SassyAmy
This is me. I'm the one in the pink shirt with the glasses. This was the night of my wedding, April 21, 2012. Somewhere in the 270 pound range. This is how I saw myself--happy, but fat. I say "happy" because I was--I was enjoying my life as best as I could at my size. I never saw my weight as a "disability" persay, just something that made my life a little more difficult. I never made excuses for myself though--I was fat because I loved food (and I still do!); that was the way I'd always been and I figured it was the way I'd always be. My husband was happy with the person I was; he always said, "I'll love you no matter waht, regardless of whether you're 150 pounds or 350 pounds," which is always nice to hear, but something inside me said, "You don't have to be this way."
Around November 2014, I finally hit my breaking point and had a revelation. I was 292 pounds, size 24 (close to 26) pant, 22/24 shirt, waking up with back and knee pain, getting winded going up a flight of stairs, and just all around miserable. I tried Weight Watchers, but it just wasn't working for me.I couldn't exercise effectively because of my size. I realized I didn't have to live life that way, so I started looking into bariatric surgery. I had my first consult in January, and after a 3 month insurance-mandated diet (on which I lost 6 pounds), a psych evaluation, an endoscopy, and lots of introspection, I decided to have a Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy, which was scheduled for August 5, 2015 at the University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro in Plainsboro, NJ.
Since surgery, my life has changed for the better. I have a new outlook on life. I get to wear cute clothes, do things I haven't done in years (like ride rollercoasters and not have to worry about being able to fit), exercise, and wake up feeling good about myself every day. I still get to eat delicious food, so I don't feel like I've truly had to give anything up. Some days, I even feel like it's been a little -too- easy and feel guilty, but then I remember the hell I had to go through to get here--I was fat and uncomforatble for 24 years, plus I had to go through the emotional whirlwind of making the decision to have surgery, all the pre-op prep work, the pre-op diet, the solid month of liquid diet...if anyone ever tells tells me I took the easy way out, I'm ready to battle with them. As hard as it was, I have never regretted my surgery (okay, maybe I did the day after surgery when I was sooo nauseated from the anesthesia and pain medicine, but I haven't since then!) and am truly grateful for the change I made. Most importantly, I'm grateful for the people I've met along this road who keep encouraging me to move forward. You guys are the absolute best!
About Me
Before & After
rollover to see after photo
