leischristianmom

Hi Everyone.  My first battle with weight began in 1998, when I moved away from my family to another state due to a work transfer.  It was about 6-12 mos after moving that the weight started packing on...I gained about 40 lbs for no apparent reason.  I was working out about 5 days or more a week, consistently--doing kickboxing, spinning, weights, etc--with no results at all.  Then, I decided to try Dr Atkins low carb diet, and lost 30 lbs in 6 wks.  I did this diet for 1.5 yrs, then went slowly back to eating carbs again, because I really hated the foods I had to eat on the low carb diet.  So, I packed on about 20 lbs of the 30lbs that I lost.  (still working out consistently and no kids yet) Then, we had our first child in 2004.  I gained 60 lbs during the pregnancy. I lost 40 of the 60, but still had 40-50 lbs to lose from pre-pregnancy weight, so I was about 50-60 lbs overweight after baby #1.  Tried everything from weight watchers, to over the counter pills, to starvation, to phentermine. Some offered short term results, but if I didnt or couldnt stick to it, I would gain it all back again.  Then comes baby #2 in March 2008...gained 65 lbs with him...on my short frame of 4'11'', I weighed in at 223lbs.  After birth, I lost 30 lbs almost immediately.  Then I lost another 15 lbs from phentermine, but as soon as I stopped taking the pills, I gained it all back within 2-4wks.  I really feel that diet pills are stressful on your heart, so I prefer not to do that damage anymore to my body...although being overweight is also obviously stressful, I prefer a more natural, long term result for the weightloss. This is what has brought me to Lap Band consideration.  I just want to be a healthier, happier ME!  I want to be able to walk down the stairs at work without my knees and back hurting, I want to bend down to pick up my kids without hearing the cartilige in my knees crackle.  I have lost all confidence in myself and no longer feel "sexy"...my husband loves me no matter what, but he fell in love with me with I was 75 lbs lighter, only 7 yrs ago.  I want to be fit for my kids, I want to be able to climb on the playground with them, and fit with no problem on the rides at Disney...I dont want to be tired anymore.  I want my kids to see that Mommy was present in the family pictures and having fun with them when they were little....and I want to fall back in love with myself! I really feel that weight loss is a way to all of these dreams that I have had for so long...