Why? Because I am going to do something I never EVER thought I would do… I am going to have gastric bypass surgery. Why?

* Because I have diabetes
* Because I have high blood pressure
* Because I have high cholesterol
* Because I have thyroid issues
* Because I am well over 100 pounds overweight
* Because I will be 52 this year
* Because I have been completely unsuccessful with losing weight and keeping it off
* Because I need to have hernia surgery that is quite dangerous as I am now because of how it would need to be performed and how much foreign material (mesh) would need to be used to close the tears
* Because my doctors have recommended it
* Because it will help me to live longer

I wish I had researched this more with regard to myself before now. It is not giving up or taking the easy way out in any way, shape, or form. Just having the surgery will not automatically make the pounds melt away; I still must make good choices and exercise. It is a tool that is going to force me to make the lifelong changes I need to make. It is not at all “easy,” but for me, it is necessary.

The earliest I would have the surgery is April, but it may not happen until June. I am still in the part of the process where I am doing what is necessary to get authorization from the insurance company, so I am meeting with a dietician and a psychologist. With the dietician, the purpose is to ensure that I will be able to successfully modify my diet after surgery. To that end I am trying to eat within my calorie range and work back to exercising for at least thirty minutes, five times per week. I am also beginning to work towards making the changes that will be mandatory after I have the surgery, such as eliminating sugar and caffeine from my diet. I am also working on my issues with food and emotions so that I have a plan in place to be successful. The purpose of my upcoming meeting with the psychologist is to be evaluated to see if I am a good candidate from her perspective. I fully understand that this is not a magic pill – it is a tool and I must do the work.

I feel so confident and full of hope now that I have decided to move forward with this. I am still here on Sparks, lurking for now, but I am still here. I am logging food and exercise, because those are the keys to everyone’s success. I value the friendships I’ve made on Sparks and I hope to continue to have you as friends. If my new path causes us to part ways, I completely understand and I wish you well. But I hope that we can continue to support each other in our journeys to good health.