Question:
I have a BMI of probably 40-42 now, I am having second thoghts
I went to a BBW where all the people had to be closer to 400lbs and i felt like the smallest one there. I have lost 25 lb on Meridia over the past 3-4 mo and I am getting cold feet. I know once I stop taking the pills I will gain it back. I also have severe pain, arthritis, reflux and a very positive family hx for Diabetes and heart disease. Am I being silly by getting cold feet/ I am 5ft, 215 . Can anyone else with a low BMI give me some encouragement — Karel (posted on August 13, 2001)
August 13, 2001
I too had a BMI of 40, I was 5'4 258lbs. I am now 3 months postop and have
lost 61 lbs. This is the best thing I could have ever done for myself. My
back and ankles don't hurt anymore, I have more energy than before. I had
second thoughts many times and still had them early postop, but that doubt
is gone now because I am able to eat almost anything and I feel good. This
is a tool that we have been given and as long as we follow the Dr's
guidelines the
weight will come off and be gone forever ! Good luck !!
— Billie M.
August 13, 2001
A BMI of over 40 is obese, why do you think it's low? It may be lower than
others but it's not low by any means. Take your clothes off and look in
the mirror, do you want to look like this? Are you healthy at 215? I feel
the same way in that I'm not as obese as some but for me the extra 100
pounds has to go! Stay focused..I'm 2 weeks pre-op and I'm nervous. Think
positive and be strong if this is what you want!
— Deanne S.
August 13, 2001
Hello Karel: I started out with a BMI of 40.7 and weighed 237. I am
5'4" and that was way too much weight for my height. I am now two
months post-op and weigh 181 with a BMI of 31. To date I've lost 56 pounds
and feel Great. Grant it I have a ways to go but it's a start. When I
went in for pre-op appointments, I was usually the smallest in the room. I
look at it this way, if I would have waited six months to a year I would be
heavier and have a higher BMI, not to mention additional co-morbidities. I
am so Happy I was afforded the opportunity to have this surgery. I have
absolutely No Regrets and I would do it again in a Heartbeat!! Good Luck
with your decision and feel free to email me should you have any additional
questions.
Ciao, Victoria in Italy :)
— perezrdh
August 14, 2001
Hi Karel! I know exactly what you are feeling as I have been having those
same thoughts. I started researching WLS about 6 months ago & have
come the the conclusion that it is the best option for me. I am 5'4 &
weigh 235 lbs. so I am just barley at the 40 BMI that my insurance
requires. It seems to weigh on my mind really bad when I lie down to sleep
at nite. That is when I start thinking that there's other things I can
try. But then I remember that I HAVE tried everything else, only for it to
end in failure. That's the last thing I am thinking about before I finally
dose off to sleep, but then when I wake up, I have a completely different
attitude. I know this is what I need & I want. I am so tired of my
lower back pain, my heartburn & the looks & stares that I get on a
daily basis because I am 100 pounds overweight. Fortunately, I do not have
the high blood pressure or high chlolesterol, but I'm not too ignorant to
know that it is just a matter of time. I just don't want to live this way
anymore. I also understand about taking the diet pills & thinking that
will get your weight off. I lost down to 135 pounds 5 years ago, but after
I stopped taking the pills, look what happened. I gained it all back &
more. Since then, I have been on numerous diets only to lose a few pounds,
get frustrated & then start eating again. I see this as the only
longterm answer to my problem. I am tired of being a hermit & staying
in the house. I am tired of not getting out & playing ball with my 8
year old son because I am too overweight to run. I'm just plain tired of
it all & want better. Anyone will tell you this surgery is not for
everyone. You just need to weigh the pros & cons & see if this is
what you want & if are you ready for a different life & lifestyle.
I know I am & I can't wait until 2 more weeks when I finally get to go
for my first visit with my surgeon. Good luck to you & email me
anytime if you just want to talk. [email protected]
— Lori M.
August 14, 2001
I had a BMI of 40.2 at 5'8" and 267lbs. I will be eight weeks out on
Thursday and I am down to 227lbs. I feel so much more energy and feel like
the surgery was definitely worth it. Go with your gut (no pun intended)
and do what you feel is right for you. Good luck!
— PT LawMom
August 14, 2001
Hi, my name is Jessica. I am 5'0" also(although yesterday I went to a
nursing assesment for WLS and they said I was 4'11", I don't believe
them). I weigh 212 lbs. I can't go to more then one store at a time
because my legs really start to hurt. And I hate complaining because my
husband is skinny(and we are both 24 YOA). I don't like to let on that its
so bad. Also same story here about family history. Diabetes and heart
disease. You said you got cold feet. My encouragement is that I haven't
even thought twice about it. When ever I go to one of those info meetings
or so and so I am usually the skinniest one there. But that has not made
me change my mind once. I want to look decent and this is the answer.
Like you said, yeah youv've lost a few pounds, but what has life shown you?
That chances are you are going to gain it back. And who says it won't be
more weight this time around. I get heavier every year. I know this is
what I have to do before it gets worst. I hope this helps. Bye, Jessy
— Jessica Hernandez
August 14, 2001
I used to have a low BMI when I was your age. I am 44 now and will soon be
45. I am 5' tall (or short). I have a BMI of 74 or so now. I wish I had
this years ago so i would not have wasted all these years with dieting that
never lasted and being physically miserable.
Just a different perspective.
— windstorm56
August 14, 2001
What is it about being 5'4"? I find a lot of folks who are like me:
5'4" and 235-240lbs. I have a date for an open RNY on Oct 9, and I
have some of the exact same feelings. I tell myself "maybe I should
try something else" or "now that I'm faced with major surgery,
maybe I'll get my rear in gear and get totally, totally, totally serious
about a diet this time!" Then, I think, NO! I've bought into that
trap several times over. This is the answer for me. I'm certain of it.
I think for me, a lot of it may be some sort of sick guilt. I see folks
around me who are literally twice as big, and I think that this surgery
should go to them first, then me. Then I have to tell myself that it
doesn't work that way. I'm seeking health for me - period. Their health
is their journey. I don't need to feel guilty about that. Then, I
congratulate myself on my quest for better health. I wish the same for
you!
— Felissa L.
August 14, 2001
I'd like to remind folks that there is a mailing list for us lightweights!
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OSSG_4_LIGHTWEIGHTS
— Felissa L.
August 14, 2001
Personally, I wouldn't thing of having wls at only 215lbs.
You do have health problems; but, you might experience
improvement by losing another 25lbs. That's the route I would
take. I'd stay with the Meridia, lose another 20-25, have a
nutritionist develop a sensible eating plan to maintain the
weight loss and see what happens. Wls will always be there.
But, it should only be a last resort.
— [Anonymous]
August 14, 2001
I too am in your situation. I am 5'3 and weigh 220.My BMI is 39. I am 43
and have high blood pressure that requires 2 pills just to keep it in the
140/90 range. My cholesterol is high as is everyone's in my family. I can
not take Meridia or any other diet pills anymore because of my blood
pressure. Have been on numerous diets and I have lost weight only to gain
back more. Now I am at my highest weight and I can not live like this the
rest of my life. This is a drastic step, but I don't want to get any
heavier because I will become a higher surgical risk. I want the weight
gone once and for all. I have become a hermit these days. None of my
clothes fit and I hate the way I look and feel. I have a surgery date of
Nov 27th 2001, but I am still waiting for insurance approval.Yes I am
scared and nervous to do it, but I am even more scared if I don't. You will
know if it is right for you or not.I need this tool to help me gain control
of my life. I don't want to gain another 100lbs and wish that I had done
the surgery when I weighed less.Good luck to you whatever you decide.
— garyzgurl
August 14, 2001
I was 226 when I went to my consultation, I was 221 when I went for pre-op,
I can say this you can take drugs to loose, and what kind of side effect
does that leave you down the road? I have taken many kinds of weight loss
meds and I was still 100# over weight, I am now 8 months post op and weigh
136, I can bet I wouldn't be down 90# taking drugs to loose. At least this
way I won't gain it all back after I stop taking the meds. I also had
severe pain in my back, the pain hasn't completely gone away, but I don't
have to take pain pills it's tolerable, I don't have high blood pressure,
or high cholesterol anymore in just 8 short months. It's normal to be
nervious I a was I am so glad I didn't back out.
— [Anonymous]
August 14, 2001
I had a BMI of 43 going in. I was 5'1" and 215 pounds. (I really
started at 230, but lost 15 pounds before surgery.) I am so glad I did
this! I was a little discouraged at first because I didn't lose as fast as
the heavier folks, but I have gone from a tight 22 to a loose 14 in 3
MONTHS!!! Also because I was not as heavy when I started out, I will
probably not have to have additional surgery to remove loose skin. My
advice is go for it! I feel better than I ever have in my life. I don't
have to worry about food like I used to, and my cholesterol went from 220
to 144. If you already feel bad, how much worse are you going to feel if
you gain more weight? That's what I asked myself because I knew I would
gain more. It's definitely not silly to have cold feet. This is a major
surgery. It requires pretty drastic changes to your habits. But if you are
ready to accept the risks and responsibilities, it can be SUCH a positive
change! I hope this helps. WLS was the right thing for me, but we all have
to make our own choice.
— ctyst
August 14, 2001
Hi Karel! I too have a lower BMI--yesterday I went to my surgeon's office
for a reweigh and finally I was at 40.0!--"finally?" you may
say--to get the WLS surgery done this is what my doc requires not to
mention my insurance company--I paid hell to reach that with exercising,
walking, lifting weights. At first I thought I could eat my way up to that
BMI--WRONG!!--I was sickened by being such a pig and I truly can't stand
the thought of eating one more burger or taco or piece of fried chicken! I
started to eat healthily and along with exercise that built up my muscle
mass, I am finally at my goal--as of yesterday, all paperwork is going to
insurance co for approval--WLS to me means freedom--from the horrible pain
in my body, from having to take 11 daily pills just to maintain everyday,
from being embarrassed to go out in public, from being the person I know
that is hidden by the fat, freedom from diets that don't work, from
shopping by catalog for my clothes, etc..etc..I know this is the right
decision for me--Karel, look deep inside your heart and you will find the
right answer for yourself too! Good luck with whatever you decide! Peace
and Love be with you.
— karen D.
August 14, 2001
Karel, You got a lot of good advice. I am 4'11
w BMI 40 I am hoping to have a LAP in Oct. Lots of folks have tried to
discourage me, saying " you can loose the weight if you just try"
RIGHT ! But I have tried and if all those diets/pills would have worked
I'd be slender and
happy. I ,like the other poster wouldn't think twice about the WLS, for us,
being double the weight we should be is just like a taller 400# + ( health
wise). I've been researching for almost a year. This is for me. You'll
have to make your decision about WLS for yourself Good Luck
— Cindee A.
August 14, 2001
At 5'2" and 238 pounds, I had a BMI of 42. I had surgery three months
ago and have lost fifty pounds. That is 50% of my excess weight! I am glad
I had surgery, and would do it again.
— blank first name B.
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