EchoAngel's blog: "Personally Me"

JUNE 2007. Well I am nervous to be opening up like this. I am a bit shy at first believe it or not, but I love to help and was told that sharing my story might help encourage others. So here goes... Some say being overweight is a sign of laziness & overeating. I hope that this will show that this is not always the case. There are medical reasons that people gain & lose weight. I have always been very active. I love the outdoors - walking, camping, quadding, hiking, playing games like volleyball, baseball, etc. When I got pregnant with my son that didn't stop me. I kept going for long walks and even played Frisbee and tether ball at 9 1/2 months pregnant lol (thought it might help him come out faster - it didn't lol) This first picture was taken June 24, 1999 at about 11:30 am with my son. This was the first time I got to hold him; he was born the night before. My sweet angel baby. Two months ago, I finally met one of my goals by reaching this weight again and presently am working towards achieving my next goal.

To make a long story shorter... I didn't eat much during or at the end of my pregnancy (morning sickness lol). After my son was born, I still wasn't eating much, but I was drinking more fluids with higher sugars & calories. Combined with not being able to get back into being as active as I was before; I started gaining a lot of weight. In just over a year, I had gained over 120+ lbs. At the end of that year, I had started exercising over 8 hours (2 hours / 4 times a day) trying to lose the weight. I was eating once a day (usually a bowl of soup with 4 crackers). My thinking was food equaled weight. I was wrong. I gained more. Finally, I reached a point where I couldn't take it anymore. I was so depressed and felt defeated. I was sent to an obesity specialist and was told I was morbidly obese and would be dead soon if I didn't lose the weight. I was to start eating right and had been approved to get the gastric bypass surgery (stomach staple). I refused the surgery and agreed to eat right. This picture was at my heaviest weight. This was taken June 21, 2002. PS: 3 months after this picture was taken, I quit smoking. My son told me he didn't want to be an orphan.

This next picture was taken 2 years ago by my son in July 2005. I had lost about 50 lbs in that year just by eating 3 meals a day, cutting back on sugar drinks, and exercising smarter.

*********** Almost 2 Years Later ****************

About 8 months after the previous picture was taken I joined a gym (Curves). I was stuck on a plateau and thought this would help to change things to achieve my weight goal. Since then, I have lost more weight making the total weight loss in the last 3 years approximately 140 pounds. You may have seen these next pictures in my albums - they have all been taken in the last week or so (June 2007)

This one was taken September 2007

Now I have other goals that I will meet and achieve. Two main goals have been accomplished; I quit smoking (will be 5 years Sept'08) and I have lost 140 lbs. I want to lose another 40 lbs and the extra skin that makes life.. ummm painful & difficult. I also want to go back to college ;) I am proud of my accomplishments and I know how hard it can be, but it is possible. I had been discouraged at times and my friends helped me with their encouragement and love. Thank You Guys, Love You !!!!! UPDATE Jan 24th, 2008 I am still waiting on approval for surgery... to have the extra hanging skin removed. There are two doctors that are very supportive of me and are trying to get surgery covered by provincial medical. The extra skin is having a negative affect to my health in more ways than one. I have had this blog up for the past year and been blessed to have chatted with a lot of amazing people who are supportive and have shared their lives with me. I have also had some that have criticized it and me. Please understand that having this blog, I have been sharing a part of me that does affect my self esteem. Everyone wants to look, feel, and be their best and that is the side that most people share. I am sharing part of me that isn't the 'best'. I would like to thank all of you for your support and love!!!! With the picture (above), those colourful things on the wall behind me at the top are 'feet'. For every 12 inches lost when measurements are done, you get your name put on one and it gets added up there. I now I have 6!! :D That's is 72 inches of body fat and inches GONE!! Working on my 7th foot now!! (This is just while at Curves, not including the weight & inches lost before joining there) WOOOOHOOOO!!!

UPDATE: APRIL 14th, 2008 OMG I just got a call and I go for a consultation with a cosmetic surgeon to have the extra skin removed!!!!! I am shaking right now so please bare with me lol My appointment is for next Thursday, April 24th in the morning!! They are going to see based on the assessment IF Manitoba Health will cover the costs for the surgery. I will update after lol ;) Wooohoooooooo!!!!!!! Update April 15th (calmer lol) THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ALL MY FRIENDS & FAMILY THAT HAVE BEEN BY ME AND FOR YOUR LOVE, SUPPORT, & PRAYERS!!! Yes, Now I'm a bit nervous lol Still SOOO EXCITED & did I say Nervous lol Have the 'What if's...' coming to mind lol I know this is a consultation (Not going to say 'just' cause THIS is step 2 AND there is nothing 'just' about this :D ) This is to determine IF they will do the surgery and what is all involved... I'm assuming lol Tons of things are going through my head. Won't bore you with details lol Will update after appt. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX This is one of my favorite songs. I have some people asking me how I lost the weight. I didn't give up... neither should you. We know you can do it :D

UPDATE April 24th /08 Well my friend and I got up at 6:30 am and went to the city for the consultation with the surgeon in the blizzardy weather lol The surgeon was so amazing... so very sweet. She took pictures, measurements, and gave her opinion of what is needed; offering choices and explaining everything to me and my friend I brought with me. She made it very comfortable to ask questions and talk to her. The surgeon said I would need 3 surgeries and did not recommend getting it done at once. Being a single mom with very little family support, getting what needs to be done in three surgeries allows me the ability to look after myself without relying on others. She said that with each surgery, the recovery would be approximately 4 to 6 weeks, with approximately 3 months between each. She also said that they could book the surgeries to take place as quick as a month from now IF I got the finances to do so. I also find that having 3 separate surgeries hard. I would still rather get it all done at once. Being a single mom and away from my son like that would be more hell for both. There are sacrifices to be made yes... but my son is my life. I know that this would help both of us in the long run. (The longest I've been away from him is 3 days. If you read my profile, you know that my son has Asperger's Syndrome aka high functioning Autism) As far as the surgery being covered... She does not think it will be covered by the medical. Said it would be different If I had had the gastric bypass surgery, the surgeries I need now would be covered by provincial medical as a result of having a previous 'health related' surgery. She also agreed when my friend and I said that was really 'not right/fair' that this surgery couldn't be covered since it is still needed, due to massive weight loss, same as one who had the bypass surgery (Same extra skin. Same risks of diabetes & other health issues. Same uncomfortable skin that is difficult & painful (pinching and bruising). Not to mention the negative effects to self esteem... still looking 'big' even though you aren't) She did give an estimate price, $25 000, down from approximately $40 000. This estimate is good for 4 months, however, still impossible for me to cover. Thank you all for your prayers and thoughts and who knows.. maybe a miracle will happen and our prayers answered. ;) I'm a bit discouraged right now but not giving up yet. Thank you all xxxxxx

Update : September 6th, 2008 There have a been a few that have written to Oprah and Dr. Phil on my behalf. Thank You all so much!!! We still have not heard anything from them or the local newspaper, but thank you so much for your encouragement. Almost out of options now so getting a bit discouraged. Was suggested I gain the weight back then they will do the bypass... like I'm gonna do that! OI! BUT anyway still checking out other options.. like finding a plastic surgeon that can/will volunteer to do the surgeries. Anyone know one? lol Also another friend of mine read my blog about a year ago and has herself lost 100 lbs and has also quit smoking. This is so awesome!!! She credits me to being her inspiration and I do thank her but it is the strength that is in us all. Once we know it can be done... we do it :D

December 28th 2008 Well Should update here... As most of you know my son & I were in a car accident this past June. My son suffered whiplash and a cut eyelid and I - severe whiplash & some unknown things with my neck that just will not heal right. My trips to the gym have been halted and so has my progress in my goal to lose the last bit of weight. Instead my body is playing 'yo yo' gaining and now losing again. Just trying to reach back to the weight i was at the time of the accident. I have come to far to give up now (and too stubborn :P ) PS: Here is a site an amazing guy found for me. I have sent a message to them now as well. But while there found a video procedure of what they would do to me ... It is shown on a mannequin just to give you an idea. I would also need surgery to remove the skin on my arms as well.      http://thedoctorstv.com/main/procedure_list/51 That's all for now... God Bless And Happy New Years!!!!

UPDATE!!!!!

October 22nd, 2010

Surgery has been APPROVED!!!!!!