What was your turning point???

Hello Ga folks!! I was just wondering, what was the one turning point in your life that made you want to seek out WLS? Having surgery to get our weight under control is serious business and not something to be taken lightly so what one thing in your life made you say "Enough is enough"? Mine was a trip to DisneyWorld. I *LOVE* that place! My sister and neice took me for my birthday in 2000. When I got there, I could not walk for the pain in my legs and feet. I had panic attacks just thinking about what if I couldnt fit on the rides. I was tired and had to leave Epcot to go back to the hotel and take a nap. I missed out on so much because I was so tired and in pain. But when we got home and I saw my pics from that trip I KNEW in my heart I had to do something. I started doing research, reading everything I could get my hands on about WLS. I talked to my doctors and started yet another diet and exercise program. But after several months I'd lost less than 10 pounds I knew the surgery was for me. Now that I'm almost 2 years post-op, its still a long, hard road. I still have my demons but I would not trade one day post-op for my old life. Why? Because I HAVE a life now. Any BTW: I went back to DisneyWorld for my honeymoon and had the time of my life. Take care everyone!! Sidney

I had been looking into the WLS for a few years before really persuing the actual "depth" of it. What kicked me over the edge was Loosing BOTH parents last year. My daddy wasn't a very heavy man - but I know he did have some weight issues....everything was complicated by diabetes and kidney failure. My family lost him due to the kidneys....but had he been a bit thinner I think *maybe* we'd still have him with us. My momma was big my entire childhood. She continued to get bigger into my young adulthood...and her divorce to my daddy made it hard on her. She and I became "going out" buddies, so we'd always grab a bite to eat everytime we'd go out. She continued to get bigger - and having to work midnights to be home for the kids, she didn't exercise or eat properly. When she got hurt at work and became bed ridden, that's when the diabetes set in - thus the downfall for her health. She wound up being allergic to coumadin and having had her leg amputated. I watched over the next 12 years, her health deteriorate to the point that even her going to the bathroom it would exhaust her. She did manage to loose weight just before she passed, but the damage had already been done. She passed last Sept 2nd from a massive coronary. I didn't want to live like that. Better yet, I didn't want to die like that. My family has been devistated by this loss - and I don't want to add to it....so I've made the change. I'm on my way to health. I'm not looking to become supermodel skinny....but I DO want more than anything in this world to be healthy! Actually - to REMAIN healthy. I am healthier than most people I know even at my weight - I want to prevent any problems like my momma had. This has not been the easiest thing I've ever done - none the less....I'm doing it because I'm stubborn and I know what I want out of life! I want to live...I want to have my own family....I want to be around long enough to see them grow up and be happy. The decision was VERY personal for me - but it's what's going to save my life!

I had also considered WLS several years ago but decided to give the "diet industry" one more shot. I have been obese...not just overwight...since the age of 6. I was even on the "Ayds" candy diet when I was about 10, most people don't even remember that diet. My turning point came when I moved to a townhouse apartment with stairs. I always thought I was a "healthy" obese person, just big-boned...REALLY BIG BONES! I'm only 32 but I could barely make it up one flight of stairs! My feet & ankles began to swell everyday. I watched my grandmother, mother & aunt all suffer with obesity related illness...I said enough is enough!! Cindi

Sidney, Great question!!! I'm going to be totally serious with ya'll, I had always been thinking of WLS and heard of different people doing fantastic with it, but my "breaking" point (no pun intended) is when I broke the Toilet seat. I know your all laughing, but it's true. My husband asked what happened to the toilet seat and I told him one of the kids must have slammed it down... I'm thinking Oh My God, I'm fat enough to break the toilet seat, for real, I was devastated, that's when I decided I've got to have help!!!!! But I swear, once this is over and I've lost my weight , I'll never break anything I sit on again!!!!!!(Including my husbands legs!!!) Thanks for letting me share, Carrie

Girl, I HAVE BEEN THERE, I HAVE BEEN THERE, I HAVE BEEN THERE! The worst was when I broke the seat at a friends house. Do you know how much I wanted to die? I lied and said the radio that they kept on the back of the toilet fell off and hit it, but I bought them a new seat anyway. Then, in my apartment, the seat broke almost as soon as we moved in, and since it's just me in that bathroom, I taped it up and said screw it! Then last week my roommate calls me, oh I saw your toilet seat was broken (why was he in my bathroom?) and I called maintenance to fix it. D********* it! Now I have to start all over again "breaking" in a new toilet seat! Kelle

Went to my youngest daughters softball game and broke the METAL camp chair we took to sit in. I wanted to cry, but my husband jumped up and put on a big show of "finding something wrong with the chair". I knew then it was no longer my families burden to baby me over my problem at thier cost. As soon as I found out my insurance covered-well, within 3 months of the softball game I am now 9 days post-op thank God. Be Blessed, Shawnna

My turning point was: I'm 27yrs old, I have no social life but I'm always the life of the party. (go figure?) I have small feet for my size 8 to 8 1/2 my upper half is very little I have small breast, legs, ankles, hands and along with my knees and hips Which HURT LIKE HELL . And on top of all these small body parts is 360 pounds!!! Guys I could go on forever. All guys tell me how wonderful I am but would never date me, I couldn't wear any clothes I liked, it's very hard to go up stairs etc. To make this very long story short in a matter of 6 months my health went from good to bad. JUST SIX MONTHS GUYS, THAT'S ALL IT TOOK. I guess I finally looked in the looking glass and did not like what I saw or felt. I was always quick, could run, dance for hours on end and one day I could bearly walk from leg, foot, hip and knee pain. And I'm not 30 yet. I was always gonna be a star but I let my weight hold me back. Now I just might be to old to get in the business but I am working on my CD. I guess all these things came crashing down on me that I refused to look at and trust me it all hit me one day on a very depressed day for me in my room. Not at certain points and time but all in one day and I will never forget it. It's amazing how you can trick yourself and I had been doing that for a very long time Don't get me wrong I thought about it at like 24 but my mother talked me out of it and it was easy because one she's my mother and two I had tricked myself into thinking I was happy so I said okay I don't need it and I lost 80 pounds with the help of drugs but I gained 100 back in year in a half or less. I'm sorry for going on so long, forgive me.

I always wanted wls but was afraid of the open procedure. My son turned 21 and I watched him as he worked and sat in front of the computer with no social life. I did not want him to spend the next 30 years of his life as I have had and I knew I had to do something. His weight stayed at around 350 and because he is tall like I am - it did not show as bad. I wanted him to have a new life so thats why I did it. When I finally decided I was going to do this - it was a very emotional thing for me. Both Andrew and I had our wls on 5/13 6 weeks ago - he has lost 49 lbs. and I have lost 40 lbs. I thank God for this operation!

Thanks everyone for sharing your very personal stories. I did see alot of myself in each of you. I've broke at least 3 toliet seats plus a metal bed frame, my fair share of chairs and stools. I've watched members of my family suffer daily with health problems due to their weight and I've missed out on so much of life because I was ashamed of how I looked. I wanted to this surgery so the pain and suffering can end. And by the grace of the Lord it has. Bless you all for strenght and courage to fight for your life. Sidney

Lets see for me it was alittle different ...I was actually against the surgery at first ...My best freind had it done and i hated that she did ...then my mom had it done and that killed me and i was still against it ...And then i was thinking one day ... i have tried every diet and every pill and i just cannt get past 220 on the scale and why should i live my life like this. I have no self esteem at all when i am heavey ...or i hide it well from what i am told ...I wanted a boyfreind/husban and all and with my self esteem being so low that was not going to happen at least not in a healthy way ...So even as i went to the seminar and all i still was not 100% about it ...And then i just said well god if this is ment to be then let it be ...I got all my appoiments with in three weeks and my paper work sent off in three and i was on my way ........So that is kinda a differnt point of view and yes now i am totally sold on the surgery and i think anyone who has strugled should look into it Laura