Almost 2 Year Update and What's Next...

[Guest guest]

Hi All-

Well, it's time for my almost 2 year update.... It's been a while since I've

posted an update. For those that remember, I started out at 407 lbs on 7 Sept

2000. I've been pretty stable, depending on the time of the month, between 218

and 225 for the last year. I've lost 140 inches along with that 185+ lbs.

It's been a pretty eventful two years. Besides the weight loss, I've had 2

knee surgeries and 5 kidney stones. The knee problems were only partially

weight related and we're still trying to figure out the stone issue.

My knee is pretty much healed and I'm once again playing on 5 softball teams.

I'm looking forward to a winter of skiing and learning to snowboard. I can

once again play tennis and regularly go for 3-5 miles walks. I no longer turn

red in the face after walking half a block or up a flight of stairs. I fit in

chairs and booths and thru turnstiles without thinking too much about it. One

day last week, I spent all day riding rollercoasters at Six Flags America.

I can buy clothes at Walmart or Sports Authority, I haven't been inthe big and

tall store in over a year. I'm still giving away clothes but my size has been

pretty stable for about six months.... Well, that's gonna change next

week.....

I'm starting my first round of reconstructive plastic surgery. I will be

having an abdominoplasty, lower body lift and breast reduction with lift on the

27th of August. It's a lot of surgery and I'm excited, nervous and scared all

at the same time (I would be worried if I weren't). But this is the right

route for me. Sometime in the future I will do my thighs but the other stuff

was much worse. I'm tired of the rashes and getting skin caught in zippers.

I'm tired of trying to rearrange the boob-rollups so that they fit in a bra. I

have 2 sets of hanging butt cheeks in the front (that's how i refer to my apron

because it has creases in the middle). It will be nice to run the basebaths

without that huge flap of skin wapping up against my thighs.

I think part of the reason I'm nervous is I have no idea what I'm going to look

like when this is done. I've been obese or morbidly obese all of my adult

life. The last time I didn't have an apron I was 15 years old and had a very

different body..... I can push and pull and manuever the skin around but I

just can't see my body without it....

I have no desire to be a model or a skinny mini... I've always been muscular

and athletic, so that's fine... Besides, since I started out Super Morbidly

Obese, I'm still weigh more than many people just starting out after

surgery.... That in itself can be frustrating but then I look at how far I've

come and the support of the people around me and I just move forward.

I've been pretty lucky on this journey. I've had no major complications. I'm

leading a very full and active life. I've made some good friends (and a few

new enemies). My family has been very supportive and encouraging. I look

forward to more accomplishments and milestones, whatever they may be......

Cheers,

Jan

Post Op RNY 7 Sept 2000

Then 407, Now 218

Dr. ph Afram, Washington DC

Abdominoplasty, Lower Body Lift, Breast Reduction and Lift Approved!!

Scheduled 27 August 2002, Dr. Mark s, Bethesda, MD

http://spacecdtjan.tripod.com

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