SBrodnex
My story is likely a common one. I have ALWAYS been overweight. I was a fat baby (very cute), fat child, and became a fat adult. My weight issue often stopped me from being as outgoing and adventurous as I'd have liked, so I retreated into my comfort zone: academics! Growing up, I had a lot of adult responsibility at a young age, so going outside to play and doing what kids do was not an option. Rather, I stayed inside, read a lot, took care of my home and family, and, yes, ate. I never learned healthy eating habits and was never monitored with my eating. As a result, I continuously made gains academically and continuously gained weight.
Fast forward...at my heaviest in my last year of law school, I was just over 400 lbs. Over the years, I'd tried diet, exercise, pills, programs...you name it, I'd tried it. At this point, I tried pills again, only to fail again. So, I continued to focus on my career, passing the bar and deciding to continue my education with an advanced law degree. It is during the tail end of that program that my mother contacted me. She had money saved and she knew that I wanted to pursue bariatric surgery, having unsuccessfully started the process once upon a time when I had insurance, and she wanted to support me financially in making that happen. I began to educate myself all over again about the surgery and contacted surgeons in a couple cities (DC where I lived and Atlanta). I finally decided on Dr. J.K. Champion in Atlanta where my family lived. I returned to Atlanta in May and had the surgery June 17, 2009. At the time of surgery, I was just under 400 lbs (398). I recently had my 3 week check up and I've lost 37 lbs. At this point, my weight loss has slowed, but Dr. Champion assures me it's not over! (I'm a serious worrier!) I had no complications. The hardest parts of this journey so far: 1) the gas pain, initially; 2) taking the vitamins, calcium, iron, and protein supplements when they often make me sick; 3) complete lack of energy all day, everyday; 4) transitioning back into eating; 5) overhauling my life (formerly, family time and social time always meant eating! For my family and friends, it still does. For me, it doesn't. Dilemma!); and 6) all the emotions that come with all the changes.
Currently, I am re-learning how to live, to a great extent. As I'm adjusting, so are my family, friends, and my fiance. It's a difficult time which I look forward to easing. Unfortunately, thus far, that has meant a lot of emotional highs and lows and self-isolation to a certain extent. I've had to accept that people just don't get it. It can be quite lonely because of that. So, I'm now also looking forward to joining a support group with people who do get it. On the plus side, I look forward to doing activities that have nothing to do with food, travelling and having the adventures I crave, and getting back to the happy, quirky me!
