Hi all... newbie here.

Hi there! I'm starting to consider bariatric surgery, but I think I'm going to give Weigh****chers one more try. I'm currently 5'0", and weigh 199 lbs, which puts my BMI at almost 39. This is what I weighed when I was pregnant full term with my 7 year old son. UGH. I'm not sure what are the requirements for being considered for surgery, but I'm sick of the back/shoulder aches from my bra (not to mention that they break frequently!), not being able to buy clothes that I like, and I'm finding that my knees and feet are starting to give me problems this year. I guess I don't know where the line is between "thinking about it", and actually making the decision. I haven't been to a doctor since after the birth of my daughter (almost 4 years ago). What finally pushed you over the edge, and made you decide to have surgery?

Hi and welcome! I've been researching and "thinking" about the surgery for a little over 2 years. I always thought this was just "the easy way out" for people who didn't have the intestinal fortitude to do it "the right way." Boy was I wrong. I have been obese or morbidly obese my entire adult life. I realized at some point in the last two years that once you're past a certain point of obesity, the diet/lose/gain more system is destined to fail for you. You'll work your tail off, lose maybe 40 or 50 #**** a plateau, gain a little back.. then lose confidence and gain it ALL back and then some. Mentally, it's a losing proposition.. and you do nothing but beat yourself up. What changed my mind? Well, until this year, I really didn't have any co-morbidities to accompany my obesity. I was relatively active and happy.. but then things started to break down. My knees will give out randomly from the weight they have to support. I had a stress fracture in my foot earlier this year that landed me in a cast for 10+ weeks. I wheeze at the slightest hint of effort (and I'm an opera singer.. this is not cool!).. I decided I still wasn't completely sure about surgery.. but I took a chance and attended an informational seminar for Suburban Surgical at Alexian Brothers. I was terrified to go.. I dragged another friend with me for support. I had a PAD FULL of questions written down.. and I got the answers to all of them.. I didn't feel talked down to and I finally understood that bariatric surgery isn't THE ANSWER.. it's a TOOL to help you overcome the losing prospect of "just dieting" -- about a week after the seminar, I'd made a few phone calls to my insurance company.. found out what they needed and if they covered it.. then I made the decision and scheduled my surgical consultation. When I tell you it was like a weight lifted off me, I'm not kidding. Within an hour after making the appt, one of my co-workers walked over to my desk and knelt down next to me.. she quietly asked me if there was someone new in my life because I seemed so incredibly happy and was just glowing. My answer? HECK YEAH, THERE'S SOMEONE NEW IN MY LIFE! ME!! I recommend attending one of the seminars. You don't have to sign up for anything, you get to ask lots of questions and you'll learn a *LOT* If you want to go to a seminar but don't want to go alone, let me know and I'll be happy to meet you and go with you. I work in Itasca and live closer to the city so I'm all over the place on any given day. Feel free to email me. Stefanie