Jamie S.
Life is great, for the most part. I have struggled with my weight since I can remember. Based on my parents recollection, I've been heavy for about 20 years and of those 20 years I have been considered morbidly obese for 7 of those. High school and college were very easy for me academically (2 Bachelors and 2 minors) but socially it was hard. I actually turned down medical school because I felt I had no business telling people how to get healthy and get in shape as a Dr. when I was morbidly obese myself. I had a lot of friends but not really any serious romantic relationships--not any healthy ones anyway. I seemed to settle for just about anyone because I didn't think I could find anyone better because of my obesity. That all changed when I met my husband in 2000. He was a Marine, fit, athletic, cute, and exercised a lot so you can imagine that I was surprised he was attracted to me. We were married in 2003 and has been nothing but supportive in my never-ending journey to lose weight. He loves me no matter what but I just need to get healthy for me...it's just a bonus that it will benefit everyone else too. I don't mind exercising but it's very difficult to do so with constant joint pain and severe exercise-induced asthma attacks. We had a baby girl in 2005 and had a very problematic pregnancy and scary emergency cesearean. Due to my weight, I had complications of varicose veins in my pelvic and abdominal regions and caused me to bleed out completely when the incision was made. Facing death as a first time mother was terrifying. I want to have more children someday and feel if I am at a healthier weight, only good things can come of it. Who knows, maybe medical school in a few years?!?
