aprilalison

I'm a 34 year old gal who simply loves food too much.  As a youngster and teen, I was very active, lettering in volleyball and swimming (even broke a record in swimming) and played co-ed softball during the summers.  After college and a singing tour, I moved back to Florida and became very sedentary.  My then-husband had chronic swimmer's ear, so he hated swimming.  It was too hot most of the time to want to play outside and then I got sick.  I gained close to 100 pounds in a year and here I sit, over 10 years later, never having lost any of that weight, and actually gaining more.  As time has gone on, my relationship with food has gotten worse and worse.  I don't eat that many unhealthy things like chips and candy, but I do eat way too much of the things I do eat.  Add on a blown lumbar disc and surgery a year ago and I've been pretty dang sedentary.  My husband has always been somewhat against the Lap-Band procedure, encouraging me, if I wanted, to try things naturally.  He saw me fail time and again.   He got sick recently and lost 60 lbs (his BMI was not as high as mine, but he was still a big man).  Between his losing weight in a not-so-healthy way and the hospital we both work for really bumping the advertising and information on the Lap-Band procudure, my husband came around and said if I really wanted to go through with the procedure, he would support me 100%.  The very next day, I sat in on a bariatric meeting and started the paperwork.  Now, about a month or so later, I am preparing for surgery on June 29th, 2010.  Things I'll miss:  soda (love my Diet A&W in the evenings), big fat marbled steaks, the occasional mixed drink on vacation, drinking with meals.I am totally committed to this change.  I am extremely lucky that I have not developed diabetes yet, as almost all of the women in my family do.  I am very lucky that I have not developed high blood pressure or cholesterol as that also runs in my family.  I had an aunt who used to be my size and height who did lost quite a bit of weight in her last year here on earth, but it was too late for her.  She passed away about 6 months ago, having survived up until that point with diabetes, heart disease and breast cancer.  She died of heart disease following open heart surgery.  Her last few months, she was unable to walk much without being extremely out of breath.  I do not want to be like my aunt.  I am tired of being the fat girl.  I want to be able to walk up & down my driveway without having to sit to catch my breath at the end.  I am tired of being on the top side of a 3x (sometimes embarassedly enjoying a comfy 4x.  I want to change. I admit I need help, that's why I've chosen Lap-Band as my tool of choice.  I appreciate the low risk and adjustability of the Lap-Band.  I like that I don't have to eat pre-packaged meals and can still enjoy my husband's wonderful cooking, as long as it's in moderation.  I am not a good exerciser.  I'll admit that up front.  I despise sweating.  I loathe feeling pain and out of breath.  However, I'm giving this the full shot it deserves.  I AM going to make this work.  I am starting to walk the stairs at work instead of taking the elevator up to my 3rd floor office.  I asked for and got a hand-held GPS for my birthday so I can begin the sport of Geocaching.  See, I hate exercising without a point, other than the exercise itself.  I feel like I'm torchering myself and I've had enough pain in my life that I don't want to impose any on myself.  I know that's a twisted way of thinking, but that's how I see it.  So, I needed to find an exercise that would be fun - hence Geocaching.  If you're not familiar, Geocaching is like a world-wide scavenger hunt.  There are over a million "caches" hidden across the globe - even in Antarctica.  I don't live in a large area and I've got hundreds within miles of my house.  Many times, they're hidden just off of hiking trails, but some are urban and most are camouflaged or otherwise sneakily hidden, so you really have to look.  If you find a normal cache, it has a logbook to sign and trinkets inside - the rule is if you take one, leave something else of similar value.  Anyhoo - there are other games within the sport and lots of other fun stuff.  I think it will be a good way to get me up and moving.  And I can usually take my dogs with me - and my husband or my brother.  Exercise for all involved.  I'm a little nervous about surgery.  The thing I am most nervous about is the potential gas pain directly afterwards.  I don't do so well with gas pain.  I don't know how bad it will be or how long it will last because it's all relative to the person and the procedure.  I may not have any or it could be incredibly painful.  I'm not worried about the incision or port pain.  None of it can be as bad as my back surgery last year.  That was a much bigger surgery and I came out fine.Finally, I want to express my thanks for all the people who actively post on this board.  Though I have not posted until now, I've found inspiration and answers to many questions in my journey and I appreciate all the effort people put in to supporting and educating those of us walking in your footsteps.April K