My name is Sandy. I am interested in weight loss surgery. I am looking into what is best for me.

Being overweight is nothing new to me. I remember when I was about 10 years old or so going shopping with my mom for school clothes in Chester ( when there were no malls to shop at ) Mom would get my sister’s clothes and then say “ lets go to the “big girl” clothes for Sandy “ My nickname when I was young was “tubby Thompson” I think I was the biggest girl on the block. When I was 10 I weighed about 100 lbs according to my Navy I.D card .

My dad passed in 1969 when I was 15. I had a very good friend who helped me through this tough time . We would go places and do things. A few times a week we would go to the local high school and hit the tennis ball back and forth. That summer I got down to about 150. I felt good about myself even though I wasn’t the “skinniest” in the family. Then I met my “future husband” he was in the Navy and would come home on weekends. That is when I started gaining again. We would go to Burger King for dinner or some place similar. I was 180 when I married in December 1971. In 1973 I had my first daughter. My second daughter was born 9 ½ months later. Five years after that I had a son. He was diagnosed with hydrocephalus when he was 5 weeks old and had shunt surgery at 8 weeks old. We were told that he may have had a stroke which caused his hydrocephalus. The following years I concentrated on taking care of my family not myself.

I have tried many diets. Here are a few:

Weight Watchers- at least 6 times - most weight lost about 20 lbs.
Phetermine - I went to a Dr. for weight loss. I may have lost about 20 lbs during that time.
Herbalife - To me was just a waste of money.
Slim fast- I still use the shakes for breakfast at times but haven’t lost much .
Trim spa - I tried the pills but not much luck.
Hypnosis - I attended a group session in 92 to stop smoking and lose weight. I have not had a cigarette since but the weight loss didn’t work.
Numerous subliminal and hypnosis tapes. I haven’t used them lately but when I did use the subliminal it helped with me doing more exercise.
Atkins was my best weight loss at 30 lbs in 2002 (?) We had gone on vacation to Niagara Falls, NY. I had decided then that I wanted to work on my weight loss . When I got home I called and got a phone number for a consultation I called and was told I would get a call back. ( I’m still waiting !) I decided to try Atkins diet while I waited. I cut down on my carbs and lost about 30 lbs total. I felt good , slept good, (hubby said I stopped snoring) This was sometime in June-July 2002. When the holidays , Thanksgiving and Christmas came around I added some more carbs and started gaining again.

Even though I have cut down on my carb intake I don’t seem to lose much . I try to have a decent meal for dinner ( steak , baked potato, veg. usually broccoli or string beans ) We have maybe a hoagie/sub once a week . I usually have half of a small hoagie for dinner. Save the other half for lunch the next day if I feel like it. If I want ice cream I have the low carb by bryers or something like that. I do not have a set schedule for meals except for dinner. Usually I only have tea in the morning. Lunch, I don’t feel like eating until about 2:00 and then I grab what ever is in the fridge.

When I was on Atkins , I ate breakfast everyday usually eggs, bacon or sausage and tea. For lunch I would usually have a salad with ranch dressing. Sometimes I would have tuna or lunch meat ( ham, or turkey) . I try to drink water as much as I can. I have limited my diet soda intake. I also drink diet tea with splenda. I sometimes snack at night although I seem to snack more in the afternoon rather than night. Sometimes I have yogurt . Or my low carb ice cream.

Exercise is just about non existent. Especially in the bad and cold weather. If our pool is open I try to do some exercises (mostly leg exercises) . I bowl once in a while. Even the thought of getting on the floor to exercise is a horror. If I get down I have trouble getting back up again.
I have exercised in the past and felt good about myself. I need the motivation to do it. Instead of going for a walk I watch TV . Now that I have a new grandson we walk when the weather is nice for about 15-30 minutes. I try to walk longer each time.

Health Issues - I have been fortunate to have been in good health up until lately . In May of 2004 I had a partial thyroid removal. ( Gout ) When I went in for pre op testing I had high blood pressure (222/100) and was referred to my primary Dr. for follow up. I was put on Benicare to reduce it. I have recently ( about 2 months) stopped taking it . My blood pressure has been about 150/80 or so.
Arthritis of the Middle and Lower Back.
I wake myself up sometimes at night because of my snoring
Shortness of breath when I exert myself
Swollen ankles when I stand too much.

Reasons for weight loss :

My whole life I have been overweight. I have been teased when I was younger. Since I can remember I have tried to lose it and it has been an uphill battle for me. The more I try to lose the more I gain. I have usually been an self sufficient person . I didn’t ask for much help. I have painted the inside of my house , rearranged my furniture , scrubbed my floors , do gardening etc. Now that I have added to my weight I have trouble putting on my socks and shoes. If I drop something on the floor it is a struggle to bend over and pick it up. If my daughter is around she will do it for me. I am afraid to sit in plastic lawn chairs for fear of them breaking on me. When we go to a restaurant I ask for a chair (no arms) rather than a booth. When I took my daughter to the dentist last time I had to stand because I couldn’t fit in the seat. When I went back to talk to him I “suggested” that they get chairs with no arms for parents who are “large” . He apologized and said thank you for the suggestion. Even my automobile seat broke ! As for summer adventures… I have a 12 year old daughter and 3 grandsons. I would like to participate with them in summer activities, walks, swimming, amusement parks ,riding the rides not sitting and waiting for them to get off the ride. Maybe even take them horseback riding. I did that before I thought I would break the horses back many years ago. My daughter participates in some school activities and I want to join her. I have become a chaperone for her indoor guard activities but even riding on the school bus is uncomfortable. That is as far as chaperoning I am comfortable to do. I don’t want her to be the brunt of the joke because of her “fat mom” . I would like to take a trip on a plane without asking for an extension for the seat belt or having to purchase an extra seat.

Before my mom passed in 98 from heart failure I had gone into visit her. Mom was obese also she was about 5’4 and was about 220lbs. A couple of days before she passed I walked in the room and she looked at me , smile on her face , and said……” I’m down to 180lbs !” She was happy she had lost weight. Two days later she passed. I don’t want that to happen to me.

If and when the time comes for me to pass I would like for my family to be able to remember me with loving memories and funny anecdotes about my life . Not to remember how heavy the casket was or how they needed to buy a bigger one for me to fit into. And I plan on staying here for a very long time !

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