If you’ve been reading this blog, you know I’ve been doing quite a bit of research on the subject since I went to the Bariatric Center in Rochester for a consultation with Dr. O’Malley.

Check out my Blogroll over here on the left and take a look at all the blogs dedicated to weight-loss, weight-loss surgery, and fat acceptance. I have science and I have opinion. I have tried very hard to look at the subject from various angles.

I’ve read the posts from the bloggers who look amazing but are iron deficient and generally in poor health. I’ve read the posts from the people who have lost and regained following surgery. I’ve read the posts from people who have lost the weight without surgical intervention. All have been enormously helpful to me in terms of helping me form a clear picture of what I need for myself.

What I need is to lower my risk of the various “morbidities” associated with obesity. Cancer, heart disease, and diabetes, both type I and type II, are present in my genetic makeup (along with depression, and your garden variety batshittedness, but that’s another post.) I need to be able to know I’ve done what I can to minimize the risks.

What I need, is to be able to enjoy my life–to be able to walk a few blocks without pain and feeling like my heart is going to explode.

What I need, is not to be “skinny” but rather to be at least able to shop in “normal” stores again. This isn’t about skinny; it’s about health.

Because what I need, more than anything else, is to have a chance to get old, happily, with my Sweet Hubby.