Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Too fat to fit in...here?




These are my before and after photos.... or should I say after and before... I am not very computer saavy...The one is with Susan Kay, (Our Bariatric Cooridinator, who is our support person who runs alot of the support groups and the clothes closet) which was taken right before my surgery and the other one is on my 3 month bandiversary.... i see a huge difference. I see where all the 60 pounds fell off of... I am thrilled with my progress. Sometimes, I feel like the most I have to offer you all is to let you see how bad it could have been for you if you really let yourself go... I mean, you all have great NSVs and most of you are at my goal weight now... even though you are still on your journey. Does that sound obnoxious? I am jealous of you for your skinnyness... and I am so looking forward to eventually being in your shoes... or should I say pants. I want to get into your pants.... LOL. Well, actually I want to get into my niece's pants, I guess I should explain better for anyone who doesn't live in Kentucky. ooooooh! I am bitchy today. Sorry, Kentuckyans. My niece, Niki, is 20 and was wearing 24 and 26 pants... she lost alot of weight on her own and now wears 18s... well, that leaves her old pants for me to work my way into... So I can look forward to Carmen's clothes that she shrunk out of and my niece's jeans that she shrunk out of... hence, wanting to get in my niece's pants. So anyway, here I go with my quest of inspiring you through my near death experience. I have been overweight for over 1/2 my life. I was a "healthy" fat girl for most of that time... I mean, I was chubby, chunky and overly curvy... but no health conditions. But I fell 6 years ago at work and injured both my knees... You don't realize how active you are until you are completely inactive. That being said I was diagnosed with diabetes, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, high cholestrial, arthritis, acid reflex, and ended up in a wheelchair most of the time... I stopped being invited places since I wasn't able to get around very well, and bringing your hubby along on a girls' night can put a damper on things... My inactivity didn't only gain me weight, it sorta lost me friends. I was always the life of the party, funny, flirty, charmer... but then I wasn't there anymore... I lost myself. So, I knew i had to do something... but I had become disabled and lost my job, and my health insurance. So, there I was, no job, no insurance, no friends, and 1000 miles away from most of my family. I finally got social security disablity and that gave me better health benefits than I had with my husband's work. So then I made the final decision to have gastric bypass surgery... It was all I knew, my uncle had it, my aunt had it, 2 friends had it... no one I knew had a lapband so I went to a seminar near me for gastric bypass. They weighed me and it was the first time I was weighed in over 5 years... you see, most doctor's scales go up to 350 pounds so I knew I was higher than that.... but, 475 pounds, How? That's like 500 pounds. OMG, i cried and cried and cried... I knew my work was cut out for me, but that's alot more work than I expected. No wonder, Even Fat girls looked down on me... I was huge, even to them. How did I let myself get this bad? I know I deal with depression and severe pain... but that's ridiculous. When i went to my surgeon's office for consultation, he suggested the lapband instead. So, I researched and liked the flexibility of it and the adjustibility of the band. So 3 1/2 months later, here I am, 415 pounds... 60 pounds gone. I am being honest with you because I got an email from someone I admired earlier who put me back in my place as the huge girl, again. I know she meant well, but I am hard enough on myself. The judgement is something I've had all my life.... i came here for support not to be scutinized. Yes, I struggle still, I am a food addict, and my compulsion will take alot of reteaching and reprogramming. No doubt! I do not like working out because of the severe pain that I already have without working out but I do it, once in a while, just not often enough... I eat the wrong things sometimes but I eat the right things most of the time. I want to succeed, and I already have succeeded... my success is that I am no longer on any of my meds for diabetes, high blood pressure, acid reflex, or high cholestrial... I don't have excruciating back pain and my knee pain is much less too. I can sit in booths at restaurants without holding my breath and belly in. I eat better and have more energy. Anyway, I want to be able to be honest in this blog without the fear of being judged for everything I say and do... I want to be me here, not some fictional version of me. I thought of this as a safe place but I am afraid that I am too fat to fit in... even here.

23 comments:

  1. First I want to say CONGRATS on the 60 pounds! You can definitely tell the difference in the pics!

    Second, I'm not one to comment much on blogs, I suppose I'm selfish that way....gaining all this knowledge from others and not returning any....I will get better with this.

    But your blog, my dear, struck a nerve.

    There are and will always be people watching your every move everywhere....even in blog world. I hope and pray that your experience with the email won't hold you back from being your authentic self on here. There are soo many great women on here who have been a great source of motivation, and inspiration for me. It's so easy to tell others what they should and shouldn't do, but we're all this journey together, and there's more than one road to success.

    You fit in just fine!

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  2. I can totally see the difference in those two pics! And the way the weight seems to be melting off you, I'm sure more pictures will show that even more!

    You fit in here, angel. Anyone who is sarcastic and honest and fun does. That's just a fact.

    Sounds to me like your brain is doing the same thing mine is: now that you're losing, and you know that you WILL be successful, it's stopped protecting you and it's letting you be honest with yourself, and that is not as much fun as the crazy fun world of denial that I am the queen of! Good deal though...it helps. And you will always have a soft place to land here.

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  3. " I thought of this as a safe place but I am afraid that I am too fat to fit in... even here."

    girl, i think many people (myself included) have this fear. as i search blogs i see ALL these people that are banded that have a STARTING weight that is VERY NEAR my GOAL WEIGHT. i know it seems crazy and can even be discouraging, but we just have to keep on pushing through and realize that as with ALL things....everyone is different and we are here for US. just keep pushing yourself...you are doing a fantastic job. :)

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  4. I would invite anyone to hate me for my skinnyness hahah! You look GREAT, such a difference! You will be in those pants before you know it.

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  5. You absolutely fit in! Heck, I occasionally feel that way, myself but I just tell myself that it is nonsense. If someone is going to judge others and make them feel bad, they are the ones who don't fit in.

    Please, don't let one person stop you from rocking this blog and sharing your journey and yourself.

    And let me just say, I see a definite difference in your pictures. And 60 pounds down is fabulous. Keep up the good work.

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  6. I've only just seen your blog, but I think you are awesome. You are doing so well. I often don't feel like I fit in anywhere, as I don't seem to lose the weight very quickly and some ppl that had the op when I did are their goal weight already and I am still 220 pounds, although I have lost 50, it never feels enough. Keep on posting!

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  7. You do fit in here! That is what these blogs are all about...for the friendship and support that is offered by others going through exactly the same as you. I don't think i would have come as far as I have without this community of bloggers!

    Also, congratulations on the 60lb loss, that is marvelous and your body is feeling the benefits already. We all have to start at some point regardless of how high, but who cares, the thing is you have started your journey and you will be successful. I love reading your blog, keep up the great work!

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  8. Too fat to fit in? Not here baby girl! I love your blog and you are doing a great job at losing! You are an inspiration to me so you better keep these posts coming!

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  9. Of course you fit in here. You are doing great.

    The photo's are fantastic. Don't let someone's e-mail to you jepodise your wonderful journey or your blog.

    I love following you journey, because it gives me so much hope. If you can do this; than so can I.

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  10. I can see those 60 pounds *poof* gone FOREVER! You look great!

    OK, here's the thing...obeses is obese is obese as far as how it makes you feel inside. Get this, I felt like I didn't 'fit in' at all the WL seminars I went to as I was the 'skinny' girl in the room...how crazy is that?! Yes, your journey will be longer, but you'll get there, and we'll help you along the way!

    You'll be the life of the party again soon enough GF!

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  11. Sometimes people write things without knowing fully the impact that their words will have and unfortunately, some people write things knowing fully the negative impact that their words will have. The only thing we have control over is the way we respond to a situation like that and I think you've done that beautifully, you've dealt with it head on with grace and honesty! Everyone's journey is different but so much the same, I have no idea how I didn't end up weighing 500 pounds, I was definitely on the way there. But the important thing is that you've found a solution and you are working it...you're kicking ass and taking names. You will always fit in here. You're doing great! Oh, and you look great!

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  12. You are so brave to share your personal journey out here for all the world to see. Your success so far is nothing short of inspirational - and you're only going to improve! You look so amazing! I hope you won't let one bitter soul take that away from you, because you deserve to be here just as much as anyone else. You are rocking your band! Just wait until your inner Jessica Rabbit shows on the outside too - then you'll show us all whats what. :)

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  13. I definitely see a difference, Maria! You look great. I know you feel like you have so much further to go, but please believe me when I tell you that I appreciate having you here. I do think you are an inspiration. You are not a cautionary tale. Not even close.

    Most people in your situation (overweight, unable to move freely) would have given up long ago. Instead, you've lost 60lbs (!!!) and you are doing it on your terms.

    You are almost into the 300's, then you'll be in Two-nesia, then Onederland. You can do this. I know you can. And anyone who wants to put you in your supposed place is going to have a whole mess of angry fat chicks if they don't watch it!

    Love you, girl. For serious :)

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  14. First of all. AMAZING progress. Yes, you can absolutely see it. Second of all, you need to be honest - but only with yourself... no one else deserves to have a vote... I'm so sorry for whomever sent you the email. For ANYONE who has had a weight problem to judge another, is wrong... be it a weight problem of 20 pounds or 200. Doesn't matter - we're in this fight together... I can appreciate how much comments hurt though... I had one just a few posts back that really bothered me from someone who follows my blog... and I don't know them - but the comment REALLY struck a nerve... however, I squared my shoulders and kept on being honest, because that is how I'm managing to get through this. If I can't be honest with me, I can't do it with anyone. You fit in perfectly here... one pound at a time... keep up the amazing process and tell that person to go to hell!

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  15. You look amazing, in fact I think that you look like you've lost far more than 60 lbs.
    I think that we all feel like we don't belong at one time or another but I would try not to let it worry you. You fit in as far as i'm concerned!

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  16. First of all you look great!! the 60lbs makes a huge difference. I have learned that no matter to what degree of "fatness' you are we all struggle to fit in. While you may desire to fit into your niece's pants and I may desire to fit into my sisters pants. I at my heaviest was 224 pounds and I felt like I never fit in truelly anywhere. What I am trying to say is that you do fit in here with us and what you have accomplished so far is amazing and what you will accomplish will be life changing. Stay positive. Dont let others put you down!!! Love you and take each victory as it comes ..

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  17. 60 pounds is a wonderful accomplishment regardless of your starting weight. My starting weight was 300 pounds and i couldn't even type it in my blog. We all have our own battles and demons and this is your blog and your format for being you and documenting your journey. Think of that lady who is 500 plus pounds and reading blogs trying to decide whether or not to have weight loss surgery. You could be the inspiration she needs to get healthy and get off her diabetes meds. This is your journey. Live it and let us benefit from your words. This is about YOU!! And I like you and your blog!!

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  18. What a great start to you journey. You are in the right place for support. I think being over sensitive is completely normal. You are so lucky you are off your medications already!!!! What a MAJOR accomplishment that is! I still have to take my blood pressure medications! Bummer!

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  19. Maria first of all you're doing amazingly! and congrats on being off the meds!thats HUGE!!! 60lbs!! thats HUGE!! and you can definitely tell the diff in the pictures!! i'm proud of you! ugh and i can totally relate to having people, especially those you respect or care about, being negative. that doesn't help. we're already hard enough on ourselves. you can say something to someone in a nicer way without lecturing them. that has never worked on me. its just discouraging. whenever something like that happens just remember YOU already have succeeded and you will continue to succeed. you have to do it on your terms. not how other people think it should happen. don't let them derail you. everyone is diff. do what works for you. and you can always count on us to give you positive reinforcement.

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  20. absolutely i can see a difference! don't think for a moment that you don't "fit in" especially here! we are all here to support and be supported :-) you are doing a terrific job!! 60 lbs is awesome, you rock :-)

    oh and i will have even more clothes for you!! lucky you is going to have a whole new wardrobe lol

    xooxo

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  21. Congrats on the 60 pounds!!! I'm so sorry someone's insensitive comment threw you back into these feelings. If you were here I'd so give you a big ole hug! The retraining of your brain is obviously working because the difference is amazing. Your smile is so radiant in your after pic. And already off of so many meds?! That is fantastic! That alone is a HUGE success!

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  22. First of all, major props on losing the 60 lbs! That is AWESOME!

    Also, I think we ALL struggle with changing our diet! After all, for most of us, that is what got us into this position. And it DOES take reprogramming and reconditioning, but eventually you will get there! Do not let anyone else bring you down because they do not know your journey! Only you do and only you can decide if you are doing all you can do.

    Keep your head up, and you're in the right place. I have found tremendous support here, and I know you will too. Best of luck!

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