braddsmom
My name is Leslie, married 18 years to my best friend. We have two children together, he has 3 older children from previous marriage. I would say all are mine but, the oldest is 5 years younger than me. They have all lived with us at some time, including the grand-kids and I have handled everything from teen years to college, marriage, divorce, grand-kids and anything in between. And YaYa to 4 grand-babies.
Well, I should probably start with my childhood, I was chubby, didn't want to wear a swimsuit or stand out. I was often made fun of. Didn't help; I was pale with freckles, curly (unruly) hair, buck toothed and wore glasses. But, I was called thunder thighs and when I ran boys would make boom boom sounds. All but two people were over weight in my entire family. Still to this day, everyone is obese, except for my younger brother.
So, finally in 8th grade I begged my mom to help she bought me carnation instant breakfast (we didn't have slim fast yet). I would have one for breakfast with fruit, school lunch and a little dinner. Then I biked or ran everywhere, also took up speed skating 2-3 times a week, the weight seem to fall off. A year later got a job and was less active, asked my mom for dexatrim and she bought it for me (crazy, because back then it was the "good stuff"...lol). Still cut calories and tried to get activity in, usually a workout video or tv show.
Was able to maintain 96-110lbs at 5'3" until 25, I joined a gym, ran at parks, worked out 3 hours a day and cut calories to 1000. Then I had my two babies, 1 year 1/2 apart and was up to 186lbs. With slim fast, walking 1 hour (pushing double stroller), 50 crunches, jump rope and doing workout video everyday (while the kids napped); I was able to drop 50lbs in 6 months.
2001 and 2003 were rough; 2001 car accident, 100lb gain, 2003 father died, 50lb gain. With atkins, drastic calorie cutting, slimfast, WW, all kinds of exercise. I dropped 100lbs in 14 months.
2007 My husband lost his job or beautiful home had deadly mold in it, same time as housing market dropped and no one would lone us money for repairs. We packed up and moved to Wyoming. It was great out there, we were accepted with open arms, jobs were plentiful. I did put on weight, trying to get everything done for move. Not measuring food or exercising.
Then hit with bad news, sister-laws cancer came back, she was give 2 years. And mom took ill. We came back :(
So, caring for others, including kids and grand-kids and being older have once again left me obese. I have tried a lot of diets, medifast, nutrisystem, atkins, ww, slimfast, metabolife, greentea, and many others along with exercise and nothing is working!! For the past 3 years I have wanted WLS, but with hubby's work off and on insurance has been all over the map. Finally, given original medicare. I am able to start the process.
Hubby, pcp, nut, surgeon and I are all excited and I can't wait. My two teenagers can't wait for their energetic mamma to return. Excited to get my life back. I have asthma, gerd, incontinence, joint pain and back pain. COME ON SURGERY DATE!! 
