Newbie!!! Well not really lol
My name is Patty and I am from Newark, NJ. I've been a member of OH.com for 7 months now but I haven't really had the chance to formally introduce myself and my story. So here goes!!! :-)
As far back as I can remember I've always known myself to have weight issues. I can say however, that during
my elementary and high school years I didn't have a problem with being a "Big Gurl"...lol But when I got to college I started to feel different. I had a great circle of friends but I always played the role of "Mother Love" u know??... The person who's always there when you near someone to talk to or a shoulder to cry on and give advice, but not good enough to chill at the club with...lol I didn't really mind it because maybe that’s just my personality I guess. It was a little annoying though, all I did was work and go to school, and since I didn't have an active social life so I became your typical homebody. Sometimes when I think back to those first few years of college I often wonder if I was like a little anti-social because I was embarrassed about my weight :-/
During my junior year I moved in with my now “ex boyfriend/fiancé" and that's when I can really say I started packing on the weight. He was overweight himself and had horrible eating habits that I also began to follow. My weight was out of control but I honestly didn't notice because I was soo wrapped up in work, school, bills, and family. I literally forgot about ME! I wasn't happy in the relationship and when it finally ended my life just spun out of control. I was in soo much debt and my job wasn't paying me enough, parents weren't being supportive, I was dam near flunking out of college...it was just soo overwhelming! But one day after bringing all of my problems to God I was able to make the decision to finally “take care of me".
It hasn't been easy and I couldn't have done it without HIM, my family and friends. A few month after my convo with the man upstairs...lol I was blessed with a new job, I met my fiancé (the true love of my life...tee hee hee) and focused more on my studies. My official weightloss journey began in December of 2008. I was at my highest weight ever, a whopping 320 pounds!!!! I could not believe it…how could l let this happen, how did I manage to let my weight get soo out of control. It really started to affect me mentally and physically. My knees started to hurt, I couldn't walk up a flight of stairs without feeling like my heart was about to bust of out my chest, I was ALWAYS tired and I think I became even more anti-social...lol
Finally my physician suggested I look into having gastric bypass. He'd mentioned it to me plenty of time before but this time I was really considering it. He gave me a brief synopsis of the process and referred me to my surgeon Dr.Bilof of Garden State Bariatrics. My fiancé accompanied me to my first consult and Dr. Bilof and his team were very welcoming and thoroughly explained the process and procedure and answered all of our questions. I was a little on the fence about it at first but was actually looking forward to the 6 month process. It felt is would really give me a chance to reflect on my decision and also give me the opportunity to change my lifestyle to that of a person who's already had the surgery.
Well fast forward to June 2009 and I'm down 51 pounds and my insurance company has approved me to have the procedure. I'm soo excited about what’s to come :-)
As far back as I can remember I've always known myself to have weight issues. I can say however, that during
my elementary and high school years I didn't have a problem with being a "Big Gurl"...lol But when I got to college I started to feel different. I had a great circle of friends but I always played the role of "Mother Love" u know??... The person who's always there when you near someone to talk to or a shoulder to cry on and give advice, but not good enough to chill at the club with...lol I didn't really mind it because maybe that’s just my personality I guess. It was a little annoying though, all I did was work and go to school, and since I didn't have an active social life so I became your typical homebody. Sometimes when I think back to those first few years of college I often wonder if I was like a little anti-social because I was embarrassed about my weight :-/
During my junior year I moved in with my now “ex boyfriend/fiancé" and that's when I can really say I started packing on the weight. He was overweight himself and had horrible eating habits that I also began to follow. My weight was out of control but I honestly didn't notice because I was soo wrapped up in work, school, bills, and family. I literally forgot about ME! I wasn't happy in the relationship and when it finally ended my life just spun out of control. I was in soo much debt and my job wasn't paying me enough, parents weren't being supportive, I was dam near flunking out of college...it was just soo overwhelming! But one day after bringing all of my problems to God I was able to make the decision to finally “take care of me".
It hasn't been easy and I couldn't have done it without HIM, my family and friends. A few month after my convo with the man upstairs...lol I was blessed with a new job, I met my fiancé (the true love of my life...tee hee hee) and focused more on my studies. My official weightloss journey began in December of 2008. I was at my highest weight ever, a whopping 320 pounds!!!! I could not believe it…how could l let this happen, how did I manage to let my weight get soo out of control. It really started to affect me mentally and physically. My knees started to hurt, I couldn't walk up a flight of stairs without feeling like my heart was about to bust of out my chest, I was ALWAYS tired and I think I became even more anti-social...lol
Finally my physician suggested I look into having gastric bypass. He'd mentioned it to me plenty of time before but this time I was really considering it. He gave me a brief synopsis of the process and referred me to my surgeon Dr.Bilof of Garden State Bariatrics. My fiancé accompanied me to my first consult and Dr. Bilof and his team were very welcoming and thoroughly explained the process and procedure and answered all of our questions. I was a little on the fence about it at first but was actually looking forward to the 6 month process. It felt is would really give me a chance to reflect on my decision and also give me the opportunity to change my lifestyle to that of a person who's already had the surgery.
Well fast forward to June 2009 and I'm down 51 pounds and my insurance company has approved me to have the procedure. I'm soo excited about what’s to come :-)
Hi Patty - Im Stacey. Congratulations on your new journey!
When I read your story I felt like I was reading mine - espcially the Motherly Love part - I had two friends in college who would actually call me that - they would refer to me as Mother Love and come to me for advice - even as a couple - I was always the shoulder to cry on - the advice when needed - and the open ear - but I guess alot of times all along thats what I really needed myself.
I will briefly tell you my story.... I was not overweight most of my life and really did not start gaining weight until end of High School /College. I took the Freshman 10 to a whole new meeting I think I packed on more than 20 during college.
I married a wonderful man who loves me either way - fat or thin - - I had our son in 2000 and gained 65 pounds - never lost it - and had my daughter in 2007 gained little to no weight but actually gained 15 pounds after I had her. I came to a crossroads last year and I had known I had to do something - I truly did not like who I became- I was exhausted and tired all fo the time - shopping made me sad - and I just felt awful - I had decided that I was going to take my life back not only for me but for my family - and this year would be about me - I also thought in a way how selfish of me not to do anything about my health for my kids - I OWED it to them to be the mom I know I can be - I knew that would ever WLS I chose I could make it through -
I chose to have the lap band - had surgery on 2/23/09 and am down 52 pounds - I don;t regret any of it just that I had not done it sooner - there are things that I may have to avoid or give up but look what I am getting in return - Hope and for a very long time I did not have it
Stacey
P.S. We have started a FB (facebook) WLS group - if you would like to join PM me your FB name/email address and I will send you the invite. This is a secret group so it will NEVER show in your profile
When I read your story I felt like I was reading mine - espcially the Motherly Love part - I had two friends in college who would actually call me that - they would refer to me as Mother Love and come to me for advice - even as a couple - I was always the shoulder to cry on - the advice when needed - and the open ear - but I guess alot of times all along thats what I really needed myself.
I will briefly tell you my story.... I was not overweight most of my life and really did not start gaining weight until end of High School /College. I took the Freshman 10 to a whole new meeting I think I packed on more than 20 during college.
I married a wonderful man who loves me either way - fat or thin - - I had our son in 2000 and gained 65 pounds - never lost it - and had my daughter in 2007 gained little to no weight but actually gained 15 pounds after I had her. I came to a crossroads last year and I had known I had to do something - I truly did not like who I became- I was exhausted and tired all fo the time - shopping made me sad - and I just felt awful - I had decided that I was going to take my life back not only for me but for my family - and this year would be about me - I also thought in a way how selfish of me not to do anything about my health for my kids - I OWED it to them to be the mom I know I can be - I knew that would ever WLS I chose I could make it through -
I chose to have the lap band - had surgery on 2/23/09 and am down 52 pounds - I don;t regret any of it just that I had not done it sooner - there are things that I may have to avoid or give up but look what I am getting in return - Hope and for a very long time I did not have it
Stacey
P.S. We have started a FB (facebook) WLS group - if you would like to join PM me your FB name/email address and I will send you the invite. This is a secret group so it will NEVER show in your profile
Hi Stacey,
Thanks so much for sharing your story with me...I really appreciate it. It's always nice to read other peoples stories, I never realized that I could relate to so many people. Congrats on being down 52 pounds...I know you feel awesome :-)
I'll definitely PM you my FB info...thanks for the invite :-)
Patty :-)
Thanks so much for sharing your story with me...I really appreciate it. It's always nice to read other peoples stories, I never realized that I could relate to so many people. Congrats on being down 52 pounds...I know you feel awesome :-)
I'll definitely PM you my FB info...thanks for the invite :-)
Patty :-)
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