It's been FIVE YEARS?!?!? Yes indeed it has. I've never regretted having the surgery ... my only regret is that I didn't have it done sooner. I'm still maintaining a weight of 145 lbs, and have recently met a fella who loves to cajun dance, so we go at least once a week and 'cut a rug'.
I take for granted what I can do NOW vs. what I could do before surgery. When I see heavy people, I ache for them because I know the obstacles that they face every moment of every day.
What do I eat? I eat what I want. I stay away from fried food and sugar most of the time, but if I want fried chicken or catfish, or an occasional Hershey Bar, I allow myself to eat it. I've brought carbonated drinks back into my daily routine ... Coke Zero tastes almost like the 'Real Thing' (more so than Diet Coke, in my humble opinion).
My tummy size still dictates when I'm full. I can overeat, especially when I get overly hungry, and stuff my face without thinking of what is going inmy mouth. Drier foods (like baked chicken breast) tend to not sit well on my stomach, probably because of the lack of moisture and my not chewing it enough.
Well, that's a 5 yr update. If anyone has questions or concerns, feel free to contact me.
Colleen
p.s. a pleasant thing happened about a week ago ... i went for coffee and there was cake in the coffee room, which i looked at and passed up (it wasn't chocolate, lol). one of my new coworkers (she didn't know me 'when') said "that's how colleen stays so skinny, cuz she doesn't eat cake!" i had to laugh, and then told her why she had made my day ... i haven't drug out my 'fat' photo yet to show her ... not too sure i want to bring that thing to light.