Sunflair
Hello everyone!
Finally, my name in lights! Well, large print at least. My story? It is still evolving.
Basically, I am 37 and SO ready for a change... THE change. About 4 years ago, I went to Australia to meet one of my internet friends. He had graduated high school the previous year, and invited me, and I said no. The second invitation I couldn't think of a reason not to go, so I did.
I stayed with his family, and we ran around all of Brisbane. When I got home, I noticed I had actually lost weight. Something clicked in my head that I could really do this. Of course I had been through the previous trials of lose-gain-lose, but this somehow was different.
When I got home, I researched Atkins. I decided to give that my all. I was pretty successful with it, and lost a lot quickly. I decided to add in going to the gym for better results. I did that for a few months.
I was too heavy for regular scales, so I had to weigh in at the mall. I kept all my little slips of paper. At my high, I was 370. I lost about 30 lbs and was very happy with that. While working out at the gym, I hurt my knee, and stopped. Unfortunately, I had stopped Atkins, too. I bought a house, and life got busy with renovations and such.
That was my most successful attempt at losing weight. A lot of it still hasn't come back. I have tried lots of programs, but nothing really seemed to work. Then, my company aquired another company and I lost my job.
I knew God had a hand in this, I just couldn't see how it was moving for my benefit. I had been at my company for 8 years, and now had to look for work. I thought I would find something right away, but I ended up being out for 10 months.
While I was out of work, my mother (an APRN) decided to attend a conference in Baltimore. It was the AHWOHN conference for nurses. She invited me along since I had nothing else to do. I went. She spent the extra money to have me go to all her classes with her, and she SNEAKILY signed up for a bariatric conference. She's not slick! I knew her plans. I was resistant to having bariatric surgery. To me it was the cheaters way out. The easy way, and I was SO SURE I could do it on my own (because I had been doing such a wonderful job at it already).
Well, I went to that conference. I realize that it was mostly the unknown of it that I didn't consider it for me. Exposing me to bariatric surgery in a technical way really was the best move. I learned about the different surgeries, and saw picture after picture of success stories. I couldn't believe it. This looked like it could actually work.
I still was not 100% convinced. Then, at the end of the presentation, a final picture was shown. It was a picture of a very overweight woman standing in an open door, with the light behind her. The person giving the presentation announced that that had been her, and she had had the surgery.
I was stunned. SHE LOOKED FANTASTIC. In my heart, I said to myself, ok! I am a believer. I was still worried, though. I said to myself, If I can get the same person that did her, I would trust them to do me. I felt like that was completely out of possibilities. Here we were, in Baltimore. This woman was from California, and had had her surgery there and it had been some time ago. I lived in Omaha. Still, when your heart speaks, sometimes it is hard to make it quiet.
My mother went up to speak with the lady, and I stayed behind in my chair looking at the papers of the presentation. I didn't really think it could happen to me. It suddenly became a dream to me. My mother came back after talking with the woman, and said that Dr Anthone had done her when he lived in California! SMALL WORLD. My mother had worked with him a number of years at her hospital, and had spoke to me a few times about if I wanted it done, he was a great one to do it.
So, I had no more reservations. I knew this was something I had to research. I could actually get the doctor I selected (no one knew that except me and God), and he was very good. His practice has been mainly bariatric for 10 years.
When I got home, I looked into my previous job's insurance. Since I was still on severance pay, I was under their insurance. They didn't cover it, not even weight loss classes! So, my next move was to find an employer that actually did cover the procedure. When I found one, I applied for a job. They called me back, and now I have a job there! It's the best choice I could have made. They cover more than any other employer I have ever had. Finally! I could see the hand of God.
I had two things on my list for this year, refinance my house and get this surgery! When I got the job, I refinanced my house. When that was done, I started the procedure to get approved for WLS.
That's where I am right now. I know there are lots of hoops I may have to jump through, but I am in this. No turning back. It's going to happen, and I won't regret any of it.
About Me
Before & After
rollover to see after photo
