This was the last straw

[lindar172 1]

I have been fighting my weight forever. I never wanted to have wls as I felt it was the cowards way out. I knew how to lose the weight, I just needed to apply it. I was getting nowhere fast. A family friend had the gastric done and I was positive that I wanted no part of that even though she lost so much weight. In February of this year, my father died. He was 86, lived a good life and will be missed by a lot of people. It was then that I decided that if I wanted to live a long life, I would have to do something about my weight for good. I had lost 25 pounds prior to him dying and gained that back plus some in the three months following his death. I got a newsletter from my insurance company stating among other things that they now did cover the lap band and I started checking into it. I was banded on August 11th and am loving it so far. Hope the love affair continures.

[SanDiegoPhotog 0]

8 years ago, I did the typical "lost the weight for my wedding" thing and quickly gained it back. Ever since then, it's been a struggle -- I'd lose, then gain, lose, then gain. Add in 2 pregnancies, one with twins, and the fat just seemed to get more and more stubborn.

Since I have a summer birthday, I would always say to myself: on my NEXT birthday, I'm going to be able to wear whatever I want (meaning, shorts and a tank top). My next birthday would always come around and I never got to wear those shorts and tank top.

It started to get warm here in San Diego this March, and I FREAKED. I freaked out that I had no summer clothes and that there was going to be yet another summer in jeans or capris and tee-shirts. I read about the band and had it done in June.

THIS summer, I wear tank tops ALL the time.

NEXT summer, I WILL be wearing shorts, too.

[annabella 7]

Love your thread Watcher!! MY last straw has to do with a hereditary kidney disease. I have 4 sisters so there is 5 of us girls total. 4 of us have the disease myself included. My oldest sister lost her kidney function due to the disease (Focal Segmental Glomular Sclerosis) at 32 and died at 40. She never recieved a transplant b/c she was too big. By the time she lost 200 lbs it was too late. YOU cannot live on dialysis forever! A life span on dialysis is about 8 yrs! My 2nd oldest sister is now on dialysis (she is 43) and getting bigger by the day. I have the disease (Iam 37) and at the time of my surgery on July 2nd, 2008 I was 85 lbs overweight. I have lost 23 1/2 lbs and have 62 1/2 more to lose!! Iam taking my meds and NOT eating what is bad for my kidney's and my Nephrologist couldn't be happier. She says with a healthy diet and the weight loss that I may NEVER need a transplant!!!! Another last straw (if that's not enough) is my grandmother died of type 2 diabetes, that's what my mom WILL die from and my dad and all his family have heart disease. I have no hope if I stay fat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[*slim* 2]

I have been researching WLS for a couple of years now. My insurance only covered GB and I just was too scared to have that done. My last straw moments started last year. In less than 6 months, I lost two cousins to type 2 diabeties/heart attacks. They were in their 40s. Everyone in my family is morbidly obese (I hate those words). My mom had 11 brothers and sisters (I know, lots of children). Of the 9 that are still alive, all of them have type 2 diabeties (including my mom who is in denial). I want to live a long healthy life. I want to see my son get married one day. I can't do that if I am not here. My insurance started covering lap band in January. I still hadn't made up my mind on having surgery. Then my PCP told me that she was putting me on blood pressure medicine. That was it. I knew that I was traveling down a path that leads to more poor health and death. I went to a free seminar that night. I met with the surgeon on Aug 5th. I am scheduled for surgery 10/02/08. I am hoping that I will be there to play with my son. Its a shame when an 11 year old accepts that his mom can't run around the back yard without sweating and weezing.

[TheWatcher 1]

yea that is probably my second biggest complaint about being fat ... little bit of work... a lot of sweat...

[anniedub 0]

Seeing THIS photo of myself at my 22nd birthday party....

[TheWatcher 1]

i avoided cameras like the plague ... still do by force of habit

[livn4jesus 0]

My last straw was when the scale hit 250 lbs, & got type 2 diabetes. Had my surgery on June 6th 2008, lost 40 lbs so far and just 60 more to go! Love all your stories, thanks for sharing

[Nobody's Girl 0]

Just seeing myself in pictures. I always try to look the best I can when I go out with my size, and I think I look OK when I walk out the door most of the time. But then someone takes a picture of me and I see it and realize just how big I am.