Describe your behavioral and emotional battle with weight control before learning about bariatric surgery.
It all started when I turned 12 or 13 (that was about 35 years ago). That's when I discovered Twinkies. Not your average discovery. We never had cakes, chips, or soda in our house growing up. It was then that someone thought it was a good idea to buy Twinkies. My older sister always had a weight issue (she is 4 yrs older) so they had to be hidden from her..so they went into the locked cabinet. Guess who had the key? Yup the responsible middle sister, it was my job after all to make dinner. They wouldn't miss one Twinkie, and I was right. This went on and then other secret eating habits developed. Older sister had a job, she would buy 1 pound bags of m and m's and eat those in one sitting..but she shared. On and on it goes. In high school I weighed 180, after college 230, when I got married 278. Had my first child, lost 20 pounds and stayed there for 10 years..hit my peak at 281.
Did I ever try to lose weight..not enough time to describe it all..I did Diet Workshop (at least twice), Richard Simmons, going to the gym every day for 2 hours for over a year, joined Weight Watchers at least 5 times. Sometimes it came off, sometimes it didn't.
I am pushing 50 and realize that something needs to give. I can do my part, I've done it. It just isn't enough on its own. I have had several family and friends have various bariatric surgeries with pros and cons from each one. I used to think that it was pretty drastic to have the procedure..kind of like a last resort. That is where I am now.
What was (is) the worst thing about being overweight?
Not being able to keep up with my kids or ride on amusement rides because I can't fit into the seat. At one family outing the assistant ride technician rode with my son because we didn't have enough adults for the younger kids and I couldn't fit in the ride.
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 have not had the surgery yet.
MLJ2012
