What was the last straw for you?

Hi all!

Hopefully your weekend has gone well. I can tell you that mine has gone way too quickly!! Hubby and I went to Holker Hall today. If you've not been or read about it-see the link below. It was absolutely stunning!!

Hubby and I usually go to one stately house or hall a week. It's our weekend walking adventure. Generally each one has an amazing garden as well to walk.

http://www.holker.co.uk/metadot/index.pl?id=2171

So-enough of my gab! I was curious to hear what your story is. What brought you to consider WLS? Or-if you chose not to have the surgery-what brought you to work on changing your lifestyle?

It seems we each have our lowest moments. I suppose these moments turn out to be some sort of a gift in the long-run.

My lowest--my turning point was a few years prior to being accepted for WLS. I had been very lucky not to have very bad knees or massive health issues-besides being VERY large!!

I had moved house and I lived on my own. I don't know what I was thinking-I suppose I just thought I could move and do what I wanted-no problem. I ended up falling and really hurting both of my knees. That was the first problem. I realized that it was going to take me a very long time to heal-because of all the excess weight I had!

So-I went to work on trying to get "better" -get my knees better. Of course-it was not going to happen. Just when the pain would ease-I would turn wrong or bend wrong and OUCH!

The other thing to happen was that I had to have foot surgery. Once done with my surgery-I had to use crutches. I QUICKLY realized that I just weighed TOO much and the pressure under my arms was awful!!

The final thing-one day I was sitting on my sofa and I went to get up. I realized I couldn't. I had to rock back and forth and finally used something with a long handle to push my crutches to me so I could use them to pull myself up. From that day onward-I was not ever able to get up with out a crutch or pulling myself up using a table or chair!!

I think it was losing my independence. I just had ENOUGH. I was not even 40 at the time and my life was ebbing away. I remember laying in bed at night and I could hear my heart beating in my head. The pressure was incredible.

From that time onward-I had made my decision. It was GO FOR IT-and do not quit trying ever!

Can you share your story here? I know it would be very helpful for me and surely helpful for many others!!

Feel free to share and/or ask each other questions as well!!

Thanks for being here!
Peace,
T

Holker Hall! Memories of childhood! I was brought up in the Lakes and we used to go to Holker Hall for afternoon tea. Very 1950s Briti****hin sandwiches cut into triangles (crusts off, of course), sliced bread and butter with pots of jam, small scones and slices of cake! Happy days! I couldn't eat that now even if they served it, which they won't!! And I remember daffodils? Is that right? Are there lots there? Or am I confusing memories?

I didn't have a final straw! Just a build up of self-hatred (of my body not of my real self) over years. Then I read about the band and it seemed such an obvious thing to do. So I spent just two weeks researching wls and then asked DH if he would pay for it as I didn't have enough money myself!  Bless his heart, without hesitation he said that if I believed it was safe and if it made me happy - he would find the money.

And here I am, almsot 4 years alter and literally half the woman I was at my heaviest weight.

K

Hello Kate!

You are absolutely right-there are carpets of daffodils at the Holker Hall and surrounding areas. Just gorgeous!! What wonderful memories those must be! It was magical for me to be there-I can only imagine what it must have looked like to a child!! Amazing!!

And good on you for your decision-of course! I know you are a no-nonsense woman and I believe you when you said you were fed up-that was that!! You have a wonderful hubby and of COURSE-he is  very lucky guy too!!

Take care,
T

Being 57, told I would be dead before 60, 11 year old son and glorious wife.  It was a real no-brainer.

I hear you, Paul. It's like death or life-you pick!!! And obviously-you are the winner and so is your family!!

Cheers!
T

For me, being 3 years from 30 and pretty much a dead man walking was all I needed to stand up and change, I am now LOVING life, shame It took me so long.

You know-it takes what it takes. I think the time came when the time was right. And the proof in the right timing is how great you doing!!!!! Congrats as always!!

T

 
I had been considering it for so many years - but always wanted to try another diet - and we all know how that ends.  But the final straw came on my honeymoon in October of last year.

Monarch airlines - never use them.  We had booked door tickets and paid extra for them, because my partner is 6'7" (and skinny, we look really funny together!!) and it also gave me a little extra room, fat back = less leg room.  However the seats were not available on the day, not only that, but 2 seats together weren't available either - on my honeymoon, really, are you kidding me!  

The seats and legroom were tiny, it took me 15 mins to do up the belt, which cut into me for the rest of the journey, I needed the toilet, but couldn't risk doing the seatbelt again.  By way of an apology for not sitting together monarch offered me some earphones for the inflight entertainment. However I couldn't plug them in because I was rammed so tightly into the seat and the socket was on the inside of the arm.  I couldn't eat, because I couldn't get the table down.  It was hideous and humiliating, and I cried the whole of the way to Egypt, pretending to sleep.  The journey back was more of the same, and I was dreading it for most of the honeymoon.  

I vowed never again - on our return, we remortgaged the house and the op was booked within 4 weeks.

No looking back - you can all remind me of that when I'm having a bad week! LOL

Does that ring bells!! I went to Egypt on Monarch - but for my 25th wedding anniversary.

My husband is 6' 6" and needs the legroom and so we booked the exit seats. And, like you, didn't get them! We had a dreadful flight. DH quite literally couldn't get his legs into the seat. He had to put the belt on for the take off and landing and stand up or sit sideways. blocking the aisle, for the whole journey. And, like you I was alomst cut in half by the belt. On the way back, a wonderful (small!) couple from London offered to swap seats with us and so we got the exit seats.

But just wait! When I fly now, there is so much room that it is irritating as the tray is so far from my stomach that I have to lean right forward to eat or everything is so far away it drops on to my lap!

And the day i weighed less than my very slim husband was fantastic!!

Your husband sounds as wonderfully supportive as mine!

Kate

Oh DEAR LORD! That sounds HORRIBLE!! Ugh. I tell you, many of our experiences were flat out harrowing! 

I am SO glad things are different for you now and that you will have all the chances to feel just GOOD and comfortable in your body. It is a gift that is worth everything!!!!

That airline sounds absolutely dreadful!!!!

Mega hugs!
T