Good morning all,
My name is Brittany and I live in the UK. I have been a lurker on this forum for a week now, and have just created my profile. This has been a true eye-opener to me and a great source of info.
This morning, I made my appointment and deposit for my lapband surgery to happen on August 25th. I already had my consultation and after much research and many hours of debate with myself and my dh I decided to go with the Healthier Weight Centre in Manchester headed up by Dr Ashton.
When I first started my search into the bariatric realm, it was over three years ago. I just wasn't in a place financially that I could afford it. I am originally from the US and only just moved to the UK last september. My dh is British and since he had his own biz, it made more sense for me to live here. In the three years since I started looking into surgery I have had another baby and added another 60lbs onto my frame. Imagine my shock at my consultation when I learned that I am now 292lbs at 5'9. I currently wear a size 24
My weight struggle has been ongoing since 1996 when my first child was born. Before that point I had never really had a weight issue but I ALWAYS have had an issue with food! I'm not one of these people that can blame things on thyroid, or any other medical condition. I'm just plain flat out a total food addict. You know the cycle.... emotional feeding. Some people eat when they're depressed.....I do that. Some people eat when they're content....I do that too. The thing is it's just gotten so out of control I don't even realize I'm stuffing until I look over at my dh and see his face this mask of concern and disbelief.
I realized that I am now at the point that I can't afford NOT to do something! I'm so sick and tired of being sick and tired. Sure, I've tried weight loss systems. Thousands on Jenny Craig and Weight Watchers and all the dumb supplements that promise miracles. I'd try anything if I thought it would keep me from having to stop my bad habits, or get off my rear and MOVE! I lost 70lbs on Atkins back in 1999 and was so convinced I'd never be fat again that I maxed out a credit card to get my boobs lifted and enhanced, and lipo on my tummy and thighs and a full tummy tuck.
I kept it off about a year then all the bad habits came back one by one. The only positive thing is I dont really gain my weight in my tummy, it just goes everywhere else. I can't fool myself anymore that I'm just "big boned". Being the girl with the "pretty face" doesn't cut it. I'm just plain fat fat fat now. I have sleep apnea, I snore like a freight train (gawd, how humiliating),I can't go for a simple walk with my family without being out of breath, I have no energy, and to top it all off...I was just married in December to the sexiest, most loving and supportive man alive who loves me fat or thin and I have ZERO desire for sex because all I can think about is how disgusting I look naked.
I really didn't intend this to be so long but I do tend to ramble. Anyway, nice to meet all of you and I'll keep you posted on how things progress in this journey. Thanks to all of you for being so frank about your own stories, you were all instrumental in my decision to do this.:car:
