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A Whole Year Of Changes - Surgiversary!

One year ago today I was laying on the operating room table having 85% of my stomach removed. As scared as I was, I was more scared to stay heavy and unhealthy. I was only 42 and more unhealthy than some 60 year olds I knew.

I started at 242. On my 5'4 frame, that was a lot. The list of ailments I had at age 42 was sad. I felt sorry for myself and didnt like the person I had let myself become. The only thing I could be happy for myself about was that I married my dream man 3 years prior. It was with his support and love that I came to the decision to be sleeved.

It all started with being diagnosed with sleep apnea. My husband was very scared that he would come home one day and find me dead in bed. So I began researching sleep apnea treatements besides cpap. I looked into a surgery that was not covered by insurance and didnt actually have a very good success rate. As I kept researching, I started reading literature about bariatric surgery. Not as a cure for sleep apnea but in my case, with my apnea, my metabolism had pretty much stopped because I wasnt getting a recurperative sleep, I would injure myself exercising, my body was in pain from carrying around all the extra, etc. Therefore all the damage I had done to my body with the unhealthy eating I would most likely have to live with and life wasnt getting any better. Much to the contrary, it was continually getting worse.

A year ago I had the following: SEVERE sleep apnea, back problems, planters faciitis, migraines, allergies (even to make-up), short of breath, high blood pressure, blood sugar issues (pre-dia

betic), high cholesterol, anxiety attacks, night sweats, eczema, aches and pains, skin tags and depression. Im sure there are more to list but you get the point, very unhealthy for a anyone much less a 42 year old woman.

A year later I DO NOT have the following: SEVERE sleep apnea, back problems, planters faciitis, migraines, allergies (even to make-up), short of breath, high blood pressure, blood sugar issues (pre-diabetic), high cholesterol, anxiety attacks, night sweats, eczema, aches and pains, skin tags and depression.

I have discovered an intense love of hot yoga which is my main source of exercise, I eat healthier than Ive ever eaten in my life, Im happier than Ive ever been in my life, Im healthier than Ive ever been, my blood work comes back great, I take no medication except for a Calcium supplement and nexium, I am able to do all kinds of physical things I only dreamed I could do, Im not obsessed with food any more, I have so much energy, I cant sleep past 8am now (I used to sleep until 1 or 2 on the weekends), I dont need to take naps anymore, I can curl up in ball in the movie theatre seat lol, my clothes are so tiny now that they all fit in my drawers lol, I get to shop in the juniors section, I take pride in my appearance, our food bill is cut more than in half, I can wear makeup again, I went from a screaming size 18/20 pants - 2xl tops to a comfy size 8 pants and a medium top, so many positive things.

When I see my surgeon I hug him because bottom line is, he saved my life and what a great life it is!

Happy Surgiversary to me!

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You look fantastic!

Congrats to you. Life IS so much better now, isn't it? I'm almost there and I just can't get over how great it is!

Keep up the great work!

BUNNY!!

What a difference a year makes!!

Or in your case many wonderful differences!

And your yoga pose? Perfect form, beautiful :)

You look Ah-mazing! Congrats & thanks for sharing!

Congrats!

  • Author

BUNNY!!

What a difference a year makes!!

Or in your case many wonderful differences!

And your yoga pose? Perfect form, beautiful :)

Funny thing about the yoga poses...that was taken this year in Hawaii by my husband. He thought he was the friggin paparazzi taking pics of me. He had me doing poses on top of a mountain, a cliff, with sea spray in the background, etc. He was so proud and apparently is loving his new wife lol.

Funny thing about the yoga poses...that was taken this year in Hawaii by my husband. He thought he was the friggin paparazzi taking pics of me. He had me doing poses on top of a mountain, a cliff, with sea spray in the background, etc. He was so proud and apparently is loving his new wife lol.

Well at least he can take a good shot!! I tell you my husband waits till my stomach is sticking out and my neck disappears then SNAP! Picture taken.. :P

Wow. You should be so proud of your year's work.

So impressive.

Ann

Wow! You look fabulous! Congratulations!

  • Author

Thanks everyone. I really appreciate all the support of my VSG family. Everyone has a story so thank you for reading about mine :) XOXO

  • Author

Funny thing about the yoga poses...that was taken this year in Hawaii by my husband. He thought he was the friggin paparazzi taking pics of me. He had me doing poses on top of a mountain, a cliff, with sea spray in the background, etc. He was so proud and apparently is loving his new wife lol.

Well at least he can take a good shot!! I tell you my husband waits till my stomach is sticking out and my neck disappears then SNAP! Picture taken.. :P

Plunk him in the noggin for me lol.

You look amazing! Congratulations!!

You one year summarizes what has happened to so many of us....I just passed my two year anniversary and I still can't believe I am living the life I was meant to live.....I just wish I could have done it sooner.....but I just turned 60 and last year was the BEST YEAR OF MY LIFE!!!! For all the reasons you said and more....and the support from this forum has been great. I am so happy I documented my first year....every Sunday, faithfully....sometimes I wonder how I did it because I was traveling the entire year.....but life just kept getting better and better.

Congratulations and I have a feeling this year will be even more awesome for you!!!!

  • Author

You one year summarizes what has happened to so many of us....I just passed my two year anniversary and I still can't believe I am living the life I was meant to live.....I just wish I could have done it sooner.....but I just turned 60 and last year was the BEST YEAR OF MY LIFE!!!! For all the reasons you said and more....and the support from this forum has been great. I am so happy I documented my first year....every Sunday, faithfully....sometimes I wonder how I did it because I was traveling the entire year.....but life just kept getting better and better.

Congratulations and I have a feeling this year will be even more awesome for you!!!!

Thank you so much. Yes my only regret is not having done it sooner. Im looking forward to all new experiences and joys this next year will bring.

Thank you so much for this very inspirational post. I weigh 260 pounds and I'm in pain every moment of the day. The surgery is my last hope. I'm so thrilled that you had a positive outcome, it inspires me so much. Congratulations! :)

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