This is for the lady who said she hated Obesity. I have good news! There is a way out! 
I have been overweight most of my life. I got skinny to get married, then a devistating divorce
took my weight up to the sky and left me in a deep depression. From being a freshman in school,
till I graduated, I kept the weight off. But once my so called "Husband" left me for another woman, my self esteem went into the toliet. I have struggled with this since age 13. I am in the
50's now.
The highest weight I was - 328. I became more depressed and I am a comfort eater so I can
easily put on 10 pounds. 2 years ago when I hit that weight, I thought of suicide. I developed
a huge roll of fat (they call it the Pannus) around my abdomen. I started having these
yeast infections because you sweat down there & this year with this huge roll I notice
that if I do not follow Drs. orders I end up with open sores that can get inffected.
I have to put cream on the areas and wear strips from a white Tee Shirt and place it in
the affected area. I do this 3 times a day during a big break out. I have no idea why
I have this, although the weight surely is the cause.
In the last 2 years I have lost 70 pounds! It is great, except I still have the roll of fat.
I asked the Lord God Almighty to help me & correct my eating any way He chose. So,
now if I overeat, or eat too much junk - I get sick! Both ends (if you know what I mean)
Doing that every time surely makes you think about binge eating! God will help you if
you commit yourself to Him. I gave Him complete control. He lets me have chocolate
every so often, but if I over do it my Irritable Bowel Syndrome acts up and I am in the
bathroom! YUK! So I eat toast and fresh fruit, oatmeal, raisin bran, etc.
I eat other stuff, this is just an example.
I would say to you - DON'T GIVE UP! Give it to GOD! tell Him and He will help you.
I guarantee you! Ask, Seek, Knock! He will never forsake you....
So good luck and keep going!
when I wrote what I did, Due to a hospitalization last week, but indeed, been
there, done that! Now, let me tell you the rest of the story......
Now, I have a few questions. Why do you hate yourself? I am blessed because
you choose me to tell. I am 53. But I am tall - so I do not look what I weigh.
Or at least I thought so. In the past 2 yrs. & 2 months, I weighed 328, I have lost
70 pounds. I watched as my panty size has gone from being age 21 & size 7 to
today, where I am a size 12. No one told me what was actually happening to me. I developed what they call "an Apron" the correct term is "Pannus" and I
thought it was just a weight thing until 2 years ago when my body began to
act and I would get "Yeast Infections" across my middle! My daily routime was
to try to keep the area dry. But I am a diabetic, & I never "felt" anything. I
would lift up the mountain of "Fat" and there would be a "bright red rash". So,
I would get out the stuff the Dermatologist gave me and follow the routine -
1. 1 tube hydrocortizone - lather it all over the rash to relieve the intense red
look. which took a couple hours. 2. put on the creme anti biotic he gave me
over the rash. 3. then apply ZSORB Powder (any pharmacy has this) and then
finally, I bought mens white t-shirts and cut them into strips and wore them over
all the stuff I just put on, because the skin was sticking to the skin, causing the
rash to bleed. If I had a rash I did this every day 3 times a day until it was gone.
Last year I fell and broke my collarbone & shoulder & required surgery. I figured
I was safe - I had no rash. Well, by the time I got to Cleveland Clinic - I had a
full blown rash and the doctor cancelled the surgery right there. I started to cry. My Sister got so mad, because she took the day off! The surgery was
rescheduled & done, but now they had to take care of the rash & do all I usually
did. This year I have had 3 surgeries. 1. fix my hammer toe, 2. carpal tunnel
surgery and ..... a Panniculectomy.
The fat now was laying on my of my vulva (which houses the vagina) and it was
actually so swollen I felt even if I could have sex, no one would want me.
But in God's word He tells us "without knowledge the people perish" I surely did
want to die, but then my Dermotologist told me about this new surgery which
would in essence, take all that fat away. most people consider this cosmetic
surgery. But I know that God brought me this far - so I signed a waiver so I could have the surgery, and we are talking at least $7,000 - and last Thursday I
had the surgery. I lost 15 pounds in one day! They cut above the belly button,
and below it - a 73 inch total around. They take the fat and weigh it. (15 pounds) then they put the 2 ends together! and presto! no more apron!
I have NEVER been in any anxiety for this surgery as in the past. They tell me
that the scar is so perfect it looks like nothing was ever done to it. I have 3
places where I have stitching and I have drains to drain the blood & stuff, I can
tell you it hurts like hell - but it will be 1 week Thurs., I am moving better each
day, and it is now itching so its healing! He even made me a new belly button!
(I could care less!) I tell you GOD ALMIGHTY IS ON THE THRONE! The first 3 days
were tough. But I am sitting here now at my computer and I am pain free!
I take my pain meds when I need them. My belly was swollen - I looked pregnant at first - but not now. I have never peed so much in my life! But my
middle is in a binder - to keep things in place, and I have lost the initial 15 LBS.,
& since I will be weighed at Cleveland Clinic tomorrow, I fully expect the total
to go to 20 LBS at least. Now this surgery is NOT a tummy tuck. I want you to
know this right away. All this is is fat and it was hanging down past my vagina.
Nothing is more disgusting than that! But through the Grace of God I no longer
have to worry about it anymore. So dear girl, I am obeying God and giving you
the knowledge you need. You DO NOT HAVE TO BE FAT OR STAY FAT!
How did I lose the 70 pounds? I went to God and admitted that I liked food and
that without His help my weight would continue to explode. I told Him to do
what ever He wanted no matter how much I cried. So now if I binge? I also
have "Irritable Bowel Syndrome" so I get the diarehha when I over eat. If I have too much chocolate - I get it within 30 minutes of eating it. I did cry -
IBS is painful and you spend alot of time in the bathroom! But without His help,
I could have died. As I said, knowlege is power - go to WebMd, Mayo Clinic on
line - they have pictures you can print out with actual surgeries on them! Get
a notebook and arm yourself with all you can. Then get a Board Certified Dr.,
and tell him what you want to do. They DO take before and after photos.
I will go in there tomorrow and they will do it to me. You are now no longer
helpless. Or hopeless! You go girl! Choose Life!
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR INITIAL POST AND YOUR CONTINUATION. I HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING SINCE MAY OF 2007 TO LOSE WEIGHT. I WANTED TO LOSE IT BY THE TIME I REACHED MY 50TH BIRTHDAY, WHICH WAS THIS LAST MAY. I STARTED OUT AT 320, WHEN I FINALLY DECIDED IT WAS TIME TO DO SOMETHING POSITIVE IN MY LIFE. I HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN AT HOME, AND I REALLY NEED TO LOSE THIS WEIGHT SO THAT I CAN BE AROUND FOR MY KIDS AND MY GRANDKIDS. I HAVE BEEN DOING SO MUCH YO-YOING FOR THE LAST YEAR, I COULD HAVE MADE MY GOAL IF I HAD JUST KEPT FROM LOSING THE SAME POUNDS OVER AND OVER AGAIN. I GET MOTIVATED, BUT THEN MY MOTIVATION DOESN'T LAST TOO LONG. AND I AM RIGHT BACK WHERE I STARTED. I AM REALLY TRYING TO DO THIS, FOR ME AS WELL AS THOSE I CARE ABOUT. I JUST NEED A NEW MINDSET TO FEEL LIKE I CAN KEEP GOING. I KNOW GOD IS THE ANSWER CAUSE HE IS TRULY IN CONTROL OF THIS WORLD. GOOD LUCK AS YOU CONTINUE YOUR JOURNEY, AND THANK YOU FOR THE ENCOURAGE YOU GIVE OTHERS LIKE ME.
others out there who struggle with weight. I was touched by the lady
who said that she had considered sucide. We ALL have tried that one.
But God brings us through and we have a decent meal. It is one week
today that I had my surgery.
I have always told God that if He can
bring my weight down - I would serve Him forever. I had the surgery. I had a 15 pound blob of skin & fat. Plus a new thing - scar
tissue from my hysterectomy. That kind of thing can add weight.
2 1/2 hrs. under the knife. They weigh it and then toss it. I felt like
a mack truck hit me. I reminded God of His promises. Like I said, it
is not easy. throwing up, stomach cramps, What a challenge!
I got out of my sisters car, and held on to the door & stood up. OPPS!
of course young people are all over to help.
The main thing is not to give up! Whatever method you choose - I
don't need any more! I have spent a small fortune trying to get thin.
But no one needs a stomach the size of a quarter! I love food - it is
that it does not love me! So I get sick when I over eat? Oh big deal!
Once you give it to God and let Him do it.. He will - but you have to
want to do it. Warning - giving it up to God - no chance for a relapse.
I am behind you. At this point in time we can only pray. I will hold my
end up and keep very good recrds, keep clean. There is a strong
odor that comes around once the rash turns bloody red. But, keep it
up, going to a dermatologist - he knew just what to do.
Just remember - your not alone. I am praying for you! Plead the
Word and He will give you all you need.
Take that, and take care!
Been there too......
I told you Char, I got rid of the thing I carried for over 15 years! Most call
it an apron. It is the Pannus.
Yes, it is going on 2 months now. I have stayed the same weight.
I just got
done eating my treat for the week - chocolate. Well, I saw the Plastic Surgeon who did my surgery in November. And just this week, on Wed. I saw
him again at the Cleveland Clinic here in Ohio. Now initially this man told me he
was fully against my surgery, but seeing me that day is a day we all will never
forget! I stood there 1/2 naked. I asked him about the surgery again. He
told me with all my bad health, he thought I may die or have blood clots and
major problems with healing. But as the Lord God of Heaven stands by me, I
only had discomfort with the 3 drains I had on. He told me that he was very
concerned. I had to sign a paper saying I wouldn't blame him if I died. And
together we stood and he says he's "stunned" by the fact I have had NO problems! I was able to handle the pain with what the Doctor gave me. I did
not get sick from anesthesia. "you made a believer out of me!" he told me.
after an exam, he said "how do you like your new thighs?" I looked at him -
stunned. "Huh?" Yes? I had to do something to take the swelling down -
so I trimmed the area and made it normal again." "Thanks! I said"
He told me that my apron weighed 15 pounds and that my tissue & scar look so
good that he felt he did all he could and he no longer needed to see me!
I have to say, I was shocked! But happier than I have been in 15 years. I cried
a bit. Tears of joy! I continue to thank God every day!
I had said previously here, that my stomach looked like I was pregnant. Well,
in the weeks after surgery, my stomach has gone flatter - much flatter! And I
now can see my feet! My stomach feels a little hard, that is because of the
fact that they separated the fat from the muscles & tissue. It needs to heal
internally. The scar is visible, but it looks like a line 1 inch thick. I was told
that it looked so well it almost looks invisible! I only have one line he stitched
the 2 into one! I looked down at my private area and yes - it is now normal
size. I no longer have a vulva that is as wide as my legs. That it no longer
touches my thighs. I cried! I looked at it at home days later. It looks good.
I can see the floor. I am happy.
I signed a paper that the hospital made me sign saying that if the insurance
doesn't pay for the surgery - I would. Well, I am happy to report that my
surgery went good. AND it cost $39,000! BUT - it is ALL PAID except
$18,000, and that the other insurance will pay for it. True to His Word -
God once again kept His word. As He has always done. I do not worry about
the bill - it all is in His Hands.
And so, anyone who thinks they could die or have something happen to them,
and you, Char, know that I am down from a size 30-32 to a 2 X!!!! I have lost
2 bra sizes as well. I take a size 22 in jeans and 2-3 X in tops. I am happy.
And, on Jan. 31st, I am having a "Glamour Shot" taken for my yearly photo.
I take myself to Olan Mills to have photos taken of me to show how I went from a fat over-eating slob with no Self-Esteem, to a 53 yr. old woman who
not only has a more normal Self-Esteem who is a child of God! And I can tell
you my dear girl, that this is not the end of my story - it's just beginning!
Carry On!
Been There