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What Was Your Final "straw That Broke The Camels Back"



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I would like to post this, have been waiting and wanting to write this:

My surgery was March 30, 2015. Including my pre-diet to date I have lost 43.5 lbs for which I am thrilled and feel like a new person with no more than 20 more lbs. to lose to hit target. My point is that pre-surgery I had goals and desires and I am traveling later next week to see my family. Travel formerly presented issues like:

Sweating and getting breathless lugging suitcases, etc.

Feeling squashed in airline seats

Feeling fat in anything I wore

Dreading clothes shopping excursions

Overeating the wonderful meals we create

Feeling hot all the time when others are comfortable as cucumbers

Tire easily

NOW:

I can sprint and carry things with the best of them effortlessly

Will have plenty of room in the airline seat and be comfortable

Cross my legs with ease and comfort

Feel great in my clothes that are loose and look forward to shopping

While shopping, ask for an item of clothes I try on in a smaller size

Eating my smaller portions, thoroughly enjoying it and not craving more

I wake early, get out to walk briskly and with joy

Feeling happy and generous of spirit

Proud of myself and at peace

Sleeve surgery is the best decision I ever made and am grateful for the gift of health and happiness.

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Back pain and serious knee pain whenever I walk. I was just dealing with these things and ignoring them. I had most of my life been the fat girl that was healthy. No HBP, diabetes, high cholesterol...nothing. Well that came to an end when I had blood work done last month. My endocrinologist sat me down and explained all the results and what then mean :-( I have a 15 year old daughter (that's very healthy, active and always has been at a normal weight) and all I could think about was not being here for her and my boyfriend. He asked if I had ever considered WLS. I had but not seriously. I was still in that denial state of "I can do it myself". I couldn't imagine her being alone. She already lost her father. I HAVE to be here!!!

So here I am!

I've completed my 1st seminar, initial comsultation, 1st dietician visit and I'm working on allllll the other things the hospital and my insurance requires. I'm on my way!

Edited by CreoleVSGGirl

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Came down to seeing several friends from my childhood pass on, they were in moderate shape, the knee pain, back, and several other issues that came up in the past couple of years, paled in comparison to the fact that I am 51 yo and I have 6yo twins and a 7 yo princess, and a stepson who is 12, not to mention a pretty hot wife...........so I said , meh I ain't doin much this year anyway " lol

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I went on the Yankee Cannonball at Canobie Lake Park. The guy pushed down so hard on the bar and told me that if it didn't click I couldn't ride. So I let him smash me under the bar because I wasn't going to get out! It clicked and we survived the ride. However I had a large purple bruise across my mind section for about three weeks. Also for all the people I have had to apologise to for being too fat. Also to make amends for the seatbelt extension that I stole in 1984, because I didn't want to ever have to ask another stewardess for one.

I have two beautiful daughters I want to be alive to dance at their weddings and sing to my grandchildren.

Edited by amoreno

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My 'straw' wasn't a bad thing that happened to me or something I was sick of etc, my decision to have surgery came from the yummiest place ever... CAKE.

I had thought about WLS since 2009 but had been put off by some bad family responses, and also that I was under the impression that you had to have six weeks off work afterwards (I must have seen or heard that somewhere...), which wouldn't have suited me at all.

Anyway, I was watching Cake Boss in September 2014 and one of the people on the show had a lap-band (I think) and they showed her visiting the bakery ten days after the operation. It was then that I realised that I wouldn't be out of action for an extended period, and it wasn't until I learned this that I considered WLS a viable option - it was like it was finally a possibility for me.

So yeah, if I wasn't a card-carrying cake-addict I wouldn't have been watching that show, and I would still be thinking that WLS wasn't a possibility for me. So yeah, cake totally saved my life ;)

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I was out to eat with my family and overheard my father tell my mother I was fat. That really hurt my feelings.

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It all can be hurtful....comments from friends, family and strangers, their sideway expressions, and public humiliations. But we are the winners by making an educated decision to change our lives and love ourselves no matter what.

Amen to that!

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I have many, but I guess the top 3 would be these -

  • Getting thoroughly depressed when trying to find clothing in my size...finding anything stylish in size 3X is not an easy task!!!
  • Working out at the gym and seeing all the pounds falling off of every family member except me!!! Apparently I must have been eating back everything I worked off!!
  • During my latest doctor's visit, hearing the dreaded term 'DIABETES'...I saw what it did to many of my family members, including losing my mother...didn't want to do that do my family, especially if it's something I have the power to avoid and control!!!

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Straw that broke was when my doctor told me tipping scale at 300 (a number I would NEVER think I would see), and he said that I will never be able to lose over 100 that I needed to on my own. I have bad knees and my orthopedic said I needed to lose over 100 pds in order for him to help me. I never knew the sleeve was an option. Went to the info session with my mom and husband because they realy needed to be on board with support for me to make this all work. I have completed all the tests, read the books, done the research, seen all the specialists lost 28 pds and just waiting for a date!

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Congrats on taking the initiative to research and learn about the sleeve. Keep your positive attitude and I wish you all the best. I am so very happy I had my sleeve surgery that I can't even begin to describe it and wish for you the same success. Embrace the change!

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Straw that broke was when my doctor told me tipping scale at 300 (a number I would NEVER think I would see), and he said that I will never be able to lose over 100 that I needed to on my own. I have bad knees and my orthopedic said I needed to lose over 100 pds in order for him to help me. I never knew the sleeve was an option. Went to the info session with my mom and husband because they realy needed to be on board with support for me to make this all work. I have completed all the tests, read the books, done the research, seen all the specialists lost 28 pds and just waiting for a date!

Way to go on taking a positive turn to your anticipated life style change. I wish you the best of luck on this weight lose journey. Keep posting.

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The straw for me was my 8 year old grandson asking why I looked like I was pregnant. All I could say was" because I'm fat" what more is there to say?

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Have you had your surgery yet? If not do you know when? I know we just have to get thru the first month and we can do it. In my mind I want to go back to work also hoping I will be fine to go back week 2 but may be wishful thinking. I do just sit at a computer all day so it could be possible. I will stay in touch.

Sue

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It was very hard to make the decision, like other people have said it felt like I was
giving up - and "taking the easy route" - but truthfully I can honestly say that I have been "on a diet" or "dieting" - since I was in grade three - I have a huge wealth of information about what I am suppose to eat. And yet, here I am after dieting for fifty years! I think I have dieted enough. I am doing the sleeve to save what is left of my life. I have missed out on so much due to size issues - and I need to be here for the second half. I don't have my date yet - and I won't find out until July 9th - but anyone who thinks this is the easy - think again, the pre-op stuff alone is pretty tough! - but I am so excited to start my life again. So, Sue - write me back, I probably could have dieted for the next fifty years, but health issue caught up with me and I am done feeling, tired, sick, and shaky from diabetes!

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I have watched others have bypass surgery. Some did well. Some had strokes and one died. I could t risk it. I have a special needs daughter who needs me. She requires help with every aspect of life and I have to be here for her. Then one day I woke up and I was 55 yrs old and I realized the tables had turned. I just might not be here for her one day. I learned about the sleeve and have decided it was the least risky and the right choice for me.

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