I didn't know I wasn't happy until I was happy

A year ago, I sat in a room with other obese people, learning about 3 different types of bariatric procedures.  I knew going in what I needed to have done, and walked out with the appointment to meet the surgeon.  A decision that would change my life.

TimeHop is a fun app that brings back pictures, posts, and such from your social media platforms from 1-7 years ago.  This week the pictures I took from sitting in the group session popped up.  I don't think sitting in that room then hit me like it does when I see the pictures now.  Some of the information is just stunning.

Patients who have undergone Gastric Sleeve Surgery have had...
72-98% GERD resolved (THAT'S ME!)
52-92% Hypertension resolved (THAT'S ME!)
82% Cardiovascular Disease risk reduction (THAT'S ME!)
74-98% Obstructive Sleep Apnea resolved (THAT'S ME!)
55% Depression resolved (THAT'S ME!)

Also, Asthma, Urinary Incontinence, Degenerative Joint Disease, Gout, Type II Diabetes, among many others resolved!

The biggest one, the one that counts the most....QUALITY OF LIFE improved in 95% of patients. (THAT'S ME!)

I didn't know I wasn't happy until I was happy.  Seriously.  I look back a year ago at some genuinely happy times in my life.  It was an act.  I was putting on a brave front pretending I was happy in my skin and with my life.  I know now, I was not happy.  I know this by how I feel now.  People say I have a glow about me.  I think they are right.  I am certainly in a euphoric state of mind.  Things happen around me that are fairly shitty but I'm not letting anything burst my bubble. Ask me about my finances and I'll shrug my shoulders and tell you that there are more important things in life than what's in the bank.

This weight loss has really put me into a state of being that I never knew I could have.  I am one pound away from 90 pounds lost.  (Hopefully my morning I will have lost that pound, lol).  90 fricking pounds!  It's mind boggling to me.  Truly.  I can breath.  I sleep without Horton, my CPAP machine. I don't mind walking.  My joints aren't swollen.  My body doesn't ache.  All of those things held me back and infringed on my quality of life.   The only thing that I can foresee will get in my way down the road, if it isn't beginning to already, it my sagging skin.  Luckily, my stomach isn't awful yet.  But it will be.  Currently, my sagging arms are something that I would like to hide and my thighs now have use for a girdle to suck me in.  However, I continually remind myself that the whole reason for the surgery was to live a longer life.  Mortality has an 89% reduction in 5 year mortality. So, not only will I live longer, I will live better!

Starting weight: 296
Current weight: 207
Total lost: 89 lbs

BMI was 50.1

BMI is now 35.5! I am still in the obese category but I getting closer to the lower category of "overweight."  I'll take it!

Wearing size 16/18 (from 24/26) and love Wal-mart Jeggings!

^^not my ass but you get the point!