kr7654
Hi There All!! Well, like a lot of folks on this site, I have always been heavy. I have also tried many diets, but always gain the weight back (+ more). I know this sounds too familiar to most of you! I am an emotional eater.........I know this, but breaking habits are HARD.
Why am I am emotional eater? Well, let's just say that like a lot of you, I am sure, I had alot of (excuse my French) crappy stuff in my life...childhood & adult. As the oldest child of a violent alcoholic, whose mother died when I was 15, who had to live through and do things no child should ever have to do, who also married the wrong man (I thought it was love, I realize now it was a way to get out of the house), who raised 2 kids who also had alot of baggage to suffer through, and finally going through a divorce.....I should write a book. NOT looking for pity, just part of the story.
Now the GOOD stuff.........Through all the crap (oh there's that word again!), I was bound and determined to make something of myself and never be poor again! I worked my way through college, and became a HS teacher, a career that I loved and pursued sucessfully for about 30 years. Retirement wasn't necessarily MY idea, but God had a hand in that and knew best, and it was a blessing....budget cuts were coming. In retirement I have been blessed with the ability to travel the world: recently returned from a cruise from Florida to Azores, Portugal, France and Amsterdam. I have been truly lucky to have the means to do what I love...travel. The unfortunate part is that the weight has cramped my style! Even though I was always overweight, I have always walked long distances. Now, because of an osteo-arthritic knee it is really hard. I am the kind of person who wants to see it all.....everything a country and people have to offer, and I have been limited. Asking for the seatbelt extender never bothered me, I just did it. But this knee is getting to me. I need knee replacement surgery and my surgeon says I need to lose about 90 lbs. It is time to get serious!
Also, on the good side, I have a GREAT daughter, who has come out of the other side of trama healthy and a good person. Sometimes I can't believe we made it through! I spent several years ushering her in and out of hospitals and psych offices.
But, with God's help, she got through it all, and is a beautiful young woman. Her younger brother suffers from ADHD and has his battles too, but of a different kind. He is completing college (a 2 yr degree on the 5 year plan) and has a part-time job. He recently began driving; he has a ways to go, but I am very proud of him. After I left my bad marriage, I began dating.....it had been loveless for at least 10 years, After "kissing" (not literally) a bunch of frogs, I found my prince. We have been in a relationship for over 5 years now, and he is the best!
So please don't consider this a gripe story; it is hard to tell my story without it! Now you know why I am an emotional eater. I finally came to the ah-ha moment that led me to WLS. I am in the Options Program at Kaiser, and just completed all my labs (woooo...14 tubes of blood later!). I am looking forward to preparing for gastric sleeve surgery at Pacific BC in San Diego. I am most scared of gaining the weight I potentially lose back, but the experts tell me that fear is normal. Maybe it will help keep me on track!
Well, that's my story in a nutshell (ok, a BIG nutshell!). I would love to hear how some of you have handled your emotional eating urges, and anything you can suggest/inform me about the surgery. I commend all of your success stories and look forward to sharing my own. You guys are all an inspiration to me.........keep it up! Take care for now!
Kerry
