Hello everyone, my name is Joshlyn. I am 23 years old from Waco, Texas... living in hell (a.k.a. Stephenville, Texas). I am currently going through my insurance required 6 month process. I am 3 months in. I still have 3 more nutritionist visits, a seminar to attend, and my psych eval. Yesterday was my 3rd nutritionist visit at which time I weight 302 lbs. I am 5 feet 7 inches tall. My BMI is 47 I believe.

I have been overweight my entire life, in the last 4-5 years becoming obese/morbidly obese. In junior high and high school I played soccer, on a team and was a competitive swimmer for 5 1/2 years. My events were the 200 and 500 free, as well as swimming the 50 butterfly in relays. For those of you who don't know, a 500 is 20 laps in a 50 meter pool. I wasn't very fast, but I could just keep swimming and swimming. While being athletic I either managed my overweight size or gained weight. I do have Polycystic Ovarian Sydrome which does cause me to constantly gain weight. After high school I gave up on dieting and exercising because it had shown to do nothing for me. I wish now I would have just keep trying because even though I would still be overweight I wouldn't be so obese.

I am scheduled to have my surgery either at the end of june or sometime in July. I chose the Lap Band because my mom has it and it has been a slow gradual lifestyle change that she has truly learned from rather than a quick easy change. I hope to lose 100lbs over the course of a year or two from my surgery. Once I've lost 20-50lbs depending on how I feel I will begin to exercise again. As of right now my weight has drained me of any ounce of energy possible. I get out of breath easily and my back and knees hurt from long spans of walking or walking up or down stairs.

Welcome!

And some advice...go ahead and start exercising now...just walking for 30 min a day will do it. I am WAY older than you (54) shorter (5'5") fatter (weigh 369 ish) and I can walk ... so I know you can. I started out not being able to do much...back cramped, short winded, miserable...but it adds up. You can get into shape faster than you think. You don't have to be "athletic" yet...just move. You'll thank yourself! :smile:

Good luck!

Welcome!!! Stephenville ain't that bad...lol.. I'm just about 40-45 min from you in Ranger. I don't see many people on here that are from around here. Good Luck.....

Welcome!!! Stephenville ain't that bad...lol.. I'm just about 40-45 min from you in Ranger. I don't see many people on here that are from around here. Good Luck.....

My mom works at Tarleton and also has lap-band. She has lost about 60-70 lbs in 2 years, which she wishes was more.