Stopping by to Introduce Myself
Hi everyone! I just recently joined OH and I am in the process of researching surgery. I am starting the process with my doctor but I have doubts that my insurance (BCBS IL) will approve me since I don't have doctor's records from the past five years stating that I was morbidly obese. But, I'm going to give it a try.
I've been lurking over here, because even if I am denied, I need to lose this weight, and I've done it before and kept it off for a long time. 12 years ago, I weighed 293 pounds and in a matter of a year and a half, I was down to 157 pounds with diet and exercise. I mainted within 15 pounds of that for close to 7 years. I I even had a fleur-di-lis abdominoplasty in 1999 and circumfrential revision abdominoplasy in 2004.
I got off track not long after that. Stopped working out regularly, broke up a relationship of five years, stressful job, yada yada yada. So in the past 5 years I've yo yo'd wildly between 170 and 270 pounds. I'm 249 right now and at 5'3", I'm a square. Literally. Due to my plastic surgeries, the weight I've gained is strangely distributed and my torso measurments are the same from bust to hips. A square. Oh, and also, since my skin doesn't have any elasticity, my weight gain is in my upper abdomen and its seriously decreased my lung capacity, which decreases my activity, which leads to more weight gain. Such a cycle!
So my insurance requires a six month medically supervised diet, and I know if I put my foot down, I will be successful, and at that point if I get denied for gastric bypass, I might as well continue to do what I was doing. And maybe with some other support, I won't regain. That's something else that scares me with WLS, the possibility of regaining anything I've lost.
Whew.. that was long!
Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend!
I've been lurking over here, because even if I am denied, I need to lose this weight, and I've done it before and kept it off for a long time. 12 years ago, I weighed 293 pounds and in a matter of a year and a half, I was down to 157 pounds with diet and exercise. I mainted within 15 pounds of that for close to 7 years. I I even had a fleur-di-lis abdominoplasty in 1999 and circumfrential revision abdominoplasy in 2004.
I got off track not long after that. Stopped working out regularly, broke up a relationship of five years, stressful job, yada yada yada. So in the past 5 years I've yo yo'd wildly between 170 and 270 pounds. I'm 249 right now and at 5'3", I'm a square. Literally. Due to my plastic surgeries, the weight I've gained is strangely distributed and my torso measurments are the same from bust to hips. A square. Oh, and also, since my skin doesn't have any elasticity, my weight gain is in my upper abdomen and its seriously decreased my lung capacity, which decreases my activity, which leads to more weight gain. Such a cycle!
So my insurance requires a six month medically supervised diet, and I know if I put my foot down, I will be successful, and at that point if I get denied for gastric bypass, I might as well continue to do what I was doing. And maybe with some other support, I won't regain. That's something else that scares me with WLS, the possibility of regaining anything I've lost.
Whew.. that was long!
Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend!
* Take 1 DS, add a little p90x and stir :)5' 3" HW 293/SW 253/Goal 130/CW 128
Dang girl, that's one helluva story you have! First let me start by saying that you've already been an inspiration to me because I've had a fleur-de-lis lower body lift and from the way you describe your shape after weight gain, I ain't nevva eatin' nothin' nevva again. 
But you've come to the right place for support because when I was losing my weight, I had no one to talk to at all and coming here to talk with people who are going through the same things that I am is truly a gift. Besides, you have all of the knowledge it takes to get the weight off, so you can help us out with that knowledge and experience. We can help you out with maintenance. In my humble opinion, this journey never ends and if we let our guards down for one second our bodies will do whatever it can to get that fat back. Sounds like that's what happened to you, so stick around and we'll help you keep your guard up and keep that evil fat from coming back to do weird things to your figure!
Welcome to the Board,
Mary
But you've come to the right place for support because when I was losing my weight, I had no one to talk to at all and coming here to talk with people who are going through the same things that I am is truly a gift. Besides, you have all of the knowledge it takes to get the weight off, so you can help us out with that knowledge and experience. We can help you out with maintenance. In my humble opinion, this journey never ends and if we let our guards down for one second our bodies will do whatever it can to get that fat back. Sounds like that's what happened to you, so stick around and we'll help you keep your guard up and keep that evil fat from coming back to do weird things to your figure!
Welcome to the Board,
Mary
Aww.. thanks for the warm welcome! I didn't mean to scare anyone into not ever eating, tho!! lol. You have quite a story yourself, very inspirational! I agree with you that this never ends. That's where I went wrong-by letting my work out habits fall by the wayside for who knows what other reason!
When I was in my "thin" thinking place, I always said my propensity to gain weight was just as much a part of who I was as was the color of my hair or my height. I had to work hard to keep it off but I just shrugged it off as just a part of who I was. I have flashes of that mentality now, and I just kick myself for slipping after so long!
And yes, I know all the "tricks" for losing weight, all the mental games that keeps one on track, all the trade offs and I know what works for me. I could never do low carb.. I tried once, in the middle of a really good period, and I went so far off the road, that I actually gained weight. Its just not for me. I'm more of a an equal balance of carbs (good ones like veggies and fruit), lean protein and low fat kinda girl!
Its funny that I have to keep this food diary for my doc without changing what I'm eating. I'm finding that so hard! I know its to give a baseline of just how bad my diet is now, but writing that stuff down really puts things in perspective. I know lying won't help me in the long run, but I really feel like I want to eat clean~and that defeats the purpose of the exercise!
Oh well.. Everyone's story is amazing here. I'm so impressed that you've had all the plastics that I planned on but never got around to. The boobs, the thighs, the face. Maybe this time. Thanks again for the warm welcome!
When I was in my "thin" thinking place, I always said my propensity to gain weight was just as much a part of who I was as was the color of my hair or my height. I had to work hard to keep it off but I just shrugged it off as just a part of who I was. I have flashes of that mentality now, and I just kick myself for slipping after so long!
And yes, I know all the "tricks" for losing weight, all the mental games that keeps one on track, all the trade offs and I know what works for me. I could never do low carb.. I tried once, in the middle of a really good period, and I went so far off the road, that I actually gained weight. Its just not for me. I'm more of a an equal balance of carbs (good ones like veggies and fruit), lean protein and low fat kinda girl!
Its funny that I have to keep this food diary for my doc without changing what I'm eating. I'm finding that so hard! I know its to give a baseline of just how bad my diet is now, but writing that stuff down really puts things in perspective. I know lying won't help me in the long run, but I really feel like I want to eat clean~and that defeats the purpose of the exercise!
Oh well.. Everyone's story is amazing here. I'm so impressed that you've had all the plastics that I planned on but never got around to. The boobs, the thighs, the face. Maybe this time. Thanks again for the warm welcome!
Don't worry, I'll eat...just remember to put your boots on cuz sometimes the drama around here gets pretty thick! 
Now don't take this personally, this is just an observation. Just by listening to you type, I really don't get the feeling that you are actually wanting to go through with the weight loss surgery, it's just something you are pondering. But you are the kind of person who knows this dieting bidness backwards and forwards and you've proven that you CAN take the weight off by yasself. I would definitely hold off on getting surgery and just get back in the groove of weight loss and exercise.
And as far as that journal goes, I say that if you have it in your head to start eating clean now...Screw that journal!!! Seize the day! Go for healthy now while you are mentally prepared for it...but that's just my opinion.
Mary
Now don't take this personally, this is just an observation. Just by listening to you type, I really don't get the feeling that you are actually wanting to go through with the weight loss surgery, it's just something you are pondering. But you are the kind of person who knows this dieting bidness backwards and forwards and you've proven that you CAN take the weight off by yasself. I would definitely hold off on getting surgery and just get back in the groove of weight loss and exercise.
And as far as that journal goes, I say that if you have it in your head to start eating clean now...Screw that journal!!! Seize the day! Go for healthy now while you are mentally prepared for it...but that's just my opinion.
Mary
lol on the drama. Thanks for the advice!
You're right about reading that into what I'm typing. Part of me was very proud of myself for being able to lose that much weight without surgery. If I can get a good head of steam going with the eating and the exercising, that's definately the way I want to go. The road ahead seems so long to me right now, and I don't know if I have it in me to stay focused. That's why I'm not really minding the 6 mos of supervised diet and exercise program the insurance is making me do. Maybe I'll hook up with some folks that can get me through the rough spots. That, and here too! Its something different to be able to talk to people who know how hard it was to lose that much weight, and maybe bounce some ideas off y'all.
I'm gonna go ahead and just eat as best as I can for this journal thing. If I'm actually going to put pen to paper and write that I've eaten a whole bag of chips ahoy, well.. geez... I don't think I would eat the whole bag of chips ahoy!
You're hilarious, b****hanks for the levity!
You're right about reading that into what I'm typing. Part of me was very proud of myself for being able to lose that much weight without surgery. If I can get a good head of steam going with the eating and the exercising, that's definately the way I want to go. The road ahead seems so long to me right now, and I don't know if I have it in me to stay focused. That's why I'm not really minding the 6 mos of supervised diet and exercise program the insurance is making me do. Maybe I'll hook up with some folks that can get me through the rough spots. That, and here too! Its something different to be able to talk to people who know how hard it was to lose that much weight, and maybe bounce some ideas off y'all.
I'm gonna go ahead and just eat as best as I can for this journal thing. If I'm actually going to put pen to paper and write that I've eaten a whole bag of chips ahoy, well.. geez... I don't think I would eat the whole bag of chips ahoy!
You're hilarious, b****hanks for the levity!
(deactivated member)
on 5/31/09 1:59 am
on 5/31/09 1:59 am
Welcome to the non-op board! It sounds like you know what to do; key is staying motivated to keeping doing what you know to do. We all know that's the hardest part. Stick around and we'll help you as much as we can.
I am Mary's fellow plastic surgery ho on this board. After all I've been through, I will do EVERYTHING in my power not to gain weight. In fact, a friend was asking me last night if having had all the plastic surgery kept me in line, weightwise. I think it does - my abdomen is so tight it's hard to overeat and although $ is usually not a motivator for me, the outrageous amount of $ I've spent certainly helps, nevermind all the suffering.
Stick around; although it's dead around here sometimes, we have fun every once in a while. 
Kim
Thanks for the welcome! I agree with you that the plastic surgery is motivating to keeping the weight off. And it worked for a long time for me. As far as sticking to my workout routine and eating pretty clean.
I think I was a little disappointed that I couldn't afford to do EVERYTHING ps wise to get "perfect" (yes, I have perfection issues, I know that's something I have to work on). I'm not sure right now if I'll do any more, but I'll worry about that later. I really need to get moving because, seriously, my tummy tuck has pretty much left me with flat lower abs still.. and really pronounced upper abs. Like a beer gut for a chick who doesn't drink! Like you said, I can't eat alot at one time still, but man, I guess I eat often enough and crappy enough over the past five years to get to this point. I feel like my upper abdominal fat pushes my lungs up, so I get winded very easily. And it ****** me off that I can't work out like I used to. lol.. so I guess after all that.. don't ever do what I've done!
It seems like alot of fun on here and I'm glad I accidently found this board!
I think I was a little disappointed that I couldn't afford to do EVERYTHING ps wise to get "perfect" (yes, I have perfection issues, I know that's something I have to work on). I'm not sure right now if I'll do any more, but I'll worry about that later. I really need to get moving because, seriously, my tummy tuck has pretty much left me with flat lower abs still.. and really pronounced upper abs. Like a beer gut for a chick who doesn't drink! Like you said, I can't eat alot at one time still, but man, I guess I eat often enough and crappy enough over the past five years to get to this point. I feel like my upper abdominal fat pushes my lungs up, so I get winded very easily. And it ****** me off that I can't work out like I used to. lol.. so I guess after all that.. don't ever do what I've done!
It seems like alot of fun on here and I'm glad I accidently found this board!
Man alive...what a story! So glad you stopped in & welcome!!!!
I for one am very impressed how rather easily your weight seems to come off...the down side of course is how frighteningly quick it comes back up. Even over 5 years to bounce up/down all around the same 100 pounds made an impression on my brain!
I am more like a rectangle - at 190 and 5 foot four...ha ha! One way you & are different is i play with the same 25# for the past 15 years.
I would imagine it's crossed your mind that you really must fix your head before WLS is undertaken, cuz damn straight, you can gain it back after surgery. The stats are kind of scary: 75% will regain a significant amount of weight back (those may be a bit dated, but knowing humans and food plans, I doubt it changed much).
Those stats are better than traditional methods of weight loss, but all the same, we still have to work hard - maybe harder to keep it off once it's gone.
Anyhoo, good to meet ya!
I for one am very impressed how rather easily your weight seems to come off...the down side of course is how frighteningly quick it comes back up. Even over 5 years to bounce up/down all around the same 100 pounds made an impression on my brain!
I am more like a rectangle - at 190 and 5 foot four...ha ha! One way you & are different is i play with the same 25# for the past 15 years.
I would imagine it's crossed your mind that you really must fix your head before WLS is undertaken, cuz damn straight, you can gain it back after surgery. The stats are kind of scary: 75% will regain a significant amount of weight back (those may be a bit dated, but knowing humans and food plans, I doubt it changed much).
Those stats are better than traditional methods of weight loss, but all the same, we still have to work hard - maybe harder to keep it off once it's gone.
Anyhoo, good to meet ya!
"The only way to keep your health is to eat what you don't want, drink what you don't like, and do what you'd rather not." ~Mark Twain
Nice to meet you guys too! Thanks for such a warm welcome!
Scary, isn't it? I gained 50 pounds in one six month period because I hated my boss so much. lol, like that showed him, didn't it? (I've since quit that job!!) It was the stress, and I completely agree that I need to fix the head. I'm hoping actually going through a doctor at this time, I'll find the help I need.
I do lose weight easily, but I have a tendency to obsess about it while its happening. This latest 100+ loss took me 18 months, but the first 100 pounds came off in 10 months, the next 35 took the other eight!
The WLS is enticing. I actually went through a period back at around 175 pounds when I tried to find someone to do the surgery on me, but no one would (obviously). I just felt like I was sliding and didn't feel I had the mental strength to keep going. In hindsight, that's probably when I should have found a support group or a therapist or something. Expensive lesson learned.
I'm looking forward to checking in on here and hopefully someone can talk me down from mindlessly killing myself with cookies!
Scary, isn't it? I gained 50 pounds in one six month period because I hated my boss so much. lol, like that showed him, didn't it? (I've since quit that job!!) It was the stress, and I completely agree that I need to fix the head. I'm hoping actually going through a doctor at this time, I'll find the help I need.
I do lose weight easily, but I have a tendency to obsess about it while its happening. This latest 100+ loss took me 18 months, but the first 100 pounds came off in 10 months, the next 35 took the other eight!
The WLS is enticing. I actually went through a period back at around 175 pounds when I tried to find someone to do the surgery on me, but no one would (obviously). I just felt like I was sliding and didn't feel I had the mental strength to keep going. In hindsight, that's probably when I should have found a support group or a therapist or something. Expensive lesson learned.
I'm looking forward to checking in on here and hopefully someone can talk me down from mindlessly killing myself with cookies!
(deactivated member)
on 5/31/09 6:23 am
on 5/31/09 6:23 am
Welcome and thank you for sharing your story. I often wonder if I had had adominoplasty after I had lost 100 pounds years ago if I would have allowed myself to balloon back up - but probably I would have too - but maybe I wouldn't have let myself get soooooooooo obese. Oh well. who knows. I found it inspirational that you did keep your weight off for so many years and you are so gung ho to get going this time round.
I'm scared of the surgery and it's ramifications and frankly if you can lose the weight without surgery you're healthier for that decision. I hope you find the 6 month supervised diet helpful because I think that's a great idea - to have someone you have to answer for and resources to help you, especially psychological assistance.
I'm looking forward to reading what you're up to as you lose your excess weight.
Skylar
I'm scared of the surgery and it's ramifications and frankly if you can lose the weight without surgery you're healthier for that decision. I hope you find the 6 month supervised diet helpful because I think that's a great idea - to have someone you have to answer for and resources to help you, especially psychological assistance.
I'm looking forward to reading what you're up to as you lose your excess weight.
Skylar
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