conchita109
Well, my story is like the rest of your stories. I was never really overweight as a child but was considered a "big girl". I was active and participated in cheerleading, marching band and a few sports. I ALWAYS was outside playing (riding my bike, rollerskating, etc.). When I went to college to become a nurse, I quickly put on 20-30 pounds. After college, I met a man whom I would marry and have 2 great children!! I gained 50-70 pounds with each of them but took off most of the weight after the second child. The problem is, I was still UP from the first child!
Off and on throughout the years, I have had some success with weight loss but mostly failures and like you, have tried HUNDREDS of diets! Let's see....Cabbage Soup diet, Hot dog diet, Grapefruit diet, Wrestling diet, Adkins, Slimfast, Nutri-System, Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, Medifast, Dexatrim ...and on and on. The ONLY thing that seemed to work for me was the basics...eating better and exercising. I lost 75 pounds in 1993 and kept it off for 5 years by simply walking (could power walk 5 miles in an hour!!!). I got cocky and thought, "this is easy, I can do this"...and then......a divorce and a re-marriage. STRESS AND EMOTIONAL EATING WITH NO EXERCISE = weight coming back and then some!
My second husband LOVES me as much as I LOVE him and we have so much in common BUT, we have ONE problem and that is we like to dine in fine restaurants, have become sedentary in our jobs and eat too many "empty calories" in the evening. It seems like I have been cursed with gaining weight though as he has barely gained a thing since we met!! He tries to support me with my million diets but he has seen me do so many, that I think he thinks I am "just kidding" when I try another one! Sitting here, I am 100 pounds heavier than when I met him and 65 pounds heavier than when we got married! What a porker!!
So, my sister (I have 2, but I am closer with the one who is just a few years younger than I), has had a similar weight problem for years and decided (on her own) that she wanted to go to a Bariatric Meeting and asked if I would go with her. In May of 2009, we went to her first session and I thought to myself, "why am I not considering this?...I have done EVERYTHING else?". So, before I knew it, I was in the MD's office finding out all the info. I could. And now, several months later, I actually have a date for the LAP BAND!!
It has NOT been easy. I have cried MANY days because I have wanted this soooo badly and the waiting is awful! I KNOW that I have to do my part and that the BAND is only a tool but...when will it be my turn?? I have yet to hear from my insurance company and the time is growing short. Initially I was told by the MD that I was "too small" for the LAP BAND because I had to have ONE co-morbidity if I fell within the BMI of 35-40, and I did not. Well, NOW I am OVER the BMI of 40 and have HYPERTENSION to boot!! I went to all of the nutrition meetings and the whole time, I think I sabotaged myself. I kept thinking that I would have this soon so, I may as well stay FAT so that I am covered! Well, I am here to tell you, I HATE BEING FAT!!! Nothing fits and NOTHING feels good...I have bulges EVERYWHERE!!
I HATE FEELING TERRIBLE!! I HATE THAT I CANNOT PUT ON SOCKS WITHOUT FEELING WINDED! AND...I WANT MY LIFE BACK!! PLEEEEEEAAASSSEEE!!! I want to be healthy again. You see, 165 is a PERFECT weight for my 5'8" (large frame, haahaa) body! I was there and I let it slip away! If I EVER (and I will) get back there, do NOT let me think I am TOO FAT!!
Ok, enough of the pity party! As an RN, I KNOW how important it is to not only do this for myself but for my 2 children (because I want to be around for them for a LONG TIME), AND for my hubby! I want to feel SEXY again!! I am BURIED in this extra weight and need to find my way out!!
I could use some support of friends and encouragement, if you would like to be a "cyber friend" and have great LAP BAND stories to share, please let me know!
Take care (and keep your fingers crossed that I will get approved soon!)
Connie
