THIS is why I did it...

Alexandra · May 23, 2004

Some of you may remember that my weight-loss "goal" was to be able to chase my kids. The reason is that before banding at 340 lbs I literally couldn't chase them down the street. On one frightening occasion I was lumbering after a wayward toddler heading toward traffic when my husband came tearing down from the front porch behind me--more than twice the distance I had to go--past me to get her.

He had been watching, and we both knew that even if I'd HAD to I couldn't reach her in time. The immensity of that realization changed everything for me. After a lifetime of obesity and failed attempts to control it, I started looking into serious intervention which led to my being banded 10 months ago.

Today I found out, the hard way, that I CAN chase my kids. We were in a playground in Brooklyn with some friends and I stopped to talk with a former friend I hadn't seen in years. We were in a semi-enclosed area and I assumed, wrongly, that I wasn't the only adult with her eyes on my adventurous 3-year-old. When my conversation was done and I turned to find Catie, she was gone. Within a few terrifying minutes I'd covered lots of ground, and located her half a city block away wandering among the crowds of people enjoying the weather. She wasn't in immediate danger but she was far enough away that I couldn't call to her, so I ran.

I closed the distance in just a few seconds and was barely winded when I got to her. A year ago it could have been a very different story--I hate to think of how long it would have taken me first to locate her and then chase her down.

This banded journey is one I'm profoundly thankful to be on.

sassaay · May 24, 2004

Wow, what a scary event... I am sooo glad that it had a happy ending! What a great accomplishment for you... and your family!

Take care and give those little one's a big hug!

claraluz · May 24, 2004

OMG, you must have been panicked! But how nice that you have met your major goal. I know that must be very satisfying to you, as well it should be.

Good work!

Nancy

quakergirl · May 24, 2004

Congratulations! Wow, I didn't realize your "chase my kids" tag line was based on such a serious incident. I am glad that everything turned out okay.

Vera · May 24, 2004

My breath was taken away. Our babies are so dear. Isn't it amazing how fast they move.

GeezerSue · May 24, 2004

First, yes, yes yes!

Then, I SO wish my sister understood this. As soon as her first grandchild was ready to spend the nght at a grandparent's home, she went into Fantasyland. She told herself--and us--that the reason that her son and daughter-in-law leave the baby with the other grandparents is that moms are always more comfortable leaving kids with their own moms. But her son said that there's no way he was going to leave his toddler in his mother's care because his mother has an in-ground swimming pool and can't move as fast as the baby. When he tries to tell her this, she bursts into tears and leaves the room. In her mind, Weight Watchers and Curves are all she needs to do. In the year since she started the combination of the two, I think she's gained ten pounds.

In two weeks, she's leaves for a cruise. She has to fly there, and change planes. She is planning on the airlines letting her and her husband "share" two seats. That is, she thinks that because he's skinny, she gets the rest of his seat and all of hers. My sister is about 61" tall and her hips measure in excess of 72"...she is literally a foot bigger around than she is up and down. She needs two seats. Or business class. Or she needs to go to the airport in advance and say, "So what's up with the fitting in the seat thing?" But she's in denial, and will wait and then will burst into tears if the airline does anything that makes reference to her size. And she's mad at me for suggesting it.

Sorry to post-jack. Back to your babies. That must have been a scare and yet a relief to know you could do what you had to do. Good work, Mom!

mrwindt · May 24, 2004

Alexandra

Congratulations. Yes, your post and your reasons for banding make all the sense in the world. Isn't it wonderful to experience the results!

So glad everything came out OK.

Keep it up. Your kids will only get faster as they get older!!!

Mary

Bright · May 24, 2004

I didn't realise, either, the serious incident which prompted your "chase my kids" goal, Alex - what a wonderful illustration of the practical and very serious advantages to losing weight - I sometimes get all caught up in what clothes fit me now etc and maybe take for granted how we are all saving our lives here, by making the choice not to be morbidly obese. And of course being able to catch up with the little ones....

shellyj · May 24, 2004

alexandra

i am so gald you were able to chase your daughter i cant imagine how you must have felt.

one of the reasons i got banded was so i can have children but its nice to know i'll be ablt to chase them too!

Alexandra · May 24, 2004

One of the reasons I posted this story was to help process the fear in my head. I'm sorry to say it didn't really work, and I spent a mostly sleepless night reliving the incident last night. That should do it, though, and tonight I'll catch up on my sleep.

It is nice to look better in pants, sure, but it's much more important to be able to keep my girls close.

Sue, your sister is living with her head in a barrel, but you know you can't drag her out of there. My grandmother was shaped something like your sister, at her heaviest probably topping 300 (at 5'6" or so). She finally came out of denial in her 70s.

The defining incident was a very embarrassing bout with some EMS personnel. She had fallen and badly sprained an ankle, and it took four ambulance attendants to get her in and out of the ambulance. She was mortified and very apologetic to the volunteers, and swore that the NEXT time she needed an ambulance it wouldn't take so many of them. (And it didn't--she was able to lose a lot of weight pretty effectively on her own.)

Maybe it will take something like that to turn your sister's attention to the matter.