My story is really no different than most people who are suffering with obesity. I have been over weight most of my life, however my weight went over 200 pounds after the birth of my first child and I was never able to lose the weight. Of course my lack of not following a healthily diet and exercise has added to the my weight issues. So after years of failed weight lose and yo yo dieting I have decide to have WLS.
There are so many reasons why I want to have weight loss surgery, but the main reason is so that I can live a healthy life style. I have been obese all of my life. I know and feel that my health has started to deteriorate because of my obesity.In the last couple of year I have started to feel the effect of the weight I have been carrying around. I am finding that my knee hurt when I walk and I have lower back pain. In addition, I was diagnosed with HTN, elevated cholesterol, and asthma several years ago (and recently OSA).
Despite numerous attempts at losing weight I have not been successful. I am registered nurse and the weight is affecting my job performance. Moreover, how I can educate the patient’s that I care for on living healthy life styles when I can not control my on weight. I feel if I do not lose the weight I will not have a long life. My father died at the age of 61 from a cardiac arrest and he was also insulin dependent diabetic (I am sure today that his weight directly affected his health). I have been working with the nutritionist the last 6 month’s and I have spent a great deal of time reaching WLS, and I am well aware of the benefits and complications that could occur. I reached my highest weight in the fall of 2007 weighing in at 302 pounds. I decide then that if I did not do something about the weight I would be doomed. I joined Curves and stated working out 3 times weekly. I was able after a couple of months to increase the workout to 5-6 times weekly. I drop down to 257 pounds and was not able to lose anymore despite watching ever bite of food I consumed and the exercise. I will admit that 6 months of no weight loss I became discouraged and I gained back 14 pounds. I have tried other diets/programs but I was not successful. I spent a lot of the last 6 month researching what will make this time different. Why have I not been successful in the past?
No support group
Unable to reach ideal body weight( or close to)
Not having realistic goals
I fully realize that WLS is only and tool and in order to be successful I have to change my ways of eating, become more active and most all to be part of a support group. I have made of my mind that I am ready to take the first step of many to healthy life style.
