• Username: BananaGal
  • Location: IL, USA
  • Member Since: 2/19/2008
  • BMI: 57.7
  • Post Op
  • Surgery Type: VSG (02/14/08)
  • Surgeon: Carlos Galvani
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Get through my 2 weeks on the Blended Diet

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Surgeon Testimonial

Carlos Galvani
Very good surgeon - he suggested a specific type of surgery for me and I am happy with everything so far.
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My Story

I'm 27 years old and have been overweight since as far back as I can remember. In high school I reached my first peak at about 280lbs. Before I graduated, I managed to lose 40-50lbs using Atkins. During my first couple years of college, I got down to about 220lbs, and in my senior year I actually saw 180lbs. The stress of finishing my last year of school, neglecting my rigorous exercise routine, and not paying any attention to what I was eating made me gain 20lbs back almost instantly! By the time I graduated, I was up to about 210lbs. That was in the spring of 2003. Between then and now (Feb of 2008), I gained 180lbs. Yes, you read that correctly . . . 180 LBS! I reached a new peak of 391lbs. I don't know how I let that happen. I honestly don't. I remember seeing people my size and larger several years ago and thinking . . . "how do people get SO big?" Well, in case you wanted to know, it's really quite easy. I would avoid the scale for long periods of time, and then I'd weigh myself and have gained 20, maybe even 30lbs. I'd get depressed about it and just continue avoiding the scale. I suffered from depression and anxiety, and became very hopeless.

Towards the end of my weight gain, I literally felt I had no control left over it. Everyday I'd step on the scale and have gained a pound or two. I'd try to tell myself I would cut back (I even had a personal trainer for a couple months), but the tiny losses just didn't motivate me. All I could think about was how much I had failed, and how much weight I now had to lose because of that. What had I done? Why hadn't I taken more serious action after only gaining 50lbs?, 100lbs? 150lbs? How did I let it get this out of hand? The thought of how much I needed to lose made me absolutely petrified.

About 2 1/2 years ago, I began considering WLS. After visiting several different clinics and a losing battle with United Healthcare, I finally had a VSG on 2/14/2008 (Valentine's Day).

The journey has just begun for me, and I'm still scared of failure, but I have a great support team among my friends and family, and I will try my best to stay positive.