About Me
Why did I do this?
- I had diabetes Type II which makes it extremely difficult to lose weight
- I needed to lose weight to help the diabetes – catch-22!
- I have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome - insulin resistance double whammy!
- I don’t want to be the “fat aunt” to my 10 neices & nephews
- I want to be able to sit and cross my legs!
- I quit smoking to get healthier and this is just the next step
- I am concerned about my Heart Health – problems run in the family
- I want to find my “inner hottie” again
- I still have clothes in boxes from high school skinny days!
- I’m sick of being tired
- I want to walk with my sisters and not die every 5 minutes
- I want to be a success and have something to be proud of.
- I want to be ME again – I’ve been hiding for 25 years.
How did I get here?
I wasn’t a fat kid, or even a chubby kid. I was happy, healthy, active and outgoing – all the way through high school. I gained the usual “freshman 15″ when I went away to college. Could it be because I lived on Pizza, beer and ice cream with fruit loops??
In my early 20′s while working at my very first job as a Travel Agent, I went on a trip to Mexico. I guess that trip changed my life. I was attacked and alone and things spiraled from there. I think I gained about 60 pounds in 6 months and my parents thought I was on drugs! (Don’t most drugs make you lose weight?!) Anyway…. that was the beginning… and I slowly gained and gained.
In the 90′s I was diagnosed with PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) which helped explain my erratic periods and a million other symptoms. It also explained why it was so hard to lose weight. They listed me as “borderline diabetic” as well — but I was more than borderline. Unfortunately, the diabetes diagnosis didn’t arrive until 2007 — when I thought I was going blind. My blood sugar was 370!! Yikes.
This diagnosis was actually a blessing in disguise as I thought I was just extremely depressed. (The symtoms are very similar) This diagnosis also reaffirmed why it had been so impossible for me to lose weight — I had a double whammy working against me. Oh sure, I could lose 20-30 pounds easy but I was starving and it always came right back.
In 2008 my Doctor mentioned the surgery because there had been so many new studies about the positive effects it has on Type II Diabetics – I was convinced! When I mentioned it to my Dad (who is a Doctor) and he actually approved of it, well I was on my way to making it happen.
I attended my first orientation class in March 2008 and spent an entire year making sure I had all the requirements for my insurance company. They declined it 3 times but the Doctor finally wrote them a letter going over everything we had done and that did it. I got approved.
On April 10, 2009 at 11:00 I had my laproscopic RNY surgery. This blog is a way for me to track my progress and also for my friends and family to follow along and understand.
All of my family, friends, co-workers know that I did this – and they have been very supportive and understanding. I am a very lucky girl 
