sonatasmom1
I don't think my story is particularly sensational - I tried to escape an abusive first marriage by eating my way out of it. I wanted to die - so I was committing "Christian suicide." It wasn't as drastic (or effective) as using a gun, or taking pills, but I was killing myself with my eating habits, nonetheless. The more unhappy I was, the more I ate. It didn't matter what my family said, what my friends said, or what health care professionals said.
I finally got out of the relationship, but the eating habits stayed. Eventually I married my high school sweetheart - and now I had an eating partner. Many health issues later, my cardiologist got in my face and said, "If you don't lose weight you are going to die!" All of a sudden, living became very important to me. No one could call my existence living - I worked outside the home - but after work, the only thing I had energy for was collapsing in my recliner. I couldn't walk 10 feet without gasping for breath. My heart was very weak and enlarged. I had diabetes. I had sleep apnea. It seemed like my death wish so many years before was coming true.
Fast forward six months. I found a surgeon. I lost the weight he required that I lose before surgery - and on February 24, 2010, I had my surgery - VSG. The weight loss since then has been steady. (134.6 since surgery and 194.4 total.) I no longer snore at night or use a C-PAP machine. I have not taken even one pill for diabetes since surgery, yet my A1C remains at 5.3. I walk on the treadmill very nearly every day. I do yoga once a week. The damage to my heart is likely irreversible, but I feel great, and have the doctors completely baffled with all I am able to do.
There is a moral to this story - if I can do it - ANYBODY can do it! I want nothing more than to "pay it forward" - helping others in early stages of this momentous decision and journey. I'm not where I want to end up - but I'm getting closer every day!
About Me
Before & After
rollover to see after photo
