Lea-Anne Lavoie

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  • BMI 33.5

Obesity & Me

Describe your behavioral and emotional battle with weight control before learning about bariatric surgery.

I wasn't over weight as a kid but once I had my hysterectomy at the age of 26 the weight just started to come on. I didn't know what to do it wouldn't come off. I tried many diets over the years, including weight watchers (3 times), Jenny Craig, Atkins and south beach. i would lose some weight but always plateaued and ended up putting it all back on plus some more. This played havoc on my emotional self worth. Luckily I have a wonderful husband that loves me no matter what but he said I changed over the years I wasn't as confident as I had once been. I felt it everyday and physically everything became difficult down to every day acts of daily living. At my largest I weighed 295 lbs and I feared that I would pass the 300 mark and lose all control. This inspired me to start researching bariatric surgery. The best thing I ever did.

What was (is) the worst thing about being overweight?

The worst things for me being overweight is all the illnesses I aquired along the way. I have type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, hypertension and osteoarthritis in my knees. My self esteem took a beating over the years. I hated how I looked in clothes. Don't get me wrong I am starting to look better but I have a long way to go yet.

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 had a vertical sleeve gastrectomy on Dec 22nd 2011. Its been 7 weeks so far and some amazing things have already happened to me. I no longer take medication for my diabetes its controlled by diet alone and don't need medication for my hypertension. I feel better in general and more comfortable in my body and clothing. I like eating the small meals throughout the day it keeps me in control. I have just started increasing my activity and am enjoying being able to move around more.

ARE YOU READY TO PAY IT FORWARD & SHARE YOUR JOURNEY? Your journey will help highlight the many ways weight loss surgery improves lives and makes a difference in our families, communities and world. EACH JOURNEY COUNTS as a voice towards greater awareness.

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