My short story
My name is Heather and I'm a full-time student and mother. I have battled with my weight all of my life. It's time for change.
I remember when I was about 6 years old my great-grandmother used to sit me infront of the TV at least 3 days a week with a full container of onion dip, chips, and spoon to eat the dip as I pleased. At family gatherings my family would pile my plate full of fatty foods and tell me to finnish my whole plate, even if I was full. By the time I was 14 and a freshman in high school I was in a size 18 weighing about 200 lbs. I felt trapped by my size because kids would make fun of me, even my own family made fun of me; so I ate even more.
When I was 17 I met my sons father and felt happier to be me because he was a wonderful man. We went through a problem with drug addiction between the both of us; I lost 30 lbs due to the drugs. When I found out I was pregnant with our son I cleaned up my act and quit doing drugs. My fiance was killed in December when I was about 3 months pregnant. I gained 20 lbs in my first 3 months, then gained 40 lbs more throughout the pregnancy due to major depression and lack of movement on my part. Then my son was born and I let myself be happy again. I lost 40 lbs in the first 6 months after my sons birth. Then I was kicked out of my home and had to get government housing. I gained 30 lbs back. I got together with a man I thought was great; I was wrong. We fought all the time and I yo-yoed up and down with my weight; losing and gaining between 10-20 lbs over 2 years time.
Now I'm in school and living with my Dad and grandparents with my 3 y.o. son. I've lost and gained between 20-30 lbs over the past 6 months. I've been trying different programs (some I made up) to try and get a handle on my weight. I've taken stackers and drank only water, eating very little; to find I would binge at night over 2500 calories at a night. I have no exercize regimine. What I call exercize is wrestling with my son and doing simple yoga stretches or walking to and from the house, to car, to store, ect. I recently bought a lot of Healthy Choice, Lean Cuisine, and Weigh****chers foods. I was doing very well with this (losing 10 lbs in a week). Then my family began making fun of my changes so I resumed eating fatty foods. I've gained 15 lbs back. I weigh 244 lbs and wear a size 18/20. I'm here to start a new weight loss journey. Any encouragement or advice would be greatly appreciated seeing as I don't and won't get it from my family.
I remember when I was about 6 years old my great-grandmother used to sit me infront of the TV at least 3 days a week with a full container of onion dip, chips, and spoon to eat the dip as I pleased. At family gatherings my family would pile my plate full of fatty foods and tell me to finnish my whole plate, even if I was full. By the time I was 14 and a freshman in high school I was in a size 18 weighing about 200 lbs. I felt trapped by my size because kids would make fun of me, even my own family made fun of me; so I ate even more.
When I was 17 I met my sons father and felt happier to be me because he was a wonderful man. We went through a problem with drug addiction between the both of us; I lost 30 lbs due to the drugs. When I found out I was pregnant with our son I cleaned up my act and quit doing drugs. My fiance was killed in December when I was about 3 months pregnant. I gained 20 lbs in my first 3 months, then gained 40 lbs more throughout the pregnancy due to major depression and lack of movement on my part. Then my son was born and I let myself be happy again. I lost 40 lbs in the first 6 months after my sons birth. Then I was kicked out of my home and had to get government housing. I gained 30 lbs back. I got together with a man I thought was great; I was wrong. We fought all the time and I yo-yoed up and down with my weight; losing and gaining between 10-20 lbs over 2 years time.
Now I'm in school and living with my Dad and grandparents with my 3 y.o. son. I've lost and gained between 20-30 lbs over the past 6 months. I've been trying different programs (some I made up) to try and get a handle on my weight. I've taken stackers and drank only water, eating very little; to find I would binge at night over 2500 calories at a night. I have no exercize regimine. What I call exercize is wrestling with my son and doing simple yoga stretches or walking to and from the house, to car, to store, ect. I recently bought a lot of Healthy Choice, Lean Cuisine, and Weigh****chers foods. I was doing very well with this (losing 10 lbs in a week). Then my family began making fun of my changes so I resumed eating fatty foods. I've gained 15 lbs back. I weigh 244 lbs and wear a size 18/20. I'm here to start a new weight loss journey. Any encouragement or advice would be greatly appreciated seeing as I don't and won't get it from my family.
~I am worth more than I tend to give myself credit for~
Welcome!
Thanks for your story.
The first thing that I can recommend is to see a therapist of some sort. Sounds like you may have some issues that are really hindering any type od success that you may have (family, life issues, etc).
Next, talk with a WLS center and discuss your options.
The worse thing that you can do is go through the whole process of WLS, but not change any of the "habits" or reasons for these habits, lose your weight, then gain it back. This is very important.
Most WLS Centers and insurance companies will require some Psyc eval done. I urge you to go one step further and discuss these issues with a therapist.
Good luck and please keep us posted!
Michael.
Thanks for your story.
The first thing that I can recommend is to see a therapist of some sort. Sounds like you may have some issues that are really hindering any type od success that you may have (family, life issues, etc).
Next, talk with a WLS center and discuss your options.
The worse thing that you can do is go through the whole process of WLS, but not change any of the "habits" or reasons for these habits, lose your weight, then gain it back. This is very important.
Most WLS Centers and insurance companies will require some Psyc eval done. I urge you to go one step further and discuss these issues with a therapist.
Good luck and please keep us posted!
Michael.
With out family support let alone a family that's out to destroy anything you do positive will make your attempt difficult. Being you live in the same household and with economic times moving is probably not a option.
So not to repeat what Mike has already stated which is solid advise. Try to stay involved in some kind of support group either here on line or a hospital support group. Most hospital weight loss centers offer this free of charge for both pre-op WLS and post-op.
This will give you the knowledge and support your not receiving at home. This will help you decide if you want WLS and what kind if any. Good Luck where all here to help. C'ya Bob
So not to repeat what Mike has already stated which is solid advise. Try to stay involved in some kind of support group either here on line or a hospital support group. Most hospital weight loss centers offer this free of charge for both pre-op WLS and post-op.
This will give you the knowledge and support your not receiving at home. This will help you decide if you want WLS and what kind if any. Good Luck where all here to help. C'ya Bob
Hello, Heather. Welcome to the boards... as I read your statement, "I have battled with my weight all of my life..." I could relate... and its a statement that many of us have made here as well.... I'm sorry to hear the struggles that you have been through. And I agree with Mike S who suggested some counseling. Your life has had quite a bit of grief and difficulty and the relationship with food has been one of comfort to soothe your emotional difficulties and disappointments. If you are to be succesful with weight loss regardless of the way you lose it, you will need to deal with some of the issues surrounding you.
There is one thing that stuck out in my mind. You said, Then my family began making fun of my changes so I resumed eating fatty foods. I am not going to lie. Weight loss surgery is very taxing on a person emotionally. People including coworkers, friends, parents, siblings, hey even people you don't know are always giving their unsolicited advice. It can be very difficult. It actually is what caused me to seek therapy for a time. You have to get to the place where you don't care what people say... and it wouldn't be a bad idea to return to your diet and practice "getting tough skin". In other words, not letting what others say affect your diet. This is for your health, and anyone who does not understand that... well, that is just sad that someone would not want what is best for you.
I'm not saying it can't be done without support... Bob said it, it is very hard. But you have to ask yourself if you have what it takes deep inside you... are you strong enough to go it alone? Here is an article about ways you can be your own #1 supporter. Perhaps this can raise some thought proking issues that help you dig deep and ask, "Can I do this by myself?" Best of luck to you on your journey....
There is one thing that stuck out in my mind. You said, Then my family began making fun of my changes so I resumed eating fatty foods. I am not going to lie. Weight loss surgery is very taxing on a person emotionally. People including coworkers, friends, parents, siblings, hey even people you don't know are always giving their unsolicited advice. It can be very difficult. It actually is what caused me to seek therapy for a time. You have to get to the place where you don't care what people say... and it wouldn't be a bad idea to return to your diet and practice "getting tough skin". In other words, not letting what others say affect your diet. This is for your health, and anyone who does not understand that... well, that is just sad that someone would not want what is best for you.
I'm not saying it can't be done without support... Bob said it, it is very hard. But you have to ask yourself if you have what it takes deep inside you... are you strong enough to go it alone? Here is an article about ways you can be your own #1 supporter. Perhaps this can raise some thought proking issues that help you dig deep and ask, "Can I do this by myself?" Best of luck to you on your journey....
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