kandy62
Hello Everyone!!! I am so excited about coming across this web site. I finally have found a place and people to talk to who know what I am feeling and going through!! 
Well here is my story. I am 28 years old. I am married to my high school sweetheart. 
We have been married for 7 years, but together for 14. We have a 7 year old little girl, a 4 year old chocolate lab and a 10 month old rottweiler. My husband is in the Air Force and I am a Social Worker. My story began 7 years ago after I had my daughter. Like most of us moms, I tried to lose that baby weight. So I joined Weight Watchers (one of the 3 times I joined). In the beginning, I was losing weight, then it stopped. So I decided to try something else. So over the next 5 years, I tried Weight Watchers again, Jenny Craig, over the counter diet pills, Nutri System, a weight loss center, Slim Fast, doctor prescribed weight loss pills, doctor prescribed meal plans and of course exercise. I got tired of all of that, so in November 2005, I joined the YMCA. My doctor put me on a meal plan with a dietian and I was on my way. My husband was in the desert so I had alot more free time. So I would work out 2 hours before I had to go to work every morning. At the time I was a teacher, so during the summer I worked out for 3 hours. I went to the doctor for a physical August 18, 2006. When I got on the scale, it said I only lost 2 pounds. So I got off the scale and got on again. Said the same thing. I asked the nurse when was the last time the scale was caliberated. I just knew it was wrong. The nurse said it was caliberated the day before. I was crushed!!! I could not believe it!!!!! April 2006 to August 18, 2006- 2 pounds?!?!?!?!?!? I thought I had been doing so good. I was sticking to my meal plan- 80% of the time. My doctor said that I should have lost more than 2 pounds even with me not doing 100% on my meal plan. I went home and cried!!! 
I just couldn't believe it. My husband called that night and I told him what happened and I cried some more. I had to go back to my doctor the next day to have some test run. I gave 9 tubes of blood and a urine sample. All the test came back fine. No thyroid or diabetes and my testosterone level was fine. So that was a plus. But my doctor said since all of the tests came back fine, then the big question was.....Why am I not losing weight???? 
I wanted to know that myself. My doctor said that I fell into that 10% of people that no matter what they do, will not lose weight. I was so hurt!!!! I could not believe what I was hearing. I did not want to be overweight for the rest of my life. So he prescribed me Meridia. I did that for 6 months and only lost 6 pounds. (that medication is expensive) My doctor said even with no exercise, I should have lost more weight thatn 6 pounds. While all of this was going on, my back started giving me BADDDDDD problems. I was having trouble sitting, standing, sleeping, bending and even walking. My back pain was so bad at night I was only getting MAYBE 
4 hours of sleep a night. I tossed and turned all night. ( I still do) I was in 2 car accidents in 2004- one in February and one in June. I was hit from the back in both. My doctor told me I would probably always have back pain. But being overweight didn't help. So I started seeing a physical therapist twice a week for my lower back. (Still am doing this also) When I went back to my doctor, he told me about that 10% of people who cannot lose weight. Not exactly what I wanted to hear. Then he asked me had I every thought about WLS. I told him no. Honestly I hadn't. My doctor told me to go home and talk to my husband about it and research it. My husband and I got on the internet. We wanted to "weigh" the pros and cons. I think all we did was research WLS. About a month after that, I decided that WLS was the best thing for me. My husband is behind me 100%. 
My mother, on the other hand, is not. 
She does not think it is a good idea. I don't want to be overweight the rest of my life. I want to play with my daughter while she is still young. I want to be able to chase the dogs. I want to be healthy. I am tired of my knees hurting when I walk up and down stairs. I am tired of my ankles giving out or rolling all the time. I am tired of being overweight. My husband told me that I have to live this life and I have to live it for me. So I knew this is what I had to do. I went back to see my doctor and we got the wheels in motion. My insurance approved for me to see a surgical doctor. My doctor's office is Southern Surgical Associates in Greenville, NC. My doctor will be Kenneth MacDonald. My Educational Class is scheduled for August 16, 2007. I am so excited. Wish me luck in my journey. I plan to make it through. I look forward to taking this walk. I know it may be a struggle, but anything worth while takes hard work.
I AM READY!!! 
About Me
Before & After
rollover to see after photo
