TracyC

My story, I don't even know where to begin. I have been overweight my entire life. I don't remember a time when I wasn't one of the heaviest kids in class. During highschool, I pretended it didn't matter, I was on the soccer team so I must be ok. After school the scale steadily went up. I worked two jobs so I ate on the fly and normally had dinner late at night and 9 out of 10 times, it was fast food. Grab and go, that was my way of life. I was married for seven years and during that time explored numerous fertility options gaining weight the entire time. Post divorce, I continued the fast food binge. Even when I would diet, there was always cheating. I would rationalize everything, I didn't have time to make dinner, there wasn't any sense in making a meal for one, the excuses just kept coming.

About six years ago I met a wonderful man, was able to cut back to one job and started to relax and not be so stressed. Turns out that was the key to my infertility. My surprise package arrived on Halloween 2006. I was so happy. Then came motherhood. And while I love being a Mom, I started to realize that I didn't have the energy necessary to be a good Mother. My idea of playing with my son was to sit in the chair and watch. I was having huge issues with my sleep apnea and was stuck in a viscous circle. I wasn't getting quality sleep so I was tired all the time and didn't have the energy to exercise properly.

In May of 2011, I was diagnosed with Type II diabetes. It shouldn't have been a surprise, every relative on my mother's side is diabetic as well as all being morbidly obese. What bothered me, and woke me up, was my son. If I was being given this life sentence, wasn't I in turn handing him one as well. He was eating everything I was. How long did he have before the doctors told me he was diabetic. It would have been neglectful for me to allow that to happen. Problem was, I didn't know how to break the cycle.

My step mother was the one to give me the tools to make a difference. She introduced me to my band doctor and I am thankful everyday for that introduction. I believe it saved my life and that of my son. And if that is too dramatic, I know it greatly improved our quality of life. We now eat healthier food as a family and all have more energy for the important things. I no longer suffer with the sleep apnea, and haven't since the pre-op diet and losing 23 pounds I lost. I no longer take meds for the diabetes. It is like I have a new lease on life. I hope that the rest of the journey is as wonderful as the beginning was.