Question:
Light-weight?? Huh?
I just read a message about being considered a lightweight -- if you're just on that fine line of needing to lose 100lbs..... I was in that category and know that many others fall in that area too...just wondering how you feel about support available. To me, it feels like I don't quite fit it -- or maybe not accepted by the typical RNY patient --- nor by the normal weight people. I feel like I'm in the "gray" area for finding the right support network. Maybe it's me....I know when I only had 30 lbs to lose....I thought it was the hardest thing in the world....then at 100 lbs too....so I can imagine it's just as difficult to lose 200 lbs as my 100 lbs. ----- We have most of the same issues -- emotional & otherwise. Thoughts? Julie — jewels3952 (posted on September 22, 2007)
September 22, 2007
Hi Julie,
I have 75 pounds to lose. I had VSG on August 23/07 and have lost 23
pounds. I don't feel like I am in the "gray" area. I suffer
from medical issues as a result of my weight as well as emotional
difficulties. I have tried every diet under the sun and have yo yo dieted
since I was a teenager. I have WL issues like everyone else whether they
have 100 or 300 pounds to lose. I am sooooooo thankful for this website.
People are supportive no matter what their weight. Because I have 75
pounds to lose my weight loss seems slower than those with more
weight.....so I figure they will catch up with me soon enough.....Good
topic, thanks for listening....Gale...
— mariamahoa
September 22, 2007
My husband weighed 305 in March of 07 and had Lap-Band on 5/17/07. We
(mostly me) did bunches of research because he has/had high blood pressure
and was using a breathing machine for sleep apnea and the air pressure was
going to have to be turned up to the highest level. He was approved by
our insurance within 2 weeks. I am 5' 2" and weigh 234 pounds. I
have pains in both of my knees, ankles, feet and back. I can't stand for
more then 10 or 15 minutes at a time and I can't walk very far or climb
more then 1 flight of steps without being out of breath. I also snore (per
my husband) and am sleepy and doze during the day. I am going for a sleep
study this coming Friday night. I will be putting in my paperwork on
Tuesday when my husband goes for his weigh in. I am nervous both about
getting approved by our insurance and about the surgery itself. I have
only had one surgery before and that was corporal tunnel in my hand. I
also am afraid I won't be able to do this. I see what my husband is doing
and I don't have the confidence in myself that I have in him. I am praying
on this though. As for all of us having the same issues I think you are
right. 80 pounds, 100 pounds, 150 pounds or more we all have the same need
for support, maybe even more. People see me and say just watch what you
eat or all you need is a little self control you don't have that much to
lose. Well they need to understand we all have the same demon that we need
to beat and sometimes you need a little medical help. We will make it!!!!
— cleofet
September 22, 2007
There is a forum here on Obesity help for Lightweights
http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/wls_lightweights/
— Beth F.
September 22, 2007
First of all my intention is not to "flame" you, just give you an
honest answer from a big loser (of the literal kind). 1. If I had a BMI of
less than 40 I wouldn't have ever made the choice of RNY. I guess that in
my way of thinking it is a last hope for someone dying or on the to dying
via morbid obesity. 2. To some (especially the media) this in someways is
becoming a band wagon to jump on, the latest thing to fix lazy fat people.
3. Since so many insurance companies are being forced to pay for an
increasing ammount of surgeries overall, they are making the process of
approval more difficult for us all. Whether these thoughts are right to
have, I and many others have them. Again this is an honest answer into the
mind of a 150lbs ex 350lbs woman. Best wishes and I hope you find the
support you are looking for.
— tazthewiz23
September 22, 2007
Hi Julie, I a heavy weight salute you! To many folks forget that even
though we think we are "worse" off then others. What you feel is
your reality and you need help and support just as much as the rest of us.
I too thought at 30 extra lbs that it was the hardest thing in the world
to lose. At 100 extra pounds my then PCP said you don't weigh enough to
qualify and instead of researching myself I believed him.
I finally changed PCP's cause that one seemed to be a pill pusher with no
thought to underlying causes and by this time my poor little 5' 2"
frame had 360 lbs on it.
If I had the knowledge and support at 100# that I do now...I would have
done this much sooner!
There is a board here for Lightweights and the RNY board is good for all
RNY'rs they are a helpful bunch of folks. Try to look for a local support
group and see what they offer.
I wish you all the luck in the world no matter what you decide to do and if
you have questions or need help, we are just a key stroke away.
Heavy Weight <g>
Slow Loser<me too>
Carolyn
— CarolynK
September 23, 2007
Hi - I was hesitant to put a post on this topic, but decided that I should.
I am 4'10.5" (yes, the 1/2 counts). I weight 232 lbs. From the
moment I went into the first orientation and realized (actually for the
very first time) that I was morbidly obese, I looked around the room and
thought, Yes, I am just like everybody else here. I have health issues,
that is my reason for wanting the surgery. I don't want to be a diabetic
like the rest of my family. I truly do not think of myself as any
different that the folks who have more to lose (they want me to lose 117
lbs.). It will be a struggle for me, but I know if I follow my doctors
four rules I will get there. I have never been a "thin" person.
I don't want to be thin, I just want to be healthy.
dt
— dthomp
September 23, 2007
Hi Julie,
I do know what you are talking about. I actually sat in a
"support" group just prior to my surgery and sat across from
these two women who were each over a year out, had started out much heavier
and had struggled to get down to where they were (which was still over 100
lbs overweight). Anyway, they sat there (not necessarily in a mean way)
and said how frustrating it was to see someone (me) just starting out
weighing less than they have struggled for over a year to get to. I also
had experiences in the hospital where nursing staff questioned my surgery
("you don't look like a typical bariatric patient"). Anyway, if
you're interested I wrote about it in my profile and hopefully explained it
better than here! Anyway, I wasn't angry at them, but I did feel like..
geesch - should I be sorry for not being fatter? Anyway, we all have our
individual struggles and yours is NO less than anyone else's just because
you may have a shorter way to go. I disagree that you have to get to the
point of "near-death" before the surgery is a good idea. This
was not a "band-wagon" I jumped on when I had my RNY, it was a
preventative measure because even tho it was "only" 100 lbs, I
obviously couldn't lose it on my own and we all know where living year
after year of morbid obesity will lead... If you wait till you're near
death your odds of surviving the surgery wont' be quite as good. I guess
the bottom line I wanted to get across is that you (or I) don't have to
"justify" our decision to anyone. After RNY, we do all face the
same issues, no matter if we are at goal weight or not. Best of luck to
you!
Marilyn
— [Deactivated Member]
September 23, 2007
So often we get hung up on that scale number rather than the BMI. What is
your BMI? It may be as high as any of us on here. I am 5' 9"
sometimes 5' 10" depending on who did the measuring... anyway me
losing a 100lbs wouldn't be as much of an accomplishment as someone who is
only 5ft tall. Yes hats off to anyone able to lose 100lbs but the BMI
decrease is whats important the 5ft tall person technically lost more
weight than when I'm able to lose 100lbs see what I mean?
— Steph Meat Hag
September 23, 2007
"Until you walk a mile in someone else's shoes...." Just an fyi,
30 lbs on ANYONE is the HARDEST to lose. I've heard that from both skinny
and overweight people, so the "heavier" set people aren't any
different. Yes, unfortunately, as human being's we tend to look at others
and say "I wish..." But truth is, it aggrivates the daylights
out of me when someone that doesn't quite hit the BMI gets the approval for
surgery and then gets more mad when they gain all the weight back. Those
"skinnier" people have made it so much harder for us morbidly
obese people to get approval for the surgery and that's what really ticks
me off. As another poster stated, what are your weight related health
issues? Do you have high blood pressure? Diabetes? Or are you just
wanting to loose the extra weight? I don't see anywhere that you realize
the majority of us morbidly obese people had MAJOR health issues that made
our obesity 100 times worse than just the average person that is
overweight. I am not trying to be mean, just offer you some insight into
WHY most "typical" morbidly obese people that had RNY might not
"accept" you. Good luck and God bless!
— crystalsno
September 23, 2007
Julie. I am a lightweight, too. I only had 108lbs to lose. I was 286lbs at
my heaviest and carried my weight well. I had to do a 6 month education
class through my medical group and at first, yes....people treated me
differently, like "ok skinny a$$, why are you here" type of
attitude. On top of everything, I am 35 and everyone in class was over 50.
So I got the why are you here you young, skinny girl? After we all shared
some experiences, they all got it, but it's not always easy to be in a room
full of big loser's as at times they make you feel uncomfortable and make
you question why you are there in the first place and why did you have
surgery. WELL....they can't make you feel anything...it's you that makes
you feel something. So I got over it - for the most part. If I don't have
my thick skin on days I go to support group - it gets to me, but I try to
just let things roll of my back with the little comments or jabs about me
or my weight or weight loss. I just take it for what it is - their opinion.
And what do they say opinions are like A$$holes, everyone has one. I know
why I had surgery, I know it was the right decision for me and if people
can't see that, then it's not my problem, it's theirs. I think at times
that they might be a bit jealous that they didn't have things done sooner
and that is where the negatively stems from. But then..that' just my
opinion....LOL. I think everyone has the same goals, the same issues and
the same concerns,just on different levels. I go to support group every
other week regardless - it's really a reality check for me. Good luck.
— jammerz
September 23, 2007
Thanks everyone for the info. I'll definitely check out the lightweight
section of OH. FYI - my BMI was 41 when I started --- 5'2" 227.4 lbs
--- surgery date 194 lbs (still 5'2" :) ) -- now 134 -- with about 10
lbs to go. I had high-blood pressure and felt like I was going to have a
stroke at my heaviest. I decided to join the gym and start swimming ---
but after my first visit, thought for sure I'd have a stroke if I kept
exercising --- and went straight to my doctor and asked for the surgery. I
felt like I had reached the point of no return with my weight -- too fat to
exercise --- doomed. Anyway, my doctor said, yep, you qualify and I went
on blood pressure pills and started working on losing the 10% required to
have the surgery. --- This is the best thing I've ever done for myself!!!
--- Maybe the not quite fitting in on these support boards is just me.
You've all been very helpful! -
Thanks,
Julie
— jewels3952
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