I am several months into the WLS process, so I thought I would get my profile posted with the details of my journey.
After a couple of friends at work had successful weight loss with RNY, I began to seriously consider WLS. I have been overweight my entire life, in fact I cannot remember a time when I was not. Always the chubby little kid and overweight teen. I remember weighing 190 my freshman year of high school at 14. As the years went by the weight gradually got higher and higher as each successive weight loss attempt failed. Like everyone else on the boards, I was able to lose about 25-50 lbs, but just gain them back plus more.
I reached my all time high during pregnancy and was able to lose about 15 right away, and then another 25, but it is all back now and I am at a cross roads. Initially I thought I would just give up dieting for good, screw it, I can live at this weight, my husband loves me etc, but I found I was just not happy.
One day when I was home from work sick, I was reading “You: On A Diet…” by Mehmet C. Oz and Michael F. Roizen, another diet, another way of looking at food… until I reached the last chapter of the book on WLS. It explained that for some, all the dieting in the world may not make any difference and sometimes it’s ok to have medical help via surgery. The thought of considering this any other serious condition that needed a serious resolution hit home with me. All the statistics of weight loss failure being in the 90% started resonating. I knew another diet was not going to work and decided I would look into surgery.
My DH went to the Dr. Chebli’s seminar with me and was scared to death of me having RNY, and after reading the OH memorial board, I was too. We both agreed LapBand would be a better option for me. My PCP has been very supportive and is willing to do whatever she can to help. I have had all my pre-work done now except for the Nutritionist which is scheduled for August. I have to complete a 6 month medically supervised diet, and hope to have all by paperwork ready by early October.
A few lists for future inspiration:
WL related goals
- Lose 100 lbs
- Run in a 5/10 K
Reasons for doing this
- Overall health/Lower cholesterol
- To be a good example of healthy eating habits for my daughter
- Improve self-confidence
Looking forward to…
- Taking my daughter to swim lessons next year
- Taking a yoga class
- Taking a dance class
- Riding a horse
- Shopping in the WHOLE store, not just the plus size section.
- Shopping at boutiques
- Shopping with my friends for clothes
- Shopping for lingerie
- Wearing cute shoe styles
- Wearing skirts, shorts, tank tops and sleeveless tops
- Getting in a hot tub in public
- Being a “hot” wife and mommy
- Running every day
- Being able to wear necklaces and my rings again
- Ride any ride in an amusement park
- Get a 2 piece bathing suit (bikini!!!)
- Not living to eat
- Having more energy
- Spending time at parties socializing and not thinking about what to eat next
- Not spilling over into the next seat on an airplane
- Not being the fattest one in the room
- Not running from the camera
- Having my daughter be proud I’m her mom
- Being proud of being me
LapBand over RNY
- It’s all about being there for the little one. I am so afraid of complications from RNY that I quickly eliminated it as an option.
- Hoping the slower weight loss helps minimize the excess skin
- Not sure I could cut out sweets
- Like the adjustability of the band
