This is the visual story of my life long battle with my weight and (as far as I am concerned) the final chapter, the operation. I don't ever remember being what would be called "skinny", except as a pre-adolescent. I dieted a few times as a teen, always gaining back even more. The earliest two pictures are evidence of those brief victories. Then, in college I really put on the weight, but at the time I really didn't care, with the demands of furthering my education. Finally in 1996, I began to suffer new consequences of carrying such a load. It became difficult to even roll over in bed. Tying my shoes required that I inhale and hold my breath, because when I bent down, I couldn't expand my ribs to breathe because the fat was in the way. It was getting hard to fit into movie theater seats. I became terrified of getting so big I wouldn't be able to go to movies or fly on an airplane.
So, in early 97', my mother and I (she was also overweight - only a fool will tell you it doesn't run in families) began our year-long diet. No programs, support groups, pills, formulas of any kind - we just ate better (low and no fat, less sugar) food and less of it, plus an excercise program). That was in February, and the 1997 picture was when I was more than half-way through. I aimed for 135, and actually did reach that weight near Christmas of 97'. But I had to live on a literal starvation diet to maintain that weight. Not only that, I suffered numerous health problems from eating so little. I became so depressed I lost 2 jobs. I looked good, but I couldn't live that way. So reluctantly I began to eat more, and over the next year my weight stabilized at around 170. I felt great, and I continued with my excercise program (aerobic dancing, walking, and weight-lifting) that I began at the onset of the diet. I was in the best shape I could be in, but in some ways I still felt like a failure. When I lost the weight, the fat melted away, but my skin was still several sizes too large. I had come all this way, only to have a droopy gut and thunder thighs. I was crestfallen.
But one day, almost 2 years ago, I met a lady at work who told me about her surgery to remove a gut left over from child-bearing. I thought - would it work for me? At the time, I hadn't the money, so it was a moot point, but in the coming months, I began to check around, to look into the possibility.
However, I had another obstacle, other than funding. Past surgical experiences left me terrified of hospitals and the thought of an operation. So, while I quietly ammased the needed money, I set about to destroy my medical phobia. The rest of this Sub-basement site is part of my attempt to do just that. I also had plenty of help, often from complete strangers.
Finally, the day came when I had found the hospital, and doctor, secured the money, and come as close as possible to getting a handle on the fear. And the rest, as it is said, is history. I have every intention to continue with my fitness program, and keep to my present diet to maintain my new weight.
Just remember - there is hope and the battle can be won, but it is best to avoid getting overweight in the first place if at all possible. It has been a hard road to travel to regain a normal figure.
