!!

WOW... is it really a year... I remember when you first started posting and it has been great to watch you shrink! I love reading your posts... I really do!

Congrats on a great year. The reason you are successful is, simply, because you are motivated to get healthy and I love that about you... well done my friend, you'll get to YOUR goal! =]

Go Lisa go Lisa it's your Rex day