4 Years Post!

[sraebaer]

It’s hard to believe it’s been 4 years since my sleeve surgery. It's so long ago now that being obese is only a memory, something I don’t think about much anymore. My goal was to look like a regular person and I’ve achieved that.

Words of wisdom? (Disclaimer, my story/thoughts may be far different than yours.)

Have a positive attitude. Quit whining unless you have something to whine about. I was lucky to have no complications at all, but you can bet I followed every rule. Sure no one is crazy about the pre-op diet, but I did it with my eyes on the prize. I enjoyed shopping for new foods I could add each week in the beginning. I just had FUN!

Have a good support system in place. My husband was my rock and still is. He is always complimenting me. He cooks all our dinners, with our self-imposed “Rule of 2,” a protein and a veggie. OMG he is a fantastic cook! I have found seafood is much easier on my tummy than meat. He exercises with me. Today we biked 20 miles ending at the Missouri River with the longest 3 mile hill home you could imagine. I was on gear 1 out of 24 most of the way. Last week we got back from the most amazing hiking trip out west, climbed mountains 6 days straight. All the hikes were breathtaking, but my favorite was to Delicate Arch, the one on the Utah license plate. It was a strenuous hike up sheer rock, and finally you turn a corner to view this amazing site. Probably the most magnificent thing I’ve seen in my life! (Can you tell I love mountains?!?)

Exercise. (I guess I already mentioned that.) Find something you like and do it. For me it’s outdoors; hiking, biking, skiing, walking, running, kayaking, whatever. The gym is my last resort, only for when it’s way too hot or cold to be outside. Or maybe lightning.

Losing the weight will be easy, at least it was for me. The weight just fell off. I was at goal, normal BMI, in about 9 months. I gave away everything in my closet except my socks and some shoes. (Even my feet got smaller.) I had to give away my gorgeous wide-calf boots as they fell down my legs. As you’re losing, try not to buy many clothes as they will be too big for you before taking off the tags. Then when you reach goal, try to control yourself. I didn’t. Shopping was so much fun that I got carried away and now have more stuff than I can wear, especially since I just retired.

When you are a regular-sized person you feel so much better! My feet used to always hurt, that’s gone. I have more energy and know I look younger than I did 4 years ago. (In everyone’s before and after pictures they look younger!)

Now to reality, for me maintaining my weight is not easy. It takes serious effort, and I can see how people could easily regain it all. In the beginning you can hardly eat and are never hungry. Now I can eat larger portions (though nothing like I could eat before surgery) and get hungry like anyone else. I am 5 pounds above my goal weight, have been since breaking my neck Super Bowl Sunday this year and not able to exercise for 2 months. But maybe it’s muscle as except for those 2 months I exercise my a$$ off! I weigh myself every day, and refuse to ever be fat again. I would love to lose 10 more pounds. Wise Ann will tell me it’s time to start tracking, and she’s right. I’ve never done that, just counted protein and liquids. Hopefully my 5 year post will be better.

Another reality for me is I was not able to go off any of my meds. High cholesterol runs in my family. I didn’t take the meds for 3 months after surgery, and wow, it went sky high again. I struggle to sleep, always have. Had the sleep study and they said I didn’t have sleep apnea, but I was awake 49 times. Fun. I was diagnosed with a brain tumor shortly after surgery, non cancerous, they watch it every year. And everyone knows my falling down the stairs and breaking my C2 vertebra, lucky to be alive and not paralyzed story! My neck still aches. A lot. So life still happens, don’t use it as an excuse to regain. I can’t even begin to compare how much better EVERYTHING is between 4 years ago and today. The sleeve is nothing short of a miracle. Here's a before surgery photo and one taken on our trip last week. Attachment 27097Attachment 27096

[psparks]

It’s wonderful you have a great support system. Congratulations on all your hard work you look beautiful. You are a strong woman I hope you continue to improve with your neck you were a blessed woman so it seems. Great success story!!!!

[Ann2]

THIS IS HOW IT'S DONE!

sraebaer, you are a frickin' hero to me. BTW, I think of you every single day when I go down the stairs in our house. Every single day!

I would never presume to tell you anything about WLS, including tracking or not tracking. You will always do what you need to do and what you think will be useful to you. That is all.

I hope your Year Five is even more awesome than your Year Four and Year Three and Year Two were.

xoxoxoxoxoxo

Ann

[sraebaer]

THIS IS HOW IT'S DONE!

sraebaer, you are a frickin' hero to me. BTW, I think of you every single day when I go down the stairs in our house. Every single day!

I would never presume to tell you anything about WLS, including tracking or not tracking. You will always do what you need to do and what you think will be useful to you. That is all.

I hope your Year Five is even more awesome than your Year Four and Year Three and Year Two were.

xoxoxoxoxoxo

Ann

You had better believe I hold on to every railing now and am extremely careful on stairs! Then I flew off about a 4 foot high rock at Arches National Park last week, fell on my feet and then my butt. Didn't hurt anything. I think there is some guardian angel for klutzes watching over me, I have been so lucky. I guess I was looking at the scenery rather than my feet.

[Luv49ers19]

Wow you are one of my sleeve heroes! I never knew how you broke your neck. Scary!!!! You look AMAZING. Thanks for sharing you pearls of wisdom.

[Alynn]

Stay strong and blessings!

[Christie13]

Love, love, love looking at your before and after! What a beautiful transformation. You don't look over goal. I see you as a normal sized person. You look fit and toned. Thank you for your post. I know what you mean about how people can gain. I think if I didn't weigh daily I could slip up and start gaining. Not about to let that happen. Happy anniversary!! You rock!!

[Stacey03]

What a wonderful inspiring story! You look amazing and clearly work hard to keep up with exercise and everything. Just fabulous!

[Gege1061]

Congratulations to you! What a HUGE accomplishment! You are enjoying your life and you look fabulous!!! #goals


Gege

[RoDean]

You are amazing, an inspiration. I have restarted everything from the beginning, working this program like no bodys business and am hoping i will get the 10 off i ahve gained, but more importanatly i want to start losing again, i have 70 lbs i still need to get off this body, just to be in the healthy weight and i am not giving up until it's gone. Be blessed.

[Ann2]

Go, Rochelle!

You can do this!

After all, it's the new lifestyle we have to live.

[sraebaer]

Love, love, love looking at your before and after! What a beautiful transformation. You don't look over goal. I see you as a normal sized person. You look fit and toned. Thank you for your post. I know what you mean about how people can gain. I think if I didn't weigh daily I could slip up and start gaining. Not about to let that happen. Happy anniversary!! You rock!!

Thanks! I still continually ask my husband, "Now if you didn't know me and saw me walking down the street, would you think I was a normal sized person or fat?" He is sick of the question and now just tells me to shut up. I still would love to be skinny, but don't have enough dedication to diet. So I will be happy with normal for now.

[Linda51]

Do we all dream of being "skinny"? Right now I would be happy with "normal". Congratulations on your success! What a wonderful inspiration you are. Please keep on posting to inspire those of us that are at the beginning of the journey.

[Merry Mary]

Congrats Sraebaer you've done great, changed your life and now get to enjoy your retirement being fit and healthy. Being outdoors is literally a breath of fresh air and you have been able to enjoy some of out great National Parks.

[sraebaer]

Luckily hubby was just old enough to get the senior lifetime National Park pass for only $10, before the price went up. Now we have a lot of parks to visit when he retires May 1st!