cheribaby
My story is probably like many others. I am an only child, adopted by two WONDERFUL parents when I was just 7 weeks old. They had waited years to have a child and spoiled me rotten to say the least. My mother is my best friend! She was a stay at home mom for the first few years of my life. She usually had cookies or other snacks like that waiting for me when I got home from school. I was raised on a farm and had 3 home cooked meals a day. My whole family LOVES to eat. We celebrate everything with food. I am tall, big boned, and "thick". I developed faster than the other girls in my grade and always felt "fat". I never really felt too bad about it until highschool. I was 5'10, weighed about 155, and had these HUGE hips. The boys really noticed them and called me names, "thunder thighs" and the like. I didn't really know much about "diets", so I just decided to stop eating. For months during my freshmen year, I only allowed myself to drink juice. No food! I lost down to about 137, but felt like crap! My aunt, who's a real health nut, sat me down and described to me how to eat healthy and exercise. I gained back to 140 and stayed there for a couple years. I think because I had deprived myself in the past, I developed an obsession for food. I constantly thought about what can I eat, what can I NOT eat, when can I eat again, etc. The rest is history. I got married early, had babies early, battled my weight my whole adult life. I've tried every diet imaginable.........diet pills included. I couldn't stick to anything for very long. After my third child 6 years ago, things went downhill FAST! I floated between 220 and 260 forever. I had lost all motivation, will, hope to do it. I developed health problems and severe depression. During the past couple of years, my weight had taken an unhill climb.....finally reaching 289. I knew I needed help........a second chance. I researched, talked to other WLS patients, prayed about it, and ultimately made my decision to go for it. I thank God everyday that I was given a second chance. I hope I never take this "second chance" for granted.
