Although there's not one specific moment that sticks out as THE moment I
decided to have weight loss surgery, there are several that I will never
forget, which helped me decide to draw the line. One time my daughter came
home from school with very hurt feelings because of my weight. I had taken
something to the school that day as a surprise for her class, and one of the
kids told her that her mommy was fat. Another time, when we were playing
putt-putt golf on the beach, I realized that I couldn't get my ball out of the
hole because I couldn't bend over to reach it. Things like that just added up
on a daily basis, and they equaled pure misery for me. I started to think of
excuses not to live my life. Sure, I went to work and I did all of the things
that I was required to do, but I can't call it anything other than surviving
each day.
When I first considered weight loss surgery, I was really scared—not so much
scared of the procedure, but scared that it wouldn't work for me. I researched
everything I could find on the Web about weight loss, and when I came across
an article on gastric banding I immediately felt a hope that I hadn't felt in
years. I knew, absolutely, that this was the way for me to go.
How my life has changed
I woke up from surgery that day with a new lease on life. It was almost like
somehow, some way, I had gotten lucky enough to push that mythical "reset
button" we all have wished for. I got to start over and I got a way to make
good on all the "what-if-I-wasn’t-fat" dreams I had dreamt over the years.
There’s nothing to hold me back now. My limitations are gone. There are too
many physical changes to even list. Of course, with the smaller me come
smaller clothes. Physically, I can do so much more than I ever could before. I
can walk up a simple flight of stairs now. I can even walk up that mountain
and get that golf ball out of that hole on my own. Before my surgery there was
never a thought that went through my head that wasn’t followed by "you’re too
fat."
I’m not embarrassed to go to my children’s schools for fear of embarrassing
them. I volunteer at functions, I join committees, I shop with friends, I act
silly and goofy at Disney World and don’t care who sees. Basically, I am
carefree and happy and I love it!
My health has improved so drastically. I no longer suffer from diabetes or
asthma. I am no longer in pain when I move. I no longer take seven medications
every day. None of that would have been possible without the REALIZE®
Band.
I have my responsibilities in this partnership in order to be successful, but
I have a built-in partner. I’m not afraid of regaining the weight that I’ve
lost because I know I have a tool to guide and help me.
Are you another successful
REALIZE® patient with a great story? Share it here.
