I am beginning this new blog today

I just wanted to set up my first post in this blog. A little about myself: I am 39, live in N.C., I am a military wife and have always struggled with my weight. I have contemplated weight loss surgery for many years but, hubby's deployments kept getting in the way. (or I'd just find another excuse to not actually do it) I have had a bad back for about 10 years and I live my life with constant pain that can only be controlled with painful spine injections every 3-4 months and daily narcotics. I have also fallen prey to that nasty disease PCOS. (this is something only you ladies will understand) It has kept my husband and I from starting a family. (which we both desperately want)

I will never forget the day I went to my doctor for my yearly checkup and lab work. I got the usual lecture about my horrible smoking habit and that my blood pressure was a little to high and how losing weight would help with the back pain.. blah blah blah It was 2 days later when that dreaded call came from his nurse telling me to hold for the doctor. His first words were, "are you sitting down?" I thought to myself, oh crap.. I am going to fall victim to my family curse of cancer and i;m going to die! He said no, it's not that. He said he got my labs back and he was horrified. I had a fatty liver, very high cholesterol and very high blood sugars and was now a type 2 diabetic. Now don't get me wrong, this was not as bad as being told I have cancer but, shit, I still was floored. How did I let myself get to this point? He said it wasn't to late to go back to the bariatric clinic and revisit having surgery. I said okay, put in the referral and, I'll go.

I went and was able to meet with the surgeon and the whole team. I got to see first hand some of their successful patients. (one of them being the head nurse in the department) She was actually heavier then I currently am and this woman can't weigh more then 120lbs now. Amazing! And so began my journey to be thin and healthy and possibly revisit having a child after I get there. It is not easy for me to be told to do something and they tell you to do many things to get ready for surgery.

1. quit smoking (which was hard as hell but, i did it)

2. exercise (also hard because of the back pain but, I'm slowly working on it)

3. diet (i miss carbs)

4. tons of labs

5. give up soda and ALL caffeine.. (OMG are you serious??) smoking and now this? shit!

6. meetings and so much more.

On a positive note, The surgeon told me that there is a very high probability of my PCOS going away with the weight loss and, that I might eventually be able to have a child as my hormones will completely change. We were told we have to wait 18 months to even begin trying though. I figure if I can hit my goal weight within a year, it should be safe to try then. My clock is ticking!! I will be getting my surgery date this Wednesday. My husband is leaving in a few weeks to go back to Iraq so, I have a very small window to get this surgery done.(told ya deployments get in the way) I am hoping it'll be next week. I will be posting some before pictures soon and, will be regularly posting with updates on my progress. Please join me on my journey.... Keri