JonathanM
Let's see I paint, draw, write, read. I LOVE going to movies. I am also an internet junkie. I am a professional Chef. Graduated culinary school in 2004 after being tired of working in the internet consulting industry. I am 31 years old.
I have been overweight my entire life starting when I was 5 years old on. When I was in 9th grade I weighed 185 pounds and was 5'6. By my Junior year in high school I was gaining 50 pounds a year. My highest lifetime weight a few years later was 348 pounds and 5'9".
In 2000 I was diagnosed with Type II diabetes when I went in for an eye doctor apointment because of vision problems I was having. Since then I have had several eye surgeries over the years costing over $10K. Over the past two years I have got down to 280 pounds and controlled my diabetes/blood pressure with meds but my weight has fluctuated. I decided two months ago to look into Lap-band. I have a wonderful family who is helping to chip in to pay for my lap band surgery when/if it happens since my insurance does not support WLS at this time.
With type II diabetes, high blood pressure, Progressive Diabetic Retinopathy and circulation issues with my feet and family histories of heart disease I decided it is time to change my life NOW, before I am dead within 10 years. Hopefully this tool will help me get down to my goal weight of 180 pounds. Life changing event on the way!
*******************************
10.11.06- Well I am well on my way to this life changing event. I have spent the last 3 months researching and lurking on the Lap-band forums. I have chosen Dr. Adam Smith to guide me through the process. I went to his seminar on 10.10.06 (finaly!). He and his wife are banded and he has had his for a little over two years. Some of his staff are banded as well and there was one members who was so skinny and "normal" looking to coin a phrase that it was hard to believe she was banded and was ever morbidly obese. The leader of the local support group was there too (also banded) to answer questions, etc. Everyting that was said and discussed was what I have read about from other members and my own research. We also discussed the risks, complications and other areas of concern in good detail. He was no afraid to talk about surgeries that had to remove bands, or fix slippages (all of which where from patients who either moved in-state, or changed doctors). I loved the fact that he didn't sugar coat anything. He put it all out there, and our group of about 25 or so really where aggressive with questions and concerns. The slide-show was just the typical "sales pitch" and I thought I had made a mistake, but the intense Q&A and serious discussions that followed made my doubts go away completely.
I know Lap-band is not for everyone and some people are the unlucky ones to have complications but I believe this is the best choice for me. Even having to pay out of pocket. I have no illusions about what to expect or the road ahead of me. I feel that if I am chosen to be one of the unlucky people to have complications or worse than I will simply say it was in God's hands and look down another path. Even, god forbid, I died for some freak reason at least I can say I died fighting and trying to DO something about it.
I have no illusions of the tough battles ahead for the rest of my life, the slow weight loss and the constant determination, will and support that I will need but I WILL do it.
I have never beeen more ready for anything in my life than this change. I am scared, got serious health issues and only getting worse. It is time to take a stand. It's time to take my life back and I am going to bust my ass to do it.
*************What motivates me?*******************
It's simple really. It is what every healthy, normal person takes for granted in life that I can't or have extreme trouble doing. Besides the health and self-esteem issues the following is my motivation:
I want to be able to run 100 feet without coughing and sputtering and feeling like I ran a marathon.
I want to be able to walk/jog up a couple of flights of stairs without feeling like I am climbing Mt. Everest.
I want to be able to jump and play sports without carying a 100 pound feed sack around my waist.
I want to go into that store and buy clothes from a NORMAL shop.
I want to be more active with my friends. I am tired of going with them and sitting around while they can fit into rides or do more active things.
I want to be able to sit comfortably in an airplane and not squish myself against the window so I can try and let the unfortunate person next to me have some space.
And the last thing. I want to prove to all my naysayers and critics over the course of my life that I can prove them wrong. For all those people who said "You will always be the way you are." or "God made you the way you are, it's foolish to change it." It would be nice to be able to go back in time and tell them to "Bite Me" :P
I am tired of just being a spectator in life! I want to live it! I am READY to live it! Thats my motivation and I will always think of that during my upcoming struggles to help me get through the rough times ahead.
- Rant off- :P
