Tere O.
Raised doing yard chores until I fell over I stayed somewhat trim in the spring summer and fall. Once winter came I ate all kinds of things but burnt it off in the spring. By the time I was 12 I started to show more signs of it being work to keep the weight off. My mom joined the local exercise place, but she never reached her goal, in fact that was the only time I knew her to exercise for any given time. she and the ladies in my family were all carrying extra weight. If any one didn't then they were odd. Not spoken of negatively, just not like all of us.
Skip ahead now for the last 20 years. I have been overweight consistently. Oh, I lost weight a few times (74 lbs twice) but gained it back. I am at my highest weight now. My 5'2" body frame does not like being close to 250 and I am scared how much further it will go up since I am now getting more and more immovable, lazy, tired, and sore when I do finally get moving. I'm winded and don't even look like "myself".
I laughed recently when someone told me that I shouldn't have the surgery because "you aren't 100 lbs over weight. You just can't be!" Then I tell them, I must hide it well or pack it on evenly because I am well over 100 lbs over weight with a 44.5 BMI!! They reply, "Oh, well you don't look it." What? Are they kidding?
Any way, I have researched WLS for about a year or more and have decided on RNY. I am happy to say that between Obesity Help's networking, Youtube video vlogs of WLSers, and friends that I am well informed. I love the idea of being able to give back. I want that my story will be an encouragement to someone else.
