No longer a stranger

[Wendiss 0]

Wendy

Age 46

5’5"

Currently 246lbs, 41 BMI , 46fat%

So I can quit feeling like a stranger to all of you I wanted to take a few moments to finally introduce myself. I have been reading through the posts in the forum for about three weeks and felt like it was time I stopped being so rude I have battled my weight my entire life. Fortunately, I have also been VERY athletic my entire life so I managed to keep my fat as toned as you can keep fat . I have never been one to allow my weight to keep me from doing things socially or physically. I have a great job where I am very respected by my colleagues and students. I have always loved a good party and always managed to use my ability to become the life of the party to distract the other partygoers from noticing how heavy I was. Pffttt..Who was I kidding they noticed. Wendy is so much fun, but the poor thing is so heavy. Unfortunately, over the years my excess weight, athletic activities, party habits, and stresses of the job have put a real strain on my health. I have developed arthritis in my knees, which is now very advanced and seriously affecting my way of life and my ability to do my job as an assistant principal at a high school. Besides my aches and pains my blood pressure is up, I have high cholesterol, acid reflux and all the other serious life threatening/altering illnesses being fat causes.

Five times in my life, over 26 years, I have worked out and dieted and lost 80+ pounds. With the weight loss and increased fitness level would come an increased self-confidence that was so powerful I could physically feel it. I felt incredibly great, I felt great about myself, looked great in my clothes, was performing better in my athletic activities, and was determined to keep the weight off and stay healthy. However, every time I stopped hitting the gym three hours a day five days a week and went off of the super healthy diet I was on I would see the scale start to rise and feel the clothes start to get tighter. Over and over I went into an out of control downward spiral. Up up up went the scale down down down went my confidence and self image. This last unsuccessful attempt at keeping my lost weight off has been the worst yet. My energy level is at an all time low, I get depressed about my weight, I hurt all the time, I can’t believe that this is all ME inside this skin, and I fight the constant urge to just give up this battle and just let my weight go.

After all these years of fighting this battle I know five things for sure: 1. I AM DONE BEING FAT. 2. I obviously can’t win this battle fighting it the way I have done in the past. 3. If I don’t do something about my weight something related to my being obese will kill me. 4. There is a weight loss option that I can use as tool to help me lose my weight and keep it off. 4. I am so not alone in my battle. After reading the posts on this site over the past few weeks I now know that there are others out there just like me who have fought the same battles I have with weight and they are winning with the help of the band and support from each other. I also have a partner, family, and friends who all love me no matter what my weight, but they want me around and healthy, so they have vowed to support me in this venture. 5. I am going to be healthy, comfortable, and confident in my skin next summer when I am WALKING 18 holes on my favorite golf coursebanana.gif" />

[ReneBean 3]

HI Wendy!!

Welcome to LBT. This place has been great for learning the good, the bad and the ugly about the band. There is a wealth of information available - and you couldn't ask for a nicer bunch of folks to journey with.

Good Luck!

:]

[mousecrazy 2]

Welcome! Glad you found us and came out of hiding! I lurked around for a few days before jumping in, too. Couldn't have chosen a better place to learn, get support, and make some great friends! Keep posting! Cindy

[Guest vonnie]

Oh my gosh, everything you said sounds like me, except of course the part about being athletic, being the life of the party (I am too shy) having a partner....well maybe it doesn't sound like me but the height, weight and age sound like me. I just found this site a few days ago and have been reading as much as I could. I am still on the fence about having surgery. I actually have it scheduled for Oct 31st and all I can think of is I am going to miss out on the after halloween candy sales. How sad is that?

I don't have insurance and can't get it because of my weight so I am hoping that the $15,000 will be money well spent.

Does anyone regret having it done?

Vonnie

[nickie456 0]

Wendy, welcome to bandland. A lot of what you said sounds like me. I have lost and gained the same 80lbs at least 20 times. I did this so much that I messed my thyroid up. I am hoping that the band will help me keep it off this time. I have had no trouble with the band so far.

[DiSanders 1]

toned fat-lol-That is me-a solid block. My husband always says, "It's not a little butt, but it's a hard butt!" Hoping to peel away the big part and by BUFF!

[DeLarla 22]

So many new people make it hard to keep up, but HI from Vegas!

[sunshine_050302 0]

Wendy,

Welcome!! This is where I finally made my decision to get the band, even though the thought of PB really scares me. I hate throwing up and if I would've thrown up when I was pregnant, I probably wouldn't have had another kid. Just keep reading, and remember that you have all of us here to support you.

I'm scheduled to have my band done on Nov. 18th and I'm soooo excited but scared at the same time. I ask myself "After all of this money, is this gonna work?" I worry that I'll be the one that has complications, but it's a chance I have to take to be healthier and happier. Good Luck!!!!! Darla

[dolphin_dreams 0]

Hi Wendy. I'm fairly new myself but I've found that this is a wonderful place. People here are truthful yet extremely positive and uplifting.

P.S. I'm 36 and I teach 1st grade.

[seehawksimms 0]

Wendi,

You sound like me.. Walking your favorite golf course. All 18 holes. Hey I've done it! Even tubby but imagine how much fun it will be without the aching back and knees?

I had my surgery on 10/22 and almost immediately my knees and lower back quit hurting. Not because of the 10-12 pounds that I have lost but because of a better diet. My daughter is an acupuncturist and she says it is because when you are overweight you are spleen deficient and the dampness settles in your joints causing stiffness.

That is one happy note on the liquid diet!

Don't be afraid of the surgery. Virtually no pain. Just a little frightening with regard to the general anesthetic but who isn't afraid of that?

Two weeks today since my surgery and totally recovered. Stomach soreness is like doing too many situps and ab crunches. Gone in 3-4 days.

Good luck.

[chichigirl 1]

Hi Wendy and welcome aboard! Always glad to have new friends around here, we thrive on it. Is my understanding correct that you have made the decision to get banded? If so do you have a surgery date?

This is a great place for comfort, support and information, both good and bad, but always honest. At least that's what I have encountered. Great bunch of people here and sounds like fit right in. I'm so glad that you are making a committment to treat yourself right and lose the weight before your health takes a turn for the worse. That's no fun at all!!!!

See ya round the boad!

Cindy