Laura P.
Background
Let me give you a little background information on me before I get into my journal. I'm 45 years old, (will be 46 on 9/11/2006) and I'm Morbidly Obese.
I started this life as a skinny little kid, and until I was 13, I could eat anything my little heart desired. Ahhhhh, what a wonderful life! My father was in the Air Force so I moved around a little bit. We just happend to live in Altus Oklahoma when my struggles with weight started. When I turned 13, almost to the day, I started gaining weight. I grew so much that year that I actually got stretch marks on my thighs. I hated that. From that point on I was on a diet. High school, all four years were spent in Azle, Texas just northwest of Fort Worth, wasn't the best time in my life. I was new to the school, a little one in a little town, and felt out of place. I had a few friends, but not many. So food became a friend.
After school, I went to college but dropped out to go into the Air Force, which made my father proud. But I had to lose weight to get in. My maximum weight limit was 156 and I had to lose to be at least 10 pounds below that to be able to enlist. I did it, but it was a struggle. I went to Basic, which consisted of 6 weeks of scarfing an entire meal in 5 minutes followed by marching everywhere, obstacle courses, and running every day to work our way up to a mile and a half by the end of the training. I made it, barely, and only lost 3 POUNDS during the entire 6 weeks!!! I was devistated! But I had great legs after we were done!!
So I was trained to eat in the military. I never lost that training. When I learn something, I learn it good!
After I got out of the service, I was hired by the Postal Service. After 3 years there, I injured my back. After three back surgeries and 6 years to have them in, I was heavier by 120 pounds, which I couldn't afford because it was really bad for my back! Talk about irony. I used to be able to keep the weight off by walking and eating right, but now I couldn't walk. The doctor did a fusion on my lower back, Disks L3-4 and L4-5, and I was back on my feet. But I still can't walk very much, and after 16 years of trying everything to get the weight off, here I am.
I've tried, unsucessfully, 3 times to get this surgery done. The first time my insurance didn't cover RNY. I changed insurance companies and changed my mind and wanted Lap Band. My new insurance didn't cover Banding, but I tried twice to get it approved. Which now I'm glad because I've changed my mind again and decided that RNY is the way for me. I want this to be permanent, and the only way to assure that for me is to go with RNY. My cousin had this done and wouldn't go back for all the money in the world. So have several people I work with, and they all say the same thing. They would do it over again in a heartbeat.
So here we go. On with the journey and my journal. I hope you enjoy reading what is going on in my boring life. I will do my best to keep this updated so that whoever needs it can read it and hopefully get the knowledge they need.
Enjoy!!
