In Our Own Words

N
Kelowna

Posted Dec/06

My "WHY" letter,

I am a 32 year old mom of an 11 year old son, living in Kelowna.

My reasons for why I gained this weight are hard to say. I feel as though if I write my "reasons" that I am asking for pity, or some kind of excuse. I realize that my weight is because of my own actions. I own up to the fact that I have made myself this way.

Having said that, I was a thin child. My family is Greek (my mom and dad are right off the boat Greek) we ate a lot of very rich, fatty foods when I was growing up. Most of my childhood was me being raised in restaurants that my family owned. Until I was in my teens, I never had a weight problem. In fact I was always teased for being "too skinny" (ohhhh to go back in time ;)) I began gaining small amounts of weight when I was a teenager thinking that 150lbs was the end of the world. I began to excuse my bad eating choices by telling myself "well your fat anyways! May as well indulge and enjoy it"

I was pretty shy and hid behind my few extra pounds. Then when I was 19 I met my husband while he was in the US Navy. I thought that moving to California was JUST what I needed in order to be glamorous and all the things I dreamed of being. I lost a little bit of weight there and felt good about myself, as I was going to 24 hour gyms, and living a very happy lifestyle.

We moved to Montana when I got pregnant and I was a lot closer to my family, during my pregnancy I became a little bit depressed from being away from home and I gained about 40 lbs with the birth of my son.

A couple of years later my marriage fell apart and I lost my little brother (my best friend) and I really turned to food for comfort. I remember going up and down the isles at the pharmacy looking for ANYTHING that would ease my heartache. Thank god that I had the sense to not turn to alcohol or drugs. Instead I was drowning my body is calories, looking for that satisfaction that I was missing so desperately in my life.

As the years went on, my life just seemed to stay numb. I lost my father and my closest girlfriend (her son and her husband were killed all at once). I hated myself for it, but I just pretty much hid away from people and began a sanctuary for myself that included my home and food. I found myself not letting my son out of the house in fear that something may happen to him. I comforted us with food and with the sense of "being home safe".

Needless to say my selfish choices have landed me in the situation I am in now. I am 32 years old and I weight 280lbs. I remember vividly being 12 and weighing only 98lbs.

I reasons why I am asking for this surgery is because I would desperately like to have my life back. To be content within my body, and to use this surgery as my "tool" to loose the extra weight. I would like to have another child, my son is very lonely being an only child. And I am in a very strong and fulfilling relationship now where we would like to have a baby, but my weight is not allowing that. I don't want to be an older mom so that sure lights a fire under me to do something drastic.

As soon as I hit my thirties, I began to feel this sense of comfort within my own skin. I am happier than I have been in years, my weight is really the only thing that brings me down.

I recently lost my job, I believe it is because of my weight. I was a private housekeeper for a family ( a family that was very active and VERY into appearance). I just dismissed the situation as they were sick of looking at my big butt. (haha)  I left the problem with them, rather than punishing myself and turning MORE SO to food for comfort. I did the best job I could and I am happy with that.

The day I get the call to come in for surgery, oh man! I hope there will be no strangers around me, it will be a scene that will be unexplainable. I will be dancing around, screaming and yelling. It wont be a pretty sight. 

Since I have inquired about this surgery, its been about two years. After meeting Dr. Amson, I realized that he is only one man and that he spread very thin. I understand my weight is all about the "whys". Thank you for making me write this letter, after seeing it all laid out, it kinda makes more sense now.

N