skb123

At 55 years old and 421 pounds I was in a bad auto accident would change my life forever, for the good! As a result of the accident I was hardly able to move, in great pain and put on so many drugs it took a full time home health provider to care for me and arrange all the pills. That was just 3 short years ago. Than on September 29, 2010 it happened, I woke up in the middle of the night unable to breath. With a pulse of just 34 I was rushed to the hospital and put in CCU my heart was failing. I than underwent a chemical stress test of which I failed badly. That day I heard words no one wants to hear, "Susan at your weight I will attend your funeral in the next 2 years! OMG my daughters need me, my grandkids need me this just can't be. I was than sent to a larger hospital, with the best heart unit in the Pacific Northwest. There they went into my heart using IVP dye that I was allergic to and a half hour later the doctor shouted there's nothing wrong with her heart! I shouted Thank You Jesus! And was out of the hospital that very night. However I had just gotten a huge wake up call. From that day forward my life changed.

I quit eating all sugar and processed foods. I later eliminated white starches and mostly eat fish and some chicken and turkey fresh fruits and vegies and only whole grains.. By the first of January I was down by 50 pounds. Within 6 months took off the first 100 pounds. Than in April of 2011 my kids dad died suddenly of a heart attack. Our lives were upside down again. But I pushed on after just 18 months of working out and eating right I was down by 170 pounds. When the weight loss slowed I looked into having lap band surgery. However I put it off for a year. During that year I only lost 6 pounds so I decided to go through with the band. I was banded on July 24, 2013 and no regrets here. As of today, one day shy of one month post op I have lost an additional 24 pounds bringing my grand total to 200 pounds gone!

Never in my lifetime did I ever think I could attain such success and maintain it. But now I know it is for life, and the band it just an added tool I needed. The fact is that on my own the odds were against me keeping it off, there is a 90% chance of gaining back when you have lost over 100 pounds. I have seen it first hand. A very good friend of mine lost 180 in just over a year on WW and she put back 200. But with the band the odds are for me and no against me. If you were to ask me if you should do this, by all means I would say first it is a very personal thing but by all means do! Yesterday I sat at my surgeons office and there was a lady who had bypass 2 months ago, she had only lost 6 pounds more than me and was having a hard time eating, thus she was just able to keep shakes down. I'm glad I went the way I did.

Blessings to one and all no matter what way you go!