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What Was Your Ah-Ha (Or Oh Crap) Moment?



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All the dieting to look better had failed.... then the health started going down... and the weight going up above my "NEVER will get over this" mark.... I started seeing WLS as a health measure, not a beauty measure... this got me going in the right direction.

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Finding my lovely Mom on the floor with a massive stroke. She was and had been overweight all her life and had a host of other health problems including diabetes and A Fib. Sadly, I lost her that Christmas Day 4 years ago and 3 1/2 years ago I had VSG!!!! Never regretted it one minute!!!

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Finding my lovely Mom on the floor with a massive stroke. She was and had been overweight all her life and had a host of other health problems including diabetes and A Fib. Sadly, I lost her that Christmas Day 4 years ago and 3 1/2 years ago I had VSG!!!! Never regretted it one minute!!!

Wow Georgia, that is quite a tough wakeup call! Sorry for your loss, and glad it spurred you on to get the surgery!

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I was at lunch with a friend and she had been approved for surgery. She is considerably smaller than me. I had been trying to lose weight on my own for years, only to be at an all time high weight of 299. I went home and looked at myself in the only full length mirror in my house, the one hiding in storage. I saw myself, really saw myself and saw a future of disease, discomfort, and denial. That night I tried to sleep but my fat was in the way (as usual). The next morning I tried to get dressed, but all I could see was the fat I had piled on. I saw it as a coat of armor I used to protect myself, but much like real armor, my fat was limiting me. I woke up and could no longer pretend that the fat wasn't there. I called my PCP for a referral to a weight management program that day.

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For myself it was barely being able to wash my feet and lower legs in the shower. It mashed all of the air out of my lungs bending over like that.

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I am sick and tired of being sick and tired. I am tired of never feeling full. I want to feel full. I am tired of my knees hurting. I have been overweight and obese most of my life but have had energy to burn. But these last two years it has finally caught up with me. I want wls to be a tool to help get me back. I have my first appointment with doctor on 1/7/14. My.primary care is all for it. So....here i go!

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Where to start!

I have been watching my health go down hill for the last 2 years. That being said I was hospitalized 3 times in 3 months for copd exacerbations. The last one landed my BIG butt in ICU. Again looking aty 6 kids faces ... I knew I ha to do something. I am currently diagnosed with...

Copd

Asthma

Diabeties

High blood pressure

Fluid retention

Diabetic neuropathy

Anxiety disorder

And to top it all off... I wear a bipap machine for sleep apnea at night. My 3yr old is terrified of it. Calls it mommys scary mask!

So I guess (so sorry for the long rant) that was my "omg what am I gonna do" moment. So I went to my dr and she asked if I ha thought about a WLS? I had never heard of it... And there my journey was born!!!

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Finding my lovely Mom on the floor with a massive stroke. She was and had been overweight all her life and had a host of other health problems including diabetes and A Fib. Sadly, I lost her that Christmas Day 4 years ago and 3 1/2 years ago I had VSG!!!! Never regretted it one minute!!!

I am so sorry for ur loss... My love and prayers to you! My mother is sadly morbidly obese and refuses to do anything about it. I have watches her go from healthy and active... To being bound to a scooter chair and a bed on oxygen. I can't get her to stop eating mass portions and get help. She's in total denial and is thoroughly p.o.ed at me for even c

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Finding my lovely Mom on the floor with a massive stroke. She was and had been overweight all her life and had a host of other health problems including diabetes and A Fib. Sadly, I lost her that Christmas Day 4 years ago and 3 1/2 years ago I had VSG!!!! Never regretted it one minute!!!

I am so sorry for ur loss... My love and prayers to you! My mother is sadly morbidly obese and refuses to do anything about it. I have watches her go from healthy and active... To being bound to a scooter chair and a bed on oxygen. I can't get her to stop eating mass portions and get help. She's in total denial and is thoroughly p.o.ed at me for even considering having WLS. But I gotta take care of me... Ya know? My kids and I need this.

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I am so sorry for ur loss... My love and prayers to you! My mother is sadly morbidly obese and refuses to do anything about it. I have watches her go from healthy and active... To being bound to a scooter chair and a bed on oxygen. I can't get her to stop eating mass portions and get help. She's in total denial and is thoroughly p.o.ed at me for even considering having WLS. But I gotta take care of me... Ya know? My kids and I need this.

Do what's best for you & long term health.

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I am sick and tired of being sick and tired. I am tired of never feeling full. I want to feel full. I am tired of my knees hurting. I have been overweight and obese most of my life but have had energy to burn. But these last two years it has finally caught up with me. I want wls to be a tool to help get me back. I have my first appointment with doctor on 1/7/14. My.primary care is all for it. So....here i go!

good for you!!!! Please know we're all here for ya and can't wait to watch you succeed.

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I love the new me and the fact that I don't push food around on my plate or have the look of pure agony on my face because I'm starving but unable to swallow due to being stuck... I used to get stuck so easily and toward the end of my band wouldn't have anything to eat or drink until 2 in the afternoon be cause I had to 'warm up' my band. Let me remind you I live in florida it is always hot here. It was pure nuttiness and I told myself for over a year everything was ok because I refused to admit I had a problem. I am so thankful I woke up and realized I didn't fail; rather the band failed me. It just wasnt the right answer for me. I think it is a great tool and clearly is great for some but the last year and half prior to rny was pure agony. So glad I changed. :)

Wow. That was my life with the band. That look of agony. My whole family knew what it meant. That is some terrible pain and it happened to me almost daily. I had the band out almost a year ago and I am having the RNY procedure next month. I love reading about how much different it is.

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Simply put.......a PICTURE speaks a thousand words!!!!!!

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Eeek...I know what you mean...the photographs are just horrifying....have hidden from the camera forever but once in a while there's a picture. As you say, a thousand words beginning with OMG...

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I don't think there was one single moment that pushed me over the edge. Everything was just so difficult - getting up in the morning, getting dressed, getting in and out of the bath..... I was just tired all the time, and felt completely disgusted with myself. I had lost and gained weight before many times, but could never keep it off. I had all but given up all hope. I knew when I got the opportunity to have the bypass that this would be my last chance, and I was determined to give it 100%. I will never go back to being that sad, defeated person.

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    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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