It's the end of another calendar year for all of us and I just wanted to share my personal experience and journey with my best friend, my sleeve. I was sleeved 609 days ago and am absolutely in LOVE with my best friend!

I dropped 95 lbs in about 11 months after surgery and have been easily maintaining my weight loss within 2-3 lbs of my lowest weight ever since.

My surgery was uncomplicated, I had not real after problems and pretty steadily dropped the pounds over the following months. I am at my high school weight, which was when I graduated in 1976. I'm 55 years old and have more energy and stamina now than before surgery, that's for darned sure.

I have finished doing a radio commercial, a tv commercial and youtube video for my surgeon that will be aired some time here in Las Vegas within the next few months. I've also done a magazine ad and have come across my before/after picture advertising my surgeon while searching the web. It has been one awesome journey and I would NEVER go back!!!!

For those wondering if you should take this step...YES YES YES! Squarely looking at the possible complications post surgery compared to a probably shortened life span because of my morbid obesity, along with the high cholesterol and blood pressure issues I was having...the only thing I faced was most likely an early grave. Now, all that has changed and I have more than a fighting chance to reach my dad's age who is currently 91 and a half years young!

I've referred two people to my surgeon and they have since had surgery: one with the sleeve and the other with the lapband.

Yes, life is truly what you make it! I thank God each and every day that I was blessed with having the insurance that covered the bulk of the cost. Without it, I would still be morbidly obese and getting heavier by the minutes.

What has changed besides my body...my outlook on the future. Now, there is a future to look forward to. I will be here to share this life with my husband, family and friends.

I still have days when I "feel" FAT and have to look at myself in the mirror and realize that fat woman is gone forever. One of my greatest joys is going to the closet each day and getting dressed, deciding what to wear. My poor shopping budget has been shot to hell, but that's ok by my husband!

Psychologically my relationship with all things food has changed greatly. My extreme love affair with all things SWEET, chocolate, ooey and gooey has changed. I still have the cookie or chip if I want, the bit of cake or ice cream, but it's so little now...just tastes and I am truly satisfied.

I am happy to say that even though I can eat more of some solid proteins and foods than I did after surgery and the first 6 months or so, I have never really and truly experienced HUNGER since the day of surgery. That is basically gone from my life. AMEN!!!!! Another great blessing of the sleeve, for me.

I could go on and on but will stop here. I have been truly blessed as I've said before and try not to take that blessing for granted.

My mission now is to spread the good news and word about the sleeve and the benefits of bariatric surgery, especially for us "older" folks who thought we'd go through our entire lives fighting obesity, morbid obesity, losing and finding those pesky pounds, over and over, etc.

Here's to a great 2014 for everyone here....be blessed and know you're NEVER alone on this journey. We are all here with you.