Vikki12
I am a 42 year old single female. I guess my story is typical. I began gaining weight the day I began my first professional job. (around October 4, 1989.) I was new on the job and would eat out at all the local eateries and then get home and eat dinner although I was not hungry. I was gaining weight so fast that by December of the same year, I had gained 30 pounds. Thus began my cycle of dieting,losing weight, then gaining more weight. It took about 10 years but I had managed to gain 200 pounds. Like others I tried SO many diets SO many times. I must have joined weight watchers at least 5 different times, maybe more. I tried dozens of others: physician's weight loss, Formula 3, Nutrisystem, Extreme Weight loss. It's not that the diets did not work. I would have moderate or even great success only to find the lost weight and them some. I would collect EVERY inspirational story of people who had lost 100 pounds or more-becasue it gave me hope-because if they could do it, so could I. I finally reached my highest weight of 423 in 2007. I am down to 372.
Surprisingly, I do not have any co -morbities at this time and I am seeking surgery to keep it that way. In addition, I really want to ride in an airplane seat without an extension and I want to go to amusement parks and fit in the seats and ride till I can not stand it. Simple desires I know but it is the simple things that are sacraficed when you are large.
I have straddled the fence between lap band and gastric bypass for months. I only made up mind when forced to do so. Shawna from Dr. Steinberg's office called me once I had completed all the necessary requirements (psych eval, 3 months of nutrition classes, pcp visits, etc.) and said it was necessary to indicate my choice before submitting all my documents to Aetna for approval. I was so undecided, that I had to call Shawna back to tell her my decision. I finally chose Gastric bypass because it seems to offer the best opportunity for long term success. In addition, I have been inspired by the photos and stores of so many people in the OH community. I remain nervous about the possible complications of gastric bypass because I am relatively healthy now and I am so scared that I will have the surgery and be sick and/or look sick. But I am forging ahead in hope.
My surgery is scheduled for June 15. Who hoo! I am going to try to be dilligent about keeping a blog. . . it seems like it could be theraputic and fun. Wish me luck!!!
