TGIF Coffee Everyone !!!!

It's c-c-c-c-c-old here in beautiful Baldwin, where I teach.   I have to go to Flint tonight, and I'm hoping that the roads aren't too bad.   Eating breakfast number two - eggs/ham/ and a few potatoes.

Two things pushed me over the edge.  First, it was the humiliation of regaining eighty pounds that I'd worked so hard to lose over the course of a year and a half - working out an hour a day at least, dieting, dieting, dieting.   I had moved up to Ludington to take this teaching job, and the stress and long winter (and living in town where it seems every restaurant has a buffet) (oh and Wesco Apple Fritters -  need I say more???) took its toll on my weight.  Like many, I was just miserably uncomfortable.   Secondly, a coworker teacher had just had RNY and was losing rapidly and looked so great.  I knew that with my wonderful new insurance, that this was well within my grasp.  No regrets here, for sure.  Down 146 pounds and maintaining well into my third year.

Julie, Thanks for sharing your story......

Finished my Designer Whey Peach Mango protien drink and on to some Tension Tamer herb tea.  it is only 9 a.m and I feel I need it. 

Busy day ahead and a christmas party this weekend.

What drove me to have surgery.  I slipped on the ice and messed my knee up.  I had to have all the medatarcil removed between my knee joint.  I have bone on bone.  Dr said that synvisc injections would help, but if I didn't get bariatric surgery, I was going to have to have it replaced by time time I was 45.

That was 3 years ago.  I am managing almost pain free with the synvisc injections every six months.  Real damp days bother my arthritis, but I don't have to live on pain killers any more.

I was also taking 8 prescriptions a day, which I hated. 

Pam

Pam, Thanks for sharing your story......

 Its cold here in Port Huron too though we do tend to be a couple degrees warmer/cooler than the middle of the state due to Lake Huron.  Don't know about you guys but the only time I miss my layer of blubber is when it's cold!!!  Just can't get used to this.  Went from always being warm to wearing 2 pairs of socks + multiple layers.  I never understood those who were cold before, lol.
Interesting question Randy, it was the realization that I needed blood pressure medicine.  I had avoided it for awhile but that also had to make me admit that my weight was out of control.  For about 3 or 4 years I had no idea how much I even weighed (helped the avoidance issue).  Once I admitted one thing I just couldn't avoid/hide the other things.  I had a hard time walking out to the football stadium, I'd sweat at the slightest exertion, I couldn't sit in the student desks at school.  I just decided before I had major problems and the doc said lose it or you'll die it was time to get my life under control.  Looking back I don't even recognize those pictures anymore!

Sax, Thanks for sharing your story......

I can so relate to the cold thing.  Even in winter, I would exit the shower sweating, and that was before I had to turn the blow dryer on.  Now, I can't get warm enough.  In the summer, I was always cold, but it was manageable.  In the winter, I am bone-cold freezing.  Layers, hot liquids, scalding hot showers...nothing helps.  I even get cold during a high intensity workout.  As I start to sweat, even clothes that are suppose to wick away the sweat aren't enough for me to not feel extra cold.  I can't even get into the pool.  I can't get warm even with very intensive laps, and end up bone-cold freezing for the rest of the day.  Sleeping with heavy socks, two layers of pants and shirts, a hat, and mittens all under two down comforters, a blanket, and a hot body next to me is really ridiculous!  My iron levels are good though, so I am at a loss as to what to do to improve the situation.

My husband tells me the same thing when we look at my pre-op pictures.  He just shakes his head and says, "I don't remember you like that at all."

Good morning! I am completely exhausted and looking forward to the weekend and maybe catching up on some well-needed rest.

My mother suggested bariatric surgery. I was shocked, and sort of appalled. I didn't realize how large I actually was. When I started to actually think about it, and what my weight kept me from doing, I knew it was the right thing. I would avoid playing outside with my daughter, as it was too difficult. I had only been swimming with my daughter once in her life and she was almost 2 and LOVED the water. I refused to be seen in public in any sort of swim get-up. That made me sad. I didn't want to miss out parts of her life, or have her miss out on things because I was too fat. I also didn't want to be 30 with multiple co-morbs and then have my daughter lose me to a premature death.

So, yeah, I'm fairly certain that this is one of the best things I have ever done for myself. At this point anyways.

Leigh, Thanks for sharing your story......