fitzgarce

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I am marking my third anniversary since bariatric surgery - 2/14/11 - 2/15/14.  It's been a fantastic journey.  Life changing.  I've maintained my weight loss of 150 pounds.  But, I must tell you - if you think having surgery is the easy way out - or the solution to all your problems - think again - food addictions - overeating - becoming morbidly obese - and deciding to have bariatric surgery - is huge - so to speak!  and even though I would not change a thing - and it did solve my morbid obesity - food issues, desires to eat the wrong things - and over indulging, gaining weight - etc... still are a concern for me... It will be a life long process.  I am so glad I did what I did - but food will never again, or can it be, my main focus in life - I still miss some foods - I still desire to overeat - but, in reality, it is not what I want and it is not what I can do. 

  February 14 marks one year since I had bariatric surgery.  I celebrated by having a follow up appointment with my surgeon, Dr. Jeff DeSimone of Crouse Hospital in Syracuse, NY.  I have a clean bill of health.  I have lost a significant amount of weight.  I started my process in March of 2011.  I weighed 330 pounds.  At the day of my surgery I weighed 295.  Today I weigh 189.  I feel great.  I have put a lot of food obsession issues aside.  I am no longer a diabetic.  I no longer have sleep apnea. 

Feb. 14-Aug.14:  6 months since I had bariatric surgery.    The goal I set with the nutritionist was met this morning, plus 1 extra pound for good measure.  I have lost 101 pounds since my surgery day and 150 since my top weight a few years ago.  Just for the record, this has been anything but the easy way!  It's been tough.  I would say my emotional addiction to eating has been the toughest to get over.  I still craze the idea of eating.  But, it is not possible to fulfill.  This is a very good reason why bariatric surgery is successful for morbidly obese people.  When trying to diet for many years, the idea of eating would always take over after a time of success.  And, because I could, I went back to eating every time.  Usually, I ended up gaining back any weight I lost plus adding a few extra for good measure.  Now, however, I know I can sabotoge my success, but it cannot be done the way I used to sabotage my diets.  So, the whole notion of food, of overeating, has lost its appeal.  There have been some physical set backs, too.  I've lost some muscle strength which needs to be regained.  I had my gall bladder removed in May and I also had to have 3 separate balloon stretches where my stomach and the small intestine are attached.  Since June, I've been doing better, keeping food down and expanding the types of food I can eat.  Dense meats are still a problem and I haven't been eating vegetables - small portions still rule and probably always will.  I've found it interesting to see and read reports about the amount of food Americans eat and learn that the amounts required to be healthy and well balanced are so much smaller than most people know.  I feel much better and am much healthier than I was a year ago.  However, it continues to be a process.  In my head, it's good.  But, emotional, physical and spiritual happiness, peace and contentment is not yet achieved.  I remind myself that I am breaking many years of bad habits.  Without the help of the surgery, it would not be happening at all...