The Beginning of a Whole New Me!
August 2011
I’ve been blogging about weight loss for several years now, but I’ve come to the point in my life where it’s time to get serious. I just celebrated my 40th birthday, and I don’t want to be this heavy throughout this new decade of my life. I’ve been over 200 lbs for most of my adult life, and I’ve been over 250 lbs for the last 5 years, more or less.
I’ve lost weight, gained it back, and tried to lose it again, but I finally realized that I can’t do it on my own. Admitting that is freeing in so many ways.
So a year ago, in August 2010, I decided, after discussing it with my doctor, to have weight loss surgery in order to use that tool to help me maintain a significant weight loss. At first I thought lap band surgery was the way to go, but then after doing quite a bit of research, and following my surgeon’s advice, I decided that Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (VSG) was the better choice. 150 pounds is A LOT of weight, and the idea of losing half of myself is daunting enough, but the part that’s really tricky is keeping it off.
That’s where the VSG comes in. It’s a step that will surgically alter my stomach (removing over 80%) which will allow me to keep my portions in control. According to my research, the majority of people who get the VSG surgery lose 80% of their weight in the first 6 months post-op; a statistic that is amazing and inspiring to me.
Choosing weight loss surgery isn’t the easy way out. On the contrary, it’s one of the most difficult things I’ve ever undertaken. Just losing the weight my surgeon is requiring of me before I qualify for surgery has proven difficult, and after 1 year, I have still not lost the 45 pounds. But in a way I’m glad it’s taken me this long because in this past year I fine-tuned my surgery choice. If I would have gotten the lap band 6 months or even 3 months ago, I don’t think I would have been happy in the long run. I am very confident that VSG is going to be the right decision and direction for me to take. I believe that everything happens for a reason, and I truly think that this process has been laborious and somewhat frustrating because I had more to learn along the way.
My current plan is to lose the required weight and get to my mini goal of 266 lbs so that I can begin 2012 with a new body, inside and out.
Along the way, I’m going to
- DO LIFE, my 2011 mantra.
- Exercise in ways I find fun and invigorating.
- Keep a positive outlook.
- Blog my little heart out.
- Enjoy life!
I hope you enjoy following me on my journey to a whole new me. I can’t wait to see how it plays out!
Good luck! Surgeries are scary, but if you think that is the right choice than I wish you all the best
I had RNY in December and it has literally changed my life. Like you, I did a lot of work upfront and I’m convinced that’s why I’m having an easier time emotionally than some of the other folks who’ve had surgery. They may be losing faster than I am, but mentally I’m in a much better place than some of them. I saw a nutritionist for a couple of years and lost some weight before my surgery. It is definitely not the easy way out…you still have to do all the work. But it does make it easier to manage your portions and hunger. Best of luck to you!!
I’m spending a lazy morning in bed surfing the blogosphere and happened to Find a link to your fun blog. I too am on a weight loss journey, so our honest posts have really resonated with me this morning…. And I love, love the fashion shoots! So stylish, my dear! I look forward to hearing more about your journey!