So, how am I doing two years later? I'm doing pretty good.
I'm still a size 14/16. I wish it was lower, but I've maintained that for a year and I can't complain about that. I've never maintained my size for that long. Or a weight loss, for that matter. I love being able to find clothing that fits and I don't need to search high and low, or just settle for whatever is on the rack. However, it's still sometimes hard because many times I can't find a 14/16; it must be a popular size. And buying pants is tough, because I have a lot of loose skin around the abdomen. I eventually want to have it removed, since no amount of exercise will ever get rid of it, but it's quite expensive and it's just not in the budget in the foreseeable future.
I'm up about 10 pounds and that fluctuates up or down 5 pounds. I'm NOT happy about that, but I'm working on it. I'm still fighting the snack demons, which I suspect will stay with me until I can get it out of my head that just because I'm bored, it doesn't mean I need to eat. I will say that even though I'm under 220, at the moment I feel like I'm 343 and feel like I look like I'm 343. I know that's not logical and it's not true, but there it is. I now understand why thin people complain about how terrible they feel when they gain 5 pounds--it's totally true!
I don't really struggle with any food issues. Nothing makes me sick. There's really nothing I can't eat, although I do stay away from pasta. That's just my choice, really, as I was never much of a pasta eater and it just doesn't do it for me. I do eat bread once in while, but it's usually toast or a crusty bread. I do need to limit sugar to about 15 grams at a time. Otherwise I feel sick.
Overall, I'm doing well. I just need to get back to the basics and get myself back on track. It was easy to feel like once I lost 130+ pounds and many dress sizes that the work was "done." And that's where I fell down this year. I'm slowly realizing that I will never be "done." I will always have to work at it. And I will. (And it's not as if I didn't know that ahead of time; I did. But I guess I just didn't think too much about that at the time.)
I think you're doing fantastic! You really are an inspiration. You have inspired me to get started on my diet before the new year. I am down 16 pounds, even after the holidays! I had a long talk with my doctor and we both decided to try the diet and exercise for 6 months, but if i cannot make it work, she highly recommends WLS for me. Reading your blog has made me less afraid of that option. I cannot wait to see if i can get down to a size 14/16 in six months. That is my goal. I also have a feeling that if i can make it work, skin removal surgery will be in my future too, so i feel your pain there. I am already saving up for it. Keep it up Dawn! You're awesome and should be very proud of yourself! :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much!! And congrats on your weight loss! That's awesome. :) Please keep me posted and ask me anything you'd like to ask; you have my email address. I used to think WLS was "quitting", but it's really not. (That's why it took me until 38 years old to make the decision!) It's just another tool to use to get healthy. Eventually you will still have to work at it just like non-WLS people, but really gives you a big advantage over them in that you'll have lost at least 60% of the excess weight fairly quickly.
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