Ok...where to start. I have been big all my life, but when I was young I was an athletic kind of big. I played sports from the time I was 8 until I blew my knee out during softball season my junior year of high school. By then I had played softball annually, field hockey for a couple years and basketball. I was my current height (6') by the time I was 14. Which for a chick...is freaking tall. I'm from a family of giants.

I have a horrible family history with regards to obesity. Grandfather died at 48 from a heart attack. My uncle had gastric bypass but failed it. Lost 150 in a short time, but put it all back and then some. He has stretched his stomach out and eats all the things he shouldn't eat. My dad is overweight, but not by much. My other uncle is the biggest I have ever seen him. My youngest cousin is bigger than I ever was at that age. It's a horrible up hill battle that I have been fighting for decades now.

Ok, now for the funny fat chick to kick in. I'm tired of shopping at "Lane Giant" as I am want to call it. I hate putting on a dress because it makes me feel like I am wearing something I picked up from a tent and awning store. It's crap. I'm constantly afraid of starting forest fires with the thigh chaffing I rock. The folds of skin? Over it. The stares, rude comments...over it. Being overlooked or ignored and having people act surprised when they walk into me...really? I'm huge...how can you NOT see me?im tired of being invisible. Of being unworthy. Of not mattering simply because of my appearance.

So I looked into this in 2001 when I lived in Mass. Insurance denied me despite doing everything they said to. I looked into gastric bypass again in 2008 while living n Greenville, SC. No deal with the insurance again. So I gave up. Ate myself into an oblivion...stayed in a bad marriage far too long. Generally just hated life.

Now I am doing the insurance approval marathon. I live in Florida now and I'm doing everything that my insurance company said to. I have been assured by the program coordinator that it's a done deal. I have the comorbities that I didn't have back then. I'm also heavier than I have been in a long time. I am in week 3 of a 16 week Weight management program. This is required by my insurance. I meet my surgeon next Tuesday. I have a cardiologist appointment on Thursday of this week. And I will find out next week who else my surgeon wants clearance from.

Here's some stats...I'm 33, 6' tall and I weigh 320. I'm looking to get down to 170. That puts me into a normal BMI. And I want a little normalcy in my life right now. I'm sick of carrying this burden. And I'm really tired of the push back I am getting about choosing the sleeve. I know I don't look like I'm as heavy as the scale says I am, it doesn't change the reality of my situation.

Tentatively according to my coordinator, I should have a surgery date for the first or second week in November. I'm nervous but not too bad. I hope to make some friends here and get the support I need and we all need to traverse this life changing decision.

***i have attached a sort of before pic to show what I am starting with.

Wow, tis site has helped me with the support I have need throughout this process, My surgery is next tuesday in Mexico ( self-pay) it's a very hard road but I think it will be so worth it. My sister just had hers done through insurance and she has lost a whopping 64 pounds. I love this site my husband is not very supportive with my choice and the people here have made me feel reassurance that I'm making the right choice for me. Good luck and stay positive.

Ok...where to start. I have been big all my life, but when I was young I was an athletic kind of big. I played sports from the time I was 8 until I blew my knee out during softball season my junior year of high school. By then I had played softball annually, field hockey for a couple years and basketball. I was my current height (6') by the time I was 14. Which for a chick...is freaking tall. I'm from a family of giants.

I have a horrible family history with regards to obesity. Grandfather died at 48 from a heart attack. My uncle had gastric bypass but failed it. Lost 150 in a short time, but put it all back and then some. He has stretched his stomach out and eats all the things he shouldn't eat. My dad is overweight, but not by much. My other uncle is the biggest I have ever seen him. My youngest cousin is bigger than I ever was at that age. It's a horrible up hill battle that I have been fighting for decades now.

Ok, now for the funny fat chick to kick in. I'm tired of shopping at "Lane Giant" as I am want to call it. I hate putting on a dress because it makes me feel like I am wearing something I picked up from a tent and awning store. It's crap. I'm constantly afraid of starting forest fires with the thigh chaffing I rock. The folds of skin? Over it. The stares, rude comments...over it. Being overlooked or ignored and having people act surprised when they walk into me...really? I'm huge...how can you NOT see me?im tired of being invisible. Of being unworthy. Of not mattering simply because of my appearance.

So I looked into this in 2001 when I lived in Mass. Insurance denied me despite doing everything they said to. I looked into gastric bypass again in 2008 while living n Greenville, SC. No deal with the insurance again. So I gave up. Ate myself into an oblivion...stayed in a bad marriage far too long. Generally just hated life.

Now I am doing the insurance approval marathon. I live in Florida now and I'm doing everything that my insurance company said to. I have been assured by the program coordinator that it's a done deal. I have the comorbities that I didn't have back then. I'm also heavier than I have been in a long time. I am in week 3 of a 16 week Weight management program. This is required by my insurance. I meet my surgeon next Tuesday. I have a cardiologist appointment on Thursday of this week. And I will find out next week who else my surgeon wants clearance from.

Here's some stats...I'm 33, 6' tall and I weigh 320. I'm looking to get down to 170. That puts me into a normal BMI. And I want a little normalcy in my life right now. I'm sick of carrying this burden. And I'm really tired of the push back I am getting about choosing the sleeve. I know I don't look like I'm as heavy as the scale says I am, it doesn't change the reality of my situation.

Tentatively according to my coordinator, I should have a surgery date for the first or second week in November. I'm nervous but not too bad. I hope to make some friends here and get the support I need and we all need to traverse this life changing decision.

***i have attached a sort of before pic to show what I am starting with.

Hey there~

Welcome to the forums. Love this place filled with many good people. You're story is sad, and funny all a the same time. I don't know what to say other than SO glad I read your post. I get the same comments "you don't need that surgery....you're not big enough....." Blah blah blah. YES I AM HOLY WAH!

One thing disturbs me quite honestly. I actually LOVE Lane "Giants" (that was cute) clothes and think I will miss them one day! Oh I'm sure I'll get over it but at least there is a store for fatties that you don't look like you are 100 years old! Right?

Welcome! I get the same comments too because I am tall, and the way my weight is distributed, people don't realize I need to lose over 100 lbs. But I still have the rolls, the comorbidities and the inability to buy clothes in the normal size stores. I am also very close to being diabetic which I don't ever want to get there!!!

I will now never ever look at the Lane Giant store name the same again!!!! ha ha ha That really made me laugh!

Yeah for you for doing this in your 30s! I'm in my 40s and I wish they did this back when I was in my 30s!

Hi!!

Congratulations on not giving up on your health. I am sure you will have much success with your procedure. I too love this place everyone on here is very supportive and helpful.

Forgot to actually add my before pic. Lol.

And thank you all fortune warm welcome. It's great to have such a wonderful support group!! Everyone has been wonderful and I'm going to be so well prepared when it gets to be my turn to join the losers bench!cannot wait!!

Welcome to VST! I'm sorry to hear that you've shared so many of the difficult experiences many of us have had, but I'm glad to hear that it sounds like things are working out for you now =) Keep us updated on your progress. And good job sticking in there even through insurance pulling a fast one on you - that must have been incredibly frustrating!

i found my fellow tall peeps yay!!! Ok Lane Giants...lol. I am so thankful to them though...they understand a woman can be tall and fluffy. All other stores believe in only short and fluffy. I need my talls darn it!