Debbie M.

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I started my official weight loss journey in Oct 2009 when I went to the mandatory seminar that my surgeon's office required.  But it actually started in Aug 2009 when a very innocent action by a coworker jolted me into reality.  My cubicle world doesn't afford two normal size people to walk side by side down the corridors without encroaching on personal bubbles.  My normal-sized coworker came out of an office, had a concentrated look on her face (obviously, her brain was engaged on a problem), saw me and "flattened" herself along the cubicle wall.  She then sidestepped her way down the wall as I passed her.  I knew that she wasn't doing it on purpose...but maybe sub-consciously.  That was my wake-up call...was I really that fat?  Yep!  Until that point in my life, I knew I was morbidly obese, but I never saw myself as obese...even though I couldn't do the things I wanted to do and normal, everyday actions were getting harder and harder to complete.

So I made the decision to find a permanent way to keep the weight off.  I'd been on Weight Watchers and prescription diet pills but there were no consequences to not following the rules.  I never relied on support groups...didn't think that they were useful (but never gave them a chance either.)  My family physician referred me to my surgeon and my journey began. 

It was very scary at the seminar.  They wanted me to get on a scale and there was a line of people waiting to do the same thing.  How embarrassing...perfect strangers would see my weight.  Then I looked at the BMI chart.  60.9 was my BMI.  That was really eye opening!  Had no idea that I was that big...when you put numbers on your life and those numbers are pointing to an early grave, you really start to take notice.

I've completed all the required steps: nutrition, psyche, physical therapy, support group, pre-op and 10-day diet class.  Insurance approved the surgery.  I'm now on the 10-day diet (day 3) and winding down for surgery in a week.