LadyDi9080

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Someone made a post about measurements so I'll paste my response here:
I did not take my measurements before surgery (DARN IT)

I took them April 22 last year I was at 269 pounds and had already lost 34 pounds since surgery. I've taken them every few months since. SO, I'll give you my numbers for last April and THIS April.

Part            2006      2007    Inches Lost
Neck           16.25       13.00     - 3.25
Bicep           17.75       14.00     - 3.75
Forarm         13.00       9.75      - 3.25
Chest           49.50       40.50   -  9.0
Waist           45.50       35.50   -10.00
Hips             56.00        41.50   -14.50
Thigh            29.50        21.00   - 8.50
Calf              19.50        14.00   - 5.50
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I started at a very tight 3X or size 26 jeans to a size 12. I still have major skin issues and know the hips would be less without this panni, but that's OK!!
My shoes 12 or 13 wide...and now a 12 M. Someone guessed my size as an 8 the other day! I was so pleased. 
I can now wear the beautiful necklace my hubby bought and great bracelets! Love that arm candy!

March 15, 2007
It has been one year since my surgery and what a year it's been! Let me go back a little bit.

My family took a Christmas cruise in 2005 and my surgery date was so far off – March 2006!  During that cruise, I didn't do anything that I really would have loved to have done. I felt so fat and slow. Heck, I was fat and slow and have the family photos to prove it. 

During this year's cruise, I zip lined through the rain forest in Costa Rica, snorkeled in Honduras, kayaked in Panama, snorkeled and kayaked in Cozumel. I ate all that I wanted and still managed not to gain any weight!  I worked out, danced and did not feel like I was a freak. (Sorry…but that is how I felt before!)  I took the stairs on the ship because it was easier than waiting for the elevator!

I am now 136 pounds lighter and being 5,10" – 176 pounds looks pretty darned good. I never thought I'd be a size 12 but now I can wear them comfortably.  I was a size 12 in 5th grade for about 5 minutes – and I weighed less then! 

My surgery date I was 303 pounds. Not my highest weight but that is what I count.  I told my DH that I could change my mind at anytime and walk away from it. I did not go into WLS lightly. My first goal was not to die. I didn't. I was so happy to be alive when I woke up in the recovery room that I started moving my legs right away to scare away blood clots.  I went in to the process wanting to change my habits, my life. I wanted to gain control over this morbidly obese state and gain control over my out of control eating habits.  I did not want to spend the rest of my life longing for food that I could not have. 

I took the time to learn about eating and my goal was to get the weight off. I took the advice of other women who had gone before who had been very successful – low carb, work out and watch out for the sugar slut.  The first 6 months were a breeze!  Sure, I had to learn to eat again with good habits but it all goes with it. For the most part, I followed my doctor's orders and found it easy to do. I was not tempted by sugars (because I had not had any), and just was not physically able to eat a lot. I did not drink alcohol during that time. At no time was I worried about not eating "enough". It was enough for me at the time. I supplemented with protein drinks – and still do. I learned some sort of portion control.

I now read labels and choose to have more if I want it.  It was a great learning experience.  Now, I am testing myself. I am able to eat more but I still step on the scale often.  I am still scared that one day, I'll face those old demons again. But in the meantime, I'll just be vigilant and keep doing what I've been doing.
303/167/165
BMI Start 43.5 Now 24
136 pounds lost so far!

I watched the amazing Shrinking Woman last night (hi Connie!).  I also watched something about the World's Heaviest Man.   I've got to confess, I was left so sad about this. I was very thankful that I was able to have this surgery before my weight climbed even higher. I know it would have. That is just the nature of the addiction! 

 

Listening to one of the doctor's interviewed was so disheartening.  For him to say that people dieting WILL regain their weight back if they slip was hurtful. BUT, it was a conclusion I came to before I decided to have surgery. I did not have the strength to diet (and fail) another more time. Yet, I was always sure that I'd be the one that (fill in the name of the latest diet) would work for and I would NOT be a statistic.  I was a statistic many times and I think part of me is still concerned that I'll fail at the DS too.  So far, it's all good! I just want to keep saying that for two, three or ten years!  One person interviewed used the analogy I've used in the past. Can you imagine a recovering alcoholic having to have a drink every day or a heroin addict having to have a fix just to live and still not be an addict? We all need food. Optifast was pretty easy for me. If it was solid, you didn't eat it. No problem. When I started eating again – THAT was the problem.  My body became a very efficient eating machine.  I have to admit, I'm scared!

 

I have skin issues but I have a lot of research to do before I commit to surgery. I want to be as well informed about plastics as I was about the DS.  Thanks for letting me ramble. I just wanted to sort out all the emotions this brought up.