This Is Only The Beginning Of It All..

[choc_thicktothin 37]

My name is Toya. I am to ready to break the cycle of being obese. I have been in denial for most of my adult life, because so many in my fan club love curves. I have weighed 200lbs since the age of 14 and now at the age of 40 I have peaked to 300lbs. I have managed to hide the shame and discomfort because I know how to look my best at any size (with over 25 years of experience). I made the choice in 2008 to have the lap band procedure and within the first six months I lost 50lbs. I must admit it initially felt great, but as usual I found a way to "work around" the band and gained it all back within the past year.

My surgery is going to be performed by Dr Kim in Colleyville, TX. I went to my initial consultation on July 11, 2012 weighing 296 lbs. I was given all the requirements of my insurance which was to have one NUT visit, psych eval, sleep study and history of any problems incurred with lap band. I scheduled all the appointments to complete insurance requirements within a week. On July 26, 2012, my package was deemed complete and submitted for insurance approval. On July 31, 2012, I received a call from Dr. Kim's office advising that I had been approved for lap band removal and the VSG. I am now scheduled to have my surgery on Oct. 11, 2012. ( doctor only performs surgery at my required hospital of excellence once a month and he was already booked up through Sept.) I am so ready to BREAK THE CYCLE and go from thick to thin !!

My family and friends are still not in full acceptance of me proceeding with the VSG because they feel I look perfect the way I am or they feel it is such a drastic surgery that I do not need to put my life in that kind of danger on the surgery table. What they fail to realize is that they have never seen me smaller than 200lbs, so it hard for them to visualize seeing me any other way, as well as them being able to understand me caring this weight around day in and day out is more dangerous than a one day surgery. This leads me to say that I love this site and hope to be embraced and supported by others that are preop and postop.

[joiful 2]

Congrats on your decision! You will do great!! My family was not supportive either so I ended up not telling them! I am 4 weeks post-op and down 27 lbs and saw them for the first time a week ago and not one of them said a word!! They didn't even notice. But you will find great support on here!! Good Luck!

[SunnyCox 245]

Hi Toya,

I'm in Fort Worth. I recently found out that there are a group of people from the forum who meet up once a month for lunch in Dallas if you want to meet a supportive group of friends!

[JentryB2020 7]

Where are these meet ups and when?

[choc_thicktothin 37]

Congrats to you Joiful. I don't think my conscious would let me go under that type of surgery and keep it a secret from the most important people in my life. They don't have to support me in the surgery but they will support me at the end of the day! (I hope). I am the same i can lose 30 to 40lbs and no one really notices because I go up and down within weeks. Keep it up.

[choc_thicktothin 37]

Sunnycox, that sounds great. Do you all have a group setup on this site? I would love to get involve and meet new people.

[Sherry77 166]

Congrats on being approved. I found that some family members were supportive and others not so much. What many people don't realize is the daily mental struggle that we go through being heavy. You have to do what Is best for you. Good luck

[warren graham 0]

I hope everything go well. I just started my process,I am getting my psy. Next week and my sleep study this month. I hope I have my surgery before dec. I wish you all the luck...