I kept gaining weight the more I tried to lose it. Carrying around an extra person in poundage took a huge toll on my psyche, my confidence, my back and knees. I was desperate and fearful that I wouldn't even make it to retirement at the rate I was going so I cashed in my retirement investment and had RNY in March 2009.
I will not lie and say that it didn't hurt. It did. The recovery was painful for me and learning to eat again was brutal in my case. I'm still learning over a year later. It's important to remember to pay attention to what you are eating and how you are eating it. After 50 something years of gobbling food, it requires concentration to change that.
Gastric bypass surgery is not a cure for obesity but it was the best tool out there and for me, the only way I could reclaim my life. I have indeed reclaimed my life and the added bonus is that I can buy cute clothes and fit in any chair! I've lost 157 pounds and have gone from size 32 to size 12. I'm 5'9. Sure, I need plastic surgery... but I cannot afford it in this questionable economy since I can't find a job. Botox helped a bit.
Updated on 12 Feb 2011: