What a year it has been for me! I am now a different person from a year ago. I found the diet site listed in a magazine I was reading this morning, and I thought it sounded cool. Tracking my food intake, exercise and calories sounded like a good idea. I have been overweight my entire life. I became morbidly obese, over 100 pounds overweight, about 7 years ago, when I hit 300 pounds. I promised myself I would not ever see that number, then one day I went to the doctor, and there it was staring me in the face. I was so horrified and embarrassed. Anyway, I have always had a weight problem, despite reducing my calories and trying every diet out there. I have been on various diets since childhood. Since 2001, I developed various health problems related to my obesity. Around that time I started researching bariatric (weight loss) surgery. I was supposed to have it done in January 2005, however I came down with mono and could not have it done. By last fall, I was at my highest weight ever of 320 pounds, with uncontrolled diabetes, among a variety of health problems. A few years ago I started researching insurance companies which would cover the surgery. With medical necessity, there was decent coverage through Aetna, so I switched over, applied for the surgery, and after doing a 6 month diet with my internist and a variety of testing, I was finally approved. I had gastric bypass on October 27, 2008. Now before you think that this is an easy solution for the morbidly obese, think again. This is just a tool. It is up to the person to change habits and make lifestyle changes. Many people re-gain the weight, since they do not make the necessary commitment and return to old habits. I am on my third or fourth weight stall, but this is normal, and I am not giving up. Although I am frustrated, I just think of how far I have come. I have eliminated all my health problems, including my type II diabetes, and I have lost over 100 pounds. I still struggle with my eating and have had some complications from the srugery, but I would not change a thing. The surgery gave me the tool I needed in order to shed my weight. I attend support groups through my surgeon''s office to help with the psychological impact of this surgery.
