ShelliBean
My story is like alot of other people - I have ALWAYS been overweight and just learned to "cope" with it. I was on every fad diet you can think of, tried weight watchers, TOPS, and many more too numerous to count! I would lose weight and then gain it back plus more! This viscious cycle kept up until I was around 24 and I decided "enough is enough" and just quit trying to diet. That's when my weight stabled out at about 320 pounds and just stayed there!
I was basically a healthy obese person - just had some back issues. That is until I hit my mid 30's and then I had high blood pressure - which was controlable. When I turned 40 I started thinking about where I would be in 10 years and realized that with my family history of diabetes and heart problems I needed to start getting serious about my health.
I started watching what I ate and made some changes to eat healthier and lost 40 pounds - but that was it! Then my sister (who was diabetic and older than me by 5 years) started looking into WLS. We talked about it and decided to go to a seminar.
The rest is history! I decided now was the time to "do something"! I was 41 and knew I was on a down hill slide if I didn't! So I started the process and had lap band surgery on 8/29/07. It was the best thing I could have done!
Now a year later, I am off ALL my prescription medications, I am at goal, and feel better than I have in years!!
It was a lot of hard work - and quite a learning experience - but worth every bit of it! I have gone from wearing a 26/28 (sometimes a 30/32) to a size 8! I can't even remember the last time I was that size - it had to be elementary school!!
I thank God every day for giving me the chance at a healthy and normal life
