Describe your behavioral and emotional battle with weight control before learning about bariatric surgery.
I gained weight after my first son was born is 1992. I was about 20 - 30 pounds overweight (getting back down to my 115 lb frame once) until about 2003. Then I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism. I got pregnant sometime around April or May of 2003 and, by that time, had gained another 20 - 30 pounds. However, during my pregnancy I was really healthy! My overall weight gain during pregnancy was 2 pounds! I felt great, was energetic, my skin, nails and hair were super healthy and I looked good. Still about 40 pounds overweight, but good! Then, about 2 months later, it all started. My thyroid went all out of wack, my skin, nails and hair were super UNhealthy and I had NO ENERGY and, of course, gained all my weight back and then some! I was about 60 pounds overweight! Then they would lower my thyroid meds and I would gain, then raise them and I would lose, and this has been going on for the last 7 years! Also, I have a crooked knee cap that I need to have surgery on, and that has gotten progressively worse as my weight has gotten greater. So, I have no energy and cannot exercise because of my knee. So, I have gained and gained and am now WELL over a hundred pounds overweight. I can barely walk sometimes because of my knee so I went in to ask my doctor about getting knee surgery so that I could walk, start exercising again and eventually lose weight and feel better. They told me they couldn't do it unless I lost weight. And so, thus ensues "they cycle". Have the thyroid issue, can't lose weight, the knee issue, can't exercise and so and so on. Full circle. So, I decided on WLS in hopes that I can lose enough to have my knee surgery and begin working out again and then be able to maintain my weight, along with my jacked-up thyroid!
Here's to hoping, anyway.
What was (is) the worst thing about being overweight?
I went to the amusement park with my son (he's 6) and we were going on Disaster Canyon, where you have to get in rafts with other people and go down the "river" in the rapids. My FAVORITE ride there! I got in, sat down, and my little seat belt thing was TOO SMALL! So, I had to switch with another rider, which meant everyone was moving around to accommodate me, and then... THAT one was STILL too small! So, again, moving around until I finally found one that worked. People were scrambling, the line was being held up and I almost completely died of embarrassment!! I got off the ride (after smiling and laughing and having "fun", for the sake of my son) and went to the bathroom and cried. That's when I thought, "Yep. I'm doing it (WLS)"!
I never want to feel that way again.
If you have had weight loss surgery already, what things do you most enjoy doing now that you weren't able to do before?
My surgery is scheduled for 1/19/12.
Argee68
