FinallyFit50s

@@Mumsicle -I laughed so hard reading your post. Both my mom AND sister work at the largest hospital in the area (Western MA). Knowing that they are not supportive, I chose the smaller Catholic hospital so that there is NO chance they will know anything unless/until I am ready to tell them. I agree with some others-I may be pretty open with most things, but this is about ME, my decision, my life. I am not telling the rest of my family or many friends either. My mother has been on diets since I was a child and is obese, my sister was the "thin" one that I was always compared to. I don't want to hear their comments or objections. Only my daughter who lives with me knows. I told a few close friends last year that I was looking into WLS. One tried to talk me out of it saying that if I would just eat grilled chicken and veggies, I'd lose the weight. Duh, let's see-I've done Jenny Craig, Nutrisytem, Optifast, Atkins, Slimfast, Richard Simmons, Southbeach and a ton of others. It's not the losing weight that has been the problem, it's losing the weight and keeping it OFF. Every time I lost weight I'd regain it and add at least 10 pounds MORE. I can't keep doing this. Only a couple of my Weight Watchers friends whom I met in 2007, are very supportive. @@AquariusDiva, @HealthArtLove- sometimes family are the worst. I think they like seeing us miserable, as we are easier to keep down. I say NO MORE! I am beginning to understand how the folks I've listened to on podcasts have changed. Old ways are gone. Negative people, gone or relegated to the back burner (family?!) Healthy habits and healthy relationships are more important.

So far, I've told about four friends. As for family, only my daughter who lives with me knows. I'm NOT telling the rest of my friends and family. I'm the "fat" one and I have never felt my family's support when it comes to my attempts to lose weight (except my father and he's a worrywart).

@@LisaGB and others, thanks for the welcome. I'm on my iPad so I can't look at comments at the same time to add folks as I write. I am in Western MA, Springfield area. My physician is Dr Ursula MacMillian who is part of Mercy Hospital. My NUT (have to laugh at the abbreviation) is a "cool biker chick" who has been fantastic and understands that tea is very much a part of my life. I'm going to my 6 month doctors visit on Monday, then have a gastro visit on Thursday. Hoping that I can get paperwork and insurance set for first week in March. I'm really excited.

Hello! I turned 50 a few months ago and am happily getting closer to getting all my stuff together, hoping for a surgery date of early March. I read the first post @@LainieG, I too have leukemia, CML. No problems from my onc, but my primary has me jumping through hoops. I have gained and lost hundreds of pounds over the years with each subsequent gain netting me higher and higher on the scale. At the end of last summer I had had enough. I have been the "fat" one in my family since I was 13, this journey is for me. I want to be fit in my fifties. I like where my life is heading and I want to be healthier. I'm hoping this app can help as the group meeting I have been going to has really filled up and we can only attend one time a month.

Springfield here, any folks from Western, MA?

Hi, new here. I have done 6 months of doctors, nutritionist and support group visits. Had to go on BP meds, did sleep test-have apnea, blood work up-Vit D deficient, borderline high glucose and had gastric test-small problems. My PCP is okaying my surgery but making me go to a gastro guy first. My last visit to my bariatric doctor is Monday, the gastro on Thursday. Should get this last bit of paperwork signed off for next week to be sent to the insurance company. I am hoping for the first week in March. This journey has opened my eyes to a the litany of health problems I didn't even realize I had. I'm thankful for deciding to do this.