suzanne68

Hi Everyone, I just joined this site after finding it yesterday. After a recent 20lb weight loss and regain (for like the 100th time) I have decided to pursue sleeve surgery. About me: 50 years old. Current weight 270. 5'7. I have been hovering around 270 for about 5 years now after previously living in the 250 world for a few years. For about 10 years before that, I hovered around 230. I am sick of the weight being in control of how I live, dress, socialize, travel, my career, etc. I want this lens removed from my vision of myself.....and want to deal with the challenges of life without also worrying about being fat, feeling sick, breathing heavy, struggling to keep pace, SWEATING, etc. I live a pretty interesting life IN SPITE OF the weight. I have an amazing career and I travel across the globe for it....but I now feel uncomfortable in airplane seats - thank God I can still fasten the seatbelt without the extender, but it ISNT easy. I now know I cant put the tray table down and work on my laptop because I am just too close to it with all this weight. I am an executive. I look at my peers and see all the pretty clothes and gorgeous shoes around the office. I try, but it never looks as good on me and forget wearing heels, they just hurt too much! I am pretty sure I am being judged at work for my appearance and missing some advancement opportunities because of my weight. Of course, nobody would ever SAY this....but I know it's true. I love good food Not fast food, not chips, not fries, not burgers....not pizza. This body fat is curated from the best risotto, beautiful foie gras, velvety red wine, lobster thermidor.....you get it :-( . But I have decided that my gourmand lifestyle in exchange for a smaller body is one I am willing to make. And I am sure I can also figure out how to eat well AND low fat/high protein/small portion and still enjoy life. As my weight has climbed, I have avoided people and experiences. Just recently I was in the south of france on a little relaxing beach trip and a friend of mine texted me that she, too, was there with her husband. She was staying at the hotel next to me and wanted to get together for dinner...I was all for it...until she said "and we can take photos"...which meant she and her 110 lbs gorgeous self (she is a fashion consultant and VERY superficial - it's all about the "look" - a term she uses on everyone "I love your look" - clothes, hair, makeup) wanted to post photos on social media of me next to her.....nope. I told her I'd made other plans and never did see her. I think she's insulted...but I had to do it and one day I will explain to her, but not now. Anyway, putting the psychological reasons aside, I feel crappy these days. I'm always hot. My body is always achy (legs ache every day), I have a chronic cough (it's bad - I am working at 50% lung capacity) for which I have seen one of the country's top pulmonary specialists - he says I am asthmatic and prescribed an inhaler. I now snore like a buzz saw - THAT's attractive, eh? My boyfriend likes to say I was building houses overnight - sometimes apartment buildings. I have already had a sleep study and was negative for apnea - doc just said "well, you're heavy!". I am carrying the fat in my belly, chest and arms. I am pre-diabetic and brain fog like mad. NO way to live. Being heavy AND being peri-menopausal are NOT a good combination. One has to go. I have confirmed that my insurance generally covers the surgery and my personal approval is pending for the surgeon's submission. I have done the intake interview and now have an upcoming meeting with the surgeon. I am hoping to have surgery in Early December/late November, as timing is important for me given that my travel schedule picks up in mid January. I am reading your advice and your stories and appreciate every one. Focused on understanding what you are eating pre and post op and what I may need to buy. Figure this may be a good time to start a walking routine and hitting the weights a few days a week to build a little muscle in advance of the loss. Also plan to start taking biotin for my hair. Anyone have any other "now" advice? I also entered my height and weight into a BMI/ideal weight tool and it said my ideal weight in 134 and I have 136 to lose. I thought that was cool to know - I am carrying around a full extra person. It's really time for her to go. Thank you for reading and for sharing your stories with me. Suzanne

Best wishes! Please keep us posted.