I am currently looking at bariatric weightloss surgery to help me lose at least 100 lbs. I am 6' and 290lbs. I am married and have 4 children, 3 boys(all adopted as babies) and 1 daughter(given birth to). I have chrondramalsia patella syndrome in both knees, I have osteoarthritis in my right ankle, I have heel spurs on both feet and plantar fasciitis on my left foot. Doctors and orthopedic surgeons have all told me I need to exercise to lose weight to control the degeneration and pain and inflammation of my issues but can't due to pain. I am also not a happy person anymore, I get irritable at my family very easy and don't want to do things with my kids and i hate looking at myself in the mirror. I also have no energy or ambition to do much, I feel tired and lazy and unmotivated all the time.d don't want to do things with my kids and i hate looking at myself in the mirror. I also have no energy or ambition to do much, I feel tired and lazy and unmotivated all the time.

Edited January 12, 201610 yr by Amberbo

Ah I see, who would have thought not eating would make you gain weight ????

I regret this as much as my decision to quit smoking four years ago. NOT AT ALL.

I dated hotter women than I did then (OK, this may not be your motivation, but it worked for me).

My ex is really jealous (OK, again this may not be applicable).

But I have no more CPAP, off all those drugs I don't dread doctor's appointments.

I don't get kicked off rides at amusement parks because the seat belt won't fit. People are not worried I'm their seat mate on long flights.

Life is so much better smaller and healthier. Heck, do you know how cool it is not worrying about how you are going to get your toenails clipped? (yeah sometimes it is the small stuff).

When you really wonder if this is the right call, read through this section...http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/195065-you-know-you-lost-weight-when/

If you don't spontaneously tear up at times, you are NOT a candidate. I still do. It's amazing to me how over a year out I hear about someone's struggles that they have overcome after losing weight how it brings back memories of my past struggles. I don't think those weight PTSD memories are ever going to go away.

But these NSV's always bring me hope and happiness.

How many people read the original post and said, "That sounds like me?" I did...

Weight loss surgery is a huge decision. I got to the point in my life where I started to not care…about anything. It was horrible. I didn't like my life, I didn't like myself, I was starting to check out. What a horrible thing when you have an awesome husband and teenage son. One day I walked into the living room and said to my husband, "I want to have weight loss surgery." He looked at me like I had grown a second head. He didn't understand. The following week I went in for my surgery consult and decided that day to have surgery. Next to marrying my husband and having my son, this was the best decision I have every made.

My life today is awesome - I'm active and I try to move my body every day. I actually don't feel good when I don't move. I feel awesome - I'm more confident, I smile a lot, I am happier. I no longer have to take a nap every day. I am finally living the life I was meant to live. I walked down one of the Teton Mountains last summer - a 4 mile hike downhill. I wandered around San Francisco last year - 17 miles in one day. Last summer I went zip-lining and white Water rafting - something I wouldn't have thought to do 70 pounds ago. I can do 90 minutes of hot yoga at 5:30 am and feel great the rest of the day. food no longer rules my universe - I use food to fuel my body for the day.

All of the above is really great, but the biggest change and improvement in my life…my relationship with my husband and son. One day after running with my son, we got in the car and I said, "Wow, I couldn't have done that a few years ago, huh?" My son asked me some questions about the surgery - some really thoughtful questions about why I decided to do it and what exactly they did. He eventually said, "I'm really happy you had the surgery, mom." That was a great day.

My only regret? That I didn't do it sooner...