Almost 44 and Getting my Life Back! Mama to Five and Grandmother to Kat - San Antonio, TX

I started this journey in February. I had my last baby in 2013 and I nursed her so naturally I had to eat extra calories to be able to provide enough nutrients. Needless to say, I have not been able to lose weight since then. I've lost and I've gained but this has been the toughest time for me. Now my knees ache and I'm just done being a yo-yo dieter and want my body back! I have several co-workers that have had the sleeve and the bypass. They all look great and one in particular is a lot like me. She's only a few inches taller and was a slight heavier than me. But at 4'9.5" and weighing in at 190, well that was just too much. I was considered morbidly obese. I have had issues with weight loss from the very beginning. Each child leaving me with an extra ten pounds or so. My turning point came when I had to renew my bullet proof vest. Waist was 44! I'm thinking there had to be a mistake and I was too scared to measure myself. Just hearing the measurements made me cringe. Thankfully, my co-worker wasn't judging me. Another for me was seeing my aunties. They walk with canes or assistance. I have the same body structure as them and my doctor said I had their genes. Thankfully, I don't have diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease but they do run in my family so if I don't have it now, I may get it in the future if I stay the way I am. I'm so thankful that I have a very loving husband. He's been my rock through this whole process and he's helped make this decision the best one I've made because he loves me regardless of my size. His words, " I fell in love with you, your heart, your mind, not your body, that's just a bonus". I am truly blessed. I will have this surgery on July 1st. Which is in a few days!!! WOOT WOOT! I'm scared, nervous and excited!! But I am ready. I am ready to be me again. My heaviest weight 194. CW 185. We'll see what I weigh on Wednesday.

I have five children ranging from age 22- 2 years old. MacGyver, 22, Briana 19, Adrian 17, Mateo, 4, and Natalia 2. They are my world, my love and my whole life. I am doing this for them and for my grandbaby Katalina. They will know that this is for them. Prayers needed!!

P.S. I've posted pictures of myself from 2014 and 2009. I don't take pictures anymore or at least not any that are my whole body.