sharc96
Sept 17 2023
Sep 17, 2023
SO I apparently joined OH in 2008. I have no recollection of this. I do know I have been researching how to lose weight for a long time. I have lost and gained probably a couple of hundred pounds since 2008 - I lose the weight and regain it and more, then lose it and regain it. I probably qualified for the surgery based on weight alone a few years ago, then I started blood pressure medicine last year. Surgery became a realistic option, but I wasn't sure I was ready for it. I am currently 255 pounds. My highest was 276 pounds. It took me a year to make the appointment with the surgeon but then I was fulls team ahead and had my srugery date set within 5 months of deciding to do it. My surgery is September 25 2023.
I feel excited but am not sure what to expect. I am trying to get organized but my parents will arrive Sept 21 to be here for my surgery and the 2 weeks after if I need help, so I cannot organize my place the way I would like to, so I am doing the best I can.
I went to the OH2023 conference and learned a lot, met some great people and have found a few to count in my support circle. It was amazing to meet Dr Now. He is wonderful. And, he is right, scales don't lie.
I was surprised to learn that there is a genetic component to obesity. And I was disappointed to learn that many people regain (some, not necessarily all) weight after 5 years - but I met lots of people who haven't. I realized that I still have to continue my efforts to discover and work on the reasons I overeat. I know there will be things I can do to help prevent weight regain, but that is a couple of years down the road.
For now, I have to focus on learning better eating habits that I will learn to sustain for the rest of my life. I have to focus on *why* I am doing this.
I want to be off my blood pressure medicine. I want to not need the diabetes medicine. I want to be able to walk more than I currently do. I want my plantar fasciitis to get better so that I can walk more than I currently do. I want to have my energy back. I want to be able to hike again. Macchu Picchu is still a goal. I want to go out and do photo walks again.