C.H.O.I.C.E. Campaign Essay Contest

Today, I entered the C.H.O.I.C.E Campaign essay Contest sponsored by Allergan (the makers of the Lap-Band system). A few months ago, I learned about the C.H.O.I.C.E Campaign through my bariatric surgery coordinator Shelley. I blogged about the campaign in May, and was shocked and ecstatic when I learned that my blog was being followed by a woman that works for the C.H.O.I.C.E. campaign for Allergan (the makers of the lap band).

So I decided to enter the essay contest portion of the C.H.O.I.C.E Campaign. I wrote and reworked my essay for the last month, and today, I am totally happy with my entry. On Wednesday when I attended therapy, my psychologist took a picture of me with her camera, and I have a “before” picture from February that I also submitted. So here is my essay and pictures. Hope you enjoy them!

My Journey

From 8 years old, I have always been at least 50 pounds overweight. Shortly after my eighth birthday, my mom was diagnosed with cancer for the first time. I had to grow up and handle tasks around the house that my mom usually handled. To deal with the stress, I turned to food. I continued this “relationship” into my adult life. I tried Weight Watchers, Curves, Jenny Craig, walking 5 miles a day, and “Walk Away the Pounds” DVDs. I’d lose a little weight, then always regained. During stressful times in college, during my years of teaching, and grad school, and being the mom of a child with special needs, food was my best friend and worst enemy.

After my first child was born eleven weeks early, I had my first encounter with severe mental illness. Imagine my surprise as a teacher and grad student in Counseling Education when I was diagnosed with Post-Partum Psychosis. To treat my illness, I started taking medication that resulted in a 50 pound weight gain, but I was functioning and happy, so I figured the weight gain was worth it. After the birth of my second child, I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. Several other mental health diagnoses soon followed. In November of 2007 I became disabled by my mental health conditions. From 2003 until 2010, I went on and off different psychotropic medications, and I gained a total of 130 pounds. I figured that it was worth it to be functional, but then I started having medical problems because of my 338 pounds. I developed hypertension, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, arthritis in my knees, and chronic back pain.

But I was lucky; I made the CHOICE to have Lap-Band Surgery. My insurance in MI did not pay for it, but when my family moved to Nebraska for my husband’s job, his insurance covered the procedure. I had my first appointment with my surgeon Dr Tadeucci in February 2010. I knew when I walked out of his office that I would do anything within my power to make the lap-band work for me. My surgery date was March 22, 2010. Since my surgery, have lost over 45 pounds and went from a size 30/32 on top to an 14/16, and a 28 on bottom to a 24. I no longer have sleep apnea, and some of the levels of my medication have been lowered to go with the weight loss. I have a ton of energy, and I love to exercise at the YMCA and take my kids to swim in the Y’s outdoor pool. And yes, I wear my bathing suit proudly!

But the weight-loss is not the biggest change. I feel better about myself as a person. I have been using my experience to help others. I have also chronicled my weight loss journey on my blog: Weightloss Nutjob: Adventures with Mental Illness and A Lap-Band (http://weightlossnutjob.blogspot.com/). In late May, Laura Nguyen from Allergan contacted me about my blog, thanking me for mentioning the CHOICE campaign in one of my posts. I have never been more proud of myself when I received that email! I feel so proud and thankful that I have been able to have my Lap-Band. It truly is my miracle! I know that my journey is just beginning, and I cannot “weight” to see where it is going to take me!