One Year Anniversary

On Saturday, 7/5/08, I celebrated the one year anniversary of my Mini Gastric Bypass. What a whirlwind year it has been! I have lost 121 pounds, going from 256 to 135. I had set a personal goal of 136, and actually didn't think I would reach it by the one year mark, as I was stuck at 137 or 138 for about a month. I wasn't concerned, as I was completely happy at that point, even if I never lost another ounce! But low and behold, on 7/4 the scale showed 135...and has continued to show that (even 134.5 at times) since.

I have kept track of my measurements along the way, and today I added up the inches lost. Drumroll..... 112.25 inches!!! My gosh! I have really lost a whole person that I was carrying around all this time. Just to give you more info on where I was and where I am now, here are some before and after measurements:
Then Now
Waist: 44 in 29 in
Hip 51.5 in 35 in
Bust 45 in 37.75 in
Upr Arm 18.75 in 11 in
Thigh 26.5 in 16.75 in
Calf 19.5 in 14 in

I wore a Women's 22 and now wear a 4 or 6. Even my toes lost weight! My toe ring now slips off if I am not careful - if I wanted to take it off prior to surgery - I had to soap up the toe!

My friend was describing a woman we admire but had never met in person. She saw her at a convention, and told me, "She's much smaller than she looks on TV, she's as tiny as you!" Wow. I know that no one ever said those words to me before.

I am thrilled with the results of my surgery. I am healthy - no more diabetes, high blood pressure or sleep apnea. I am strong, I feel great. I can climb the stairs - or a mountain, and not feel like I'm gonna keel over trying to catch my breath. I can mow the yard, carry the laundry, exercise, you name it. I can sit on my husband's lap. I can get up and down from the floor with ease. I no longer wonder if I'm the fattest woman in the room. I don't worry about my stomach sticking out, or my thighs rubbing together. I can tie my shoes without losing my breath. I can just be the me I always imagined I was. I'm just not carrying around an extra person with me.

Years ago, my husband and I had a little country store. Among the things we sold were those little signs with sayings. One of my favorites said: My body's really a size 6...I just cover it with fat so it won't get scratched! Well, I guess that's what I was doing all these years. One word of caution if you're doing that too - don't wait too long to uncover it, cause it may not get scratched, but it might get a bit wrinkled!

Life is good...eternal life is better!