Willby you are an inspiration!

My name is Diane. I just read your profile, I am so glad I have joined in on this board or I probably wouldn't have ever found you....I feel like we are two peas in a pod! I really enjoy your sense of humor. You have a great outlook! I also have been overweight all my life, along with my Mom and 3 sisters. I am 45 and see a not very active or bright future for myself if I do not have this surgery. This is no kind of life. I can't go out hiking with my family, I hate doing social things, I am always looking for people who are looking at me and I am often the biggest person in the room. I love rainy days were I can hide at home without guilt. You are, of course, just having pre-surgery jitters. YOU WILL BE FINE! You will be more than fine!! October 24 is going to be the first day of the rest of your life. And you will have a life!! You will be able to dance through the rest of your life! Won't it be great to be able to tie your own shoes, just to be able to put on my shoes without having to lift my leg up and in (while sitting of course) would be a wondrous thing! YOU WILL BE FINE! Try to visualize what you will look like, carry it with you. Write down all the things you are looking forward to doing, feeling, seeing. I'm sure there is alot you need to catch up on. Put your affairs in order. Plan ahead and stock up your pantry with everything you're gonna need! Keep your self busy! You've come this far baby don't let anything stand in the way of a new you. Not even yourself. Most importantly keep in touch, I'm new to this board but have been around here for awhile! Diane

Diane, AWWWWWW.....youre making me blu****hank you! Thank you! Thank you! that was so sweet of you!!! You know, I could never visualize what I will look like...i've never known anything but obesity. i love the way you put that sentence......about social situations. looking for people who are looking at you. I have done that all of my life. I also love the rain cuz then I dont have to go outside. I cant believe that you have 3 sisters too. When is your Birthday? Thank you again for such a kind post!! willby PS: DONT LOOK AT MY PIC!!!!!!

Hi Bridget! So glad to hear from you! I am 45 yrs old, two kids, boy 14 and girl 13, they're both in school today while I have the day off! HA! My BMI is 50.8. I do have three sisters one older than me and two younger. My birthday is April 19. I have been wanting this surgery for five years, so I have been researching, doing that one last diet so I would be sure that this "drastic" method was the only option left to me, and just busy living life....so now I'm ready and I found out my employer (State of Montana) is a self-funded contractor of Blue Cross Insurance. They have chosen to exclude WLS because of the cost. I did talk to my benefits person last week tho' and they have offered to include me in a pilot program of diet and exercise with a Health coach to help me along. Jeez, why didn't I figure that out? All along that's what I was missing, a health coach!!!So don't know what I'll do now,. I thought I might try to pick up a secondary health insurer that would pay for it, if it's even possible! I have been overweight all my life. I have tried every diet from Cabbage soup to Weigh****chers. I don't think another diet program will do it for me. call me a pessimist. Just don't call me late to dinner! If you have any advice or suggestions I would appreciate any . Although I know you have your hands full today with your friend having surgery tomorrow, so don't worry if you can't answer me for awhile. Thanks for being there and don't forget I/We are here for you too!! Boy you were making an understatement when you said this was an emoticon-using bunch! Diane