1 year Anniversary

[GayleJ]

Hello,

I am Gayle from MN and I got Sleeved February 4th 2016. I started the journey at 275 then lost the pre-op amount to 254. Since then I am down to 184 which I have not seen since I was like 21 or less. I have gone from a size 20 to a 12 which has been pretty awesome.
It did take me like 3 mos. to find pants that fit properly but I managed.
I had to replace all my winter gear because they were WAAAY too big. So that was good.
Now after a year, how do I feel??' Personally, I feel really good. Energy, sleeping well all of that. The one issue that I have are the friends and family that haven't seen me at this weight since before I had my daughter 31 years ago and now say that I have an attitude.
Well yes I do, I am sorry. The fat girl "hide me at all cost" does not exist any longer and I am sorry that I stick up for myself. That is what got me into this fatness in the first place. Trying to make everyone else happy first, now when I say NO they get upset. So that is a bit of a hurdle. I also have run into issues with people telling me I don't eat enough...Well I eat plenty enough for me. My husband (we were married in Aug. 2016) has lost 35 lbs. he says it is because no one cooks anymore or he can't cook the big food like he used to. Again, I am sorry that you have lost weight because of me, but I lost weight for me and for you so I can live longer.
Also, he has been very randy lately since I have hit the 184 mark he says it is like having a new girl. So bonus for me he thinks I am more attractive now than when we started out 16 years ago. I am 53 years old he is 51.
I am still feeling my way around on the eating. Breakfast I usually eat 2 skim cheese sticks and then a Greek Yogurt. Lunch is about 3 oz. of chili or a soup of some kind. Once in a while a 1/2 turkey or ham sandwich that I can split for breakfast and lunch. Dinner chicken breast and some kind of veggie (which are really not my favs) I try to eat more of the protein and if room then eat the veggies. So far the journey has been ok, the first 4-5 mos were awful but I made it. I feel good and am really happy that I took the step

[Luna354]

congratulations!

[Leslieann]

Congratulations Gayle!! Sounds like you're exactly where you want to be!! I was a month post on FEB5 and still learning what works for me!
Keep us posted and I love hearing what's on your menu!
I'm learning!

[elle77]

Congratulations!!! Everyone doesn't like it when we start to say no... Too bad.

So happy for you. Happy One Year Anniversary!

[Cherub]

GayleJ Great post! You managed to update us on a lot and it was great reading. I told very few people and all of those were family. I had the sleeve in Oct 2016. I just don't want to deal with the a lot of comments. So far no negative comments. A lot of curious questions mostly about why now and am I feeling ok. I like just focusing on myself since getting in protein and water is a job I need my energy for Tonight the dinner menu is 2 scallops and green beans.

[Ann2]

I told no one but hubby and two friends who live thousands of miles away.

What a relief it has been not to have to navigate anyone's crap.

BTW, I'm much nicer to be around now than I was 3-4 years ago.

[Christie13]

Congrats on your anniversary and success. So far I have been blessed that my husband is very supportive. He should be glad you are getting healthy and him as well. And him being a little randy could be that he feels insecure with your weight loss. Just a thought.

[Sandra3]

Hello Gayle!

Welcome to the forum and congrats on your journey!

I think I'm cooking more since the surgery because living in Asia and having strong nausea for months I just couldn't stand to have food in many restaurants. They put five spices everywhere and just the smell of it would make me sick. Was not easy when I had to be out for lunch, we had to pick restaurants who had a good ventilation system or only Thai or Japanese so I knew that wouldn't be an issue! Anyway, it's better now.

What we eat can be scary for people around, but they get used to it. Right now I feel like I eat almost as a "normal" person but last Spring I had a dinner party and one of my friend got really worried when she saw me eating two bites. She knew about the surgery but I had to explain more. She was scared I was really sick again. I know it's coming from a place of love so I'm patient and explain.
Not all people are that way and a few just want to say negatives things because they are unhappy in life. I just avoid those.

My husband was afraid at some point I was going to lose too much. Since I've been in stalls for months, I think he is less worried, but seeing my bones popping out, since they were hiding under "bacon" for so long: it was a shocking experience for him. We met almost 30 years ago, in High School. He saw me at every weight possible. But I've been obese for so long, more than 20 years, and I have so many health issues, it did get him confused. Even if he knew my health was getting better because he came with me at many of my post-op, just looking at me losing weight got him worried, especially the first six months when I had strong nausea and my complexion was green most of the time.

Time is the best Allie here, people around us get used to see our new figure and eating habits. I'm guessing when I will reach year 2 most people around me will not even remember about the sleeve or my new figure because by then it will be "normal".
Take care.

[ghost_ryder]

Some people will never adjust to the new you and that's to bad for them. You should have a new attitude, you have earned it. Most of us are people pleasers and that's what gets us into trouble. This process is all about you and you getting healthier focus on you. My wife does not quite understand that I go to the gym every night after work but she does not complain because this is al about me getting healthier. Fortunately, my wife is the cook in the family so everyone else gets the same meals. Me, I always have a quick meal replacement in the house if their dinner does not match my needs.

Congrats on your success for you and your hubby.

[Pam G]

I've been watching what the 'skinny' people eat and nobody says anything to them about eating like a bird, because that's what they're known to do. Us, on the other hand, we're known to eat a lot, so when that changes, people can't wrap their minds around it.

People we meet from here on out will know us as an 'eat like a bird' person.

Hello Gayle!

Welcome to the forum and congrats on your journey!

I think I'm cooking more since the surgery because living in Asia and having strong nausea for months I just couldn't stand to have food in many restaurants. They put five spices everywhere and just the smell of it would make me sick. Was not easy when I had to be out for lunch, we had to pick restaurants who had a good ventilation system or only Thai or Japanese so I knew that wouldn't be an issue! Anyway, it's better now.

What we eat can be scary for people around, but they get used to it. Right now I feel like I eat almost as a "normal" person but last Spring I had a dinner party and one of my friend got really worried when she saw me eating two bites. She knew about the surgery but I had to explain more. She was scared I was really sick again. I know it's coming from a place of love so I'm patient and explain.
Not all people are that way and a few just want to say negatives things because they are unhappy in life. I just avoid those.

My husband was afraid at some point I was going to lose too much. Since I've been in stalls for months, I think he is less worried, but seeing my bones popping out, since they were hiding under "bacon" for so long: it was a shocking experience for him. We met almost 30 years ago, in High School. He saw me at every weight possible. But I've been obese for so long, more than 20 years, and I have so many health issues, it did get him confused. Even if he knew my health was getting better because he came with me at many of my post-op, just looking at me losing weight got him worried, especially the first six months when I had strong nausea and my complexion was green most of the time.

Time is the best Allie here, people around us get used to see our new figure and eating habits. I'm guessing when I will reach year 2 most people around me will not even remember about the sleeve or my new figure because by then it will be "normal".
Take care.