Hello Everyone

I have struggled with my weight for the majority of my life. Currently I am 5'6" and weigh 243 lbs with a BMI of 39. My insurance carrier is GHI PPO.

I have been obese since the age of five. I went on my first diet at age 11. I have tried everything from Weight Watchers, pills, starvation etc. My most successful weight loss was about 50 lbs and ten years ago. I managed to do it by using ephedra and working out 6 days a week. My weight just slowly crept back up and then some. I have hypothryoidism, gallstones, and some joint pain. I try to exercise at least three days a week and eat pretty well. Sometimes I get so frustrated and just feel like I am destined to be the fat lady forever.

Several years ago, I looked into getting gastric bypass surgery. Several of my friends had the procedure done and they look and feel great. Their weight battle has been successful. I was told that although I was (and I still am) obese, I did not qualify because I did not have any co-morbidities (and I still really don't and don't want to have any of them). I am afraid that I will become even heavier than I am and will develop terrible ailments. I am looking into the lap band procedure and I hope I quailify for it.

Good luck to everyone out there pre and post op. I wish you great success. :thumbup:

Others have suggested wearing ankle weights or putting them in your pockets to make sure your BMI is 40 or over. I never thought of that and just stopped watching what I ate for a month before I went to the doctor's program. Actually when I talked to the HR person at my husband's company, that was her suggestion. I didn't need a medical history or comorbidities if it was over 40 so I made sure it was. Didn't take much...a week with my family pushed me right over the edge.

Funny. One of my cousins wore ankle bracelets also. She finally qualified. Unfortunately I qualified legally :-) I'm 5'7", weigh 241 and have high blood pressure.

I've always been overweight but I've been this height since I was 12 so that helped me hide it. I ran track from 7th grade through high school. So when I stopped running and went to college, my weight ballooned from 175 to 240 by the time I graduated. I managed to maintain around 225 for about 6 years. Then I tried Weight Watchers, got down to 197, stayed there for two years. Then I moved to another state, got out of my routine and hit 256 for the first time.

So I'm going to do my best to lose some weight before my surgery. I've already started exercising three times a week.

Good luck to you!