ScottsAngel
My story of obesity begins at a very young age. I have been overweight my entire life - from age 2 or 3 until now - at age 36. I have many family members who also struggle with weight issues, so I suppose some of my weight problem can be attributed to genetics, although I certainly do not deceive myself by placing all the blame there. I grew up not being taught healthy eating habits in a family of traditional meals of meat and potatoes. My mother is an excellent cook and bakes fantastic desserts, all of which I grew very addicted to over the years. Unfortunately, I was also blessed with a not-so-great metabolism accompanied with the fact that I had no ambition to exercise and that landed me at my highest weight ever - 301 pounds at the age of 32 years old. The day I stepped on the scale and saw the 300+ pounds reading was the day I knew I HAD to do something about my weight, and do it fast before I did not live to see my children grow up.
It was at this point in my life that I started exploring the options of WLS. I began to research the subject on line and even attended a support group meeting at a hospital not far from my home. My partner at that time was not eagerly supportive of the surgery and did not think I was "heavy enough" to warrant me having the surgery, and my boys (ages 8 and 14 then) were not supportive either, due to fears of risks involved, and I decided to table the idea for the time being and make one last attempt on my own to lose some weight. I am also a single mother, and I was very apprehensive about the idea of who would raise my boys if something happened to me during surgery and I did not survive.
I had mentioned that I was thinking about WLS to my Mom at this time and she decided that she was going to have it and she did - in December of 2002 - successfully losing over 100 pounds and is doing well today.
It was at this time, in January of 2003 that my best friend, Lori, and I decided to join TOPS, a weight loss support group and give it our best shot to lose some weight. Over the span of 6 months, I lost about 60 pounds and Lori lost 55. We went on vacation that summer and I gained a few of those back. I then went back on my program and lost 20 more for a total lost of 74 pounds, down to 227 pounds, which I then maintained for 3 years, give or take 5 pounds. I was happy with this loss; however, never satisfied with where my loss plateaued, and I got back into old habits and started to creep back up the scale.
In January of 2006, I had some major personal life changes involving a new partner (my fiancé, Scott), who was VERY supportive of WLS when I talked to him about the subject. He did not think I was heavy enough to need the surgery but completely understood my self-esteem issues, etc., and realized the significant long-term health benefits that I would be rewarded with down the road after having the surgery. He said he would stand behind me 150% if surgery is what I wanted, and I decided to move forward with my plans. I went on line and found Barix Clinics, a facility that specializes ONLY in weight loss surgery, and I called for a consultation appointment.