Weight Loss Surgery

I have been dieting for what seems like my whole life. I've been successful at times, but then just gained the weight back. My doctors tell me that since I have Poly-Cystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) it will be very hard for me to lose weight and keep it off long term. Along with leading a healthy life, and get rid of all of the co-morbities I currently have, my main goal is to get pregnant, which has not happened naturally or with the use of fertility drugs. We've been "trying" for the past 4 years, and nothing has happened. Therefore, I decided to have Gastric Bypass Surgery.

Truly, I started dieting at age 16. I was not overweight when I was younger, but I really noticed that around puberty I started gaining. It was around the first year of high school when my periods stopped, I went to my OBGYN, and she diagnosed me with PCOS. I probably weighed about 180 at the time, and on my 5'3" frame, that is too much. Throughout high school I tried counting calories, and exercising regularly, but nothing really worked. At 16 I tried Weigh Watchers for the first time, and lost 25 lbs. I felt really good, and liked the effects, but wasn't able to keep it off.

At this time in my life, I met a wonderful guy-- Chris. :) We met through Church choir when I was 17, and have been together ever since. Pretty soon, I will have been with Chris for over half of my life. After having been friends, we talked on the phone every night for a whole week from 10:00pm-4:00am, and on the fifth night he said, "I love you". After dating for a month, we decided we wanted to get married...5 years after that we did, and my life has been complete in that way ever since. :)

Throughout my adult life, I have fluctuated between 200 and 270. I've tried Weight Watchers 3 times (officially--on my own probably 3 more times), South Beach, Atkins, counting calories, Nutri-system, working out, and seeing a psychologist for behavior modification. Some of those have been tried multiple times, all with no lasting success. My biggest success of all of them was with Weight Watchers in 2005. I lost 50 pounds, through religiously counting points and exercising. My best friend Kelly and I did it together, which was such a key to success for me. After we both lost about 50 lbs, she got pregnant, and I struggled to keep with it on my own. I can truly say I have never gone more than a month without trying some sort of diet. It's exhausting to think of all of the programs Chris and I have started throughout the years.

My family has been supportive through my weight loss attempts, helping me with specific diets, providing incentives, and just talking with me about my struggles and celebrating my achievements. I used to be very sensitive when we talked about it, but I have gotten much better about that over the years, and I've been more honest with them about how things are going.

Weight loss is the main thing I struggle with in my life. I have a wonderful husband, a loving supportive family, a job I love, and great friends. I'm a perfectionist, organized, and crafty, and I love to make things for people. I just started a stationery business, called Overby Originals, and I've surprised myself and Chris by taking many orders so far...enough to cover the expenses I've incurred. In looking at having this surgery, I don't feel it's going to be some "cure all" solution, because I hate so many things in my life. Honestly, it is the one thing I really DON'T have a handle on, and if I can change this...look out world! :):):)