Lorri01
I was "average" for the better part of my childhood, however, I had two sisters (one older, one younger) that were both very petite and thin. I was dubbed the chubby one. It didn't help that throughout my life I LOVED to eat and every social event revolved around food. I remained "just above average" through high school. I dieted like crazy in college to keep from gaining the "freshman 15". It wasn't until I got married and moved away from home that my weight ballooned. I was living 400+ miles from all of friends and family. I was not working, so it was easy to pack it on. When I came home to visit for the first time, I had already gained approximately 30 pounds. It was VERY obvious to everyone. My mother, that has dieted her entire life but was never heavy quietly pulled me aside and pointed out that "I needed to do something". When I saw the pictures from that trip, I cried and cried. So I changed my attitude, went to work, started playing tennis, walking and dieting. I lost 50 pounds in about 7 months. When I got pregnant for my first child I weighed about 124 pounds. I only gained 21 pounds throughout that pregnancy. After my first daughter was born, I got down to 119 pounds. I thought I was something else! What I didn't realize was that I was burning several more calories a day due to breast feeding! Soon, when life returned to normal my weight leveled off around 135. I had to do the starvation diet thing,and exercise like crazy to stay within the 135-145 range. Four years later, I was blessed with a second pregnancy. This one was not the text book pregnancy like the first. I quickly started to put on weight. I gained and gained. I was into my 6th month and had gained nearly 35 pounds and was diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Even though I was closely monitored and watched my diet, I still ended up gaining a total of 64 pounds with that pregnancy. When my second daughter was born, the weight would just not come off. Even breast feeding I had problems burning calories. I never got back to my pre-pregnancy weight of 135. As the years passed I continued to gain weight. My husband and I were having marital problems and since I am an emotional eater, I gained and maintained. In 1996, we divorced. I decided I would make a new start to my life. I started dieting, not safe dieting.....I was taking diet pills and basically not eating at all. I lost about 65 pounds. I was satisfied with my weight of 140 pounds. Staying there, however was not easy. I did maintain for a while, but in 2000 I moved back to my home state of Ohio. I also decided to quit smoking. I met my future husband and was emotionally happy, so in the first 6 months of 2000 I gained about 20 pounds. From that point on, it just got worse and worse. Although I tried different diet plans, weight-watchers, Jenny Craig, etc, Southbeach, SugarBusters, etc. I would lose a few pounds but promptly gain it back with a few extra along the way. My health started to decline. I became a full blown diabetic, my blood pressure was high, cholesterol was high, and my weight was out of control. I am only 5'2" and topped out at 208 in 2007.
My endocrinologist first suggested I check into I knew Weight Loss Surgery. I didn't meet the 100# minimum but I had several co-morbidities that would certainly qualify me. I started paying attention to different WLS options. I researched RNY and the Lap-Band. I wasn't sure about the idea of "modifying" my body. With more research I came to realize that the Lap-Band seemed to be a good option for me. I knew I needed to get control of my weight in order to get control of my health. I knew without some type of intervention I would not be around to grow old with my husband or see my children get married. In February 2008, I attended a seminar at the Summa Bariatric Clinic in Akron, Ohio. I was totally sold on the idea of the Lap-Band. I liked that it was minimally invasive, it didn't alter the body's "make-up" and the stats for weight loss were good. I started my journey almost immediately. Although it took nearly 10 months, my insurance approved me with the first request, and the fantastic bariatric team at Summa helped me through all of the pre-op appointments, pre-op diet, training, etc. On December 11, 2008, I became the proud owner of an APS Lap-Band. I have accomplished a major step in this journey and am looking forward to the rest of it! I have made the first step in RECLAIMING my life and it feels SO good! One thing I have come to believe.... NOTHING tastes better than THIN feels!!
