NanetteKapi

[font=georgia,serif][size=3]I have been fat for most of my life. My mother was told a healthy baby was a fat baby. There is a photo of my mom feeding me as an infant and I am spitting the food out because I was full. She having another spoon full to give me and was trying to shovel that into me. UGH! Both parents grew-up during the depression with less than or lack of food in their homes thus food was predominate in OUR home. [/size][/font][font=georgia,serif][size=3]I grew fast and tall so there were photos of me looking lean but I never felt lean - compared to the other small girls in my age group in the neighborhood/school. I recall being 103 pounds in the 3rd grade and having to buy a Miss size 3 then a size 14 -16 in junior high school and size 18 in high school - thru college. [/size][/font]

[font=georgia,serif][size=3]I was a big girl but in "brick house" hour glass proportions. Dating was zero in high school but once in college I did okay. I had to stop looking for a prince and look for a guy who appreciate me as I am. Its amazing how some frogs become princes just a matter of out look and taking a chance. Becoming a born again Christian added to a positive development into my psch. I was stilled flawed and slipped several times but determined to live my life with GOD's gifts. Years fly with several proposals (I am a commitaphobic) of marriage and then a super size surprise! My daughter was born and my physical figure totally changed. Through breast feeding I went from 291 to 250 pounds but then the "mommy" diet ( its what I call it cuz you eat your meal and your kids - not to waste food/money) began and I gained 80 pounds! I was very uncomfortable with this weight and stuck.[/size][/font][font=georgia,serif][size=3] Oh I did stop eating my daughter's leftovers but added a 16 0z of coke daily to my 60-80 oz. of water. I became a "mash potato -couch potato" - zip to zero exercises. [/size][/font]

[font=georgia,serif][size=3]When I actually got up to 330 pounds - something had to give. I decided to only drink cokes/sodas as a treat instead of a daily requirement. Lost 20 pounds. Stuck at 310 went to Kaiser for bariatric weight loss classes was told I had to lose another 30% from the weight start of 310. Got down to 300 but once classes ended my weight went back up to 308. [b][u]Dr. Suh[/u][/b] listen to my story and saw I was almost there. Gave me the 2 week pre-op diet to do 6 weeks prior to surgical date of October 3, 2012. Well a few stressors and a unexpected vacation to Greenville, S.C. and that diet was postponed until 3 weeks before surgery. I am still [u]struggling[/u] with exercising but I take one challenge at a time. Getting into the new eating lifestyle is different and costly (I had to leave my job in 2006 and living off a tiny reitrement fund) for me. So I expect my exercise routine will be my next focus soon![/size][/font]

[font=georgia,serif][size=3]Kaiser contracted [b][u]Dr. Suh[/u][/b] to be my surgeon but I am blessed that he was chosen. He is highly regarded and praised by almost all his patients that I have met. He is the bariactric surgeon that people also come when their first bariatric surgeries have problems. Since I can not put Dr. Suh's name in the my surgeon area he has to be entered in my story. I would also like to shout out to my team that got me here> Dr. A. Marting, Jennifer Pigeon (C.H.E.), Dr. Stephen G. Provonsha, Manuel Ortiz - Lcsw, Donna Killian (my 1st friend to have such surgery over 18 years ago) VERNA LILES - best friend for life and care taker for me during and after my surgery, my daughter Nicolette, Levon Green (had her surery 2 years ago), Cindy Bandelean ( same class had her surgery a year ahead of me), CARYNE COOKE who went shopping for all post surgercial goodies that I forgot, Denise H. for her homemade broths, squashpuree and butternut squash soup.[/size][/font]