Christine1322

Until the beginning of June this year, I had never heard of a Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy. I was at work, eating my Lean Cuisine for lunch, and talking to a co-worker about how frustrated I was with my weight loss attempts. Most recently I had lost 21 lbs on a very healthy eating plan. And as usual, I gained 30 lbs back within a few weeks, faster than I ever had before. I was somewhat in a panic because I was now at my highest weight ever and I didn't dare diet anymore. I had dieted myself up to almost 300 lbs.

She had worked with someone previously who had gotten the Sleeve. She told me about it. I had no idea such a thing existed! I had seen too many complications, even a few years later, with Gastric Bypass. I had no desire to mess with a Lap Band. I went home and started researching the Sleeve and it seemed like something that might really work for me.

My history is that I was very thin and active as a child and teenager. I started gaining a little weight after high school, but had never developed any good exercise or eating habits. Growing up, I enjoyed bike riding and swimming but didn't do any of that after I got married. I gained weight with every child (4) and got about half of it off each time. I found I enjoyed walking and started walking several miles a few times a week.

At one point I had a major depression and gained 50 lbs. I went through a nasty divorce. I gained another 50 lbs in nursing school because I stopped walking and started sitting and studying. I used food to de-stress throughout all of this.

I am excited to become more active. At this weight it is not comfortable to be active. I don't recognize my body or even how it functions and moves. One of my goals is to hike Angel's Landing in Zion National Park (I live in Utah.) I hiked that in my 20's and it's amazing. I plan to go on lots of hikes, and take up bike riding and swimming again!