Just-A-Gem

God, I hope this is right! I am more scared of the flight. LOL. Your food addiction is the scared one here. Show it who's boss!!!

Go for thin crust from Domino's when you think you can. The "slices" are basically 2.5"x2.5" squares and way lower carbs. Mmmmm, pineapple and Canadian bacon. Nom Nom Nom.

That is in Houston.. How tall are you? Your starting weight looks a lot like mine.

How'd it go?? I have flown plenty before, but not in 3 years and since then I have had a recurring dream of turbulence and crash. I am scared witless of take off, but I have 3 months and a good shrink. Maybe she will give me something to get through it. LOL.. I think it stems from some pretty bad/scary turbulence the last time I flew to D.C., haven't been on a plane since.

Yay! I think the flight will be the scariest part for me. My c-sections were more risky than this and the only "what-if" I'm concerned with is, what if this is the best decision I will ever make for myself in my life. Interested in learning how it goes for you. I have a three month wait ahead of me, but I'll be seeing Dr. Almanza on August 5th and I've never been more excited.

This is truth! I live in Pasadena and there are probably like 15 surgical centers within a 10 mile radius of my apartment. Texas girls are tough. Houston girls are tough-er.

You will be sleeved about 6 weeks before me.. I've never been so excited. (even when waiting for my children's births... shhh!!) I'm glad you'll be talking to him about it soon. I know what you mean about life changes. They have prevented me from moving forward on this twice before, but I am determined that my 25th birthday will mark the first day of the rest of my life with my beautiful family. I hope these months fly for us.

Today I will be playing the part of the devil's advocate: Don't lie to your husband. If you tell no one else, you need full disclosure with your partner of over 20 years. This is a HUGE, emotional undertaking and I've seen many marriages fall apart in the process. Educate him. The more educated he becomes on the risks of staying obese vs. the way more limited risks involved with this procedure... even in Mexico. I've been on OH forum for almost 5 years and it really pains me to see the number of marriages that fail because feelings on this important subject were not ever fully communicated. Obesity is the 2nd leading cause of preventable death in the United States. This is your method of preventing it and he will/should understand this. In this case I would not say it's easier to ask forgiveness and it looks as if you're willing to move forward without his knowing so just let him know that you don't need his permission.

I wouldn't say you're in a fix, per se. You know what you need to do, your internist has told you as much. Trust your doctor's opinion in this case and do what you need to do to get healthy. After 3 years with the band you know that it doesn't work for you and this is the better option. Take your family on a trip to your doctor or the bariactric surgeon of your choice and let him/her do the educating. This is all up to you though.

I'm in Houston too! We can all be Houston Almanza buddies! It should make you feel better that the more serious issues coming from his facility are from 2009 and I think they have seriously cleaned up their act. There is risk in every facility. I feel comfortable enough to move forward knowing that I wouldn't be able to pay $9k or the like with my anti-debt stance. Surgery date: August 5th!

Beautiful! And the dress is fabulous!

I've been pondering at length how and when I would tell my story and I've come to the conclusion that now is the perfect time. And this is the how: These are the facts: Name: Heather Age: 24 Weight: 285 Height: 5' 7" Cast of characters: Mike (darling hubby), Hunter (darling 4 year old son), Tessa (darling 2 year old daughter) How the heck did I get here??! I was not a chubby child. I grew up moving from town to town all across Texas with my mother and sometimes my father and we were very active and unbeknown to me, poor. I think that lack of luxuries like TVs in our rooms and cable, fast food and other outside food sources is a good defense against becoming fat. (This doesn't prove true in all cases, but it was mine, I think.) When I was 9 my dad got into yacht brokerage and the money situation improved drastically, unfortunately, my parents already strained marriage reached it's breaking point 2 years later and everything changed. There was no longer time in my mother's schedule for soccer practice, swim team, or fall ball. And so there went the activity that cancelled out my "healthy" appetite. Unfortunately, it did not follow suit. My mother went back to school at night and I was left with the task of dinner for myself and my younger sister. This was usually Rice-a-roni, or spaghetti, or hamburger helper.... you know the standbys. When you split these meals 2 ways between an 12 year old and a 10 year old you can imagine the consequences. Between 11 and 13 I went from a pretty skinny little girl to a just barely under overweight teen. By my sophomore year in high school I was chubby. By graduation I was fat, obese. Fast forward a few years and you have a girl with a newborn son and no help. My now ex turned out to be a colossal disappointment in every arena (except for genes because I have the sweetest most beautiful son) and left me with devastated self esteem, but I was lucky, because this all happened during my pregnancy and by my son's first birthday I had fallen desperately in love with my best friend who'd loved me all along. Despite his history of skinny, beautiful girlfriends. God blessed us beyond imagination. I've spent almost the past five years, quite literally hiding behind my children and secretly hating myself. I first considered WLS in 2006 and was planning a lap band, even went through all the certifications with my insurance to have the procedure but was laid off 1 week prior to surgery date. That was a blessing in disguise, knowing now what I didn't know then. I lost 87 lbs in 2009 and gained every ounce of it back in 2010... That was the final straw. I can't do this for the next 20 years while I grapple with this decision, so I'm going to do it. I am self pay and as I cannot afford surgery in the states I will be travelling down yonder. My family has given there blessing and support for this, but I still have quite the wait ahead of me. I feel more secure in my decision every day I come on this site and read your stories. My surgery date is August 5th. This gives me time to save all my cash and get my passport in the mail. I will be having surgery on my sister's 23rd birthday and 2 days before my 25th. I am excited beyond measure because at the end of these short months I am facing the first day of the rest of my life. I won't be the fat mom on the soccer field ever again. Me and my sister at @ 2 and 4 Me at 7 All the way to the right After slight weight loss in 2009 Most recent, but I will take better "before" later...

Thank you everyone! I think I've been lurking on this board for about 3 months. I have been on OH for almost 5 years and I have a pretty complete profile there under this same SN. I will be seeing Dr. Almanza. I feel like I've done all the research and am VERY comfortable with this decision. P.S. Texasmom, I was born in Plano! :-)

That is amazing and inspiring! Keep on keeping on!!