CatLady80
I live with my cats in St. Paul, Minn., and have struggled with my weight for the past 25 years or so ... Until I turned 30, weight really wasn't an issue. I traveled a lot, had a rewarding career, moved around, and food wasn't that big a deal to me. I loved to eat, and I did it well, but I didn't have a weight issue.
And then -- the scale started going up, starting in about 1994. And up. And ...
In 2000, I learned I had Type 2 diabetes, but I was in denial for about eight years. Oh, I took the right drugs and I tested my blood sugar but I didn't push weight loss or exercise to the extent necessary to realy make a change.
I never planned to have bariatric surgery -- I thought it was horrifying! I couldn't imagine having such drastic surgery to rectify my own bad habits! I should lose it wisely and on my own!
I went on the insulin pump and managed pretty good control, but about two years ago I suffered from some wounds on my calves and shins -- and they wouldn't heal. That scared me. Having heard that gastric bypass surgery could alleviate diabetes, I finally decided to look into it.
So a year ago, Jan. 6, 2016, I went to an introductory session. Encouraged, I decided to proceed. I spent the year focused on learning and preparing, and on Nov. 16, I had Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery.
So far, pretty good -- with a few difficulties (eating too much, drinking too fast) after I started eating more substantial food. (OUCH! Take my advice; eat tiny bites and eat slowly and DON'T overeat.)
At my highest weight, about a year ago, I was at 328 -- the most closely guarded secret I have ever kept! Over the year I went down about 5 lbs, so when I went on my liquid diet I was at 323. And today the scale was at 293. What a feeling! Arthritis has taken its toll and I really want to get to the point where I'm not in pain, but I can tell a big difference -- standing up from the couch is no longer such an ordeal. But I have a long way to go ... and now I'm on my way.