lighteningbug

The numbers - I am 1 happily married and healthy Mom of 3 kids ages 6, 7, and 10. I am 41 years old and have been battling my weight of 167 on my 5 foot 0 inch frame since I quit competitive gymnastics in high school in 1985. I have yo-yo'd between 145 and 170 as many times as I can humanly take! My BMI is 32.9 and my body fat percentage is 43.5. I never thought I would be here as my permanent solution to weight but I couldn't be more confident in my decision after watching friends who have had the band and the sleeves and the surgeon who said the numbers would really only get worse as I aged without this surgery. After my third child, I began to have severe back and joint problems, even though I'd been back in the gym after the first and second ones. It was scary not being able to work out because I just couldn't cut that many calories out of my diet and still function normally without exercise. The weight was piling on and NOT coming off. I could not exercise the way I needed to to get into a fat burning zone because technically I am "fit" (because I can run a mile) but not really since I'm 43.5% body fat. My metabolism seemed to be caving along with other hormones and lack of sleep with three babies. I successfully maintained my current weight somehow without exercising and creating an enormous calorie deficit when needed which further skewed my metabolism and numbers! I can go days and weeks without eating junk even with kids and a crazy hectic schedule but eventually will "reward" myself with food by going out to a movie with husband or dinner with friends. A few days of bad eating a month can set me back a LONG way at 5 feet tall! The final decision came in January when I was waking up out of a deep sleep, very hungry in the mornings! I was actually waking up before my children to go eat cereal because I was famished. I'm pretty sure it was not head hunger and I tried eating more protein the night before. I had just had yet another back procedure which involved anesthesia and steroids. I desperately need a tool to help me get my overeating under control. I was originally concerned that this could be a selfish decision "if" anything went wrong but the more I have studied my eating habits, the more convinced I am that this is the solution for me. I am scheduled for March 28th-nervous and excited! Not as worried about the actual procedure as I am about making the necessary changes in social situations fo the rest of my life. I'm hanging onto the fact that EVERYONE who has had this surgery has said and continues to say it is the absolute best decision they have ever made in their lives!