3 year Surgeversary Update on Sheri

[sherbearmama]

Hello All,

It's been some times since I've posted here but life has taken over these past 3 years. Dec. 5 was my three year anniversary for getting my DS and my two year anniversary for getting my plastics (tummy tuck, lower body lift/but lift, brachioplasty--arms, and breast lift). I'm doing quite well. I've had zero health issues related to my DS. At 3 years out, I maintain about 120-125 most of the time. I wear a size 0-1. Food plays a very minor part in my life. I think this is because once I let go of weight issues, I let go of food issues as well. I try to eat protein first, then fats and carbs. I eat just about whatever I want but I don't overeat. Why don't I overeat? I think it's because I don't feel like I'm restricting myself anymore and so because I've given myself the freedom to eat what I want, I tend to not bing. For instance, I craved peanut M and M's the other day. I bought a pack and had few. The rest of the pack sat in my car for a week unit I remembered it and had a couple more. In the past i would have eaten the entire pack right away. I'm not advocating eating junk food, I'm just saying that for me, I allow myself to eat what I'd like as long as i'm being sensible.  To be frank, I just don't think much about food anymore.  They're are other important things on my plate to focus on these days! :-) 

My life has changed quite a bit. Since my surgery I have gotten divorced (which turned out beautifully for both my ex-husband and for me), gone back to work, and begun graduate school for a master's degree in Public Health Education. I love life. It's challenging and tiring, and I'm stressed all of the time--but it's my life and I'm a true participant which is much more than I was before the DS. I play with my children, I don't worry about what I look like anymore, I enjoy my love life,..I enjoy life!

I don't have any advice to offer because at 3 years out I still consider myself a newbie. However, I can say that getting the DS was one of the best decisions I've ever made. I don't experience the gas and diarrhea issues that some face after the DS. As long as I take my Devrom before each meal and take dairy pills with any dairy products I don't usually experience much gas. I have never had a diarrhea issue with this surgery. If anything, I get constipated so I go through periods where I do whatever I can to eat more fat just so that I can go to the bathroom! My labs have been normal and overall, my health has been good. This flu season everyone in my house has gotten sick but I've been spared with only a minor soar throat! I consider that a good sign of my current health.

This is a link to my before and after pictures on this site.
weightlosssurgery.proboards.com/thread/5885/140-pound-loss

And below is a picture that my boyfriend took of me just a few days ago--I was sitting on my computer doing school work surrounded by some of my ukuleles. I took up playing ukulele last June and have been quite obsessed with it. We own several--different sizes and styles. My statistics are there underneath my signature--my low weight was 114!  I was too skinny there.  But I'm happy between 120-125.  It just feels right.  I hope everyone here is doing well and getting lots of support. Feel free to send me any private messages if anyone wants to chat about my journey.

Thanks!
Sheri

“To get through the hardest journey we need take only one step at a time, but we must keep on stepping”




Read more: weightlosssurgery.proboards.com/thread/5885/140-pound-loss#ixzz3LN0ysDVy

[aflame]

Hi Sheri!

How wonderful to get an update from you. You were one of the first people here who reached out to me, and you were so kind in answering my queries. And, I've been following your updates since I joined. You are an inspiration, and you look absolutely gorgeous!
Hearing how well DS'ers are doing is always uplifting. I wish you all the very best with graduate school, with your new relationship (happy that the divorce worked out well for yourself and your ex), with life in general. Wishing you continued health and happiness, as always. Thanks for sharing more of your story. Here's looking forward to more lovely updates.

p.s. i am also considering a career change. will start working on pre-reqs next year. it'll be a big change because my degrees are in the social sciences and my career has been in a related field, and if this is the route i end up taking (about 95% sure) with a STEM degree culminating in a clinical doctorate, it's going to be quite the worthwhile challenge. here's to taking life by the horns.

[rargirl]

Sheri,
Woot woot and thanks for sharing!

It is pretty cool to hear about someone a lot like me. We have the following in common:

Surgery about the same time (my 4 yr surgiversary is in Nov)
Reconstructive surgery less than 2 yrs out. (I had lbl at 1.5 yrs out)
Post DS divorce and new happy relationship
Graduate students (I finish my MBA w/emphasis in Organizational Leadership May 2015).

Kudos to you for living your life free of the stress of food, focusing on personal pursuits and following your dreams.

Hoorah!

[Simba]

congratualtions!!! what a great post. You look grat. I like that part where you said that food is a small part of your life now. continued success

[OnMyWay2Thin]

Sheri,

I remember when you first had it done, you've always been so positive! You look fantastic and sound even better.

Keep enjoying life and checking in, it's very inspirational,
Kelly

[sherbearmama]

Thank you for all of the positive feedback. I really just wanted to help other people who are thinking about the surgery see that even 3 years out all is still good! I feel terrific and I can't imagine my life any other way than it is today. I don't feel any different from anyone else--I thought I'd feel like i had some self-induced health problem by having this surgery but my body operates relatively normally. So I hope that all of the new people who are looking into getting this surgery benefit from reading my story--just knowing that I'm one of those who had a smooth surgery, transition, and maintenance thus far!