I have tried every diet available and am living proof that diets don't work for many people struggling with obesity. While I could lose the weight, I could never maintain the losses. I was through with the yo-yo effect of weight loss and gain many times, and I knew there had to be a better way.
Before my surgery, I was out of control both with constant hunger and high volume. I was in a dark place emotionally, and it was a physical challenge to function on a daily basis. My body hurt and I became very sedentary. I was sitting on the sidelines of my life. In this state of pain and depression, I researched alternatives that would improve my health and return my emotional wellbeing.
One of the options I came across was the gastric sleeve procedure. The benefits are permanent, and the only organ altered is the stomach. The surgeon removes 75-85 percent of the stomach, leaving a tube (or sleeve) behind. A part of the stomach called the fundus has a high degree of elasticity and produces a hormone called grehlin that stimulates hunger. This is the portion of the stomach removed, leaving a more muscular tube that retains its shape and size permanently. I underwent surgery in November of 2010.
The changes to my lifestyle were immediate. Portion control was no longer a problem because I could only consume one - two ounces of food in the early stages. It takes about six months for the stomach to heal and the swelling to reduce completely after this procedure.
This is what sleevers call the "honeymoon period." Initial weight loss is rapid post operatively due to very low food intake coupled with the fact that this is the time when body weight is at its highest. This period is so exciting and liberating. Weighing daily became a joy instead of drudgery. As the weight came off, I became much more active. Instead of sitting on the couch to avoid pain, I moved my body daily and often.
As the swelling reduced, the volume of food I was able to consume increased. Eventually I was able to eat four - six ounces per sitting, and that's where I stand today at over three years post-op. I achieved my personal goal of losing 121 pounds in 12 ½ months. Six months later, I was down a total of 140 pounds. I surpassed my initial goal and went from a Body Mass Index (BMI) of morbidly obese to a normal BMI as defined by the U.S. National Institutes of Health. I now maintain my weight within a 10-pound range of my final goal.
My blood sugar is healthy, and I no longer have sleep apnea. I continue to maintain my new lifestyle with enthusiasm and heartfelt thanks to those that helped me along the way.
