WELCOME TO THE NEW OBESITYHELP.COM
CHECK OUT WHAT'S NEW
ARE YOU A BARIATRIC PROFESSIONAL?
LEARN MORE ABOUT OH
Friends
Member Interests
Latest Surgery Support Comments No comments posted yet. Please post yours. Click here for the surgery support page |
My name is Christine and I'm 41 years old. I live in Willoughby, Ohio which is 20 miles east of Cleveland.
My Story My story - oh boy! I grew up in three foster homes and had a very traumatic childhood. This formed the foundation of low self esteem - an issue that wouldn't get resolved until I turned 35. I was overweight when I was 12 years old but then moved into a military-style foster home where I was forced to lose a lot of weight. I remained very thin until I got married at 18 out of fear of being alone. I gave up a full scholarship to college to get married and became depressed over that decision. I turned to food for comfort once again and gained 100 lbs. In 1987, I decided to go to school and started exercising every day. Over the next 1 1/2 years I lost close to 100 lbs. and kept it off for almost 2 years. Being in school, gaining a career and new friends gave my self esteem the boost it needed. I got pregnant with my first son in late 1991 and proceeded to eat mostly fast food - I gained 65 lbs and have had hard time losing that weight ever since. My then husband and I started taking Ballroom dance lessons in 1995 and I found something I was good at and loved. I gained new friends and my true personality began to emerge - I never knew I was really an extrovert because I had always been the wallflower. This gave me confidence and stregnth and I bought a Fred Astaire Dance Studio franchise in 1998 shortly after the birth of my third son. Running a new business put a lot of stress on my marriage and I grew apart from my husband. We separated in June, 2000. A new millenium meant a new life for me - as scared as I was to be alone, I was happy, confident and empowered. I dated, I danced, I laughed and I grew. In 2001, I moved in with a man who would forever change my life - by breaking my heart. It was the best thing that ever happened to me because it enabled me to work through all the childhood issues I didn't even realize I had. I never knew I had been functioning from my subconscious - but once I "woke up" - I was never to be the same. It's been an interesting journey to say the least. Today, I love myself more than I ever thought possible. I live my life on my terms and I am very spiritual. I believe that I have a purpose in this life and think I am on my way to achieving that. I want to help other people, women especially, overcome their lifelong thinking habits and achieve healthy self esteem. I have fought with my weight for most of my life. I wanted to WLS 2 years ago but did not meet the insurance company's criteria. I have a family history of early heart disease and when my brother had 4 heart attacks last winter I decided it was time to try again. This time I met the criteria because it now based on BMI and not pounds. I started the process February 12, 2008 and had my surgery on May 21, 2008. I'm recovering nicely and can't wait to see what the next chapter in my life has in store for me! |
Add as a Friend
Send Message
Member Card
Block Member
