spotly
My story is like that of many others. I always battled weight issues from early on and the only time I was not exessively overweight was when I ran long distance, hurdles, and played basketball in high school. Even with all of this I was still not the "skinny" girl that is always pushed on all teenage girls. I don't binge eat, but my vices are apparently carbs, followed by sugar. When I started my stringent low carb diet (as soon as I got approval for my surgery) I have lost more weight than with regular diet, exercise, and medication combined.
I have been more overweight than what I would have liked for at least 15 years now, and I thought it was bad when I got married and my wedding dress was a size 16. It has just gone up since then. I hve now lost all the weight from the birth of my son in 2005 and I am still overweight with hypertension that never resolved itself after my pregnancy. I am desparate to regain my life and start enjoying a new life where I can go swimming and have my picture taken with my son and not be ashamed.
The low point of my life came when I dropped out of infant swim classes because I was so ashamed to be in a swimsuit in front of all the other parents. The truly sad part of the story is that my son loved the classes. I realized I was limiting HIS experiences because of MY limitations and MY self-consiousness, and this was simply unacceptable. I have never had my picture taken with my son and we don't have a family photograph because I just can't bear to see myself how I really am. So, determined to set a healthier me (one without hypertension) and show my son how fun life can be, I am undergoing the steps to WLS.
The other side of the story is that I have 2 parents, both diagnosed with diabetes in late adult-hood. I know what is in store for me if I don't make some serious changes now. I am determined not to have to take insulin and check myself daily to see if I am out of control and am in danger of going blind or loosing a limb. I want to be around to see my son grow up and experience life and I won't have that cut short for an enjoyment of carbs and sugar.
I have now had both parents undergo WLS and lost a combined total of 225 pounds betwen the two of them. I am thankful for being able to see the day-in and day-out side of WLS and what it takes to make it work. I am determined to be one of the sucess stories I read about on this board...
