I had my surgery in April of this year, I have actually been overweight since I was 5 years old. So I have had a long time of carrying around all of this excess weight. 

   When I first started seeing commercials in the 90's about weight loss surgery I thought to myself "If only I could get this weight off, I know I can keep it off" So I did the Atkins diet with my good friend (she was thin) and lost 75 pounds. Boy did I look good, but I was still overweight. Then of course I gained it ALL back and then some!!

      So I called to see if I could get surgery. At that time you needed to be over 100 pounds overweight and have co-morbidities. Oh I was 120 pounds overweight but I was healthy as a horse. So I was not a candidate. Life happened and I figured I was destined to be FAT.

   Then in 2002 I was serious about getting the surgery and started my OH journey. My real intense research started and I explored and I asked questions and I learned what I could about all surgeries. I went to my surgeon Dr. Mark Shina and started the insurance approval process. I was outright denied. I was so disappointed because I had spent almost $500 on fees to try and get my surgery. So I just gave up.

    So I stewed it over in my mind until last June 2009 and went to see my surgeon again. More head butting but his office insurance guru "Rick" finally got me approved and here I am today;15 weeks out and 61.2 pounds lighter since surgery. Life is getting better but it is work.