Describe your behavioral and emotional battle with weight control before learning about bariatric surgery.
I had always been overweight, but active, so I really didn't "see" myself as being obese. I was in a women's size 14 by the time I was in middle school, but I played sports and was always on the go, so I didn't really think about it. After I had children, the fact that I was overweight really started to sink in. I was in a bad marriage, so depression factored into my constant weight gain and I felt like I was trapped with no way to escape.
What was (is) the worst thing about being overweight?
I had obstructive sleep apnea, so I would literally drive home from work with no memory of my commute. I was so tired all the time that I would be "sleeping" while driving. I'm a single parent and it terrified me to think that I might injure myself or someone else while driving. I also worried about having a heart attack in my sleep and leaving my children. The worst thing that happened to me, was on a family vacation. My entire family went to Busch Gardens Williamsburg and I love rollercoasters. I went to get on a ride with my children and I was so heavy that the harness wouldn't close, so I wasn't allowed to ride. I have never been more mortified in my life. At that moment, the light switch went on and I made the decision to change.
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 love being able to sleep now without feeling exhausted all of the time! I go to the gym 3-4 times a week and although I still have weight to lose, I don't feel like I'm out of place or that people are staring at me. I can ride every ride at the theme parks and my activity level has increased tenfold. I love shopping for clothes now too! My feet have shrunk an entire size, so it's a lot easier to find cute clothes and shoes that I'm excited to show off.
vahoneybee
