Essie5

I have been heavy since I was 3 months old! I love food, I love cooking, I cook well, and I love my own cooking - DANGEROUS mix! I have never been small and never had any expectations to be small, however, I never had any expectations of being over 300 pounds either. I tried fads - they just never made any sense to me and my body demands nutritional balance - yes it talks to me and clearly tells me when I need greens, protein, fruit etc. Great little system god gave me! However, I do tend to always do things in excess, and, I do also like sweets! 3 Children later (now also two grands) - managerial desk job and an 1.5 hr commute one way to work certainly did me no favors when it came to weight. Not an excuse, just contributing factors I failed to acknowledge when it counted the most. Weght Watchers was the only successful program I was ever on, just couldn't stick with it. Actually lost about 60 pounds on it once, then lost focus when Anthrax hit the building I worked at and circumstances had me working long hours out of my car for months and then off site in temporary quarters. Again, not an excuse, just a challenge I failed to overcome. Fast food and unhealthy convenience options were the easiest choices and then decided to quite smoking. OK, so I like to challenge myself! :) that was all in 2001. In any case almost 10 years later at the age of 49 I found myself at 304 pounds. Luck beyond luck my medical tests showed I was still healthy, but, I knew that could only hold true for so long, so, made the decision to find a tool that would help remind me to make the right eating decisions. After months of research I decided to attend a couple of seminars on surgery options with my greatest interest being the band. I just was still not willing to totally change my body and was more comfortable knowing that I was still the way the lord made me, just with a little man made assistance - like an alarm clock! Poor analogy, but, kinda how I looked at it. Anyway, I decided the risks were minimal enough to take the first steps to have it done. I elected to go with a new surgeon who had a new practice thinking we could 'grow' (or shrink as things would have it) together. An excellent choice for me,
Dr. Amin is great. With a BMI of 49 I was really a better candidate for the by-pass surgery, but, I was set on the band. 5 months after my first appt with him I had my surgery - August 23, 2011. It was one of the best decisions in my life! 127 pounds later I am wearing a size 10 - I don't ever remember even wearing a 10, the last I recall is wearing a 14 at the age of 12 - with only 17 more pounds to go to get to my goal. I will reasses at that point, but, I am nearly satisfied already with where I am, so, doubt if I will need to go down any more. It has been an enlightening experience. Great to learn my food choices were always pretty good, but, quantity and then the bad choices ON TOP of the good was a huge impact. Also, learned that my cooking process - taste as I cook - had to be managed. Just touching the tip of my tongue with the food to taste it instead of a spoonful each time I needed to taste it had to suffice. I can not tell you how many meals I couldn't eat because of my 'tasting' until I figured out how to manage that! After I learned that lesson the thoughtless clean up "bites" cost me many a lost meal until I started recognizing when I was doing it and was able to stop myself. All of these unconscious actions that added up over the years were huge contributors. Loving family who loves to feed me was another learning experience for both them and me. The huge bowl of ice cream that would always put such a large smile on my face when brought to me as a special treat still brings the same smile, but, is now taken back to the fridge with at least 80% of it being put back - if not all because I am just too full to eat it. That would have NEVER happended before - and you know what? I really do not miss it - who da thunk! Anyway, I wish I had taken on this journey years ago, but, and proud to say at least I have done so now. It has been an incredibly enlightening journey and actually most enjoyable! Has there been challenges, of course! But nothing that is overly difficult, or impossible to overcome. If you set your mind to it and accept what your band is telling you - yes - let go and let it talk to you - you will be successful! I love my "Bandy" and everything she has taught me. I hope you can get along as well with yours.