Amanda W.
I guess my weight issues started as a little girl. Although not obese, I went through a chunky time in elementary school. I can still remember different remarks that kids and even relatives would make about my weight. At school, church, even family get-togethers. I suppose I was hyper-sensitive as a kid, because I remember feeling so hurt when I heard these comments, even at such a young age. I've never forgotten them, and those who said them. Funny how we can remember painful moments like that, seems impossible to erase them. Anyway, when I became a teenager, I wasn't really chunky anymore, but quite average. However, I was never really quite happy with myself, always thinking I was fat. (Saying all this, I had a fantastic childhood, with the best parents and siblings in the entire world. No little girl was more loved than I was. I was raised to know that the Lord, church, and of course, family, were the most important things in life. Those are still the most important things in my life today.) Once I started college, I started to put on weight, a little at a time. I started dieting more frequently. When I got married, I still hadn't reached 200 lbs. yet, but was nearing it. Since then, my weight has fluctuated with all the yo-yo dieting I have done. I've had some major stresses in my life the last 5 years, and I guess I started relying on food as my comfort a lot more than I realized. I've had a few successes with dieting, but only temporary. Now, I am at a point that I realize, I can't do it on my own. It is out of control. I need WLS to be my tool. My health is going downhill, and I feel absolutely miserable physically. After having researched and read until my eyes cross, and talking with my family extensively, and most importantly, PRAYING, I am certain that this surgery is going to drastically change my life for the better, if not save it. I am so blessed to have family who are supportive, and who are going to help me get through it. My two little boys are the primary reason I want to be healthy... they need me. They are everything to me. Also, I love my church, and am very active in music and youth ministry. I want to feel good and be able to put my all into these things. That is my story!
