This is my story...

I have been overweight since age five. I don't recall this specifically, I have just seen the pictures. I never really felt any of the negativity that others associate with being 'fat'. I had friends and did everything I wanted to do. When I hit teen years, I had friends and I suppose I could blame a lack of boyfriends on my weight; but truly, I was shy. I did try every diet imaginable from age 20-36... but nothing really stuck. I liked food and it would always win. Over the years, I became successful in my career in banking and never felt passed over for promotions because of my weight. Life was moving along. But, I began to feel tired... really tired. I was a single mom of a two year old managing a full-time career and a mortgage. I told myself that it was normal. Eventually, I decided to see my doctor. After many tests, I was diagnosed with many things: hypothyroidism, high blood pressure, arthritis, sleep apnea, etc. All these things were manageable with meds... but the root seem to lie in my weight. I got medically approved for LapBand. I had surgery in Dec 2009. At my heaviest I was 262 lbs. I did lose a lot of weight and got my energy back. I stopped all my meds (not with my dr support). I landed at 199-210 range and stayed there for years. The band had been amazing for my health, but I did throw up occasionally and have "stuck" moments. Eventually... it was a regular occurrence. So, in May 2015, I decided to have my band removed and revise to gastric sleeve. My friend and I went to Mexico together and had the surgery. I weighed 211 before surgery. The surgery went great and I am happy to be free of the band and looking forward to getting to a healthy BMI.