how this happened?!?

[kortolano 100]

I have been on this site for a while now reading, commenting, and chatting; but I never really told my story. So here goes.....

I have ALWAYS been heavy. I can remember going to weight watchers when I was 8 years old. Eating cottage cheese and liver and onions! (what every eight year old wants to eat) I was on and off diets my whole childhood. When I was 13 I went into a Children's Hospital weight study. I lost over 155 lbs! I was down to 135!!! The smallest I have EVER been. It was a Protein diet I ate 17 grams of protein a day and that is IT!! No carbs, no dairy, no fat, only green veggies. After being on that diet for over a year my kidneys started shutting down and I was breaking bones left and right. I had to get off that program and I started a weight watchers style program thru Children's Hospital and gained all the weight back plus more by the time I graduated high school. In college I yoyo dieted losing 20- 65lbs. Getting to the highest I have ever weighed 411lbs. Then I was introduces to the Adkins diet. My mom and I both went on it I lost over 100lbs I met my husband who just so happened to be on the Adkins diet also. We dated for 3 years going on and off the Adkins diet losing and gaining weight... After we were married I discovered my passion for cooking and baking welllll...... 11 years later my husband is at his max weight of 309lbs and I was slowly climbing back to my max weight. I have wanted to have the surgery but my insurance company will not cover it and honestly my husband was not a big fan of me getting it done. So after the insurance company said no and we found out the cash price I just let it sit on the back burner. Then my husband went to the doctors with me and heard the doctor tell me I am going to die if I keep up this weight (390) with my family history. It was light a light bulb went off in my husband’s head. Then my husband started having chest pains and trouble walking because of the weight he gained. So I talked my husband into going to a local doctor’s seminar on the sleeve and we did and he was SOLD!!! Not only did he want me to have surgery now he wants it also!!! We thought about how we were going to pay for it even thought about taking out a second mortgage, but I had a friend tell me about Mexico. So I started researching, while I was researching Mexico my husband business partner is from the country of Jordan and his brother and brother in law are doctors so he offered to find out how much it would cost to get it done in Jordan. My husband came home and told me about Jordan so I started researching it also. We looked into airfare it was very pricey and a VERY VERY VERY long flight and we were not sure if we would be able to fly back after surgery in the given time we had off of work. So I told my husband about Mexico. I emailed alighterme.com and by the end of the end of the day Ronda called me and emailed me everything I needed. In October we made or deposits and bought our plane tickets. We started drinking Protein shakes twice a day and eating a low carb dinner. We stayed on this until Christmas. Christmas we did eat but I have to tell you it was a fraction of what we would have eaten last year. I weighed myself the day before Christmas and I was down to 366 my husband 287. Today we decided to take our before pictures and OMG!!! I usually dress very well for my weight but for my before picture I put on a tight tank top with a pair of leggings so NOTHING can hide!! I looked at that picture and asked my husband am I really this big? I never take full body photos, I know I am fat but I will be honest I did not realize I was this large! We started our pre op diet today again and I am hoping to be less than 350 before my surgery February 8th with Dr. Lopez! I cannot wait to start my journey to the NEW me!!

[DanaInNewOrleans 513]

Thanks for sharing your story.....congratulations to both you and husband for being able to do this together. How exciting! February will be here before you know it!

[FeeIsMe2 508]

Good luck to you and your husband!

[Sadlers1999 169]

I think it's great that you and your husband are trying to get healthy together. What an awesome support system!

[E-girl 98]

Good luck to u and ur husband. My husband and I are sleeved. I was sleeves first in Feb 2012 and he was sleeved in Oct 2012. I have to say I was very happy when my husband decided to do it too. It is really great to be with someone who understands what u are going through and can support u when ur having a not so good sleeve day (not that there are a lot it those). It nice to share a meal when we go out. It nice to have someone help make a better food choice. It made the journey easier for me and definitely easier for him. We are both very happy with our results. U wish u the best of luck!