Patty'O

I've only just started on my journey. I tried to start the process 3 years ago, but my Dad got really sick and I was driving cross country 2-4 times a year and staying for 4-6 weeks at a time out there with him. He passed away last year, and after our last gathering together for burial of his ashes back home, I finally got to start my dieting in earnest. Unfortunately, I gained so much weight during the process, that I had to start from a much worse place. I topped out at 349 pounds on the day I returned home, November 2nd, 2013. I was in shock and cried over this. I knew that I had to get serious. I had many health difficulties, and because of a flare in my SED rate, I was having every problem imaginable, including the fact that I had an extra 20 pounds of water on me. I went for a complete heart health check since I had also developed A Fib. I went down to 335 almost immediately, and then down to 330 by January 1st. I decided to use the HCG diet to get some weight off of me fast. I dropped down to 270 by the end of May and was feeling like I could function again. The first bariatric place I went to I did not like, they hated that I used HCG and would not work with me. They lied to my pcp, who had helped me with the HCG diet, and were rude to her as well. I found a different place, and started with them in late June. I took a vacation and took time off from dieting over the summer, but started back in earnest on the first of August. I am so glad I changed clinics, and they were so much more helpful. by the time I had my surgery on August 25th, 2014, I had lost 96 pounds in total, sitting at 253. Since my surgery, I've lost 9 pounds, which is slow and steady, but within the expected range. I'm losing around a half a pound a day right now, and know it will slow down to about 10 pounds a month soon. I'm fine with this, and want to loose the weight permanently this time, not just quickly. I already have 4 auto-immune diseases that will never go away, but I was well on the way to full blown diabetes, and with the huge weight loss of 105 pounds in total so far, that is now in the rear view mirror never to be seen again. I'm moving better, and not quite as exhausted as I was before. I will never be great, but it sure is nice to be better.

Things I'm looking forward to, different than most people. I look forward to being thin enough to fit in an airline seat again. I haven't flown in years because I was so uncomfortable and could not use the bathroom. I want to be able to sit in a seat without my thighs bulging under the arms, and my butt small enough that my knees are not into the seat back in front of me. I'm also looking forward to being able to ride in an economy car and not feel like the whale that can't get in and out of the car or fit the seat belt around me. that I can sit in a restaurant booth and not feel the table constricting me. that I can go into normal stores and go to regular size clothing, not having to pay more for plus size clothing. i've already bought some smaller clothes in anticipation. I look forward to the day that food does not run my life. I look forward to attending my 40th high school reunion as a [i]THIN person[/i] in 2016.