Emily's One Year Surgiversary!

[emily_0192010 168]

Hello to all my fellow sleevers and future sleevers

Today marks my one year surgiversary! I cannot believe that I am this point already! Since beginning my journey I have lost 129lbs. I went from a size 24 jean to a size 4. I am in a "normal" BMI. I have had plenty more “ups” then “downs” and I can confidently say that this was the best decision I have ever, and will ever, make. I would do it again in a heartbeat if I could. I recently started weight lifting and even though my weight loss has drastically slowed down I am losing body fat and my shape is shifting as well.

Tonight I spent some time at a seminar and they were presenting some new research data surrounding the sleeve. I am thrilled! The stats concerning weight loss at the year mark, and three year marks are showing equal if not better than the by-pass. I am thrilled that I (as well as all of you) had the foresight to stick with our guts (tee hee) and chose this surgery. I have learned a lot as well, not just about health and fitness but how to handle situations in life as well. I am currently in the process of switching surgeons; mine left the practice he was working in and I am not comfortable with the other partner. I was chosen as the “patient of the month” for September for their office and I wrote a testimonial for them. It’s a little bit long, but I figured you can always skip it if you would like

I cannot say when my weight started to be a problem; it was just always there. I was always overweight, always on the chubby side as a kid and as a young teen. In high school my weight simply was not on the forefront of my mind. I had the birth of my sister and then a year later my mother was in the hospital for an extended time. I had other things to focus on. I was not completely oblivious that I was overweight; I had tried various diets ever since middle school but of course they never worked. It was my reflection that shocked me into realizing just how out of control my weight had become. At the mall one day I noticed the reflection of a very large woman in the glass. I noticed her size compared to the others around her. Then she moved when I moved and I realized that it was me. I did not recognize myself and that realization shocked me.

Being overweight had never really affected me before. I was the bookworm, not the athlete. My weight didn’t stop me from reading. My weight didn’t stop me from learning. It didn’t stop me from hanging out with my friends or babysitting. It didn’t stop me from doing the things I loved. I just never grew to love the physical side of life. People’s opinions about the way I looked never mattered to me. Because my weight never stopped me, I didn’t really ever care. Not deeply at least.

My reflection though, that hurt me. I found myself caring. I found myself caring a lot. I am a smart person. I knew that it could not possibly be healthy to be that big. I knew that I was only doing damage to myself. I started asking myself questions. “How can I be a role model to my sister when I didn’t take care of myself?” I realized that I was slowly but surely taking away my own dreams.

During all the yo-yo’ing I did in my teens I had thought about weight loss surgery. Being the over-analytical person I am, I researched it and the cons always outweighed the pros and I never went past the research part. At the time my reasons were valid. I didn’t have the money. I didn’t have insurance. I wasn’t old enough. It was too drastic. I was healthy just overweight. I was too busy with school. The list could go on. But then it changed. Everything worked. It mattered now. I had no reason not to go for it.

When I started my physician supervised weight loss I was at the highest I had ever been. I may have been able to say that I was reasonably healthy, but I would not have been able to say that in five or ten years. That was when my motto “here’s to starting my twenties out right” started. I didn’t want to wait until I had those problems, until it was so far out of control I would have lost everything. I wanted to start really living my life. And I did. I don’t hold myself back and limit myself to my books anymore. I run, I play, I smile more, I laugh more.

I’ve known all along that the surgery is just one tool that I am using to help achieve a healthy, fit body. My weight loss journey is not over; it might never be over. But with my sleeve, along with my support team and my family I know that I will continue to be successful, happy and healthy.

Thank you especially to everyone on VST... this was my rock during the first few months and I continually lean back on here when I need support and encouragement!

I'm going to add new pics soon, just realized they are still all on my phone :tongue2:

[southerndiva123 104]

Congrats on your great success!!

[Sleeved&Hopeful 182]

WOW! You look GREAT! Amazing loss! Did you keep losing from 6 to 12 months post op? Just curious how much weight you lost from those months.

You look beautiful!

[BellaRoma713 46]

Congrats on your success. I am getting sleeved tomorrow and you give me hope that I will be able to maintain after 1 year. Thsnk you for sharing your story!

[BBWOMAN 9]

Way to go

[emily_0192010 168]

WOW! You look GREAT! Amazing loss! Did you keep losing from 6 to 12 months post op? Just curious how much weight you lost from those months.

You look beautiful!

Thanks Yes I did keep losing in those date ranges, I am still losing! (Just very slowly). I would say I lost about 30 lbs between 6 and 12 months. I stalled out a lot and was in a pretty stressful situation at the time. I have also started weight lifting, so even though my numbers haven't changed too much, I am still losing body fat. At this point I pay more attention to my body fat % over the numbers. It helps a lot

[emily_0192010 168]

Congrats on your success. I am getting sleeved tomorrow and you give me hope that I will be able to maintain after 1 year. Thsnk you for sharing your story!

Welcome to the loser's bench!!! You will do great And of course you will be able to maintain. It is a huge transition, but it becomes "normal" to you. Especially after the 6 month mark when you are fully healed.

[VJSlim 156]

Wow! You look great! Congrats on your success!

[Geeewhy 30]

You look great... congratulations! You had your surgery 1 day before me. Who was your surgeon?

[emily_0192010 168]

You look great... congratulations! You had your surgery 1 day before me. Who was your surgeon?

My surgeon was Dr. Pinnar in Jax, Fl. He worked with Dr. Cywes. At this point Dr. Pinnar is not practicing with him anymore and is in the process of switching (so i have heard). I'm not comfortable with Dr. Cywes so I am switching as well, into Dr. Webb's practice most likely! I have been talking to the coordinators at Memorial and just need to get my records moved over. Congrats on your one year as well!!!

[Geeewhy 30]

My surgeon was Dr. Pinnar in Jax, Fl. He worked with Dr. Cywes. At this point Dr. Pinnar is not practicing with him anymore and is in the process of switching (so i have heard). I'm not comfortable with Dr. Cywes so I am switching as well, into Dr. Webb's practice most likely! I have been talking to the coordinators at Memorial and just need to get my records moved over. Congrats on your one year as well!!!

Thanks! Dr. Webb was my surgeon and I have nothing but good things to say about him My experience as a whole has been fantastic.

[CowgirlJane 14,261]

Yeah! Congrats on that wonderful new body you have to match those brains!