Hi Everyone- My Story

I have struggled with my weight for most of my life; I have turned to food to comfort the emotions from life’s struggles.  From the hurtful daily bullying and taunting in school to the embracement of not fitting on rides at amusement parks, my weight has affected my every move in life. 

Unfortunately my weight has caused me to be extremely self conscious.  I no longer enjoy leaving the house for anything.  I no longer enjoy shopping, I don’t go out to movies with my husband and I feel like I’m no longer capable of volunteering in my local community.   I left my job of three years in March of this year because I could no longer cope with the anxiety of being out in the community often; I no longer want to be the victim of people reminding me of something that I’m painfully aware of.

My self image is tarnished, I used to enjoy spending time “pampering" myself, and I no longer feel like I’m worth spending that time on.  I am embarrassed to go shopping and realise that there are few items of clothing that look nice let alone fit well. I can not shop at regular department stores for my clothing because it just doesn’t fit.  My lack of self assurance must be visible to others as well; I have gone to many interviews and seem to be passed over every time and have been told in as kindest way possible that it is due to my weight.

I have tried many diets to attempt to get my weight under check.  I have tried Weigh****chers, TOPS, South Beach Diet, Dr. Atkins Diet, Slim Fast, Isagenix, Apple Cider Vinegar Diet, extreme calorie reduction, Suzanne Sommers, Glycemic Index Diet, The Raw Food Diet and countless others with little or no success.  After each of these diets it seems I gain back the weight and maybe a little additional weight too. 

I have been fairly active my whole life until recently.  Recently the pain in my knees, hips and back has become so intense when I am active that I usually have to stop.  I miss the enjoyment that I received from ridding my horses (I think they miss it too).  

I am very concerned for my future health; I would like to live a long issue free life if at all possible.  Two of my immediate family members are insulin dependent diabetics, my father at forty-six is currently dealing with congestive heart failure and both of my parents suffer from hypertension. Currently when I bend over to tie my shoes, or sometimes sit in different possessions my legs go numb.   I would like to avoid these issues and many of the other health issues that come hand and hand with obesity. 

I feel that with bariatric surgery I would be able to have a better quality of life and live a much longer life then what would be possible otherwise.  With my families extremely high rate of obesity related health problems, a bariatric procedure would almost eliminate my chances of developing one of these concerns.  I would enjoy having fewer aches and pains, regain the quality of life I once enjoyed when I was lighter, ride my horses again and gain a better self image.

I don’t want to continue my life as a statistic and I certainly don’t want to die as one.