My weight loss story began when I was a young adult. At just 21 years old, I weighed 174 pounds. Then I got married and had three kids which resulted in a lot of weight gain over the next several years. I gained about 100 pounds over a period of 20 years.

Total Weight Loss: 104 pounds
Surgery Type: Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy
Surgery Date: 09/08/2015
Surgeon: Dr. Francisco Jacome

Why I Decided to Have Weight Loss Surgery

All this weight was beginning to take a toll on my knees and impacted who I was meant to be in this life. I was missing out on so many things with my kids. I was never really happy and I know most of it was because of my weight.

In 2015, I was very close to not ever wanting to leave my house because the arthritis pain was just so bad—I could not stand or walk for longer than 20 minutes.

I knew at that point I had to do something about my weight.

Starting my Journey at Live Healthy MD

I had my first consultation on July 7, 2015, at Live Healthy MD. I like to call it the first day of the rest of my life. It was that day that I met the man I call “My Hero” – Dr. Fancisco Jacome. I know they always tell us that the patients do all the work, but this man’s love and passion for what he does is part of my success.

Before I left that appointment, I had a paper that listed all of my appointments scheduled and what I needed to do. I decided, “It is too late to back out now!”

Needless to say, the fear started to set in. My surgery was scheduled for September 9, 2015, two months after my first appointment. It never happens that fast, but I think God knew I would chicken out.

Next on the list was the one-hour psychological evaluation with Dr. Connie Stapleton. I thought that this was going to be the easiest part of the process. She asked me if I was an emotional eater. I quickly told her "no, not at all." Well, little did I know that YES—I am an emotional eater.

However, soon that need would not be met with food and that is where my struggle began.

My Surgery Experience

My surgery day came and yes, I will admit, I told Dr. Jacome 20 minutes before the surgery that I changed my mind – I wasn’t joking. He grabbed my hand and said, “You got this. Let’s do it.”

My surgery could not have been any better. I was surprised. Not what I had worked it up to be in my mind. I had no pain and was out shopping only three days after it. I could not have asked for it to go any better. Within the first year, I had a few issues here and there, and the dreaded reflux, but in general I had a very successful first year post-op.

Life After Surgery

I lost most of my weight in the first seven months. I reached 176 pounds! I had to remind myself what they tell you “You lose about 60% of your weight from the surgery” and then it is time for the good ole' fashion eating right and exercise to lose the rest of the weight.

I see a lot of people who get discouraged when the rapid weight loss stops; I know I did. That is when we really need to work hard to reach the finish line! I was following everything I was told and going to the gym six days a week. Those two things are a must to succeed!

The weight was coming off rapidly, but emotionally I was not feeling it. I had to find another way to deal with stress and inner hurt other than eating. I will be honest; it was tough.

I didn’t know why I was not all happy and jumping for joy – I just lost 100 pounds! I learned through a few counseling sessions and attending the class that Dr. Stapleton offers (Gain While You Lose) that it is okay to have all those emotions, and that feeling them are healthy and necessary to stop using food to deal with them cover for them.

Life is full of possibilities after losing weight.

My arthritis is basically gone and I can walk for as long as I want. I can walk into any store and pick up clothes and not even try them on. The selection of clothes at this size is so different. It feels so good.

My Advice to Future Patients

I will say the few things that are a must for patients:

• Eat ONLY what is on the list they give you. We all want to find ways to fit other things in, but keep it simple and eat what they tell you.
• Work through any emotional feelings that come up after weight loss surgery with a professional—they are real and very common after surgery.
• Exercise as much as possible. Take it from someone who doesn’t love to exercise, but I know it is necessary.

The most important advice I think I have given is that every journey is different. Do not compare yourself to others. We were not all meant to wear a size 4 like some and we lose at different rates, so embrace your own journey.

Find where you are supposed to be and be happy with that place because everyone’s success looks different. Also, be part of the weight loss surgery community and stay involved—It is so much easier with support.

Live Healthy MD offers free supprot groups the first Thursday of every month from 6-7:30 pm at the Augusta office and on Facebook Live. 

Share your story with others. The most helpful people in any kind of group setting are the ones who have been there. You can sometimes find that “fight” that is within you after reading others success stories.

My Non-Scale Victories

In the weight loss surgery world, we have these things they call Non-Scale Victories. You will learn to seek them out and cherish them. They make all of this worth it. Sure, the excellent blood test results and getting off medications are great, but these NSV’s are the bomb!

I can fit in the kiddie rides at the fair with my grandkids and they just think I am the best grandma in the world. I can go trick-or-treating with them. Those are just a few of the many rewards for the hard work and dedication I chose to put into myself and losing weight.

My favorite one was being able to go to Haiti (twice!) on a mission trip. That was my dream forever. I couldn’t go because I could not walk without being in severe pain. Eight months after my surgery, I boarded a plane to Port-au-Prince, Haiti for a 7-day trip where I walked well over 20K steps a day in the 98-degree heat—and loved every minute of it.

I am so thankful for my new body and life, words couldn’t describe it.

I encourage all of you reading this to have FAITH in yourself. You can do it. It takes commitment and hard work, but I promise you it is so worth it. There is an amazing life waiting for you – make it a great one.