maggiesmiles

I don't know if I have a final moment that kind of pushed me over the edge, but there have been life long moments that led me to this. First let me say, I have been overweight my entire life. Aside from the occasional teasing, or family telling me they just wish I could get it under control, I lived a pretty healthy, happy, active life. I just remember always being hungry, chasing the next meal, even as a young girl. I have been on a diet since I was seven years old, when I wanted a gold bikini for the lake. My mom calmly explained to me that fat girls don't get to wear bikinis and if I could lose weight, I could have it.
So began the constant state of either being in a mode of deprivation (not giving into the hunger and cravings - yay me) or a state of indulgence (I deserve this treat, I've been doing so well). Who knows if I would have gotten as heavy as I had if I hadn't started the yo-yo dieting. I remember in seventh grade, when I made cheerleading, they weighed us. I was 5'3 and 172 pounds. The girl closest to my weight was 129.
I've heard my entire life, "You have such a pretty face!" or "You carry your weight so well!" I had told myself that it was better to accept myself than to keep killing myself for six months to lose 40 pounds only to put back on 50 over the next six months.
Finally, I was going through a lot in my life and went in for my annual physical at the age of 33. Imagine my surprise when the scale said 252 pounds! I weighed 235 when I was two weeks overdue with my son. My doctor asked if I had thought about weightloss surgery. Shocked and dismayed, I said no. I always thought I wasn't too far gone to make a permanent change for the better on my own.
After the appointment, I really started thinking and researching. Stats told me I had a 3% chance of losing the weight and, most importantly, of keeping it off, on my own. I thought about my dad and my aunt, who are kind of my genetic roadmaps, and the ups and downs I've seen them go through -- their entire lives. I tried to think of anyone in my Irish-German family who had successfully lost the weight and kept if off. No one.
I had my first appointment 11.5.13 and got sleeved 1.7.14 -- no insurance, but luckily I was able to pull the money from my life savings. I'm only a week over my post op date, but I already feel so liberated, like I have a chance at the one thing I could never get control of in my life -- my weight and my health.
I never heard anyone in my family, no woman or man, tell me they liked or appreciated their body. I want my son and my nieces to know I'm going to take care of myself and my body because I love my body, not because I hate it. I want to lead them through healthy choices and find physical activity that they love. Just like the cycle of abuse, the cycle of obesity is difficult to break. I'm doing this for me -- but also, I'm doing it for them.
I've been reading all your posts and I just want to thank each of you -- your courage to share, to support, to do what you've done -- you've inspired me and for that I will always be grateful.
-Maggie

I've had more than one stall / plateau since surgery - see my signature area. One thing I think helped me break the most recent stall was to "change it up."
I've been following the Atkins diet ever since I resumed solid food a few weeks post-op so I started eating some carbs and increased my calorie intake for a couple of weeks. I eat 4 times a day - 8a, noon, 4p and 8p. I love Quest bars, and I was eating one of those for 2-3 of the 4 meals each day. Someone on this site said she had to cut back on Quest bars to get the wt loss going again, so for the past week I've limited myself to just One Bar per day - I eat real food the other 3 times each day now -- but just Protein and fat, keeping the carbs as low as humanly possible. Also I was eating several sugar free hard candies each day, and someone on here said she had to stop eating sugar alcohols for Atkins to work for her, so for the past week I've cut out the hard candies too. I had not been exercising at all since surgery, so now I've started wearing a pedometer to count my steps each day, with a goal of 10,000 steps a day eventually, and I've started taking my dogs for walks several times a week. And sure enough, the pounds have started to come off again, albeit v-e-r-y slowly. I'll TAKE it!
The important thing is ... SLEEVE ON!! Best wishes!

This is exactly why I didn't make my WLS common knowledge. With most people being relatively unfamiliar with the sleeve, I really didn't want to have to explain the surgery, compare it to the other options, listen to all the stories about people who have died/regained/look like crap/etc.

I am so much more than someone who had WLS and lost a small pony. Trust me when I say that this is probably the LEAST interesting thing about me.

Yup. I simply tell people I do high Protein, low carb and that I cut out the bad (my tummy -- but I don't tell then that) and I exercise daily.

Period.

I don't know if I have a final moment that kind of pushed me over the edge, but there have been life long moments that led me to this. First let me say, I have been overweight my entire life. Aside from the occasional teasing, or family telling me they just wish I could get it under control, I lived a pretty healthy, happy, active life. I just remember always being hungry, chasing the next meal, even as a young girl. I have been on a diet since I was seven years old, when I wanted a gold bikini for the lake. My mom calmly explained to me that fat girls don't get to wear bikinis and if I could lose weight, I could have it.
So began the constant state of either being in a mode of deprivation (not giving into the hunger and cravings - yay me) or a state of indulgence (I deserve this treat, I've been doing so well). Who knows if I would have gotten as heavy as I had if I hadn't started the yo-yo dieting. I remember in seventh grade, when I made cheerleading, they weighed us. I was 5'3 and 172 pounds. The girl closest to my weight was 129.
I've heard my entire life, "You have such a pretty face!" or "You carry your weight so well!" I had told myself that it was better to accept myself than to keep killing myself for six months to lose 40 pounds only to put back on 50 over the next six months.
Finally, I was going through a lot in my life and went in for my annual physical at the age of 33. Imagine my surprise when the scale said 252 pounds! I weighed 235 when I was two weeks overdue with my son. My doctor asked if I had thought about weightloss surgery. Shocked and dismayed, I said no. I always thought I wasn't too far gone to make a permanent change for the better on my own.
After the appointment, I really started thinking and researching. Stats told me I had a 3% chance of losing the weight and, most importantly, of keeping it off, on my own. I thought about my dad and my aunt, who are kind of my genetic roadmaps, and the ups and downs I've seen them go through -- their entire lives. I tried to think of anyone in my Irish-German family who had successfully lost the weight and kept if off. No one.
I had my first appointment 11.5.13 and got sleeved 1.7.14 -- no insurance, but luckily I was able to pull the money from my life savings. I'm only a week over my post op date, but I already feel so liberated, like I have a chance at the one thing I could never get control of in my life -- my weight and my health.
I never heard anyone in my family, no woman or man, tell me they liked or appreciated their body. I want my son and my nieces to know I'm going to take care of myself and my body because I love my body, not because I hate it. I want to lead them through healthy choices and find physical activity that they love. Just like the cycle of abuse, the cycle of obesity is difficult to break. I'm doing this for me -- but also, I'm doing it for them.
I've been reading all your posts and I just want to thank each of you -- your courage to share, to support, to do what you've done -- you've inspired me and for that I will always be grateful.
-Maggie

Thank you, everyone. This has made me feel much better about my losses! I know I should just appreciate what is going on, its just so hard when you've been dieting for 25 of your 33 years on earth. I'm just so exhausted from being this heavy for so long. I'm tired of being tired, sick of feeling sick. I want to be able to work again so we can get a better place to live but my knees and back are just too strained still. I sunk everything I have into this and the thought of it not working is terrifying.

I don't know if I have a final moment that kind of pushed me over the edge, but there have been life long moments that led me to this. First let me say, I have been overweight my entire life. Aside from the occasional teasing, or family telling me they just wish I could get it under control, I lived a pretty healthy, happy, active life. I just remember always being hungry, chasing the next meal, even as a young girl. I have been on a diet since I was seven years old, when I wanted a gold bikini for the lake. My mom calmly explained to me that fat girls don't get to wear bikinis and if I could lose weight, I could have it.
So began the constant state of either being in a mode of deprivation (not giving into the hunger and cravings - yay me) or a state of indulgence (I deserve this treat, I've been doing so well). Who knows if I would have gotten as heavy as I had if I hadn't started the yo-yo dieting. I remember in seventh grade, when I made cheerleading, they weighed us. I was 5'3 and 172 pounds. The girl closest to my weight was 129.
I've heard my entire life, "You have such a pretty face!" or "You carry your weight so well!" I had told myself that it was better to accept myself than to keep killing myself for six months to lose 40 pounds only to put back on 50 over the next six months.
Finally, I was going through a lot in my life and went in for my annual physical at the age of 33. Imagine my surprise when the scale said 252 pounds! I weighed 235 when I was two weeks overdue with my son. My doctor asked if I had thought about weightloss surgery. Shocked and dismayed, I said no. I always thought I wasn't too far gone to make a permanent change for the better on my own.
After the appointment, I really started thinking and researching. Stats told me I had a 3% chance of losing the weight and, most importantly, of keeping it off, on my own. I thought about my dad and my aunt, who are kind of my genetic roadmaps, and the ups and downs I've seen them go through -- their entire lives. I tried to think of anyone in my Irish-German family who had successfully lost the weight and kept if off. No one.
I had my first appointment 11.5.13 and got sleeved 1.7.14 -- no insurance, but luckily I was able to pull the money from my life savings. I'm only a week over my post op date, but I already feel so liberated, like I have a chance at the one thing I could never get control of in my life -- my weight and my health.
I never heard anyone in my family, no woman or man, tell me they liked or appreciated their body. I want my son and my nieces to know I'm going to take care of myself and my body because I love my body, not because I hate it. I want to lead them through healthy choices and find physical activity that they love. Just like the cycle of abuse, the cycle of obesity is difficult to break. I'm doing this for me -- but also, I'm doing it for them.
I've been reading all your posts and I just want to thank each of you -- your courage to share, to support, to do what you've done -- you've inspired me and for that I will always be grateful.
-Maggie

I don't know if I have a final moment that kind of pushed me over the edge, but there have been life long moments that led me to this. First let me say, I have been overweight my entire life. Aside from the occasional teasing, or family telling me they just wish I could get it under control, I lived a pretty healthy, happy, active life. I just remember always being hungry, chasing the next meal, even as a young girl. I have been on a diet since I was seven years old, when I wanted a gold bikini for the lake. My mom calmly explained to me that fat girls don't get to wear bikinis and if I could lose weight, I could have it.
So began the constant state of either being in a mode of deprivation (not giving into the hunger and cravings - yay me) or a state of indulgence (I deserve this treat, I've been doing so well). Who knows if I would have gotten as heavy as I had if I hadn't started the yo-yo dieting. I remember in seventh grade, when I made cheerleading, they weighed us. I was 5'3 and 172 pounds. The girl closest to my weight was 129.
I've heard my entire life, "You have such a pretty face!" or "You carry your weight so well!" I had told myself that it was better to accept myself than to keep killing myself for six months to lose 40 pounds only to put back on 50 over the next six months.
Finally, I was going through a lot in my life and went in for my annual physical at the age of 33. Imagine my surprise when the scale said 252 pounds! I weighed 235 when I was two weeks overdue with my son. My doctor asked if I had thought about weightloss surgery. Shocked and dismayed, I said no. I always thought I wasn't too far gone to make a permanent change for the better on my own.
After the appointment, I really started thinking and researching. Stats told me I had a 3% chance of losing the weight and, most importantly, of keeping it off, on my own. I thought about my dad and my aunt, who are kind of my genetic roadmaps, and the ups and downs I've seen them go through -- their entire lives. I tried to think of anyone in my Irish-German family who had successfully lost the weight and kept if off. No one.
I had my first appointment 11.5.13 and got sleeved 1.7.14 -- no insurance, but luckily I was able to pull the money from my life savings. I'm only a week over my post op date, but I already feel so liberated, like I have a chance at the one thing I could never get control of in my life -- my weight and my health.
I never heard anyone in my family, no woman or man, tell me they liked or appreciated their body. I want my son and my nieces to know I'm going to take care of myself and my body because I love my body, not because I hate it. I want to lead them through healthy choices and find physical activity that they love. Just like the cycle of abuse, the cycle of obesity is difficult to break. I'm doing this for me -- but also, I'm doing it for them.
I've been reading all your posts and I just want to thank each of you -- your courage to share, to support, to do what you've done -- you've inspired me and for that I will always be grateful.
-Maggie

Today is January 15th 2014. Exactly 6 months ago today (178 days) I took back my life! In 178 days I have lost a total of 104 LBS!!! Sucks I don't have better before pics but as you can see. Befores were only taken when I wasn't aware!
Highest weight 350
Surgery weight 343
Current weight 246

Oh my!! Sounds just like me!! I'm wondering the same thing lol. I'm 8 weeks out and I'm constantly making weird noises.. Always excusing myself.. Gas comes and goes... Haven't had a problem w/it in a while, but tried broccoli for the first time on Sunday and have been gassy ever since! Ugh!! My two young boys are loving the new "rude" mom haha!! They think its funny! ????

Maggie, I swear I could have written your story - you just described my journey (except I'm Polish-Irish Catholic- lol)!
Congrats to you and thank you for sharing!!!

Congrats Maggie! I'm about your same weight and height too. Your story is very encouraging ! Let us know how you are recovering :-)

Some of these posts just break my heart
I've had lots of really negative moments & comments over the years, but what finally brought me here was when my 4 year old asked me if I had another baby in my belly (a year after his little brother had been born) and the few times that he asked me why my belly is so big & jiggly when his isn't. I want to set a good, healthy example for my kids & don't want them to grow up thinking that they have to eat like & look like I do right now. I've slowed down & my asthma is at it's worst...I don't want to miss out on any fun things with my boys anymore because I can't control myself.
Also, a friend of mine was sleeved back in March & she looks fabulous! She's been so honest & helpful & has really encouraged me to go ahead with this. Without her, I'm not sure I'd be ready to consider this yet...

Thank you! Very inspiring for me.....remember we are in this journey together. Finally I will probably be the biggest LOSER in the family! Good luck on your journey! Sleeved 12/19/13.

I totally understand your feelings!! Best of luck on your journey!!

First let me say, I have been overweight my entire life. Aside from the occasional teasing, or family telling me they just wish I could get it under control, I lived a pretty healthy, happy, active life. I just remember always being hungry, chasing the next meal, even as a young girl. I have been on a diet since I was seven years old, when I wanted a gold bikini for the lake. My mom calmly explained to me that fat girls don't get to wear bikinis and if I could lose weight, I could have it.
So began the constant state of either being in a mode of deprivation (not giving into the hunger and cravings - yay me) or a state of indulgence (I deserve this treat, I've been doing so well). Who knows if I would have gotten as heavy as I had if I hadn't started the yo-yo dieting. I remember in seventh grade, when I made cheerleading, they weighed us. I was 5'3 and 172 pounds. The girl closest to my weight was 129.
I've heard my entire life, "You have such a pretty face!" or "You carry your weight so well!" I had told myself that it was better to accept myself than to keep killing myself for six months to lose 40 pounds only to put back on 50 over the next six months.
Finally, I was going through a lot in my life and went in for my annual physical at the age of 33. Imagine my surprise when the scale said 252 pounds! I weighed 235 when I was two weeks overdue with my son. My doctor asked if I had thought about weightloss surgery. Shocked and dismayed, I said no. I always thought I wasn't too far gone to make a permanent change for the better on my own.
After the appointment, I really started thinking and researching. Stats told me I had a 3% chance of losing the weight and, most importantly, of keeping it off, on my own. I thought about my Dad and my aunt, who are kind of my genetic roadmaps, and the ups and downs I've seen them go through -- their entire lives. I tried to think of anyone in my Irish-German family who had successfully lost the weight and kept if off. No one.
I had my first appointment 11.5.13 and got sleeved 1.7.14 -- no insurance, but luckily I was able to pull the money from my life savings. I'm only a week over my post op date, but I already feel so liberated, like I have a chance at the one thing I could never get control of in my life -- my weight and my health.
I never heard anyone in my family, no women or men, tell me they liked the way they look. I want my son and my nieces to know I'm going to take care of myself and my body because I love my body, not because I hate it. I want to lead them through healthy choices and find physical activity that they love. Just like the cycle of abuse, the cycle of obesity is difficult to break. I'm doing this for me -- but also, I'm doing it for them.
I've been reading all your posts and I just want to thank each of you -- your courage to share, to support, to do what you've done -- you've inspired me and for that I will always be grateful.
-Maggie

First let me say, I have been overweight my entire life. Aside from the occasional teasing, or family telling me they just wish I could get it under control, I lived a pretty healthy, happy, active life. I just remember always being hungry, chasing the next meal, even as a young girl. I have been on a diet since I was seven years old, when I wanted a gold bikini for the lake. My mom calmly explained to me that fat girls don't get to wear bikinis and if I could lose weight, I could have it.
So began the constant state of either being in a mode of deprivation (not giving into the hunger and cravings - yay me) or a state of indulgence (I deserve this treat, I've been doing so well). Who knows if I would have gotten as heavy as I had if I hadn't started the yo-yo dieting. I remember in seventh grade, when I made cheerleading, they weighed us. I was 5'3 and 172 pounds. The girl closest to my weight was 129.
I've heard my entire life, "You have such a pretty face!" or "You carry your weight so well!" I had told myself that it was better to accept myself than to keep killing myself for six months to lose 40 pounds only to put back on 50 over the next six months.
Finally, I was going through a lot in my life and went in for my annual physical at the age of 33. Imagine my surprise when the scale said 252 pounds! I weighed 235 when I was two weeks overdue with my son. My doctor asked if I had thought about weightloss surgery. Shocked and dismayed, I said no. I always thought I wasn't too far gone to make a permanent change for the better on my own.
After the appointment, I really started thinking and researching. Stats told me I had a 3% chance of losing the weight and, most importantly, of keeping it off, on my own. I thought about my Dad and my aunt, who are kind of my genetic roadmaps, and the ups and downs I've seen them go through -- their entire lives. I tried to think of anyone in my Irish-German family who had successfully lost the weight and kept if off. No one.
I had my first appointment 11.5.13 and got sleeved 1.7.14 -- no insurance, but luckily I was able to pull the money from my life savings. I'm only a week over my post op date, but I already feel so liberated, like I have a chance at the one thing I could never get control of in my life -- my weight and my health.
I never heard anyone in my family, no women or men, tell me they liked the way they look. I want my son and my nieces to know I'm going to take care of myself and my body because I love my body, not because I hate it. I want to lead them through healthy choices and find physical activity that they love. Just like the cycle of abuse, the cycle of obesity is difficult to break. I'm doing this for me -- but also, I'm doing it for them.
I've been reading all your posts and I just want to thank each of you -- your courage to share, to support, to do what you've done -- you've inspired me and for that I will always be grateful.
-Maggie

I don't know if I have a final moment that kind of pushed me over the edge, but there have been life long moments that led me to this. First let me say, I have been overweight my entire life. Aside from the occasional teasing, or family telling me they just wish I could get it under control, I lived a pretty healthy, happy, active life. I just remember always being hungry, chasing the next meal, even as a young girl. I have been on a diet since I was seven years old, when I wanted a gold bikini for the lake. My mom calmly explained to me that fat girls don't get to wear bikinis and if I could lose weight, I could have it.
So began the constant state of either being in a mode of deprivation (not giving into the hunger and cravings - yay me) or a state of indulgence (I deserve this treat, I've been doing so well). Who knows if I would have gotten as heavy as I had if I hadn't started the yo-yo dieting. I remember in seventh grade, when I made cheerleading, they weighed us. I was 5'3 and 172 pounds. The girl closest to my weight was 129.
I've heard my entire life, "You have such a pretty face!" or "You carry your weight so well!" I had told myself that it was better to accept myself than to keep killing myself for six months to lose 40 pounds only to put back on 50 over the next six months.
Finally, I was going through a lot in my life and went in for my annual physical at the age of 33. Imagine my surprise when the scale said 252 pounds! I weighed 235 when I was two weeks overdue with my son. My doctor asked if I had thought about weightloss surgery. Shocked and dismayed, I said no. I always thought I wasn't too far gone to make a permanent change for the better on my own.
After the appointment, I really started thinking and researching. Stats told me I had a 3% chance of losing the weight and, most importantly, of keeping it off, on my own. I thought about my dad and my aunt, who are kind of my genetic roadmaps, and the ups and downs I've seen them go through -- their entire lives. I tried to think of anyone in my Irish-German family who had successfully lost the weight and kept if off. No one.
I had my first appointment 11.5.13 and got sleeved 1.7.14 -- no insurance, but luckily I was able to pull the money from my life savings. I'm only a week over my post op date, but I already feel so liberated, like I have a chance at the one thing I could never get control of in my life -- my weight and my health.
I never heard anyone in my family, no woman or man, tell me they liked or appreciated their body. I want my son and my nieces to know I'm going to take care of myself and my body because I love my body, not because I hate it. I want to lead them through healthy choices and find physical activity that they love. Just like the cycle of abuse, the cycle of obesity is difficult to break. I'm doing this for me -- but also, I'm doing it for them.
I've been reading all your posts and I just want to thank each of you -- your courage to share, to support, to do what you've done -- you've inspired me and for that I will always be grateful.
-Maggie

First let me say, I have been overweight my entire life. Aside from the occasional teasing, or family telling me they just wish I could get it under control, I lived a pretty healthy, happy, active life. I just remember always being hungry, chasing the next meal, even as a young girl. I have been on a diet since I was seven years old, when I wanted a gold bikini for the lake. My mom calmly explained to me that fat girls don't get to wear bikinis and if I could lose weight, I could have it.
So began the constant state of either being in a mode of deprivation (not giving into the hunger and cravings - yay me) or a state of indulgence (I deserve this treat, I've been doing so well). Who knows if I would have gotten as heavy as I had if I hadn't started the yo-yo dieting. I remember in seventh grade, when I made cheerleading, they weighed us. I was 5'3 and 172 pounds. The girl closest to my weight was 129.
I've heard my entire life, "You have such a pretty face!" or "You carry your weight so well!" I had told myself that it was better to accept myself than to keep killing myself for six months to lose 40 pounds only to put back on 50 over the next six months.
Finally, I was going through a lot in my life and went in for my annual physical at the age of 33. Imagine my surprise when the scale said 252 pounds! I weighed 235 when I was two weeks overdue with my son. My doctor asked if I had thought about weightloss surgery. Shocked and dismayed, I said no. I always thought I wasn't too far gone to make a permanent change for the better on my own.
After the appointment, I really started thinking and researching. Stats told me I had a 3% chance of losing the weight and, most importantly, of keeping it off, on my own. I thought about my Dad and my aunt, who are kind of my genetic roadmaps, and the ups and downs I've seen them go through -- their entire lives. I tried to think of anyone in my Irish-German family who had successfully lost the weight and kept if off. No one.
I had my first appointment 11.5.13 and got sleeved 1.7.14 -- no insurance, but luckily I was able to pull the money from my life savings. I'm only a week over my post op date, but I already feel so liberated, like I have a chance at the one thing I could never get control of in my life -- my weight and my health.
I never heard anyone in my family, no women or men, tell me they liked the way they look. I want my son and my nieces to know I'm going to take care of myself and my body because I love my body, not because I hate it. I want to lead them through healthy choices and find physical activity that they love. Just like the cycle of abuse, the cycle of obesity is difficult to break. I'm doing this for me -- but also, I'm doing it for them.
I've been reading all your posts and I just want to thank each of you -- your courage to share, to support, to do what you've done -- you've inspired me and for that I will always be grateful.
-Maggie

I don't know if I have a final moment that kind of pushed me over the edge, but there have been life long moments that led me to this. First let me say, I have been overweight my entire life. Aside from the occasional teasing, or family telling me they just wish I could get it under control, I lived a pretty healthy, happy, active life. I just remember always being hungry, chasing the next meal, even as a young girl. I have been on a diet since I was seven years old, when I wanted a gold bikini for the lake. My mom calmly explained to me that fat girls don't get to wear bikinis and if I could lose weight, I could have it.
So began the constant state of either being in a mode of deprivation (not giving into the hunger and cravings - yay me) or a state of indulgence (I deserve this treat, I've been doing so well). Who knows if I would have gotten as heavy as I had if I hadn't started the yo-yo dieting. I remember in seventh grade, when I made cheerleading, they weighed us. I was 5'3 and 172 pounds. The girl closest to my weight was 129.
I've heard my entire life, "You have such a pretty face!" or "You carry your weight so well!" I had told myself that it was better to accept myself than to keep killing myself for six months to lose 40 pounds only to put back on 50 over the next six months.
Finally, I was going through a lot in my life and went in for my annual physical at the age of 33. Imagine my surprise when the scale said 252 pounds! I weighed 235 when I was two weeks overdue with my son. My doctor asked if I had thought about weightloss surgery. Shocked and dismayed, I said no. I always thought I wasn't too far gone to make a permanent change for the better on my own.
After the appointment, I really started thinking and researching. Stats told me I had a 3% chance of losing the weight and, most importantly, of keeping it off, on my own. I thought about my dad and my aunt, who are kind of my genetic roadmaps, and the ups and downs I've seen them go through -- their entire lives. I tried to think of anyone in my Irish-German family who had successfully lost the weight and kept if off. No one.
I had my first appointment 11.5.13 and got sleeved 1.7.14 -- no insurance, but luckily I was able to pull the money from my life savings. I'm only a week over my post op date, but I already feel so liberated, like I have a chance at the one thing I could never get control of in my life -- my weight and my health.
I never heard anyone in my family, no woman or man, tell me they liked or appreciated their body. I want my son and my nieces to know I'm going to take care of myself and my body because I love my body, not because I hate it. I want to lead them through healthy choices and find physical activity that they love. Just like the cycle of abuse, the cycle of obesity is difficult to break. I'm doing this for me -- but also, I'm doing it for them.
I've been reading all your posts and I just want to thank each of you -- your courage to share, to support, to do what you've done -- you've inspired me and for that I will always be grateful.
-Maggie

I weighted 242 pounds and lost down to 175... and then gained it back in less than 6 months. Stress I guess. I noticed that it was getting harder and harder to walk and then my knee started to hurt all of a sudden. Really bad.
I went to a doctor someone recommended. He did a CAT scan and said it was a bone bruise and it would get better. I went the next month and he still said the same thing even though it wasn't getting better. Finally I asked him to give me something for pain and he gave me a prescription for darvocet for one month. My friends said he wasn't doing anything for me and I should go to another doctor. I went to another doctor who acted like I was some kind of drug addict for changing doctors. But he gave me another prescription for darvocet. A few days later I forgot to take the darvocet and went to work and couldn't get up from my chair to go to the bathroom. I called my doctor and he was on vacation. I went to his backup doctor who actually diagnosed my arthritis but gave me arthritis medicine, how about that, a brace and a steroid shot. He told me if I didn't lose weight I would need knee replacement surgery in 5 years.
Now, I had a doctor recommend WLS for me years before. But that was when most of the people you heard about getting WLS were over 300 lbs and I only weighed about 220. But now smaller people were getting it and I was facing a choice of knee replacement surgery or WLS. And then the wife of a friend of mine had gastric bypass surgery and lost 170 pounds. My friend kept at
me to get it before it was too late.
Then in April of last year, I met my beautiful new granddaughter Desiray. And I want to take her to the park and the beach - museums and festivals. Bike riding and swimming. And I want to move to Central America when I retire and be another grandma doing zip lines in Costa Rica with my granddaughter.
Plus, the process has gotten me diagnosed with Type II Diabetes, sleep Apnea and something called Hypertension-Related Heart Disease, without Heart Failure

Joe...I have a similar list

Went to a concert to see my favorite artist and could not fit into the seat properly and so had to squeeze in sort of sideways and was in pain all evening.
Standing in line for a ride at Universal Studios with my grandson and not being able to even get on the ride - he rode alone and I had to wait at the exit
Seeing a picture of myself as I really was - at the end of my rope
Huffing and puffing when walking, even from the parking lot to my office right accross the street
Never feeling full - no matter how much I ate.

Thank God I found out that I qualified for WLS with Kaiser, I had been praying for a way to change my life and the option presented itself. I am so pleased with how much better I feel and look!!!

everything especially loosing 60 pounds only to put back on 80 over the next year and a half.... then when I heard about the Sleeve, I knew it was for me. A couple years of looking into bypass and not being able to do that to myself. Talked to Sleevers and researched it and was ready to go.... while waiting the 6 months for surgery a 4yr old asked, "Why are your legs so big?" that sealed the deal for me.

My 14 year old son has been running cross country for the last 2 years. There are 1000 other reasons I wanted this surgery, but, the thought of me being able to go running with my son, still is something that drives me to push harder.

What was the final thing that you encountered that made you say this is enough? I have had numerous.
1. Leaving a wife and 2 sons, Husbandless and fatherless.
2. Not being able to get on amusement park rides with my sons.
3. Not being able to take my wife to a concert, because i could not fit in a seat.
4. Avoiding restuarant,movie theaters and sports complexes with tiny seats.
For me, walking through a a department store and some little child looking at me like im a alien had to be one the hardest things.
Respectfully,
Joe