LONGish 9 Month Update

Yesterday marked 9 months since my VSG. I am still so thankful for this surgery and would do it again tomorrow. I still feel the best that I have in years. I have only lost a few pounds this month, but I have lost inches. My size 16 jeans are loose and I now wear some L tops (some still XL, just depends on the brand). I finally got my carb cravings (that stemmed from a carb-laden week after food poisoning) under control a few weeks ago and am back on track with my meals. I’m still trying to decide exactly where I want my goal to be. 174 would put me at “normal” BMI, but I am currently smaller than I was the last time that I saw 192 on the scale… Who knows how my body will settle out?? I’m aiming for “healthy” and “happy” as a goal right now. I still want the scale to go down, don’t get me wrong, but as of right now, I’m not concerned about zooming to an arbitrary number goal. I’m going to continue taking this thing a day at a time, even at 9 months out.  

It’s funny how we change as we go through this process. As I climbed to my highest 50ish pounds, I didn’t care how I dressed. I bought clothes based on whether or not they fit rather than if I actually liked them… When I was able to start shopping in the “normal” clothes again, I had to spend so much time trying on clothes because I would stare at myself in the mirror and ask myself (out loud occasionally, which I’m sure made me sound like a lunatic), “Ok, do I really like this? Or do I like it because I can get into it?” I’m forming a new “style” and it’s fun! I started thrift shopping pretty soon after surgery  and have had a lot of fun finding funky, one-of-a-kind pieces to add to my wardrobe... If someone had told me a year ago that in 1 year, I would be on the hunt for the perfect pair of WHITE SKINNY JEANS?? I'd have said they were crazy. (found the jeans yesterday, btw!)  

A few of my friends have started treating me differently - something that I was REALLY worried would happen after surgery. One girl has started making back-handed compliments in the last couple of weeks. I’m going to brush her comments off for now in the hopes that her words really have nothing to do with me… We’ll see.   This process has truly changed me for the better. I’ve learned that, just because something tastes good, it doesn’t mean that I need to eat it. I’ve learned how to respect food for the sake of quality, not quantity. Also, unrelated to my diet, I’ve ironically discovered a love for baking. (DISCLAIMER: BAKING… NOT EATING!!) A friend and I started baking/decorating cakes for friends before I had surgery, and it was something that I was afraid of continuing post op. It just felt like putting an alcoholic working in a liquor store. It’s actually been quite the opposite! I’ve been able to avoid over-tasting (translation: eating all the scraps!) while we bake, and I have gotten pretty damn good at cake making, if I may say so myself. I’m currently waiting to hear back from a recent job application in a bakery! If I can make a career out of this awesome hobby, I will be one happy girl. It is something that I would have NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS tried to pursue pre op for fear of being the cliched “fat baker.” I would have been SO paranoid of people looking at me and thinking that I had gotten to my HW by eating everything that I baked. VSG has given me the strength to follow my passion. And my surgeon is even behind me! He suggested that, with my background in studying English, I should write a WLS-friendly cookbook! I don’t know if I’ll go quite THAT far, but still, it was fun to have his excited support :) Have I mentioned lately that I love my surgeon?   

Where to go from here? I am starting to notice the dreaded “bat wings” on my arms, so weight lifting begins ASAP. I am not dealing with excess skin on my tummy (thank the heavens above!), but things are starting to get “wrinkly,” which makes me wonder if a pannis is in my future  So if anyone has any magic “skin correcting” beans that they want to sell, PM me  

It’s been an awesome and often eye-opening 9 months. If you’re new, stay the course! Read here OFTEN. Like, EVERY DAY. You’ll learn a LOT about how you want to work this process. Take something from everyone who is successful and find what works FOR YOU… And when I say “works,” I mean it keeps the scale moving, not just what keeps you from gaining when you aren’t where you want to be yet.

Thank you for sharing this!  You should be so super proud of your progress and how you've rocked your sleeve!

I love that you found yourwhite skinny jeans! Getting to follow your dream is amazing too. I pray I will be that strong, as to be able to bake for my family and not taste the products! lol

Oh, I taste it. Don't let me pretend that I don't! I live in the unpopular "moderation" camp... I just don't feel the need to have more than just a single taste! It's very freeing! You do what's best for YOU! Best of luck :)

I'm so happy for you!  This process is a bit overwhelming, with the changes happening so fast.  I hope I will be at a place as settled as you by nine months out.  

OH yeah, those white skinny jeans are a huge sign of success, aren't they?  Well done!

I'm so happy for you and love your reality!  No numbers, keeping up with the crowd...just the best you!  I'm with you chicky....keep setting that example!

Congrats on a fabulous 9 months, Chrissy!  And I want to see a pic of you in those white jeans 

Very uplifting post! Congratulations on your wonderful weightloss journey!

Congratulations! I am at 6 months. On Oct 1 2013 I wore a size 18 jeans. I recently purchased a size 8! I never thought I would see size 8 again.

I agree with your statement on what works for you. I don't do artificial sweeteners, processed foods, or bread. I had to find the foods that worked for me. It does take some time.

You just have to stay with it.

As far as excess skin on the tummy, it can be done. But it takes a lot, a lot , a lot of stomach crunches and ab exercises. If you live somewhere that has Crossfit check into it. It is intense, but it will build those muscles.