Describe your behavioral and emotional battle with weight control before learning about bariatric surgery.
I was not severely overweight as child, but started to add weight when I went I started to be able to drive myself and all of the food I was not permitted as a child became available. I grew up with 2 overweight parents; therefore, there was always a fad diet weekly (cabbage soup diet, three day diet, rice diet, etc.) I know when I started eating fast food or getting a "pre-dinner" on my way home I would hide the evidence. I can remember wrapping myself with saran wrap prior to seeing my parents b/c I knew they would be disappointed at my weight gain while at college since the last time they saw me. College brought on so many new option I had never had before. While in college I tried Jenny Craig and in the summer my Mom signed us up for Weight Watchers. I continued to gain and lose weight for many years. My Mom always wanted the best for me and thought that I would not get a job or the recognition I deserved if I was overweight so I was super excited when in one day I was offered 2 jobs and had to chose between the two! :-) I continued to gain weight after college as many of my friendships revolved around our "eating out." Anyway, I never thought that weight stopped me from doing things. Then one day while at an outdoor adventure camp with 300 sixth graders I realized I chose to stay in the office for the fear of not being able to walk the distance without being out of breathe when I returned. During this time, I tried to change my eating habits many times, but to no avail. My PCP started to blame ALL of my problems from sinuses to migraines, etc. to my weight and recommended I look into Weight Loss Surgery. I thought he was a quack, but several years later after realizing my weight stopped me from doing many things and I was AMAZINGLY self-conscious, I started the WLS journey.
What was (is) the worst thing about being overweight?
I would not have been able to identify it when I was overweight, but I was so self-conscious. I know that when I walked into a room I always looked down and wanted to find the back of the room. I would never look anyone in the eye and say hello!
I have always been seen as a bubbly and smiley person, but it used to be to hide what was happening inside so no one would know the real me.
If you have had weight loss surgery already, what things do you most enjoy doing now that you weren't able to do before?
I am 2 and a half years post surgery and have experienced many things along this journey. I had numerous complications and therefore, spend a considerable part of the first year connected to IVs and Picc Lines. All of that is behind me know and I am experiencing a huge amount of self-confidence that I do not know what to do with! When I walk in a room, I smile and make eye contact. It is no longer to hide my inside emotions, but to let the real me out! :-) I don't tell people I can't go places or do things simply because I really want to just stay at home and lay in bed. As a matter of fact, my house barely sees me! I guess this is a good things, but I need to find a balance to take care of my basic needs and still find an outlet for all of my new energy!
Amy Smith
