My first Surgiversary!

[LaLaDee 519]

I'm so thankful for support that I've found here. I don't know anyone in "real life" who has had WLS. I don't attend any group meetings. All my pre-op appointments were individual. I was too nervous to even attend a group information session! So I'm hoping that no one minds if I share how I'm feeling on my first surgiversary.

One year ago today was the eve of my VSG! A year later and I'm 71kg or 156 pounds lighter. It has been the most insane year of my life. I've learned so much about myself and what I might be capable of. I've pushed myself harder than I ever thought possible. It's been baby steps and huge leaps all at once.

A lot has happened this year. I've read a million diet and nutrition articles online. I've obsessed over the numbers on the scale every morning. I have amassed a small mountain sized pile of clothes that I'm too worried to throw out in case I need them again. I cried the first time I tried on something in a "normal" store and it actually fit. I picked out more loose hairs from my shower drain than I ever thought possible. I tried out yoga and pilates. I cooked vegetables that I would have had difficulty identifying a year ago. I worried that I was losing weight too quickly. I worried that I was losing weight too slowly. One of my rings got so big that it flew off my hand and got flushed down the toilet. I spent an obscene amount of money on new clothes. I've eaten too quickly and felt sick. Sometimes I play with my squishy loose skin like it's play doh. Most of my shoes are too loose and don't fit properly. I can now fly without an extra seat belt extender. The first thing I do every morning is immediately feel my stomach and check that the weight hasn't come back over night or that this past year wasn't just some weird dream. Sometimes I look in the mirror and think I might pass for normal. Other times I hate my reflection. It's been harder than I thought it would be and it's been easier than I thought it would be. It's been a strange ride!

Anyway, below are some "before" and "after" shots. Hopefully you can identify which is which!

[GreenTealael 24,852]

27 minutes ago, LaLaDee said:

I'm so thankful for support that I've found here. I don't know anyone in "real life" who has had WLS. I don't attend any group meetings. All my pre-op appointments were individual. I was too nervous to even attend a group information session! So I'm hoping that no one minds if I share how I'm feeling on my first surgiversary.

One year ago today was the eve of my VSG! A year later and I'm 71kg or 156 pounds lighter. It has been the most insane year of my life. I've learned so much about myself and what I might be capable of. I've pushed myself harder than I ever thought possible. It's been baby steps and huge leaps all at once.

A lot has happened this year. I've read a million diet and nutrition articles online. I've obsessed over the numbers on the scale every morning. I have amassed a small mountain sized pile of clothes that I'm too worried to throw out in case I need them again. I cried the first time I tried on something in a "normal" store and it actually fit. I picked out more loose hairs from my shower drain than I ever thought possible. I tried out yoga and pilates. I cooked vegetables that I would have had difficulty identifying a year ago. I worried that I was losing weight too quickly. I worried that I was losing weight too slowly. One of my rings got so big that it flew off my hand and got flushed down the toilet. I spent an obscene amount of money on new clothes. I've eaten too quickly and felt sick. Sometimes I play with my squishy loose skin like it's play doh. Most of my shoes are too loose and don't fit properly. I can now fly without an extra seat belt extender. The first thing I do every morning is immediately feel my stomach and check that the weight hasn't come back over night or that this past year wasn't just some weird dream. Sometimes I look in the mirror and think I might pass for normal. Other times I hate my reflection. It's been harder than I thought it would be and it's been easier than I thought it would be. It's been a strange ride!

Anyway, below are some "before" and "after" shots. Hopefully you can identify which is which!

I cried a little , I laughed a lot

!!!!!!!!!!!Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!

You look amazing & confident

Edited August 20, 2018 by GreenTealael

[KimTriesRNY 1,853]

You look beautiful! I love the black dress!

Thank you for sharing today. I have a pile of stuff I need to take to goodwill but there’s that voice in my head that says “maybe you should keep a few things, just in case”. I guess maybe that’s normal?

Anyway, congratulations on all you have accomplished.

[FluffyChix 17,409]

Wow! Thanks for sharing this girlie!! Huge congrats on all of your effort and dedication!!! You are stunning and LOVE the black dress!!!!

I so get the "clothes" thing. I need to purge my closet from all of my 32, 30, 28, 26, 22, 20s LOL. I'm scared spitless to do it. What if I fail? I don't have an endless wad of cashola to re-buy that nonsense. So it may get bagged up and sent to storage for a year or two until I reach a comfort zone and negotiate with my bad cray self.

I shop at Goodwill now. LOL. I HATE even spending the $3.50 it costs for a pair of Ralph Lauren jeans! I get a 30% senior discount on Saturdays! And love buying tshirts for $1 at another thrift store. TG I can just work from home. I still wear my old 4x flannel pjs and sweat shirts.

[Chrisb428 626]

Congrats! You look great!

[Orchids&Dragons 9,046]

Congrats on your awesome success! Love the little black dress, you rock it! I'd kill for your ankles! Thanks for sharing your inspirational photos!

How do you feel physically?

[Neversaynever 268]

You look stunning, such a difference, well done x

[LaLaDee 519]

Thanks for all the love guys!

@Orchids&Dragons Physically I feel totally different. I feel so much lighter, like I’m actually floating sometimes. I’ve had a lot of health issues over the past year and I’m taking lots of medication but I still feel amazing. I haven’t thrown out my back or dealt with sciatica in ages! I have so much more energy. I don’t get hot and sweaty carrying in a bag of groceries. It really is totally different. I need to book in for my 1 year post op and see what my blood tests say. I’m weirdly excited to get the results!

@FluffyChix I wish I had your discipline and was more frugal. I get a buzz out of buying clothes from stores that i used to be too embarrassed to even walk inside of pre surgery. I have the credit card debt to prove it!

@KimTriesRNY I think hanging on to the old clothes is common. Plus size shopping is hard. It’s expensive and it’s a lot of effort to find decent looking clothes. I’m finding it so hard to let go. I hope you make it to goodwill!

Thanks again everyone! I just can’t believe an entire year has passed!

[BlueCrush 408]

Nice work!

[J San 1,071]

You look wonderful!!! Congrats on your 1 year surgiversary and on the great progress you've accomplished.

[Nic C 46]

Congratulations on your surgiversary! You look so great and I love the black dress!