Wow has it been that long!?

I guess that it has been a bit since I have been around.  Life has gotten in the way, I guess.  That being said, life is good!  Today is my daughters 2nd birthday.  I feel like this day is really the beginning of this lap band journey.  I had a lot of complications throughout my last pregnancy.  She ended up being born at 35.5 weeks due to pre-eclampsia.  (I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy!)  I had lost out big on the diet battle right before getting pregnant and had gained 15lbs the two months prior to getting pregnant.  Pregnancy didn't help much and I really watched my weight during my pregnancy.  I cried and cried the day that scale had to be moved to 200.  (I'm 5'2")  On the day before she was born, I weighed 210.  I had gestational diabetes.  I was taking at least 3 insulin shots a day.  The doctors promised me that the diabetes would go away.  Hailey was born healthy and 6lbs 1oz.  For my 6 week checkup, I got on the scale still weighing 210 WTF!?  I have a baby right here, how in the h*ll do I still weigh 210!?  My diabetes had not resolved itself.  Neither had my blood pressure.  What was I to do? I was devastated once again.  I went to my PCP and was put on several medications.  I was 33 years old.  I had to pick up the grandma bag at the pharmacy each month.  It was horrible.

After my daughter's first birthday, I still weighed 208.  I had reserved myself that I was going to stay fat.  I wasn't happy about it, but my body was fighting every attempt at losing this weight.  I felt horrible all of the time.  I had no energy, and I couldn't get on the floor to play with my little girl.  If I got down there, there was no chance of getting up again. 

In January of this year, I really started looking into the lap band.  I checked on my insurance and it was a covered benefit.  I never would have been able to afford otherwise.  I started my diet requirement for my insurance.  The first month I lost 2lbs.  Second month 2lbs.  Geez I was getting frustrated!   I was so glad that my insurance diet was only 3 months as I would have probably given up if it had been 6. 

I got my surgery date set up for June 9.  It was right after my birthday.  I was excited and scared all at the same time.  I have been having so much trouble losing weight, would it still be that way? 

Fast forward 5 months.  I am flirting with 50 lbs lost.  I am so close.  I would have never thought at Hailey's last birthday that I would be where I am today.  I am able to move.  I am able to chase her if I need to.  I feel wonderful.  I still have 35 lbs to go.  The glory in that is that I know that I will get there.  The uncertainty is no longer lurking.  I also have been able to be in pictures with  my family.  That is a great feeling.

Thank you for sticking with me through my story.  I credit each and every one of you with helping me through my weight loss.  The statistics say that those who attend support groups and such lose more weight than those who don't.  As I am 3.5 hours from my surgeon's office and there aren't any closer support groups for me to attend, you gals are my support group.