Flirty by Thirty | A Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (VSG) Weight Loss Surgery Journey

Time 2020-10-12 04:03:13

Web Name: Flirty by Thirty | A Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (VSG) Weight Loss Surgery Journey

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Flirty by Thirty A Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (VSG) Weight Loss Surgery Journey For some reason, this blog has been on my mind a lot lately. I know I haven t been around for a long time, but for quite some time I have felt that I didn t have anything new to contribute to you all. This blog started in November 2012 and through the last 6 1/2 years some of you have followed me through the many phases of the massive weight loss process from the six month pre-op diet, through the surgery, into maintenance, and through the recovery from plastic surgery.The physical changes pale in comparison to the emotional and mental transformation I have experienced in the same timeframe. When I started this process, I was married and living in a small town in Central PA. I had few friends, wasn t well-traveled, and felt like a prisoner in my own body lacking a social outlet because of the physical and emotional pain that came with being almost 450 lbs. I still remember a time when everything I did was physically difficult and required careful planning, but admittedly the memory is vague at this point.Today, I am divorced and living in Philadelphia my first time living as a big city gal! About three and a half years ago, I took a job that (at the time) required a lot of travel. I explored many parts of the US I never dreamed I would see and had never left the country until my 31st birthday. Since then, I have traveled to 10 different countries and will add three more this year. I have continued to see a therapist, although there have been periods where I have taken a break for various reasons. Therapy still remains one of the biggest keys to my success.I have discovered just how discouraging the dating scene can be and it has nothing to do with my weight or history with weight loss. Instead, I have discovered the present day mentality that people are disposable, replaceable, and the hopes that the next best thing is around the corner. To say I have been hurt in the last three years by people I trusted is an understatement. But, I continue to dust myself off and try again. I would like to think I didn t come all this way, becoming a better version of myself throughout the years through tremendous amounts of hard work, to not get what I want out of life.I would love to blog more again. I guess I m just not sure what those of you who may still see this post would want to hear from someone like me. What would be helpful? There s no new exciting news. No big weight losses. No upcoming plastic surgery. No scar healing progress photos.There s just me, living a more simple and happy life,  trying to figure out where to go from here. Hey everyone! About a week ago, I realized that I passed my four year anniversary of having surgery. It s a bit crazy to think I started this process 4 1/2 years ago so much can change in what feels like so little time.As an update, things are going ok. In a previous post, I mentioned that my husband and I had split. The divorce was final in January and I have been adjusting to living alone and being single ever since June 2016. This last year has been a strange combination of the highest-highs and the lowest-lows. The good news is we remain friends and have a great relationship. It can be difficult not to have the companionship of my best friend anymore, but I hope (in the long run) both of us will be much happier and better off.Some of the positives include the continued travel for work. I actually had the opportunity, to go to Paris last month. I took a few extra days off and toured the city with my sister and had an amazing time. Whenever I take amazing trips or do new things like this, I never forget how fortunate I am that it seems as though I have no limits to what I can do (after losing the weight). Four and a half years ago, I was limited by everything which is not something I have forgotten.With the travel, increased socializing, and living I have been doing, comes the ever present battle to keep the weight off. After traveling to Paris and then back-to-back-to-back work-related travel, I find myself at the absolute TOP of my maintained weight range at 200 lbs. That isn t acceptable. I had been maintaining in the 190-195 range for awhile. Time to get serious. I have re-dedicated myself to getting to the ultimate goal of 170 and won t stop until I get there. Maybe that takes me a year. Maybe it takes me two years. I don t care. I will never stop trying to keep the weight off and reach a state of optimal health.A couple of people have sent me messages recently asking me for tips and advice. The best I can do is share with you some of the tips below with the caveat that I certainly don t have all of this figured out. And, I would caution you against people who think they do. This is a continuous process of learning and adjusting. The moment you think you have it all figured out is the moment you get complacent, IMO.If you re early out from surgery, maximize your honeymoon phase. Don t test how much you can eat. Don t have a little bit here and there of things you shouldn t. Yes, you can lose weight at any time; however, the honeymoon phase is the time when your restriction is the highest, motivation is the most intense, and hunger is minimal or non-existent. TAKE ADVANTAGE.Unless you are in maintenance and have years of proven ability to guess-timate how much you eat/drink you should weight, measure, and track every. single. thing. you eat or drink. You need to be honest with yourself and be meticulous. It is so incredibly easy to take in more calories than you should when you don t track everything honestly.Therapy, therapy, therapy. I would not be where I am today without it. Also, I would not have made it through this past year without falling back into emotional eating habits if I had not addressed my issues in therapy. In fact, my therapist closed her practice over a year and a half ago (around the time I started my current job) and I stopped. I m thinking of getting back into it.So, that was a long update. Below are a few pictures from my Paris trip. I m thinking about taking some new photos of my plastic surgery scars, in the event that anyone is curious what they look like 2 1/2 years (LBL, Breast Lift, Arm Lift) and 2 years (Thigh Lift) out. I ll make a separate post on the blog in a few days (maybe!) Just posting a quick update! As you may know from my last post, life has been a bit of a challenge. A week or so before my 31st birthday, my husband (with whom I have been together for 11 1/2 years) and I decided to separate. It has been a challenging six months, to say the least. I m happy to report that overall, things are going well and I believe that 2017 has a lot of great stuff in store for me.After my last post, I found an apartment and moved out. In early October, I started divorce proceedings and it will be final on January 3rd. The sale of our house should go through in the next few weeks all of these things are a stressful process. But, I m happy to say that we have completed this process with zero arguments, remaining friends, and without lawyers. Even though it pains my heart that our marriage didn t work out, I am truly lucky to have met and been with a wonderful person for so many years.One day, I was sitting in my apartment feeling sad and wanting to cheer myself up. So, I decided to use airline miles and hotel points from all of my business travels to take a vacation in early October. For some reason, since I was a kid I have dreamed of going to Ireland. So . on impulse I booked a flight to London and then to Dublin and I WENT! Not only did I go on the dream vacation, but I went alone. Something I never thought I would do and sometimes still can t believe I did! I included some pictures below of the trip! It was an incredible experience and I can t put into words how grateful I am to have my health and so much opportunity.Heading into the holidays, my weight is at the lowest it has been for probably about 18 months. I m happy and proud to say that during these difficult times, I have not turned to food for comfort and I am ending the year with a lot of momentum into getting (maybe finally) to a goal weight. This morning I weighed in at 190.6 lbs. Below is a picture of me at my company s Christmas party last week!Thanks to everyone for your kind messages and for keeping me in your thoughts! In my next post, I ll be sure to take updated plastic surgery scar photos. It has been 2 years and 3 months since my first round, and 1 year and 7 months since the second round. I m guessing the scars are as faded as they will ever be!December 2012 vs. December 2016 444 lbs to 190 lbs I say it every time I post, so here it goes again, Wow, has it really been that long since I have posted?! Time goes by quickly when you re either having fun or life becomes incredibly busy or stressful. I feel as though all of those things have been happening to me in an odd sort of combination.To start with the good stuff, I turned 31 a couple of weeks ago. I started this blog years ago and at the time, turning 30 (where the name of the blog comes from) seemed like such a distant thing. Now, 30 has come and gone and I can say honestly overall it was a great year. I have a job that allows me to travel all over the country, meet new people, and pays me well. The frequent flyer miles and hotel points earned from these trips allowed me to take my very first trip out of the country! On my 31st birthday, I got on a plane to Dusseldorf, Germany to meet my cousin and travel partner for quite a vacation!During our vacation, we spent a couple of days in Germany and then took a train to Amsterdam. It was a beautiful city and I was amazed by the canals. Such beautiful scenery. Perhaps my favorite part of the entire trip was touring the Anne Frank house. I read The Diary of Anne Frank as a kid and could never have imagined I would find myself, someday, halfway across the world touring the very space she lived for over two years in hiding.Then, we headed to Brussels. What a beautiful city. It s amazing to see the architecture of the old buildings. Going to another country, with a much longer history, truly is eye opening for this small-town American girl.The sad news is that a couple of weeks before this incredible vacation, my husband and I decided to split up. We were married for five years, but together for 11 1/2 and we just couldn t make it work anymore. It still shocks me to find myself in this situation, as I truly did think we were going to be together forever.People will mostly likely ask, Did the weight loss have anything to do with the split? and to be honest, I don t know how to answer this question. Our relationship, for a long time, has been one of deep friendship, but never really physical or romantic. For many, many years I just thought this was because I was SO heavy and never blamed him for not being attracted to me. I had assumed when I lost weight this would change. The weight came off, and nothing happened. I pushed the issue. He pushed back. I continued to push, searching for answers about his lack of interest. In the end, we determined we were better off as friends. He feels as though the romantic side of the relationship is lost and can t be recovered. So, here I am a newly single 31 year old professional woman trying to figure out what my future will  look like. It s scary and exciting all at the same time.Below I included some pics of the vacation. I m probably going to take more plastic surgery progress pics soon. In the meantime, enjoy!Me (left) and my cousin (right) in Dusseldorf, Germany. Beautiful residential neighborhood in Dusseldorf Dusseldorf at Night Collage of Brussels Exterior of Anne Frank House Having a Heineken next door to the brewery! Beautiful canals Canal ferry boat ride Click here if you are looking for plastic surgery progress pics. The arms and breasts are now 18 months out the lower body revision and thigh lift are now a little over 9 months out. I am happy with how things have healed and still couldn t recommend my surgeon, Dr. Joseph Capella and his PA, Scott, enough. His office staff was amazing as well.On to the update!I can t believe it has been four months since I last gave an update. Time really does fly!Things have been going well. I am loving my new job and all I appreciate all of the new experiences I am having. As I mentioned, the new job I started six months ago has me traveling the country almost every week and it s exactly what I wanted. Never in my wildest dreams did I think 3 1/2 years ago that I would be getting on and off planes every week without worry of fitting into seats, seat belt extenders, strangers commenting on my size, etc. This whole process for me has been a journey I would take over and over again.The downside to the new, fun, travel-filled life is 9 lbs. I wasn t at a weight that I wanted to be at before I started this job and in six months I have put on 9 lbs and I know better than to act like that s nothing it is definitely something. The eating is not the part that is giving me trouble I have kept a tight grip on my eating. It s the alcohol. Oh, the empty liquid calories of free wine and cocktails. Very bad and definitely sneaks up on you. You really don t need to be drinking to excess all the time to see the scale creep up due to alcohol. Time to reel it in, big time!I have the next two weeks working at home and then it s off again! In this time, I m going to catch up on work hopefully be more active in online and real-life support groups, get to the gym, and spend time with family/friends that have felt neglected as I have been a road warrior. BUT, this time spent with them will include NO drinking lol. Time to get serious again! I open every blog post these days with, It s been so long since I posted I remember when I first started the process (almost three years ago) to have weight loss surgery, I saw a lot of people post online that were 18 months+ out that talked about how they were so busy living their life that they were absent from online communities. At the time, I remember thinking I can t wait to be that person and that s exactly who I am today.Things have been very busy for the past few months. I found myself really eager to explore more of the country/world and travel. My previous job didn t allow me to do that and so I started searching. I just completed my 8th week at a new job that has kept me on the road for 7 out of those 8! I m doing well with the new company and I travel the country on someone else s dime. Can t complain too much!It s strange to be living this new life. I live in a world now where everybody I meet (from my company or companies we work with) only knows this version of me. Nobody has any idea that I used to be heavier and sometimes they poke fun at how careful I am to not eat too much and exercise on the road. Sometimes I even get comments on how I don t need to worry about it so much because I m fit (which is funny because I don t consider myself to be that fit at all.Being on the road is a struggle when it comes to eating well. For the first few weeks, I let the food and drink consume me (because hey, it s free!) But I have been doing better for the past couple of weeks. I am about 5-7 lbs higher than I want to be so I m working on getting into a better routine. I m confident that I can find a balance. This kind of confidence isn t something I have ever had. Heck, maintaining weight is something I was never able to do before and in February I will be two years into maintenance (though plastic surgery did remove about 10-12 lbs). It s always a struggle and a fight but for me, it s effort and a fight that is completely worth it.Without this whole process, this new job never would have been a reality either. The fact that I can easily hop on a plane, fit into seats, need no seatbelt extender, and walk quickly in heels across the airport is not lost on me. I see people struggle to do these things almost daily now and I empathize. I realize it really wasn t that long ago where I was in the same position. I am thankful everyday that I don t have to worry about these things, but also realize that I could be right back in that position if I m not mindful and careful.Those are my random thoughts for now! If you are interested in updated plastic surgery photos, click here (email me if you don t already have the password). Hey everyone! I haven t written in awhile because things have been incredibly busy. But, I did want to check-in to let everyone know how healing has been going from my second round of plastic surgery (inner thigh lift and lower body lift revision) and post some progress photos as well!The healing process was pretty easy. I was really worried about the inner thigh lift because I have read a lot of experiences from others that this particular surgery was incredibly painful, but I m glad to report no complications and minimal pain. I am still very happy with the results, even though I have noticed my outer thighs have relaxed and I still have some saddlebags/cellulite. But, I think things still look great and to be honest if I m expecting a better looking body (with clothes off) at this point I really just need to hit the gym a bit harder and be more dedicated to strength training/building muscle. I think improvement in my body is certainly doable, but at this point it s something I can do myself without any more plastic surgery! I just have to decide if I want it enough, you know?I have to say that I m VERY happy with how the incisions on my inner thighs and groin have laid flat and are a very thin line. I have seen some photos of some terrible inner thigh lift scarring and I just can t say enough good things about the work Dr. Joseph Capella and his PA, Scott did on me! They are miracle workers for sure. I am very confident that the inner thigh lift scars will fade very nicely, much like my arms. I would say final results on what my breasts/sides/arms look like will be seen in the next two months as I approach 1 year post-op from Round 1!This was just a quickly written update there are some changes happening in my life that I ll write about soon, for now I just wanted to share photos and answer any questions if you have them! Thanks for your continued support!

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