First year post op...

Last wednesday I hit my one year "surgerversary".  It has been one year since my life changing gastric bypass surgery.  I had made the initial decision to have my surgery in October 2010.  I decided on a doctor and made my appointment for the seminar in December 2010 (weighing in around 346lbs).  My seminar and first consultation, where I weighed in at 330lbs.  I dropped down to about 296-298lbs, which is what my surgeon asked for (he asked for a 50lb drop to have a healthy, easier surgery) just in time for my May 16th, 2011 surgery date.

In my first year as a post op gastric bypass patient, I have lost a total of 133 lbs in the 12 months post surgery.  I have lost a grand total of 183lbs since December of 2010.

I went from a size (almost) 28/30 in pants and an XXXL top... so a 10/12/14 (depending on the store) pants and a M/L top.  I went from an almost 46DD bra... to a 34DD.

I really can't explain in words how much my life has changed in my first year post op.  It has been, and continues to be the most incredible journey I've ever put myself through.  I can't even begin to explain how amazing my life is now.  Granted... my life was amazing prior to surgery... but even more so now.

I decided to look at some of my old posts and I decided to answer some of the things I had questioned prior to surgery.

Here are some questions I asked myself in February of 2011.

• Will I like my new body?
• Yes.  I do like my new body.  Not every day.  I am still not crazy about the shape and extra skin... but I am IN LOVE with what my new body can do.  My new body can do push ups, sit ups, run MILES... and it even biked 40+miles.
• Will I still see the fat version of myself in the mirror?
• Yes.  I do.  Plain and simple.  I see my the fat body.  I only see the difference in pictures, mainly my before and after pictures when I have the fat me and new me side by side.
• Will my friends still love me just the same?
• Yes.  Yes they do.  Not all of them.  I've made friends and I've lost friends, my MAIN group of girls... the loves of my life... my end all be all of friends... still love me just the same and they are always telling me how amazing I look and how proud they are of me :) 
• Will I change my personal style once I fit into "normal" clothes?
• Yes.  My personal style has changed because I'm finding new styles of clothing that I love to wear now that I'm in a size 10/12/14(depending on what I'm wearing and where I shop).  I'm loving leggings because a: I'm too friggin short for any jeans to look right now me and b: I can pull them up to my bra and they act as a body shaper to hold in the extra skin.  I also am LOVING dresses.  This shall be another summer of no pants.  Being 346lbs and wearing a size 24-28, I was SO limited on what I could wear.  Now that I can wear pretty much ANYTHING... its opened up a whole new world to me.  I try really hard now to not leave my house in pajamas and oversized sweatshirts like I used to.  At least not on a daily basis... because sometimes... lets face it... its comfy.

So...in that same post I started a bucket list of things I wanted to do with my future skinny self.  I added to that list in July 2011.  Here is that list:

• Bungee Jump
• Sky Dive
• Dance in a cage
• Hang Glide
• Zip Line over the Grand Canyon (I'm sure this is possible...)
• Scuba Dive
• Dance in a cage while surrounded by sharks
• Lay naked on a beach
• Learn how to surf
• Cartwheel for one mile
• Pole Dance (and get paid to do it.)
• Run a 5K, 10K, Half Marathon and then a Marathon (those will be in that order) 
• Climb more mountains
• Rock Climb
• Become a personal trainer
• Learn how to country line dance
• write a book about my WLS journey
• Marry a New York Ranger 

So... let me just edit it... I'm kind of ridiculous with the things I wanted to do as of last July.

• Bungee Jump
• Sky Dive
• Hang Glide
• Zip Line over the Grand Canyon (I'm sure this is possible...)
• Scuba Dive
• Lay naked on a beach
• Learn how to surf
• Cartwheel
• Take pole dancing lessons (I've heard its a killer work out)
• Run a:
• 5K(2 races so far!)
• 10K(Not an official race, but I've run over 6 miles twice now)
• Half Marathon
• Marathon
• Climb more mountains
• Rock Climb
• Become a personal trainer and a bariatric nutritionist
• write a book about my WLS journey

So, I gave up my "dreams" of dancing in cages and getting paid to dance on a pole.  I really am not sure why I was going toward that. It was a fleeting thought and I'm not quite sure why I thought it was a good idea.  I also am giving up my dream to marry a New York Ranger.  I still love my blueshirts and all... but I also really love my boyfriend.  

I still want to hang glide and jump out of planes because those are things I've always wanted to do... and now I can do them. I plan on jumping out of a plane as a birthday present to myself.

Now that I'm a year out... this is when it gets "tough".  This whole journey has been tough but once a WLS patient hits their year...  its going to get harder.  The pounds are not going to be coming off as quickly.  A lot more foods are tolerable so its going making sure that you are making the right choices every single time.  Its going to be a challenge... and well... Challenge accepted!

Here are some things I've done in my post-op life :)

Turned 23 <3

Got to see my Aunt Laureen after a long 7 years!!

Met and fell in love with an amazing and utterly ridiculous man

Got under 200lbs for the first time since elementary school

Shaved my head for children's cancer research

Ran my first 5k :)

Biked 40 miles

During the TD 5 boro bike tour

And I beat Tom to the finish line!

Went from a size 26/28 to a size 10/12!

So thats been my life pretty much in my first year post op.  Clearly A LOT more has also happened...  babies and engagements and weddings... its crazy.

But yeah...  I love my life these days <3