My Intro

[Eli 7]

Hello everyone!

I just wanted to pop in and say hi. I'm new to this forum. I did do a little bit of browsing before deciding to post. I have to say that I love the wealth of information that is shared. There is so much valuable information here! I can't wait to hear more about people's experiences and also share some of mine.

Anyways, I just wanted to introduce myself a bit. In less than a weeks time I will be 30, I live in Houston, Texas. I have always been overweight all my life. My mom says that every since I turned 1 year of age and she took me off the formula, I've been overweight. Always been bigger, taller, fatter, etc than most while I was growing up. I never thought that in my life I would ever be thin or even be at a healthy size. Once I reached adulthood, I just kind of gave up on the notion of being a healthier size. Instead, I decided to love who I was. Sure, i still got depressed and hated myself on those bad days, but for the most part I did truly love myself as a big woman. I accepted it. At times I would decide that I need to do something, I'd lose ten lbs here, twenty lbs there. I even managed to lose 40lbs with weight watchers, which was the most I have ever done! But ofcourse, not only would I lose but eventually I'd gain it all back, plus more. It seemed like each year I gained between 20-30lbs a year!

I finally reached to the point I was too unhappy with myself. I was missing out on too many things that I wanted to do. I was 28 years old and I had reached my max of 465lbs, I often ask myself, how could I have let myself gain so much weight? In the following year, I hadn't really changed my eating habits but I did become a bit more active.. not much.

Being around 450-460, I started losing a lot of confidence in myself. My unhappiness became more unbearable. Didn't help that at 27/28 I had been diagnosed with borderline diabetes and eventually was put on high blood pressure meds. I didn't want to be sick.

When I was 21 I had tried to get wls with the doctor's of Big Medicine (but ofcourse, back then, there was no such thing as a show called Big Medicine until years later when I turned on the tv and voila.. the doctors I consulted with were on TV lol), but that was put to a halt because I didn't have the funds, nor did my parents and there was no guarantee that the insurance would cover. Well there went that idea. When I finally got insurance on my own when I got a "real job" after graduation in 2008/2009, I thought I'd give it a try again. Only this time come to find out, my insurance had an exclusion for any kind of wls. That was such a bummer. Finally for this year, my company changed insurance companies. I was so happy to learn that they did in fact cover wls, provided I did the 6 month diet and I turned in all paperwork needed.

In Feb of this year, I went for my first consult with the surgeon. I was happy yet at the same time I was a bit discouraged. On that day, I weighed in at 454 and I am 5ft6.5 tall. The surgeon said that along with all the testing and clearances from doctors I had to lose 70lbs. That was just so hard to hear.. but I was determined. By the end of the six months diet program program and my preop appt I had lost exactly 100lbs!!!

My surgery date was on November 5th! I had waited a while for a date.. that next thing you know... it was here and now I am three weeks post op!

[Dawnolson 85]

Wow! How much weight have you lost now?

[Eli 7]

Wow! How much weight have you lost now?

I am down to 325.

[kimmyk 20]

Such an inspiring story. Thanks for sharing. Good luck!

[Eli 7]

Such an inspiring story. Thanks for sharing. Good luck!

Thank you, kimmyk

[Vicki Loichinger 444]

Welcome and thanks so much for sharing your story. OH my you have been on a journey and still going. I am just so happy to read everything you wrote, I hope you are healing well and that things just get better and better and better. Big Hugs to you. Again Welcome and Thank You

[BBdoodle 483]

Wow.... you are doing so well... keep up the good work

[Misty 9]

Hello everyone!

I just wanted to pop in and say hi. I'm new to this forum. I did do a little bit of browsing before deciding to post. I have to say that I love the wealth of information that is shared. There is so much valuable information here! I can't wait to hear more about people's experiences and also share some of mine.

Anyways' date=' I just wanted to introduce myself a bit. In less than a weeks time I will be 30, I live in Houston, Texas. I have always been overweight all my life. My mom says that every since I turned 1 year of age and she took me off the formula, I've been overweight. Always been bigger, taller, fatter, etc than most while I was growing up. I never thought that in my life I would ever be thin or even be at a healthy size. Once I reached adulthood, I just kind of gave up on the notion of being a healthier size. Instead, I decided to love who I was. Sure, i still got depressed and hated myself on those bad days, but for the most part I did truly love myself as a big woman. I accepted it. At times I would decide that I need to do something, I'd lose ten lbs here, twenty lbs there. I even managed to lose 40lbs with weight watchers, which was the most I have ever done! But ofcourse, not only would I lose but eventually I'd gain it all back, plus more. It seemed like each year I gained between 20-30lbs a year!

I finally reached to the point I was too unhappy with myself. I was missing out on too many things that I wanted to do. I was 28 years old and I had reached my max of 465lbs, I often ask myself, how could I have let myself gain so much weight? In the following year, I hadn't really changed my eating habits but I did become a bit more active.. not much.

Being around 450-460, I started losing a lot of confidence in myself. My unhappiness became more unbearable. Didn't help that at 27/28 I had been diagnosed with borderline diabetes and eventually was put on high blood pressure meds. I didn't want to be sick.

When I was 21 I had tried to get wls with the doctor's of Big Medicine (but ofcourse, back then, there was no such thing as a show called Big Medicine until years later when I turned on the tv and voila.. the doctors I consulted with were on TV lol), but that was put to a halt because I didn't have the funds, nor did my parents and there was no guarantee that the insurance would cover. Well there went that idea. When I finally got insurance on my own when I got a "real job" after graduation in 2008/2009, I thought I'd give it a try again. Only this time come to find out, my insurance had an exclusion for any kind of wls. That was such a bummer. Finally for this year, my company changed insurance companies. I was so happy to learn that they did in fact cover wls, provided I did the 6 month diet and I turned in all paperwork needed.

In Feb of this year, I went for my first consult with the surgeon. I was happy yet at the same time I was a bit discouraged. On that day, I weighed in at 454 and I am 5ft6.5 tall. The surgeon said that along with all the testing and clearances from doctors I had to lose 70lbs. That was just so hard to hear.. but I was determined. By the end of the six months diet program program and my preop appt I had lost exactly 100lbs!!!

My surgery date was on November 5th! I had waited a while for a date.. that next thing you know... it was here and now I am three weeks post op![/quote']

Eli- welcome to the forum! What part of Houston do you live at and who was your surgeon?

[Eli 7]

Thank you, Misty. I'm over here close to the Heights area. My surgery was with Dr Sherman.

Have you had surgery yet?

[mommywifeandfat 32]

Hi Eli. I just turned 30 myself and a lot of my story sounds similar. My surgery doesn't have a date yet but will be in January. I have 14 lbs left to loose to meet that 10%. You did an amazing job pre op... Where you excersising? What type did you do? That is where I seem to fail every time!!

You are doing amazing. And being so close in age and weight, I feel connected to you.

[kristy3k 1,133]

Welcome to the boards glad your here!!

[Misty 9]

Thank you' date=' Misty. I'm over here close to the Heights area. My surgery was with Dr Sherman.

Have you had surgery yet?[/quote']

Hi Eli, I live in Katy and my surgeon will be Dr. Robert Davis of The Davis Clinic and TLC's 'Big Medicine'. I'm still pre-op and hoping to have surgery in January pending cardiac clearance & blood work. How was your surgery and how are you doing? This forum is fantastic and I'm glad you've joined! Good to see a Houstonian on here.

[Eli 7]

Welcome to the boards glad your here!!

Thank you for the welcome, kristy Im very glad I found my way over here.

[Eli 7]

Hi Eli. I just turned 30 myself and a lot of my story sounds similar. My surgery doesn't have a date yet but will be in January. I have 14 lbs left to loose to meet that 10%. You did an amazing job pre op... Where you excersising? What type did you do? That is where I seem to fail every time!!

You are doing amazing. And being so close in age and weight' date=' I feel connected to you.[/quote']

I will be 30 on Monday, and im not loking forward to it lol. Honestly, the first three months I didnt exercise. I worked a lot from 60 to 70 hours a week, so I was always tired, especially mentally. Just the change of food kicked started my weight loss. After the weight loss slowed down a bit, I decided to buy me a cheap stride cycle and I did that atleast 5 mins a day... that was all I coukd do. The more weight came off, the more i was able to move. I got bold tans decided to try Zumba. I figured out I have two left feet lol. I tried my best even tho to keep up no matter how much of a fool I looked. I never did the full hour tho, just half an hour and I would take atleast one break... one song. Oh and I only did it two to three times a week.

And thank you... just keep your faith you are almost there. I know how hard it is... trust me. Let me know if you have any more questions. IM happy to help.

[Eli 7]

Hi Eli' date=' I live in Katy and my surgeon will be Dr. Robert Davis of The Davis Clinic and TLC's 'Big Medicine'. I'm still pre-op and hoping to have surgery in January pending cardiac clearance & blood work. How was your surgery and how are you doing? This forum is fantastic and I'm glad you've joined! Good to see a Houstonian on here.[/quote']

Surgery went well....and as for me.., Im doing okay. Im still trying to get the hang of it and still cant believe what i have done. Lol Thank you for making me feel welcomed So have they given you a date yet?