Vivian_C
Member
Hi, My name is Vivian. I am 27 years old. I reached my heaviest weight 3 years ago, 430lbs. I went from having a normal BMI & no health issues to one day realizing I was gaining more weight than I could lose. It took about 3-4 years till I finally found a doctor who would listen & not dismiss me by telling me to lose weight & everything would be fixed. In 2021, I was diagnosed with Insulin Resistant PCOS(polycystic ovarian syndrome). A huge weight was lifted off my shoulders when I found out that PCOS was the primary culprit for my weight gain. Aside from that I had tried every diet I could, exercise every day & weight loss pills. My doctor told me that in order to start my weight loss & correct my health issues I developed do to my weight gain, I would have to balance out my hormones. I got prescribed Metformin & Birth Control. My severe weight gain had led me to depression/severe anxiety. I finally made the decision to seek help & work towards a better future. Between mental health therapy & doctor visits every 3 months, I started to get better & feel hopeful.
In 2023, I finally had reached a point where my hormones were mostly balanced & I started to lose weight mid year. When I asked my doctor for a referral, I was anxious because all I could think was "great another fat person wanting a surgery to quickly fix the problem". But in reality, she worked with me to figure it out & got me the referral. I had then learned that a bariatric surgery was a tool not so much a fix to my weight. In August of 2023, I went in for a consultation & I was approved to start the process, at this point I weighed 390lbs. I was hopefully that I finally would reach a "normal" point in my life. My first dietician appt was in November of 2023, and at that point my "starting weight" was 394.4lbs. After that first appointment I knew that I had to set my mind & go at this 100%. I tapped into that determination I had when I was younger & was focused on sports & school. I started following my dietician's instructions 100% & focused on working out 4-5 times a week for 50min. And I finally started noticing positive changes.
One of my biggest motivators is being able to do things I abandoned due to my weight, shape & anxiety. I hate the stares & looks I get, yet I know sometimes its ppl admiring my body art or colored hair. I became ashamed of how I looked, how I felt & overall hopelessness. I can't tell you how excited I am now! I had my 4th dietician appt on Monday, February 19, 2024. & my weight is currently at 374.9lbs. I finally decided to join an online forum to find people going through the same situation because I came to realize that half the people in my life aren't truly supportive & are waiting for my downfall. I can't wait for the rest of journey & the hurdles I will have to jump through. I hope that someday, my story helps someone who may feel hopeless & can't seem to find the help they need from medical professionals.
Sorry for such a long intro, but nice to meet ya'll! Hope to find the support I need, as well as help encourage & support many wonderful people!
-Vivian C
In 2023, I finally had reached a point where my hormones were mostly balanced & I started to lose weight mid year. When I asked my doctor for a referral, I was anxious because all I could think was "great another fat person wanting a surgery to quickly fix the problem". But in reality, she worked with me to figure it out & got me the referral. I had then learned that a bariatric surgery was a tool not so much a fix to my weight. In August of 2023, I went in for a consultation & I was approved to start the process, at this point I weighed 390lbs. I was hopefully that I finally would reach a "normal" point in my life. My first dietician appt was in November of 2023, and at that point my "starting weight" was 394.4lbs. After that first appointment I knew that I had to set my mind & go at this 100%. I tapped into that determination I had when I was younger & was focused on sports & school. I started following my dietician's instructions 100% & focused on working out 4-5 times a week for 50min. And I finally started noticing positive changes.
One of my biggest motivators is being able to do things I abandoned due to my weight, shape & anxiety. I hate the stares & looks I get, yet I know sometimes its ppl admiring my body art or colored hair. I became ashamed of how I looked, how I felt & overall hopelessness. I can't tell you how excited I am now! I had my 4th dietician appt on Monday, February 19, 2024. & my weight is currently at 374.9lbs. I finally decided to join an online forum to find people going through the same situation because I came to realize that half the people in my life aren't truly supportive & are waiting for my downfall. I can't wait for the rest of journey & the hurdles I will have to jump through. I hope that someday, my story helps someone who may feel hopeless & can't seem to find the help they need from medical professionals.
Sorry for such a long intro, but nice to meet ya'll! Hope to find the support I need, as well as help encourage & support many wonderful people!
-Vivian C
