What was your “Moment” ?

[Lipman 46]

Mine was the last diet I did. Went to a place called SOTA (state of the art). Like a bunch of other diets, it worked great at first, dropped 40#, then started to slide off. 9 months later I was 15 pounds heavier than I had started. I told my wife I was scared to diet again as I typically rebounded higher than I started. That was the inflection point where I lost all confidence in my ability to do it alone.

[ms.sss 14,830]

i was at a pool party and i couldn't put sunscreen on my feet without doing some sort of backwards bending while sitting on stairs.

i happened to look up and notice people looking at me with what looked (to me) like pity.

i scheduled my surgery the following month AND finally went through with it (after backing out twice previously)!

best decision ever.

[GrannyMaggie 14]

30 minutes ago, ms.sss said:

i was at a pool party and i couldn't put sunscreen on my feet without doing some sort of backwards bending while sitting on stairs.

i happened to look up and notice people looking at me with what looked (to me) like pity.

i scheduled my surgery the following month AND finally went through with it (after backing out twice previously)!

best decision ever.

Just had my bypass Monday- looking fwd to never having moments like these again.

[NickelChip 818]

A lot of things played into it, but honestly, it was when the doctor asked me if I would be interested in it.

For background, I'm turning 50 next year, so yes, that milestone is in my head as part of it. My younger brother had VSG 15 years ago, and ever since then, I wished I could do it because he had such a great outcome. But at the time my BMI was 34, so I didn't qualify, even with high blood pressure. As my weight increased, my doctor referred me to the hospital's weight loss center. They started me on a non-surgical program, and it worked a bit for a while. And then it didn't, and I gained everything back plus some. I even tried Wegovy for a while, but I could never get it long enough to see if it would work because of the shortages, plus the discounts dried up and the out of pocket was crazy.

But this past summer, my weight peaked at the highest it had ever been, tied with the day I left the hospital after delivering my second child. My BMI had reached 40. My body ached, my feet ached. I was bloated all the time. Nothing fit. My heart kept doing a worrying fluttery thing. I had to increase my blood pressure medication. With the pandemic, I had stopped going to the weight management center. My doctor told me to go back. This time, they asked if I would be interested in considering surgery, and I jumped at the chance. It was like the second the question was asked, I knew it was time.

If they'd asked earlier, I probably would've done it then. But for such a long time I didn't qualify, and then I probably did but everyone seemed to think I should still keep trying on my own. When I found out my out of pocket costs would only be around $3k, I nearly fainted. I assumed it would be so expensive. My brother was self-pay and it was 10k. Instead, it's the same as two months of Wegovy! Now I'm just counting the weeks until my Dec 27th surgery date.

[GrannyMaggie 14]

42 minutes ago, NickelChip said:

A lot of things played into it, but honestly, it was when the doctor asked me if I would be interested in it.

For background, I'm turning 50 next year, so yes, that milestone is in my head as part of it. My younger brother had VSG 15 years ago, and ever since then, I wished I could do it because he had such a great outcome. But at the time my BMI was 34, so I didn't qualify, even with high blood pressure. As my weight increased, my doctor referred me to the hospital's weight loss center. They started me on a non-surgical program, and it worked a bit for a while. And then it didn't, and I gained everything back plus some. I even tried Wegovy for a while, but I could never get it long enough to see if it would work because of the shortages, plus the discounts dried up and the out of pocket was crazy.

But this past summer, my weight peaked at the highest it had ever been, tied with the day I left the hospital after delivering my second child. My BMI had reached 40. My body ached, my feet ached. I was bloated all the time. Nothing fit. My heart kept doing a worrying fluttery thing. I had to increase my blood pressure medication. With the pandemic, I had stopped going to the weight management center. My doctor told me to go back. This time, they asked if I would be interested in considering surgery, and I jumped at the chance. It was like the second the question was asked, I knew it was time.

If they'd asked earlier, I probably would've done it then. But for such a long time I didn't qualify, and then I probably did but everyone seemed to think I should still keep trying on my own. When I found out my out of pocket costs would only be around $3k, I nearly fainted. I assumed it would be so expensive. My brother was self-pay and it was 10k. Instead, it's the same as two months of Wegovy! Now I'm just counting the weeks until my Dec 27th surgery date.

I am so happy for you! The fact your brother has already had it should be a huge plus, both knowing what to expect and knowing you’ll have a support system. Wishing you the very best!

[AmberFL 268]

My moment is when my knees and feet were hurting just getting out bed, and not having the energy to play with my children who are 6yrs old and 18m- even when they ask I gas out too quick. I want to be able to coach my kids sports; I was athletic played all through HS and in shape then after having kids just let myself go. I am embarrassed for my husband because he deserves a wife that loves herself enough to take care of herself. He has never been negative and was shocked that I wanted to go this route because he doesn't think that I need to, but he doesn't have weight issues. I want to get back in shape lose some weight and be there for my kids and husband! Plus it never hurts to look and feel good!

[DiaryofaLamb 4]

Mine was when I had to have a CPAP machine to help me sleep. I was falling asleep all the time, in 5 minute car rides, in the movies, in the middle of the museum in the planetarium. I also saw the pictures of myself with my little cousins and wanting to play with them but not having the energy. I want kids, it’s been my life dream and I don’t want to be someone who pushes my problems on them. Plus two of my aunts had this surgery and I saw the differences in their attitudes, energy, confidence, etc.

[RTL1234 99]

Two major ones for me stand out…

First - I was on an insulin pump because my diabetes was so bad (was 274 lb at the time)

Second - I went to ride a rollercoaster with my kid and a couple of his friends, could not fit in the over the shoulder to buckle the belt. It was the most embarrassing moment of my life. I can say the guy was a bigger guy and was trying to make it better by saying “oh it happens all the time, these seats are weird” but it was mortifying. And I told myself I wasn’t doing that ever again.

Sleeved in 2020, about to have a revision for severe acid reflux and I’ve never looked back.

[BeanitoDiego 133]

My final FINAL moments were last year. I saw a photo of myself at Thanksgiving, and I resembled a potato. I was round, just like a circle. At that time, when I would sit down, I noticed that the way that my stomach would land on my thighs was only about 5 inches from my knees.

I had the distinct thought that the weight gain was going to continue unabated if I did not make a radical life change.

First appointment was almost one year ago, and *everything* is SO much better.

[diadori 22]

My moment just happened. I have a recurrent abdominal hernia. The general surgeon I met with initially really pounded it in my head that my weight was causing this problem. He ended up referring me to a bariatric specialist surgeon who I see on the 16th after a CT scan of my hernia tonight. That visit will determine how they are going to treat me - surgery to repair the hernia and mesh first or push for WLS.

I've been researching like crazy and I'm starting to dream of a life where I'm not diabetic, I don't have sleep apnea and I can go to the thrift store and buy clothes again.

[Bypass2Freedom 163]

I think my moment was when I realised my behaviour had changed. I'd stopped going outside, stopped socialising, was no longer posting selfies (which I am a great lover of doing haha), and I no longer felt comfortable wearing anything other then leggings and a long top. It was as if I had just given up. Once I tapped into this feeling, I realised that I no longer connect with my body as it is, I feel disassociated from it. I then made the decision to get my surgery booked in for this year!

[BlondePatriotInCDA 252]

I have several things that come to mind on what was the last straw, but for me it was when my family visited and I was the only fat person there. My entire family is thin. Combine that with my thin husband..I felt like those old movies where you see the huge fat loud mouth wife (lol no I'm not that bad - looks around to see if husband is watching me type) with the small husband.. Everywhere we went I hated I was bigger than my husband (he eats tons and anything he wants - but due to his job he walks 12 miles - 6 days a week) so he remains thin.

Add to the above; people would look at me then my grocery cart when shopping...then judge..and even say things even though 99.9% of the Cookies, kids Cereal, ice cream etc were for my husband. They never saw my cottage cheese, salads etc., just zeroed in on the garbage. I had one person tell me "no wonder you're fat" looking into my cart. Needless to say my smart ass came out..i said I can lose weight..you'll always be a rude ass**** who obviously has a "small penis" complex feeling the need to insult others to feel better about his small Insecurity package. One of the larger straws that pushed me to have surgery. I never told my husband out of total embarrassment.. Until recently.

Edited January 16 by BlondePatriotInCDA