felinemommy
Hi! I am 43 and ready to make start a new chapter of my life being fit and healthy! I have carried this excess weight for more than half my life and for the past few years, I had accepted the fact that this was it. Fortunately, I have never let the weight undermine my self-confidence. But it has affected my ability to functions well. Although not officially diagnosed, I have fibromyalgia which has caused me extreme fatigue. In the last year, it has impacted my ability to function in daily life. I'm just always TIRED!
My wonderful husband of 24 years has always been supportive and accepting of my size. Now as he prepares to retire from the military, it's my turn to begin my career in earnest. Last year I decided to go back to school and work toward my masters degree as a physician assistant. I realized very quickly that the rigors of clinical rotations, not to mention studying would not be possible in my current condition. And so the weight must GO! I know that the weight and inactivity are a viscious cycle...........the more weight, less energy and activity. And breaking the cycle has been the hardest part.
I decided that I would seriously consider turning to WLS after a dear friend had her RNY almost 5 years ago. In the course of my research I discovered OH and have been reading for hours everyday since. I quickly found the lesser known WLS options and quickly settled on VSG because my primary issue is PORTION SIZE! As well as the fact that VSG's are so much less invasive and has such a low complication rate. The first thing I decided though, was that if I couldn't come to terms with all of the changes that I would have to make post-op, then I would NOT have surgery. (And as a surgical virgin, I still can't believe that I'm going into this voluntarily!) But I have very quickly turned a new leaf and begun exercising again (I tended to be sporatic about it) and changed my diet to reflect the high protein, low sugar (carb), low fat diet. I am working hard to come to terms with not drinking with a meal. But overall, I have found that what seemed to have been so impossible to do over the last 6 years has been manageable. My mantra is MODERATION. Nothing is BAD, there are just better choices to be made. And the nice thing is that if I "slip", I can make a different choice in the next moment! I have also found that logging my food intake on the Daily Plate makes a huge difference in terms of being accountable. Wow, I can't imagine how much I was eating before I tracked! Now I'm getting compulsive about logging my intake!! (Amazing how much things can be turned around when one has HOPE!)
I believe that finding this wonderful community of kindred spirits has given me HOPE and allowed me to feel empowered once again. Ultimately, the human spirit can acheive remarkable things with HOPE! Thanks to all of you have walked before and a big welcome to those of you who are following!
