What was your tipping point?

My tipping point was Feb 27, 2011. I got a call that a friend of mine had dropped dead! Tammy was 8 years younger than me but about 150 pounds heavier.Cardiac arrest.  I have 3 beautiful grandbabies, the oldest is 2 1/2. I want to see them graduate from college, get married and have their own babies. But with the high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma, sleep apnea and high cholesterol that's doubtful. The real kicker is that my BMI is only 35! A so-called "light weight". I already knew that my insurance wouldnt' cover any type of WLS.I guess that's okay because I may not have qualified with that BMI.  My surgery date is 5/23 with Dr. Alvarez in Mexico. I'm going by myself and have only told 3 people what's going on. I'm comfortable with my decision and excited about finally being able to do something about the weight permanently! I've gone up and down the scales and each time it gets harder. I find that the diabetic medicines make it very difficult to lose. That with age (I'm 54) and I feel overwhelmed. This is it - wish me luck.

Wow.. I am so sorry for your loss.  How brave of you to go by yourself and do whats best for you and your grandbabies. My surgery is May 16th.  You wont be that far off from me.. Best Of Luck to you!

I was looking into vacation options for my husband and myself and noticed that every excursion and event I looked at, I had to view the weight capacitly/limits. We couldnt even go anywhere that required a plane ride because I didnt know if I would fit.  I was ruled out on most of the activities based on their guidelines. Several destinations we desire to visit are overseas.  DH just said, "pick something else" because he is a wonderful man who loves me and hates to see me stressed about such things.  He actually married me at my heaviest weight ever and has never commented on my size.  However I felt that i was not only sacraficing my life and vacations because of my weight but also keeping him from such things.  I love him and always want to be able to provide him with anything and everything he wants.  I have looked into WLS for close to 10 years, however was always held back by the cost (self-pay).  I decided to use my 401K to pay for the surgery.  What good is retirement if you dont live long enough to use it?

Currently we have a trip to California planned for this fall, Scuba lessons next week (I am getting re-certified but he is a virgin), Belize or Roatan next summer, and Scotland next fall.  I am determined to enjoy myself and make up for the past 30 years that I did nothing.

AWESOME!!!!  I love to travel too.. and there comes a time when you are tired of measuring up the weight requirements and the airplane seat...and thinking about extensions for the belt.  I had a dream the other day that I did that super man bungie jumping where you lay down and they pull you about 700 feet in the air and just let you go and you fly back and forth.  LOL I never dream like that! I guess my mind is getting ready for all of the things that I have been held back from because of my weight...
And you are so right, getting to retirement is the key.. I can't wait to start enjoying life again too!

Excellent question Diane :)

For me it started with back pain and having my knees simultaneously go out on me, leaving me with a limp for days....into weeks at times. The real kicker though was the shocking news at my Dr.s appointment that I was borderline diabetic.  

In 2009 I went to my Dr and she told me the pain in my back is caused from the excess weight that I had gained and sent me to a specialist to help me lose the weight.  The specialist suggested wls and I said "oh hell no" and walked out of there. I really wanted pills to suppress my appetite and had never thought about wls surgery before. I believe it takes time for most people to contemplate the thought of wls and to really let it sink in before deciding to do it. I couldnt just be told I need surgery and say okay let's do it. So anyway, I left there deciding that I would do the weight loss on my own........ 

2010 came along and I not only had NOT lost any weight yet but I was up 20 more lbs and in much more pain. I went to my annual exam and was told for the first time ever that I was borderline diabetic and that if I didnt get help with my diet I was gonna suffer the consequences. The pain had me longing for help with wl but it was the shock of hearing that I was borderline diabetic that had me agreeing to have surgery....yep, that's what really did it for me.  I asked her to send me back to the specialist promising to cooperate with him this time around and that's exactly what I did :)

My 4 month post op is on May 27th and I cannot wait to get the results of my glucose levels. My back pain is much better now and I havent had my knee go out on me in months...I think that medical problem is now over *wipe the sweat from my brow* I am 32 lbs down from having the surgery and have no regrets what so ever. I love my sleeve!

It was at my son's wedding at Lake Tahoe last September. We all stayed in a beautiful vacation home and they were married on a small beach at the lake. The next day we all uploaded up pictures of the wedding to my computer. I was appalled when I saw myself in those pictures. That very next week I started my research and 2 weeks later attended a seminar where I learned of VSG.