DianeS.
I've been overweight since I was a child. In high school I was 5'4'' at 150 lbs. and on the drill team. Even then I was still the heaviest person on the squad but I was still confident. My sister and I were always compared and it was constantly said that I had the pretty face and my sister had the better body. In college I met my husband of 19 years at a whopping weight of 160!!! Oh how I long for the good ol' days... Fastforward 10 years and four beautiful children later once I finally found the time to step on the scale. I was in shock to find an extra 90 pounds had some how found its way on my body. My first response was that the scale was probably broken. 
I soon realized that it was telling the truth. I was active in church, successfully running my own business, and running after my kids (or what I considered running), surely I was not that big. I later found out that I had high blood pressure and needed to take medication at only 35 years old. I began a program called Weigh Down Workshop and lost 40 lbs, and found them again along with their friends.
Once my kids were all out of daycare, I began full time teaching and slowly gaind up to 283 lbs.I went to a physician and began taking prescription diet pills. I lost 40 lbs. but after a couple of months my heart started racing and I stopped taking the pills and got up to 296 lbs. Unfortunately my oldest daughter picked up on my horrible eating habits and got up to an unhealthy weight as well. We found out about "Well Spring Weight Loss Camp" for teens through my mother, and though it was very expensive we considered it an investment into her future. We were not disappointed. She lost 40 lbs that summer and later attended a school in that same program where she lost another 35lbs. They focused on getting 10,000 steps a day, journaling, eating no more than 20 grams of fat and 1800 calories. They also focused on the emotional aspect of weight gain through individual and group therapy sessions every week. I highly recommend this to any children or teens that struggle with this. Here is the website http://www.wellspringcamps.com/
I realized that I would need to become part of my daughters' solution instead of her problem If she was to keep her weight off. So I began making life style changes and lost over 40 lbs in just six weeks, my initial response was forget the surgery I can just do this. But soon after school started I began to slowly gain it back from not excercising as regularly. However to my family's dismay we no longer ate out and my daughter and I were sure to plan healthy meals. Even with the low fat I found ways to cheat by eating fat free items that had high sugar and high calories. I had regained 10 of the 40 lbs.
I have been considering weight loss surgery for the last seven years but to me it seemed too drastic to follow through with. My sister who I used to be compared with, had the surgery and went from 260 lbs to 125 lbs. Unfortunately she has since gained most of her weight back within 8 years of the WLS. On the other hand one of my first cousin had the surgery and lost her weight and has kept it off. Go figure. This has made me realize the this procedure is a tool and not a quick fix.
I have really began to working out daily and I have literally had to pray to the Lord for Him to give me the desire and enjoy it. My mother would encourage(force) us when we were younger to go walking but I resisted it at that time. I now realize she was doing it for my own good, but I was too young and stubborn to appreciate it.
I am excited with what the future holds with the surgury. And can't wait to share my results!!
