Tonya499
I haven't always been fat. In 1997 I was a serious weightlifter and even cosidered competing. I had a tummy tuck in 1998 to get rid of the excess skin on my abdomen so you could see my six-pack better. I had to gain 10 pounds to have that surgery. I weighed 128 lbs with body fat of less than 20%.
Then I developed depression. "I can't get out of bed, life is too hard" depression. I also developed serious menstrual problems. I received the Deprovera shot (famous for weight gain) and started antidepressants in the spring of 1998. By Christmas of that year I had put on 20 lbs. I started eating and eating and eating. I now weigh 224 pounds. About a year ago, I realized that my depression is pretty much under control. I haven't had trouble getting out of bed or living my life in quite awhile. The 2 antidepressants I am on are working and I feel great. When I stopped having periods, I had my labs drawn and sure enough, at age 45 I am in menopause. My last child left home18 months ago. Now what to do....I was out of excuses.
I am having "me" time in a serious way! I started back to college to get my degree in management. I am a registered Nuclear Medicine Technologist. I supervise a Nuclear Cardiology Lab. But I don't have my Bachelors. In order to get into upper management I will need that. So off to school I went.
I started Weight Watchers and lost 20 pounds in 3 months. I fell off the wagon and gained backed 25 pounds. In 2005 I looked into the lapband but my insurance company didn't pay for it. I looked into again and my insurance does pay for it now. But, then I really started researching it and started to worry that it wouldn't work for me. I went to a weight loss seminar and learned alot about WLS. I have chosen RNY because my insurance company won't pay for the sleeve and I have severe GERD. My husband agreed that if the surgeon felt the sleeve was a better choice for me we could take the money out of savings, but the doctor feels that with severe GERD RNY is probably a better choice.
So, here I am, starting my WLS journey! I spent 20 years raising 3 kids of my own and 3 stepkids. I have been a good wife and a hard working employee. I am entering a new phase of my life and this one belongs to me! (But I will still be a good wife, mom, and employee...I promise) :-)
