If you weren't obese "all" of your life, what is it that caused you to become obese ?

[My Bariatric Life 764]

@@bellabill I have heard of three other marriages with children and then the husband discovered he was gay and they got divorced. So it may not be as uncommon as people might assume.

[NewLife'sGr8 241]

I'm pretty sure the hubbies always knew they were/are gay. It's not something that suddenly pops up. Yes, more common than some might think. They marry to appear "normal" to their families and the outside world. Sooner or later, many can't live the lie anymore and come out.

@@bellabill that must've been so hard for you. *Hugs. I'm glad you've rebounded and remarried. Kudos & cheers to you!

[jacileggs 402]

I always thought I was fat. Realized that I used to be normal size. Until

I got divorced at age 25 with 3 small children and had to start working full time. Depression was in full swing by then also. Now I am down 102 lbs. 8 lbs from normal bmi. Self confidence is back and I am considering dating again. So glad I am where I am now. No regrets.

[BigGirlPanties 957]

so many wonderful stories of "overcoming the obstacles"... I know that some of it was a ...push yourself away from food issue...but in the broader terms it stemmed from something deeper...

thanks for the stories, I have enjoyed reading everyones accomplishments!

[intelirish 714]

Wow so many of our life stories could be each others.. I was always thin until my early - mid twenty's i even made it through my first pregnancy not sure how much i gained but went from a size 8 to 10..not too bad.. Then the post pregnancy blues as my mother called it hit. I was a single mother in a small town catholic Irish community and well need i say more ...i started hiding.. been hiding for the last 16yrs... got a desk job so i didn't have to interact with folks.

But i have to say the biggest impact to my diet has to have been Moving back to the US - the life of fast food premade salt soaked foods was my undoing.

now with the band and the healthier lifestyle i am eating better and feeling emotionally better and am no longer hiding

[mrsbailey921 117]

i became obese after having my tonsils removed. drs say the two are not related but i wholeheartedly disagree. my siblings who have had their tonsils and adenoids removed struggle with being overweight. those of us who have not do not have that struggle. i don't think it's coincidence. the year of my surgery i was a healthy BMI. by the end of that year, post surgery, i had gained 40 pounds.

[Jim1967 3,569]

Had my tonsils removed when I was about 6 and it was all uphill from there. LOL

[remerton 5]

I was overweight in Junior High. I grew 6" one summer and didn't gain an ounce. For the next decade, I was at an appropriate weight. I actually lost weight in my late 20's returning to my high school weight. No sweat.

Then, in my 30's, I had a bout of major depression. Over the next decade, I was on every SSRI & SNRI that had been created in the 1980's. I gained a LOT of weight. However, I told myself it was better to be alive & heavy than unmedicated & dead. I guess it was the right decision at the time.

I've been off medication for most of the past 10 years. Unfortunately, the weight has stayed - fluctuating some, but never really departing except for a brief period when I was taking testosterone. The weight started falling off me then - until they found prostate cancer. Testosterone treatments abruptly stopped. All weight lost was regained plus a bit more. Then diabetes. Then a heart attack. Then sleep apnea diagnosis.

So now, I am in a hospital weight loss program. I have lost 20 pounds since August, actually a few more than I really expected I could lose with Portion Control & some increased exercise. I am considered "obese" instead of "morbidly obese". Some people have questioned if I should even have surgery. However, I doubt I am going to lose much more without it & I would really like to be be rid of this bag of medications I carry.

I can have surgery in March, once I am past the 1 year mark of my heart attack. Decisions will be forthcoming.

[emcbee 6]

Puberty and PCOS started things, drinking and partying and stuffing feelings during my teens-20s added onto it and then pregnancy followed by an autoimmune disease and 2 years of steroids to treat it put the nail in the coffin.

[Bandista 7,466]

Surprised in the ER with IV steroids as a result of really bad poison ivy -- packed it on like a science experiment gone wrong. By the time I tapered off the oral medication I had gained twenty pounds. Started seeing an alternative practitioner after that to try to rebalance and just got more screwed up from there. Another thirty pounds yo-yo style, then another ten and another. Ended up about 100 heavier. There was a pregnancy in there (not to term) and I'm sure hormones played a role. Plus I became an emotional eater. Life was stressful and food was my solace. I tried everything under the sun and am so grateful for WLS. I feel "normal" again. After years of feeling betrayed by my body I am in sync once more. That feels really good.

[Miss Mac 6,262]

Spot on, Bandista. In spite of all the flack we get from unsuportive family and so-called friends, I think once we get past that second or third month post -op, we actually do start to feel better, if not good. For bariatric brothers and sisters with complications, the process takes longer, but I am hoping that at some point this starts to feel good for them, too. I am not where I wanted to be at my one year, but I am heading to a good place.

[Miss Mac 6,262]

Spot on, Bandista. In spite of all the flack we get from unsuportive family and so-called friends, I think once we get past that second or third month post -op, we actually do start to feel better, if not good. For bariatric brothers and sisters with complications, the process takes longer, but I am hoping that at some point this starts to feel good for them, too. I am not where I wanted to be at my one year, but I am heading to a good place.

[Bandista 7,466]

@@Miss Mac you are doing beautifully! Like you I had another number in mind for my one year out, but now I think I am happy to be right where I am. Yes, there's still work ahead -- immediate goal is twenty more down then I'll see what's what -- but I like it that I didn't make it too hard for myself. I came from being very restrictive, always on a diet or about to be on one -- and so if it's taking me a little more time than I thought to reach goal (whatever that is!) then so be it. The accomplishments in how I think now are what are really amazing. The scale can't really tell that story very well. Also I am at the limit of what I can handle in terms of people commenting on how much I've lost. Maybe best for me to spread out the remaining a bit more. And keep increasing the exercise to reclaim my health and vitality. Here's to us -- we are doing it! And congratulations on your (almost) one year!

[My Bariatric Life 764]

@@mrsbailey921 an article on webmd says tonsil removwl can can leqd to weight gain http://www.webmd.com/children/news/20110201/tonsil-removal-may-lead-weight-gain

[My Bariatric Life 764]

@@remerton I never would have been able to lose the weight without the surgery. Good luck to you!