Terri W.
UPDATE: March 19, 2008. It has been 7 years since my surgery and it has been 3 years since I have updated this profile. In the past year I have gained about 35 pounds. I would like to get back down to about 180 pounds. Lower if possible but for sure to 180-190. I am comfortable and wear a size 12 at that weight since I am 5'9. I am exercising 3 times per week and plan to change my eating habits.
UPDATE: Feb. 16, 2005. It has been 4 years since my LAP RNY. What a lifestyle change for me. I have been through so much in the last 4 years. I just had a baby girl. She was born on Dec. 20, 2004. She is just 8 weeks old right now. I only gained 12 pounds in my pregnancy and that weight was gone within about 10 days of my C-section. I have also lost an additional 10 pounds since I had her. I would like to lose about 20-25 pounds to get to a more comfortable weight. I am wearing my size 12 Levi's that I wore back in 2002, so I am happy about that! I'd love to get into a size 10 comfortably though and tone up my legs. I have maintained my weight loss for 4 years, even though I have been pregnant twice in those 4 years. Life is GREAT!
UPDATE: Oct. 2003: I am doing GREAT. It has been 2.5 years since my LAP RNY. It does get more difficult to maintain the weight loss as the time goes by....I still struggle with making the right food choices but luckily, I still get full VERY quickly...especially if I make the right food choices. I am exercising regularly and am still within 15 pounds of my lowest weight. I have regained about 15 pounds but I lose some and gain some. I am trying to lose an additional 20 pounds and hope to do so. I am still wearing some size 12 jeans that I bought when I first got to my lowest weight. I am currently wearing mostly 14's though. I would love to get into a size 10...but considering I started out in 26/28's, I am tickled pink to be in a size 14, especially since I am 5'9. This surgery is still the BEST thing I have ever done for myself and I highly recommend it for anyone who has spent their life battling their weight.
UPDATE: March 11, 2003: I am doing GREAT. Have healed from my tummy tuck back last August. Went to an amusement park recently and rode some go-karts. It was a blast. Made me so happy that I had this surgery and can lead an active lifestyle now. I am maintaining my weight loss and am wearing a size 12. I started out wearing size 26/28 so I have come a long way.
UPDATE: Sept. 6, 2002: I had my tummy tuck on Aug. 30th, one week ago TODAY. I am SO SORE and in so much PAIN. OUCH. But my tummy seems to be flat. I still have drains in for a few more days, can't wait to get these out. It will be a slow healing process but I hope it will be worth it.
UPDATE: Aug. 22, 2002: I just found out from my surgeon's office that I am APPROVED FOR A TUMMY TUCK!!!!!!! I AM SO EXCITED AND RELIEVED. Hopefully this will help me lose about 10-12 more pounds and put me at goal. My tummy tuck is scheduled for next Friday, Aug. 30th, 2002. Will keep you all posted.
UPDATE: Aug. 13, 2002: Finally weighing around 175. Have not weighed this since I was around 18 years old. Losing inches still. Feeling great and fit. Would like to lose more, maybe that will happen if I can get the tummy tuck.
UPDATE: July 28, 2002: Still staying around 180. We have decided not to try to have another baby. There are many reasons for our decision. So now I am in the process of scheduling consults with surgeons who could do a tummy tuck. I would like to get that done within the next several months if possible. I think that would put me within a few pounds of my goal. I feel healthy and am very active. I never thought I would feel this young and energetic ever again. I feel better now at age 37 than I did in my teenage years. This is great :)
UPDATE: June 13, 2002: I'm now down to 180. We are actively trying to conceive so I am not stressing over the last 15 pounds right now. My surgeon has told me more than once that when I get my tummy tuck done (and I might get a breast reduction and lift too) that it will take care of the last 15 pounds. I have at least 15 lbs. of loose skin after losing 140 pounds. I still cannot believe I have lost that much weight. It feels GREAT :)
UPDATE: May 9, 2002. I am remaining somewhat steady with my weight but am losing inches. Everyone keeps telling me that I keep getting skinnier every time they see me, but I do not see that. I feel great but at times I feel I have not lost enough weight. I really would like to lose another 20 pounds but at 15 months post-op, I am not sure if that will happen. I do know some post ops that remained the same weight for several months and then they started losing again. The body is kind of weird the way it loses weight. I have some friends who have NEVER exercised after this surgery and have lost alot of weight and gotten down too small and I have some friends who exercise alot and still have not reached goal. I think we all have our setpoints and regardless of what we do, our bodies know what weight we are comfortable and healthy at. I also know people who have lost down real small and then gradually gained some weight back and stabilized at about 15 pounds more than their smallest weight.....so it just depends on your body....but I am still jogging, walking, mowing the lawn and staying very active. This surgery continues to amaze me. :) Oh and the local newspaper did an article on me and put a before and after pic of me in it. They told the story of my surgery, etc. and several people in the community have been cutting it out and sending it to me with letters saying how proud they are of me. It's been pretty neat. Kind of different having people notice you....I am still getting use to that. :)
UPDATE effective March 24, 2002: I am now wearing size 12's. Size 14's still fit but are getting loose. I starting out just 13 months ago wearing size 28's. Unbelievable. I am 5'9 and my surgeon told me my goal should be around 175-190. I am currently about 184. I am not far from that. In addition to losing all this weight, out of the last 13 months, for 6 of those months, I was pregnant so I think considering what I have been thru and my poor body, I am doing great. I cannot compare myself to others. Everyone's body is different and there is no way I should even try to weigh what someone who is 3-4 inches shorter than me weighs. I am constantly being told by everyone who sees me that they didn't recognize me and my "makeover" is unbelievable and how great I look. That is hard for me to accept. People call me "Ms. Skinny" but I always reply "No, I am NOT skinny." I will never see myself that way. EVER. I recently got most of my hair cut and have a short and sassy haircut now. EVERYONE says they love it and they are telling me I look 20 years younger since the weight loss and the new "do"....wow, I was shocked to hear THAT. :) Recently I found some shorts I wore before surgery and I put both legs in one of the legs and my son who is 10 yrs old put both his legs in the other leg and we walked into the living room and showed my hubby. He just grinned and shook his head. We were so proud. My son and hubby have been such a support system for me. This past week we went to a pro basketball game and climbed 5 flights of stairs to get to our seats. I RAN up all 5 flights. I was not even out of breath. It was great. Today we went to the park and I went swinging and also went down the slide twice. I felt like a kid again. Life is good. We are going to try to get pregnant again this spring or summer. Once I have the baby, I will give my body some time to heal and then I will get a tummy tuck. If I get into a size 10 eventually, that would be great, but a size 12 for someone 5'9 and age 37 I think is just RIGHT :) I have come a long way in this past year. This surgery saved my life.
UPDATE effective January 2002: I lost my precious baby girl on Dec. 31, 2001. I went into premature labor and delivered her. She was only 22 weeks, 5 days gestation. It was totally unexpected. I had an infection that I was NOT even aware that I had. THey found e-coli in my body. It invaded the membranes and caused premature labor. I delivered Maci Kay and she did not survive. We have been devastated!!!!!! She is now an angel in heaven.....but we will NEVER forget her. We are still grieving over this tremendous loss. We had her funeral on Jan. 2, 2002.
UPDATE effective Sept. 2001: I FOUND OUT ON SEPT. 5, 2001.....THAT I AM PREGNANT!!!!! I was 7 months post-op when I found out. My husband and I tried for 5 years to have a baby. I have lost 5 babies. We were not even trying anymore but here it is.....a HUGE SURPRISE.....I am due on May 1st, 2002. We have a son who will turn 10 yrs old in December. We are starting all over again. What a blessing and gift from God this baby is.....My goal is to stay within 10-15 pounds of my pre-pregnancy weight of 207. Once I have the baby, I am getting the weight off immediately. I have joined a bulletin board list of women who've also had obesity surgery and then gotten pregnant and had healthy babies. MOST of them have gained very little weight in their pregnancies and gotten back to their pre-pregnancy weight within several weeks of delivery....That is my goal.....
I started researching this surgery back in Sept. 2000. I met with 2 surgeons before I made my choice to use Dr. Wongsa in Houston. He is a terrific surgeon. If anyone needs to know anything about him, please email me at tewil1991@yahoo.com
About Me
Before & After
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