Hi everyone!
As you can tell, this blog is dedicated to my journey to health. I emphasize my because everyone is different and pursue weight loss in many different ways. The way I am jump-starting my weight loss is by getting laproscopic sleeve gastrectomy — in short, weight loss surgery.
Now before I get into the why and what it exactly means, I need to give you a little background information…about me.
My name is Evalynn and I am 25 years old. I weigh 260 lbs and stand at a tall 5’5”. My BMI is currently at 43. I have steadily gained weight for about 8 years.
I have a very interesting family history with various conditions and diseases. My father and younger sister have diabetes. My mother also had diabetes among many other conditions/diseases: congestive heart failure, osteosporosis, and numerous strokes. Unfortunately she passed away in December of 2010 due to these illnesses, but not before they claimed half of her right foot and two toes on her left foot.
She was only 46.
I don’t want that to be my future. I’ve tried diets. I’ve tried exercising (loosely using that term tried). And to no avail has anything changed. Oh, I’ll lose some weight — 15 lbs tops. But I gain it right back.
I actually just found out something that I thought was interesting. I went to a weight loss seminar at a local hospital that performs the surgeries with the actual surgeons in attendance, which was really cool. They mentioned that those with a BMI higher than 40 will typically lose weight but gain it right back or aren’t able to get all the excess weight off — they didn’t give a definitive reason as to why that is, but it would explain why I am so incapable of keeping the weight off and not being able to make a big dent in my weight.
So, I decided that I need help and more than just support. I need a jump-start and surgery is my choice. It’s not for everybody, and who knows if I’ll even be a good candidate, but I am determined to pursue this.
I’m going to be meeting with a surgeon on Tuesday of next week, April 24th. We’re basically going to be discussing the surgery options I have and what my goals are.
Now, this is a really big process. You can’t just call up a surgeon and schedule an appointment. It’s a program, really. It starts with meeting a surgeon for a consultation type of meeting. Then you would need to meet with a cardiologist, nutritionist and psychologist. Depending on their evaluations, they decide whether or not you would be a successful candidate for the surgery and program. Only after completing these evaluations can you schedule an appointment.
Post-surgery, you’re required to complete a 12-week program involving nutrition, support groups, and exercise. For the next year, you meet with the surgeon every month to monitor your progress. Even after that year, you need to meet with the surgeon once a year to make sure you’re not digressing. The hospital that I am getting the surgery done seems to have a great team and I like the idea of a support group for those who are just out of surgery to those who are months and years into the surgery. I think with these type of resources in place, I can be successful.
I want to be healthy. And I haven’t truly felt healthy for a couple years now. Something has got to give, and it’s me. There’s this quote from Albert Einstein that I love, “Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results.” And that’s what I’ve been struggling with over the years. I try diets, though they may be different, and to no avail. It’s just not enough anymore.
So, this marks the beginning of my journey to a healthier me.
Thanks for reading,
- jorani <3
