MrsLitch
I have yo-yo dieted for years, at one point on the Atkins diet I lost 80 pounds and was approved for a tummy tuck. The tummy tuck became infected and after months of wearing a wound vac and a full year for my last scab to heal I had gained all the weight back and then some. I gave up.
At times I would join websites like myfooddiary and track my food and my exercise and attempt to lose weight, but when there was no instant gratification of losing I gave up easily.
Years went by and the weight piled on. My health was getting poorer each passing year. My blood pressure was high, my cholestrol was high, my blood sugar went from hypoglycemia to reactive hypoglycemia and I was told the next stop was diabetes. I was diagnosed with PCOS and had a 12 pound cyst removed and a year later a complete hysterectomy throwing me into menopause, adding yet more weight.
I smiled and laughed and outside everyone loved me, thought I was great, inside I was dying. I didn't want to me MO anymore but I couldn't admit that to anyone because then I'd have to admit it to myself, and I'd have to do something about it.
In Dec. 2011 I went to Florida for our annual Christmas cruise and my daughter's wedding on a beautiful sunset beach. I reluctantly posed for family photos because it was the most important day of her life, and mine to be honest.
We went on the cruise and the first week was fine, I couldn't wear a swimsuit because I couldn't find one that I would go in public in so I sat in a beach chair watching my kids swim. We had a second cruise booked for the following week and by the time we got to Mexico I had a horrible chest cold and couldn't walk 25 feet without pain in my chest and an inability to breathe. Thankfully you don't need a prescription to pick up the necessary medication in Mexico and our stop in Cozumel was cut short by a trip to the pharmacy so I could breathe.
Within a couple of weeks of getting home we received the CD from the photographer in the mail and I quickly loaded it onto my computer. I wanted to cry. The black and white dress I loved so much made me look like a beached orca whale, I was mortified at the idea of these photos hanging in my home for everyone to see forever.
I knew I needed to do something, but what?
The next week as I was cooking dinner one night my youngest son innocently said, "Mom, you used to be a lot of fun on vacation. You weren't this year. I hope you start to feel better."
That was it. That was my rock bottom. The defining moment that would change my life forever.
I sat up til 3 am that night searching weight loss surgery on the internet. I scheduled an appointment for the next weight loss seminar at my local surgeon's office and I found Obesity Help. I read and read and read until I couldn't keep my eyes open any further. I went to bed knowing this is what I needed.
I went to the seminar with an open mind about the different types of surgeries offered and honestly thought I wanted a sleeve. I knew from various sources online that the lap band or realize band was NOT an option for me.
My surgeon discussed each option at length and tended to push more towards the Realize band but I knew I could advocate for the surgery I wanted. I rushed home with all the paperwork in hand and read every single word.
I got a call two days later that my insurance did indeed cover WLS and I should start working towards my requirements. And I got lucky! They said BCBSIL had just changed their policy and I would not be required to do the 6 months of supervised weight loss!
By May all of my appointments had been completed and all my doctors approved me. It was just up to insurance. They submitted my paperwork and I sat, waiting jumping every time the phone rang.
Being the impatient person I am I called the insurance company to "check that they had everything they needed" I was told over the phone I was approved!
Surgery was pretty text book, although I did have pretty severe pain for the first week after surgery, making walking next to impossible.
Soon the weight started falling off.
I was lucky not to have any complications. And no stalls! I watched and logged everything that went into my mouth, adjusting as needed when the weight loss started to slow down.
Before I knew it, it was December again and time for our annual Christmas cruise again!
I was 92 pounds lighter! Instead of the 244 I was the year previous this year I was headed on a cruise weighing 152 pounds! and I owned not one but TWO swimsuits that both looked great on me.
I wore my swimsuit every day. I slid down the curved slide on top of the boat and spent the afternoon in Grand Cayman jet skiing in the ocean. Life couldn't be better!
I reached my goal of 120 pounds in March, less than one year after my surgery.
Summer is coming and now it's time to shop for yet another swimsuit, all that I own are way to big!
