Have now lost over 200 pounds!
As of today, I have lost over 200 pounds. WOO-HOO!!!!!
To be honest, I have been at the 200 pound lost mark before. I managed to lose the weight "on my own" as I used to say. (When I was in the "I would never have WLS" camp...Geesh, how narrow minded was I!!!) Then life kicked me in the backside (just goes to show how life can throw you a curve ball and you don't even see it coming). I became seriously ill...life threatening ill. And my weight loss I worked so hard at. Well, it became a weight gain from all of the medications and hospitalizations. The weight crept on (from the medications I had to take daily to survive) and no matter what I did, I couldn't stop the weight from packing back on. I gained over 70 pounds in one year.
My health finally stabilized ~Yea, to my amazing team of specialists (all 7 of them) and one awesome PCP!!
I refused to gain anymore weight. I refused to get so heavy again that I had to stand on two scales to weigh myself. Yes, you read that right. In order to weigh myself, I had to stand on two scales...(one foot on each) and add the weights together. I refused to let the former 447 person I used to be show back up to say "FAILURE ~ see you couldn't keep off the weight you worked so hard to lose."
I never dreamed before I became sick that I would have any type of WLS, after all, I was on a weight loss roll. Funny how your perspective changes over time. Now I look at my VSG surgery as just another component in my medical arsenal to getting me as healthy as medically possible. And as a result, I treat my surgery just as I do any other medications/interventions I have....which means I am extremely compliant. I stay on plan 100% of the time because that is what they expect me to do. I don't mess around when it comes to my health anymore. LOL!!
The future is looking pretty bright for this former 447 pound "as big as a 5 bedroom house" person. 
VSG on 10/30/13 Surgeon: Erik Throop "There are plenty of difficult obstacles in your path. Don't allow yourself to become one of them." ~ Ralph Marston
HW: 447 YIKES!!!! SW: 293 CW: 140 GW:140? 100% on Plan -100% of the time!!!
Losses by Months: (5' 1") WL Pre-Op-154 M1-28, M2-12, M3-18, M4-15, M5-14.5, M6-13.5, M7-10, M8-13, M9-14, M10-10, M11-1 (What the heck??) M12-4as of today's date
Congratulations! That is great to hear - and no, VSG is not a cheat at all - I tend to look at my upcoming surgery as just one more thing that'll help me get to goal, in addition to healthy lifestyle changes. I think it actually helps if you're able to lose some weight on your own first, because then you're already somewhat familiar with the "eat smart, eat less, move more" paradigm.
I love posts like this. It's so encouraging for the rest of us to see your success, and to dispel the myth that VSG is for "lightweights"!
~~ VSG February 4, 2014 ~~ 30lb. lost since surgery ~~
~~ you will never regret not eating something ~~
~~if you're light enough, you just might be able to fly~~
~~nothing tastes as good as skinny feels~~
HW: 303 || SW: 255 || CW: 225 || GW: 120 || UGW: 105
Scribbler~
My PCP and Specialists were all very "pro" for me to go for it. A couple of them had been my physicians when I was much heavier and working hard to lose the weight the first time.
The Dr. I see at the Bariatric Center (a Bariatrician) wasn't as easily convinced that I was as "focused and driven" as I appeared. He really thought I was just talking a good game. But after a few pics of my "former 447 pound self" as well as a phone call from my PCP (gosh, I have the best Dr. ever) who pretty much set him straight. Then it wasn't an issue. I am not their typical patient. They don't usually have someone who already lost significant amounts of weight on their own (without being on a supervised diet), walk in the door. I am also extremely compliant. (I think it kind of freaks them out a bit...LOL) But, I was like that when I lost my initial weight. I designed an eating plan, set goals and then achieved them. This isn't any different-I still have to follow an eating plan, set my goals and then achieve them one at a time.
VSG on 10/30/13 Surgeon: Erik Throop "There are plenty of difficult obstacles in your path. Don't allow yourself to become one of them." ~ Ralph Marston
HW: 447 YIKES!!!! SW: 293 CW: 140 GW:140? 100% on Plan -100% of the time!!!
Losses by Months: (5' 1") WL Pre-Op-154 M1-28, M2-12, M3-18, M4-15, M5-14.5, M6-13.5, M7-10, M8-13, M9-14, M10-10, M11-1 (What the heck??) M12-4as of today's date
You are rocking!
VSG with Dr. Salameh - 3/13/2014
Diagnosed with Binge Eating Disorder and started Vyvanse - 7/22/2016
Reconstructive Surgeries with Dr. Michaels - 6/5/2017 (LBL & brachioplasty), 8/14/2017 (UBL & mastopexy), 11/6/2017 (medial leg lift)
Age 42 Height 5'4" HW 319 (1/3/2014) SW 293 (3/13/2014) CW 149 (7/16/2017)
Next Goal 145 - normal BMI | Total Weight Lost 170
TrendWeight | Food Blog (sort of functional) | Journal (down for maintenance)
Thank you everyone! Not going to lie....had a bit of a "cry fest" on the scale when I realized that I was now over 200 pounds lost from my heaviest weight. That is the equivalent to the weight of a typical refrigerator (without all the bells and whistles of course)!
VSG on 10/30/13 Surgeon: Erik Throop "There are plenty of difficult obstacles in your path. Don't allow yourself to become one of them." ~ Ralph Marston
HW: 447 YIKES!!!! SW: 293 CW: 140 GW:140? 100% on Plan -100% of the time!!!
Losses by Months: (5' 1") WL Pre-Op-154 M1-28, M2-12, M3-18, M4-15, M5-14.5, M6-13.5, M7-10, M8-13, M9-14, M10-10, M11-1 (What the heck??) M12-4as of today's date
