Here's to hoping...

Nov 16, 2014

Hi!

My name is Sheenna. I am 27, from our nation's capital. It has been 30 hours since my wls seminar that I attended yesterday. I have been researching this for the past three years.

My aunt had the lap band almost a decade ago. It wasn't until I had moved back up to Maryland that my family really started telling me about my weight. Not for looks, but for health. My family has a really bad history of hypertension, diabetes and certain cancers. They want to get me and my cousins while we are young. Which is fine. I totally understand. I didn't really care about me gaining weight. I started using it as a defense mechanism when I was younger to ward off all of the unwanted attention. Even now, I am not wanting the surgery for attention. Just health.

Losing weight has not really been a priority of mine. In fact, I began to embrace it. Especially since the fashion has turned around quite a lot. But after losing my mother this year, I decided that I needed to start taking better care of myself. And not just my eating. I have long adopted a healthy diet. I don't drink milk anymore, only unsweetened almond milk. I eat tons of veggies. The only bread or pasta that I eat, if I eat it, is whole grains. I just went to the doctor for the first time in 9 years this year and despite my obesity, my labs came out great.

So why am I seeking weight loss surgery?

Like many of you there are many reasons. I am not sure I am ready to share those yet, but trust and believe, they are my motivators, my focus points. They will be my tools to help me on my journey to reach my goals.

When looking for my support system I wanted those who would truly stand behind me. To stand with me on my journey. I would like to say that it was easy. But of course I got a lot more "No don't do it!" than actual support. A lot of my family and friends kind of brushed it off as some kind of idea that would quickly fizz away. The only true support I have is from my co workers and my fiancé. Which is fine by me. I really don't speak to my family. Even now no one has reached out about Thanksgiving even though I just lost my mother almost two months ago. Oh! Let me be fair, my father is part of my support system.

I feel as though I am just babbling along.

I guess what this post was supposed to be about was that I am ready. I have done my research. Weighed the pros and cons. For three years I have put this off, but I am finally ready. I went to the seminar yesterday. My first appointment with the surgeon is on December 3. I am trying not to be type a and come with a PowerPoint presentation.  I think the only thing that is making me nervous is the insurance. I was told that they are being really strict with the requirements. I will just have to call tomorrow and find out what they are. So...

Here's to hoping!

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