I spent my whole life being overweight. Growing up, I was never taught proper portion control, and never realized I was eating more than my peers. Starting in middle school, I was put on diet after diet, but nothing seemed to work; yes, I would lose some of the weight, but would eventually gain it all back. I resigned myself to a life of obesity.
In November 2012, my younger sister came to me in tears because she was afraid that my weight was taking a toll on my life span. At this point, I weighed about 400 pounds standing at just 5’6” tall. I promised my sister I would consider weight-loss surgery, and once I found
Dr. Zerey and Sansum Clinic, I never looked back.
As I attended doctor visits and went through the pre-requisites to get the surgery, I started to realize for the first time how unhealthy my life was and that it needed to change. The moment I fully dedicated myself, there was nothing easier than following the guidelines prescribed by Dr. Zerey and the dietitians.
I had the surgery in 2013 and the best piece of advice I can give anyone considering weight-loss surgery is to follow the rules! Dr. Zerey gave me some very detailed guidelines of what to eat, how to eat and even when to eat. I believe this is the main reason I was so successful. Following the rules and dedicating yourself to a new lifestyle is so important, especially if you want to avoid any of the negative side-effects associated with weightloss surgery and to avoid post-surgery weight gain. One thing I’ve learned through this experience is that moderation is really the key to success.
Three years post-surgery, I weigh 177 pounds and have never felt this amazing in my life! I used to think that I didn’t enjoy physical activity, but it turns out what I didn’t enjoy was having to carry an extra 200+ pounds on me. Now I enjoy hiking, bike riding and just a general increase in activity. Aside from enjoying an increased activity level, I have also enjoyed clothes shopping for the first time and I have also felt a lot more confident in my social life. It’s simply easier to be the best possible version of myself when it’s easier to move, breathe and live unencumbered by so much weight!
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