jules71862

I got fat from eating too much and not moving around. When I was younger, I held the weight back enough not to be considered fat, but could have been considered chubby. I danced and was popular, but was never satisfied with the way I looked. I didn't have any children. I just liked food. Once I got into my 30s, I grew into the obese category, and went up and down a few times with prescription diet pills and intermittent exercising. I'm now 51 and the heaviest and most tired I've ever been. I had a total hip replacement in early 2013 which provided an "excuse" not to move around and gained another 30-40 lbs. I'm now at my highest weight, 273, astonished, depressed, and just.... tired. It's often a struggle just to get up out of bed, get dressed and and get out and go to work, or go anywhere. All I wanted to do was hide.

My sister suggested I look into bariatric surgery. I had never considered it for myself before. I know of approximately 5 people who have had long term success and 5 who have not. No matter which avenue I would choose to lose weight - if I chose anything - it was still going to come down to life changes, changes in my thinking.

The 6 month pre-surgery bariatric program and counseling has been awesome. I felt accepted and found hope. Today I was approved by insurance and have a surgery date of 4/18/14. I'm prepared for significant dietary changes and ready to give up all the unhealthy food, not only for the way I look, but for the way I feel and want to feel. For the first time in maybe ever, it seems like there is a true ending to this nightmare.