I Can Pull My Butt Up Like Panties, And Other Unexpected Joys Of Weight Loss Surgery

I have always been curvy and well endowed gal: a habitual “yo-yo dieter”/fad dieter. I always felt bigger than I was when I was younger. Never a size 6, always around 10…and in school that was huge in my mind. I realize that I was usually the only one that it bothered. If I’d known then that one day I’d be able to pull my butt up like a pair of panties, I’d have probably tried to love myself more.

I Can Pull My Butt Up Like Panties, And Other Unexpected Joys Of Weight Loss Surgery

I didn’t really begin to put some weight on until I was 17 and was put on birth control. This is what I feel really set my weight gain in motion. It seemed no matter what I did I would put on weight. Then at 19 I was pregnant and married and began to start my family. By the time I was 26 I had all 5 of my children and was over 300 pounds. The depresson was so awful each pregnancy due to ending up bigger each time. But alas, I felt defeated-quite honestly I had just quit caring, and gave up.

When I reached a 324, and decided to do something about it. This was the time the HCG diet came around again and it was a huge trend. So, I went to the clinic and when I was told it was going to be around $2400 I was so disappointed because we didnt have it.  I dediced I would research how to do it and make it on my own. So I researched for a month and ordered my supplies and began. I also made a goal to workout for a month befrore I would commit to order the HCG. So I started the HCG at 297. I had gotten into the groove of working out some… Nothing more than the treadmill and eliptical for 45 minutes, but it was something. I still felt awkward and out of place at the gym. But, I wasn’t there for anyone other than myself so learning how to get over myself  took some time.

Within about 18 months, I went from 324 to 154, I was also working out 14-16 hours a week… I know this isnt the norm, but for me it was a way to spend time on myself and not feel guilty. I became a certified personal trainer and though I found my path. Then life changes happened and the gym became not so improtant and I once again let myself go. Within a few years I was back to 300 and feeling like a complete failure because I knew better, I knew how to lose weight and be healthy, I was just choosing to not. I was refusing to take care of myself. I had given up again and my life felt out of control.

In August of 2015 I decided to have weight loss surgery and since that time I have lost 173. I still have 17 to lose to be a personal goal, but I’ve already met the doctor’s goal of getting to 170. I’ve lost a whole adult. I  know this is a hot topic for many people and their opinions of it being the easy way out or whatever they choose to believe, but its a tool: nothing more, nothing less. You still have to watch what you eat and work out. Some people just need different boundaries than others.

This has been a positive for me, given me a sense of control.

Still, there were some unexpected things that happened after surgery, and if you’re considering that road you should know about them ahead of time!

1. Vitamins: I’m constantly taking them. And if I don’t have enough on my stomach…yeah, they’re coming back up!

2. Your tastes change: Which is a good thing, I think! Pizza, or any carb, really, is no longer appealing and honestly makes me queasy…there again, I’m okay with that.

3. Loose skin: I can pull my butt up like a pair of panties. It sags…a lot. I know the constant yo-yoing I’ve done and how long I’ve been a bigger woman (plus my *cough* age *cough*) played a part of this, but DAMN!

4. Little boobs: Man did my boobs vanish FAST! At one point I was a J, or like an H or something and now…mosquito bites.

5. Going out to eat is a waste: If there’s no one to share the dish with, it’s definitely not worth the price.

6. Noises: Weird intestinal gurgling…I don’t get this. It’s not gas, it’s just noise. Stomach noise. Intestinal noise. It’s weird and I don’t like it.

7. Thinning hair: This one freaked me out. I was terrified I’d have big bald patches…it’s cool, though. Vitamins and supplements made all the difference.

8. Learning to shop for food: Half of my food still goes to waste. It’s hard learning how to shop for my new body.

9. Sweet tooth: Yeah, that is completely gone.

10. New clothes: You’d think this would be fun, but it gets kind of annoying…and more than a little expensive. Hit up your friends! Seriously.

I really am thankful now for the healthier life I have. And the better example I am to my kids. I don’t want them to go down my road. I hope that the changes I made will help them make better food choices now that they’ll be able to carry with them for life.