Describe your behavioral and emotional battle with weight control before learning about bariatric surgery.
I was overweight my entire life. I think my mom put me on my first diet when i was 9. She would yell at me all the time that I needed to go on a diet, yet she was the one buying all the food and feeding me, how is that fair?
I was the classic yo-yo dieter. I would go on either a crash diet (I've done them ALL) lose like 40/50 lbs. go back to regular eating and BOOM gain it all back quickly plus an additional 20 lbs to top it off. Talk about depressing! Made me want to just eat more. I was a food addict, no doubt about it. I used food as a drug; be it when i was upset, emotional, crying, bored, stressed out, whatever it didn't matter. I would stop at McDonald's drive thru in my town every day while my kids were in school and order a big mac, 2 cheeseburgers, a large fry and a large Diet Coke (yeah like that mattered lol). I would then stuff myself until i couldn't eat anymore in my car in the parking lot.
Food, in my family, is also used during happy times or celebrations. We celebrated every holiday growing up. Got a ton of candy during Easter and Halloween, Ate a huge feast on
This went on for almost a year before I decided to pursue Gastric Bypass Surgery.
What was (is) the worst thing about being overweight?
1) Not being able to go into a store and buy clothes. At a size 26, the only store I could do this at was Catherine's or maybe Lane Bryant if I got lucky but those stores are very expensive to shop at, probably because of the added material needed to make the clothes. 2) Feeling "invisible" to the world. No one held a door for me, or even looked at me walking at the mall. My fat made me invisible. 3) Not fitting into chairs (airplane seats, lawn furniture, dining room chairs, the booths at restaurants, movie chairs, etc.) Even now I look over a lawn chair before getting into it because I've broken my share in the past when I was heavy. 4) Feeling insecure 5) Feeling worthless 6) Feeling like no man would ever want me in any way even as a friend
If you have had weight loss surgery already, what things do you most enjoy doing now that you weren't able to do before?
LIVING! I can now walk/bend over/reach/jump/run/go swimming/exercise/gardening/etc. without pain!
The clothes and shoes! OMG! I went from a size 26 to a size 4. I can now shop anywhere, pick something up that is my size, put it on, zip/button it up and still be able to breathe! My new favorite store is Victoria's Secret. I bought my first bra/panty set from them about two months ago and I wear them as much as possible. I actually had to exchange the bra because after a month I lost another cup size (from a 34 B to a 32 B) but they graciously exchanged it. I remember waiting in line there when I bought them thinking, wow this is my first real bra and panty set that I've ever owned! I held back tears in line but once I got to the car and shut the door the waterworks flowed! LOL Happy, happy tears of joy and grateful that I have had the opportunity to get this awesome tool!
Another great thing that happened from having RNY surgery is that I can do whatever my kids are doing now! I can run with them, play tag, go to the beach and not feel like the biggest whale there, not worry about breaking the beach chair my cousin let me borrow (yeah that happened), swim on the boggie boards, go to the arcade and play all the games even the motorcycle one you have to ride on the bike!! They have their mom back and I am so happy to be able to really be there for them both emotionally and physically. It even has made me more aware of what I am feeding them. Moderation is key in our home. You can have a cookie if you have a piece of fruit first. Those are my rules. I finally really know nutrition because of what our bodies require. We only have a tiny stomach now and have to make sure that what we put in it are good choices. Otherwise you will get sick, lose hair (i was lucky and never really lost a lot), skin color will be bad, and you will just look unhealthy. So education, both preop AND postop is key to your success!!
Mal
