ObesityHelp

My weight loss journey began in October of 2006.  I had my surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital.  My BMI was 42 and at five feet tall I weighed 215.  You might say to yourself this person is not that fat why would she have this surgery?  I thought about this myself as I was half the size of most patients sitting in the doctor's office.  I was never always fat.  Growing up I was always physically fit through my twenties.  I exercised every day until I burnt myself out.  Once I met my husband I said to myself well maybe I can relax now and begin a family.  Well after three years of marrige baby number one came then number two.  Had not motivation to exercise and the weight gain topped out at 215.  I had back pain from my large brease and lower back pain from my big butt!  My knees hurt when I walked and I always seem to get my foot stuck in a crack and then I would twist my ankles.  I thought about WLS for over a year.  I watched all of the shows about WLS.  I thought to myself can I really do this?  It was permanent.  At the time I don't think it was covered under insurance or at least I did not check.  Well one day I woke up tired of being fat.  Tired of everyone looking at me like god this girl is going to squeaze into this seat on the train?  Then when I encountered someone with an attitude on the train they always had to make a comment such as "Fat xyz blurp".  When I realized my insurance covered the surgery without a million reports for approval I stumbled across this website and saw Dr. Marina Kurian's website.  I called and they accepted my insurance.  I was excited.  I was more excited when I found out she is a great advocate (co wrote WLS or dummies) for Obese patients.  After the seminar my insurance approved and within a few weeks I was scheduled.  It went so fast I did not have time to think about it.  Surgery day came and post op I said to myself OH MY GOD what did I do to myself.  I was in soo.... much pain.  Well that's how it all happened.  I took it day by day.  I began exercising right away.  Ten months later I lost 100 pounds.  Everyone knows about my surgery at work.  I tell everyone.  And yes people right away day Oh I know so one and they gained the weight back.  So encouraging isn't it?  Well I continue to exercise and it is so much easier for me now that I am 120 pounds.  My boobs went from a 40 DD to a 32 B.  I'm acutually 30 inches but can't find anything smaller.  It difficult to find 32B bras.  My pants size went from 18 to  a 3.  Shirt 20 to a small.  I can fit my calve in a tall leather boot.  Can't wait to buy those.  Well hopefully if anyone reads my story it will motivate them.  I don't think you have to be over 300 pounds to have this surgery.  This surgery saved my life and made me a better person.  If I did not have the surgery I probably would have gained more weight.  Now my future goal is to keep the weight off.  Maintain my exercise routine and get plastic surgery.  I need a major boob lift and beleive it or not I think I would benefit from a body lift.  I don't have alot of excess skin w/ the exception of my stomach.  To babies and weight loss I have this skin of about 3 pounds?  Its just there and I see my stomach muscles underneath!  A six pack waiting to come out.  Well see....