SwanRose

Hello Everyone,

I'm an English woman who is married to an American husband and living in southern California. [i]And I love it! [/i]There's definitely no competition between the freezing, grey, drab British city I used to live in and the blue skies and sunshine I get to enjoy - most days - now. I also love the American people. It's such a pleasure to go out and meet so many friendly, courteous, smiling people, and so different from British life - though admittedly I used to work as a Civil Servant in an office where most of us were depressed.

I've only been over here for three years. My husband and I met and married 'late in life' as the saying goes. We don't have any children, so we just enjoy life with each other and our pets. I'm very lucky to have met him. Although I've had relationships, there has never been anyone else who could see far enough beyond the excess weight to want to make a permanent commitment to me.

So here I am, as of this morning weighing 270lbs at 5' 7" with a BMI of over 42 and feeling desperate. I'm on a collistion course with my 60th birthday - it's coming up in a few weeks - and I never thought I would be 60 and still morbidly obese. Every decade I've thought to myself 'I [b]will [/b]be slim by the time I'm 30 / 40 / 50 ...', and now here I am looking 60 in the face and still no change! But not for want of trying.

Like most people here, I should think, I've tried every diet, every miracle supplement, joined every club, cut out each food group at one time or another. Does anything last? Big fat NO!

I [i]want [/i]to be healthy and active and make the most of this new phase in my life, and I think surgery is going to be the only way to achieve it. The number one reason all my diet efforts have failed is that I get so flaming hungry. How dare the lying SOBs who invent diets tell you that 1oz of granola and some skimmed milk will keep you full until lunchtime? Lunchtime! I'm on my knees with hunger after about 45 minutes.

I like the idea of the Vertical Gastric Sleeve, and getting rid of a large part of my large, hunger-producing stomach. Now comes the stupid part. Our insurance (Kaiser) would pay for this - IF I spend the next 6 - 12 months trying to lose weight on a conventional diet (with supervision) and attending some kind of 'healthy lifestyle' classes. If I had a dollar for every time I've read or been told how many calories are in this or that, or how many I can expend by walking the dog or doing some vigorous dusting, I'd be a wealthy woman.

So I'm looking into going to Mexico. Doing lots of research online, which is how I came across Bariatric Pal - and found lots of great information here. I need to organize the money and reassure Husband, who hates the thought of me going under the knife, but all being well I can be slim [b]by the time I'm 61![/b]

I've rambled at length, so if you have been - thanks for reading.