• American Bariatrics is a free online Bariatric Support Group. Register for your free account and get access to all of our great features!

Enjoying my new self

Surgery
Gastric Sleeve
Date
Aug. 23, 2013
Start Weight
362 lbs. lbs
Goal Weight
175 lbs. lbs
Currently
173 lbs. lbs
Did something I never thought I would do. I went zip lining in a Jamaican rain forest. My new Avatar is a photo of me in the gear. I used to feel frustrated because I wasn't allowed to participate in activities like zip lining and even helicopter rides due to weight restrictions. Don't think it was because I necessarily wanted to do these things. More because I was prohibited. But now I'm free to do it and it didn't even occur to me that I was petrified to do the zip line. I just ignored my fears and went. Because I can! And I had a blast. Eight runs and one of them was a vertical drop like rappelling. This adventure also involved a rather strenuous hike for about 1/2 mile to get to the first platform and then another 1/2 mile or so to return to the starting point when we finished. That would have prevented me from attempting this even if there wasn't a weight restriction.

Every day I find myself becoming free from my old behaviors and learning that I wasn't lazy, just incapacitated. I just passed the 15-month milestone of my surgery. The weight has stayed off, my health has improved, my activity level keeps increasing and for the first time since I don't know when, I have a wardrobe can I take pride in. Sadly, I learned that a former colleague of mine with a serious weight problem recently passed away. From what I understand it was related to his obesity. That could have been me. Which is why when people tell me that I should be very proud of myself I thank them and add that I am mostly grateful.
 
Last edited:
Did something I never thought I would do. I went zip lining in a Jamaican rain forest. My new Avatar is a photo of me in the gear. I used to feel frustrated because I wasn't allowed to participate in activities like zip lining and even helicopter rides due to weight restrictions. Don't think it was because I necessarily wanted to do these things. More because I was prohibited. But now I'm free to do it and it didn't even occur to me that I was petrified to do the zip line. I just ignored my fears and went. Because I can! And I had a blast. Eight runs and one of them was a vertical drop like rappelling. This adventure also involved a rather strenuous hike for about 1/2 mile to get to the first platform and then another 1/2 mile or so to return to the starting point when we finished. That would have prevented me from attempting this even if there wasn't a weight restriction.

Every day I find myself becoming free from my old behaviors and learning that I wasn't lazy, just incapacitated. I just passed the 15-month milestone of my surgery. The weight has stayed off, my health has improved, my activity level keeps increasing and for the first time since I don't know when, I have a wardrobe can I take pride in. Sadly, I learned that a former colleague of mine with a serious weight problem recently passed away. From what I understand it was related to his obesity. That could have been me. Which is why when people tell me that I should be very proud of myself I thank them and add that I am mostly grateful.


How WONDERFUL that your life has changed so dramatically!!! AWESOME!!!!

I congratulate you that you have done this while you are still young. I was normal weight in my teen years and started gaining when I was about 20 after my son was born. A little more weight year after year and I lost and gained weight like a yoyo all my life til I had bariatric surgery at 64 yrs of age. Life has changed for me too in that my health and mobility is so much better, I feel like a normal regular person now. I only wish I could have had this surgery years ago. I do have more weight to lose still but even now I am a million percent happier and feeling so wonderful!

Again CONGRATULATIONS on your success for a happier, healthier life!


Cheyenne :cool:
 
Did something I never thought I would do. I went zip lining in a Jamaican rain forest. My new Avatar is a photo of me in the gear. I used to feel frustrated because I wasn't allowed to participate in activities like zip lining and even helicopter rides due to weight restrictions. Don't think it was because I necessarily wanted to do these things. More because I was prohibited. But now I'm free to do it and it didn't even occur to me that I was petrified to do the zip line. I just ignored my fears and went. Because I can! And I had a blast. Eight runs and one of them was a vertical drop like rappelling. This adventure also involved a rather strenuous hike for about 1/2 mile to get to the first platform and then another 1/2 mile or so to return to the starting point when we finished. That would have prevented me from attempting this even if there wasn't a weight restriction.

Every day I find myself becoming free from my old behaviors and learning that I wasn't lazy, just incapacitated. I just passed the 15-month milestone of my surgery. The weight has stayed off, my health has improved, my activity level keeps increasing and for the first time since I don't know when, I have a wardrobe can I take pride in. Sadly, I learned that a former colleague of mine with a serious weight problem recently passed away. From what I understand it was related to his obesity. That could have been me. Which is why when people tell me that I should be very proud of myself I thank them and add that I am mostly grateful.

Hello and welcome.

Isn't it wonderful.

I have a suggestion for you.

I did this all during my first year. I am now past my first anniversary, reached my goal weight in about 7 months and now maintaining between 196 to 200 for the last 5.

What I did was keep track of things I could do NOW as a result of my weight loss.

You might want to do the same.

It is amazing what we can do once we shed the weight.

Here is my list:

Accomplishments as a result of my Bariatric Gastric Bypass (11/4/2013)

• Diabetes resolved – off all meds, avg reading 110
• BP normal again – I am still taking bystolic 5mg. Resting pulse is around 60 and BP near or below 120/80. Without the bystolic my resting pulse is still in the 60s. However, my BP goes up to the high 130s/high 80s.
• Sleep Apnea resolved – I am not snoring nor do I believe I am stopping breathing. I will confirm this later this year.
• Legs no longer swollen
• Waist size has shrunk – Wearing size 44 pants
• Feet are smaller – I was able to put a pair of dress shoes on that I haven’t been able to wear.
• I stay under 1200 calories a day. Most days around 1000 calories.
• I have a lot more energy and I can dance, dance and dance!
• I can walk up neighborhood hills aggressively without having to stop; no longer breathless.
• My incontinence due to my prostatectomy has been resolved.
• I am able to sleep in my bed again. I had been sleeping In an upright chair to be comfortable.
• Dramatically reduced backaches; almost completely gone.
• I can bend over and tie my shoes now and I can see my toes.
• I can do dance steps again that I couldn’t do. The belly is gone!
• Now wearing size 42 slacks.
• Starting to sleep on my side again! This has happened in years!
• Intimacy much improved !!! 
• Fit in to a small diner booth !
• I can run up and down stairs several times without becoming breathless
• I squeeze out between two cars that were tightly parked together. A year ago I couldn’t get out of the car; I would be trapped.
• I squeezed into a size 38 pair of pants. (6/1/2014)
• Sleeping on side is comfortable now. (6/1/2014)
• Sleeping flat on my back is doing fine too. No longer need to be propped up. (6/1/2014)
• I have reached my goal of under 200. I weigh 197 (9/9/2014)
• Size 38 Pants fitting comfortably now (9/9/2014)

Best wishes to you,

Ralph
 
Back
Top