OCCY
Like many people, I have been one of those who have never really been skinny. For as long as I can remember I have been "chunky" to "heavy". But for me weight was never a major issue, because I had a lot of confidence and people would always tell me that I was pretty. But there is nothing pretty about being overweight. From high school to college I can remember having constant battles with my weight. The smallest weight I can ever rember being is 150 lbs and that was in middle school.
But when my weight really became out of control was at the death of my grandfather. I learned at that time how to use food to numb pain. I was only a teenager at the time. There was so many horrible things happening that that was my only way to cope. So from that point on, food was my addiction of choice.
I struggled with my weight up and down all through my term in college and throughout my twenties. Around 2004 I found out that I was a diabetic and I weighed 312 lbs at 5'1. My circumference was around the same as my height, so literally I was a round ball. I knew I had to do something. And through much prayer, determination and a whole lot of will power. I went down to about 270. Life was great and I was happy despite of all that was going on my life, because in this area I had some control.
Then in 2005, I decided to get married and between the time of my engagement and the present, my weight was at one point, my heaviest ever at 325 lb. Some of it was due to all of the medications I was on, but it was mainly because I had lost control again. I was then diagnosed with severe sleep apnea, high blood pressure, high cholestorol, Enlarged heart chamber, PCOS, and a few more things. I allowed the pressures and responsibilities of life make me forget to take care of me. So I prayed to God about it and that's how I decided to pursue having WLS.
I started my journey in December of 2006. I was finally approved in September of 2007. Then I had my surgery Lap RNY in November of 2007. I have no regrets and I know that my life is changing for the better.
I am currently studying to be an evangelist. I have been evangelizing for some years now, but now I feel more empowered to totally be free in my gift and not have this weight holding me down to be all that God has called me to be. I believe that this experience is a gift from God and I qoing to use it to help inspire people along with the many other testimonies where God's powerful hand has been in my life.
