Ladybug5

I suffered from a severe pneumonia attack 2 years ago.  I was in the ICU at the hospital where I nearly died from the pneumonia.  Through the blood work, they discovered that I was diabetic.  My pancreas had shut down and I needed to be put on insulin injections right away.  For almost a year, I did 4 injections a day of insulin.  Humalog during the day and Lantus at bedtime.  It was very depressing having this illness.  I was 39 years old and taking more medications than my parents who were in there mid and late 60's.  This was not how my life was supposed to be.  I became very depressed after my diagnosis and ate to consol myself.  I was already heavy at the time of becoming a diabetic, but then I just gained and gained and gained.  There was going to be no end to this suffering.  My moment of realization came when I was at an amusement park last summer with my daughters.  I felt very self conscious to begin with, the park seemed hard for me to walk around and then my youngest begged me to get on a ride with her because no one else would.  So I said I would go.  Well we sat in the seat and I tried to lock the bar to keep us in and we couldn't get it to close...I was starting to panic.  My fat stomach was in the way and finally the park attended came over and got the door to close and lock.  I could barely breathe, but my little one was so excited to be riding a ride with "mommy".  So as the ride went on....I could hear the bolts to our seat, creaking loudly under the pressure of my weight.  I thought OMG, I'm going to break this ride and my daughter is going to get hurt.  She was oblivious to it all, hugging me and laughing the whole time.  My husband captured the fear on my face in a photo as we came around the bend.  After the ride was over, my daughter was so happy...but it was the moment of most sadness for me.  I felt horrible.  How could I have let this happen to me.  And what about my daughters?  They deserved better.  I vowed at that moment to change my life.  The very next day I went to work and researched lapband surgery.  I saw that Magee Hospital had a clinic that I could register.  I was told to come to a class and I could sign up there.  The class was taught by Dr. Giselle Hamad.  The woman would turn out to be my savior.  She is responsible for teaching me how to get through this surgery and be successful.  I was banded April 12, 2010.  The post op for the first 3 weeks was painful.  But I was determined to follow the rules set forth by the doctor.  I did everything I was told to do.  Within the first few months, I had dropped a little more than 20 pounds.  The motivation to continue has been profound.  I now about 4 months post op and am down (from my original weight) almost 54 pounds.  I have never been happier.  I went from wearing 3 x to being in size 16 (which are now getting loose) and I haven't seen a 16 since I was in high school.  I have learned something more important from all of this.  Food is no longer controlling my life.  I have regained control of myself.  I've learned to eat healthier, cut my portions and exercise regularly.  What's better?  I'm teaching my daugthers to eat healthier, and have more exercise and fun in their lives.  They are young enought that they can understand that food can fuel them to do more activities, but should not control them....ever.