Yogi0so

Why did I embark on this journey? At 5'8" and 206# with a BMI of 32 some would say that a lap band was a drastic choice. My family physician didn't approve of my decision although she has watched my health decline and my weight increase for the last 10 years. I chose the lap band because I have tried for ten years to lose weight through diet and exercise and have been unsuccessful in losing and maintaining weight loss. My health in that time span has steadily declined. With a BMI of "only" 32 which places me at the low end of the obesity scale I manage to have/had the following co-morbidities; high blood pressure, high cholesterol, asthma, sleep apnea, severe plantar fasciitis, GERD, hiatal hernia, a borderline A1C and gallbladder dx. I have a highly visible job where appearance is very important and as I gained weight I noticed I began to lose the respect of my peers and company management, although I'm exceptionally good at what I do my weight has affected my career path adversely. I think the most uncomfortable single event of gaining weight was that not only was I totally unhappy and uncomfortable with it but during a superbowl munch fest my boyfriend said that I had gained allot of weight and " he deserved better"......... My son has seen me struggle to lose weight and although he is quick to point out that at least I try hard and I'm active, my weight has affected our hiking trips together and he supported my decision to go to a lap band as a tool to assist me in weight loss and to get back to enjoying our hiking together as well as improve my health so I can enjoy my maturity and not endure it.