Brandy1119

[font='comic sans ms']Hello, my name is Brandy and I am currently 32 years of age. My journey began many years ago truthfully. I began to really struggle with my weight after I had my children. Well actually during pregnancy. I was 146lbs my first dr appointment and 256lbs a week before I had my daughter. The reason I gained so much I was gestational diabetic when I was pregnant but they missed diagnosed me. Therefore she was over 10lbs and had to have a C-section. Few years later got pregnant with my son and this time I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Despite following a strict diet I only gained 30 lbs with him but he was also over 10lbs. I had to have my second C-section. A year after he was born I ended up having to have a partial hysterectomy. All the stress of my surgeries and health played a big part on me not being able to lose weight. No excuse but really it was mine at the time. Well about 8 years had passed and I attended my first weight loss seminar. After leaving there I said to myself that this wasn't for me and I can do it myself and that surgery was taking the easy way out. A year had went by and my weight went up and down. Since my late ten years I have only been eating once a day. Skipping the most important meal which was breakfast. I used to say to myself well I haven't eaten all day and therefore I would kind of gorge when it was time to eat. Thinking that is was ok since that was the only thing I have eaten. Boy was I wrong!! So a year went by after I attended my first seminar and my dr was like you should really look into this surgery. I feel you will benefit tremendously from it. I was tired of the back pain and all the body aches and not being able to tie my own shoe without getting winded and not being able to keep up with my family. So I went to my second seminar and started the whole process. I had to attend 6 months of dietician group meetings and have an evaluation with a shrink to make sure I was ready in every way. After my last dietician meeting I met with the surgeon to take the next step...insurance approval. I was so scared and nervous because I had read from a lot of people it took time for approval. I got my approval within 2 weeks after meeting with surgeon. I was at work when I had gotten the phone call from my dr's office saying I was approved. I screamed and cried and jumped for joy!! My surgery was scheduled like 2 weeks after that. I had to start my pre-op diet for 2 weeks. I drank 3 protein shakes a day and ate 1 lean cuisine meal for 2 weeks. No soda or sugars, pretty much lived off of crystal light and water. Thought the diet was going to be a lot harder than it was. Think its because I knew what I was doing it for. November 19th rolls around and its time for surgery. It went by super fast and I was amazed at how great I had felt even after. I only stayed over night in hospital and was sent home next day. I bought ice trays and a bullet and already had my first phase of foods prepared. Easiest thing to eat pureed for me was chili. Chili was my new found friend along with greek yogurt. For the first 2 months things were great. Adjusting was difficult at times. I still had to cook full meals for my family. Luckily they were all very supportive and took over cooking on the nights where it was hardest for me. I believe I lost over 30 lbs in the first month. Come January I ended up in er with severe stomach pains. They couldn't find anything wrong. Pain went away and I moved on. Couple months later same pain came back...this time I dealt with the pain. Couple months later pain returns...I deal with the pain once again and tell my dr about it on my next visit. He says sounds like your gallbladder. Had ultrasound done and yep...June 2014 I ended up having it removed. Was told its very common when you lose a lot of weight fast. I do not regret my surgery. I am almost 10 months out and have lost 121lbs so far. The only thing I regret is ever thinking this was the easy way out. I exercise at least 4 days out of 7. This is more difficult than trying to diet and exercise on your own. its a life changing event and its the best decision I could have ever made!!![/font]