The 6 Month Process

What have I been up to since my last post in September 2012?  Well, I've been seeing my surgeon on a monthly basis for weigh-ins per my insurance company.  I jumped through hoops and hurdles for the past 6-months to get approved for my bariatric surgery.  My last appointment with my surgeon was February 8th and on February 11th the office sent the approval request in, with the statement that the insurance company has 15 business days to grant/reject an approval.

Well, after a week I was approved.  I got a surgery date the same day. March 7, 2013 is the big day.  It is sort of bitter sweet, as I've come a long way and have continued to maintain 100lb weight loss for several years, still to reach my goal or 165-175 lbs, I'm going to have to lose another 100lbs. It is daunting to think about, but I know that I can do it.

As my surgeon said, the more morbidly obese you are, the harder it is to get to a normal goal weight by just diet and exercise alone and maintain that weight forever.  It can be done, but it is rare.  As one of the youtube vloggers I follow, (cecelialane) stated that it is like getting a winning lotto ticket.  Theories about set point and genetics all come into play. I almost broke down in tears in my surgeons office during my consult, because it has been such a struggle. I felt like a failure. In 2006, at my highest weight ever (around 375) I went to a bariatric surgeon for a consult.  Come to find out, my insurance at the time did not cover bariatric surgery, no matter how obese or sick you were.  I was discouraged and continued to wallow in my fat, until I started making healthier changes, eventually dropping 150lbs. I could never get to the allusive onederland though, no matter how hard I fought. I threw in the towel, because no matter what I did, what I ate or the amount of exercise I did, my body was stuck. That can totally f'with your head.

I've come across a great group of people who are in similar boats as me on youtube.  They have given great advice as I've watched their journeys' as they unfolded or have gone back to watch videos posted 4 years ago.  I know that I'm not alone, which makes this decision feel even more right for me.

So, with therapy, my consults and lots of watching and reading, I feel good about my decisions.  I know there is no "cure" for obesity, but there are tools that we all can learn or get that can make fighting it easier.  I am much more prepared now, then I ever was back in 2008 when walked into Weight Watchers for the 3rd time around.  I have learned a lot about me, about eating and my body then I ever thought and I'm thankful for it.