ItsMeWenDee

<!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Comic Sans MS"; panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:script; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; mso-margin-top-alt:auto; margin-right:0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} span.EmailStyle15 {mso-style-type:personal; mso-style-noshow:yes; color:black;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> Hello! I decided in 2004 that having weight loss surgery was going to be the 'thing' to help me in my life with weight management. It took until 2008 to actually go to my first class with my first steps towards achieving this goal. It took another 14 months before I was finally granted a surgery date, which was in two months away! I was a chubby little girl, from age 8 to 12. I was teased and cheated out of having a normal life because of this fact. However, I was happy enough in my family to not let that keep me down from doing little girl things like riding my bike, roller-skating, going swimming in our pool, and having many friends. However, when I was 12 1/2 my brother died in a tragic death and this broke our family apart to a million pieces. There was abandonment, sadness, and a family torn apart. My constant: My food. This was my friend and my enemy in one. Going through a late puberty and then dabbling in drugs brought me to a 'thin' self. Of course, this was a fake self as the real me still reached out for food as my sense of security. Turning 22 I began seeing that the thin me was started to fade and the roundness to my body was returning. I had my first child at age 24 after gaining 75 pound during the pregnancy and went on my first "paid for diet" 5 months after my first son was born. Yup. I lost all the weight....35 pound in 6 weeks! Nope. I didn't keep it off. I believe I blinked twice and that weight came back, along with about 20 more pounds. Thus the journey began. Weight gain, weight loss, more weight gained, getting older, etc. etc. etc. The diets I have gone through are: The Diet center - eating up to 6 apples a day and only eating chicken soup made with 12 vegetables, nutri system - tried this 3 times - never actually losing all my weight needed to lose, weight watchers - got tired of going to the meetings, Jenny Craig - same as nutri system-it works but only while you are on the plan, Overeaters Anonymous - too many meetings and it was too far away to drive, injections - injected on my lunch hour at the local clinic to be injected in my hip with pregnant women’s urine (don't ask! I was desperate!!), Fen Phen - resulted in me getting mitro valve prolapse. Merridian - gave me intense horrible headaches, and about 10 other "diet books" which include Dr. Phil McGraw, Bible weight loss plans, Atkins, and other various 'experts'. I gave up in 2002 saying I would never again go on a diet because of the fear of failure and hell, dieting doesn't work! 2 years later I learned about gastric surgery and began my walk with learning all about this process. My insurance had a lot of restrictions, however, so I waited. I then learned about lap banding surgery and a bell went off in my mind and in my heart...this was it! This is what I've been waiting for. Once my medical insurance would cover it, I would go for it. Well, that was a couple of years ago, so here I am today. Waiting for my surgery date with great anticipation and excitement! I have lost 28 pounds since March 2009 in hopes to help my surgery be easier and to practice some of my new eating habits that I knew would take place after surgery. I now eat less, eat better, joined a gym and am doing water aerobics, taking walks, and wearing smaller clothes! People have said to me: "why do surgery since you are successful with losing weight now?" My answer is: "because I've done this way too many times before and I'm not taking chances with my life now!". I am turning 49 on Friday the 25th of September, and I can't bring this weight with me into my 50's. I want to go on hikes. I want to run. I want to not be out of breath doing simple things. I want to wear cute clothes that can be purchased in the 'normal' section of the clothing store. I want my family to be proud. I want my partner to be proud and see new found love and pride in her eyes. Here I go. A brand new phase to my life! Watch out world!! :)