Newbie in Melbourne, Australia -

[RantingDev 0]

Hi, everyone. My name is Devon, and I am an American woman currently living in Melbourne, Australia, with my wonderful Aussie husband. I have my weekly weigh-in tomorrow morning, but I weighed in last Monday morning at 298.4 lbs. I've been overweight since middle school. When I was a kid, I was a ballet dancer and quite fit. Once I hit middle school, everything started to slowly change. My self-esteem became non-existent due to bullying, and I eventually quit ballet. By the end of high school, I had gone from a size 12 to a size 16. Since I graduated in 2001, I have gone up to a size 26.

I've tried so many different weight loss methods including Weight Watchers (which actually made me gain weight for some reason) and Opti-fast. Nothing has helped for more than the first 10 lbs, and then it all just stops. I know a lot of my problem has to do with my PCOS and Insulin Resistance (which I suspect I've had for years but was diagnosed with last year). It seems like no matter how much/little I eat or how much/little I exercise, nothing works. I'm stuck.

I'm still in the VERY early stages of researching the Lap Band as an acceptable option for me, but I'm already keen. Of all the things to inspire me, I watched an older episode of Oprah with this girl that went over to Mexico and got to done when she was 13. Even as early as a year ago, it wouldn't have been an option for me. But for some reason when I watched her and listened to her words, it just sort of clicked that this IS a viable option. It no longer feels like a failure to me, y'know? And with all of the "failures" I've had at this, it might be the only way.

Anyway...that's my story and why I'm here. I'm looking forward to getting lots of information and (hopefully) advice from here. I'm glad I found a forum dedicated specifically to this procedure. Aside from the official website for it, I haven't found much information on it or patient success stories. I'm going to go to one of those seminars soon and then go from there.

Thanks!

[*susan* 1,709]

Hi Devon, we are so glad you have joined us here. You will find that most of us have tried numerous other methods to lose weight, but it is just not an easy thing to do. There is no shame in choosing to get wls to reach a healthy weight. How could there be when the ultimate goal is to be healthy? The lapband is a wonderful tool, but you do have to commit to it as it is just that, a tool. You have to be willing to do the work, change your eating habits and exercise.

I am so sorry that you were bullied. Kids can be some of the meanest people in the world. It is really sad when their parents do not teach them to be more understanding of others problems/issues.

Please let us know how things are going for you. We look forward to getting to know you.