Happy FIFTH Bandiversary to me!!

Today is my fifth bandiversary! I thought it might be useful to go back to the beginning, to remind myself where I started. Here are the first words I posted on this blog:

"I am getting banded on October 23, 2008. I've struggled with my weight for as long as I can remember and am now at an all-time high (I'll post numbers once I've had some success -- too hard to admit at this early stage!)." [P.S. I weighed 230 pounds.]

Here is some more from that post:

"It's funny -- I was talking with a trusted friend about my decision, and went over my pro/con list with her. Once we nailed down that my real fear was making a drastic change to my life, she said something that gave me a lot of clarity. She said, 'Catherine, you have two choices here. Regardless of whether you do this surgery, you have to either accept that you will be overweight or, you're going to have to make a drastic change in your life.'"

The "friend" who said that to me is my therapist, who I've been seeing for more than 10 years.  (I highly recommend doing therapy throughout this process.  It is so helpful.)  Her words were very true, and they really struck a nerve with me. Sometime after that, I picked up a celebrity gossip magazine, and there was an article in it about a soap actress who had been having success with the band. I eventually mentioned that to my therapist, and she put me in touch with someone else she knew who was also banded. Presto, change-o, and roughly two months later, I had my surgery as a self-pay patient in Monterrey, Mexico (thank you Dr. Rumbaut!).

Over the past five years, I have changed my life and improved it for the better in so many ways. Five years ago, I was roughly 80 pounds overweight, heartbroken, unable to run because of compartmental syndrome (because of my weight, as it turns out), avoiding seeing old friends (because of my weight), feeling badly about myself (same), with aching feet and back (same), hating shopping (same), and feeling despair when I had to get dressed up for a special event because I didn't look the way I wanted to look or fit into my clothes... or both (surprise... same..).


Before and After.



I have met so many incredible bandsters (and sleevesters!) during the past five years, and I am grateful for the way my relationships with all of you have helped me through this process and encouraged me to push myself to do better and to stay focused. This would have been such a different experience without you, and I most certainly would not have enjoyed it as much or felt so much support without my blog and my off-line WLS friends.

At this point, I've been at goal for so long now that it seems normal. I actually get slightly annoyed when I see 156 on the scale (I recall practically doing backflips when I first saw that number a few years ago...). My weight stays right within a small range of 155 -- my goal number (though not the aspirational goal of 145... that proved too hard to maintain).  I sometimes miss the thrill of losing -- that part of this process was so motivating, exciting and fun. My band still seems to be going strong, though I've been having reflux often enough that I am thinking about getting a wee unfill -- my first adjustment in two or more years -- and will likely do that during my 5th year check-up appointment next month.

Five years after surgery, I am at an "ideal" weight, strong, fit and happy about how my body looks (not that I don't see room for improvement..). I am a regular at my spin and yoga classes, my feet and back are fine, and shopping and getting dressed up are a pleasure. Somehow, I've become the kind of person who will give myself a little grief if I "only" get in 2 workouts a week (who am I?!). :)   And the sweetest part is that I fell head over heels for -- and just married!! -- a wonderful, kind, loving, handsome, sweetie-pie of a man who makes my life so much nicer every day just by being in it. 



At a party with my sweet husband, earlier this month.

 

Five years ago, I used to dream that my life might be like this, if I could only get my weight under control. It's not a dream anymore -- it is reality.  Not that my life is perfect -- it's just a heck of a lot better than it was before!  It's hard to express just how grateful I am.  Words are not enough.  I want to show that through my commitment to honoring the changes I was able to make by avoiding backsliding and by taking good care of my body and health, and not taking them for granted.

Thank you so much for reading this and for being there for me. It means more to me than I can put into words, and has helped me immeasurably.  I'm sending best wishes to each and every one of you for continued success and so much happiness and love.