Stepping Out Of The Layers

Some people may ask what do you mean Stepping Out Of The Layers??

Growing up I was a heavy toddler, little girl, teenager, adult and until one day my heart could not take the pain anymore and I woke up and decided I am tired of being overweight and I am ready to start stepping out of these extra layers. Many thoughts went thru my confused head. I had tried so many things to loose but did I really try or set my heart to it? Finaly I felt the only option that I did not even consider was slapping me in the face. That option was Gastric Bypass surgery. I tried so hard to fight with my heart and mind because I did not want to have surgery to help me loose weight. I considered myself defeated because I had to have a doctor create a pouch in order to loose weight. (PLEASE) I can do this on my own I thought. Well obviously not or I would have already done something about it. So here I was at 29 years of age comtemplating having surgery. I started gathering and researching information regarding this popular surgery and decided to set up an appointment for a review session. After I had a consultation with my primary doctor he referred me to Dr. Peter Muscarella at Ohio State University. I remembered the day I had my appointment and feeling very ashamed of you and what I was. When I walked into that very cold room and waited for my new soon to be surgeon not sure at that point to come in I had horrifying thoughts racing thru my head. When the door flung open and in walked a guy who looked younger than me the first thought in my head was there is no way I am going to let someone younger than me operate on me. After he shook my hand and we started talking I felt comfortable around him. Sitting there I listened to his speech and what this surgery could do for me. He handed me more information and his words to me was this will change your life. Well after those words I finished my appointment and decided it was time for my life to change and I was ready. It was like the gates opened and I was ready to be set free. Free from the layers. I went home and continued to research and thought I am going to go to one of the gastric bypass support meetings to see what other peole are saying. When I arrived and sat through the meeting I felt at ease knowing I was not the only one going through this. Well after that meeting I made a phone call to start the process in order to have the surgery. On October 31, 2001 I walked in at 555 pounds to the OSU Medical surgery and my life changed that day and continues to change. The surgery has changed my life but just because you have surgery does not mean there is not any hard work or dedication that comes long with the process. Seven years later I lost a total of 338 pounds. I had put on 60 of those pounds in the past years but now have lost the 60 pounds that was gained and my goal this year is to loose the rest and continue to maintain... but with that said I could not be happier. I am changed person. I created this blog because I want to help people with weight issues. I am a walking billboard that proves yes it can be done but yes you can go the opposite direction and put the weight back on. People should relaize that being healthy is working at it every single day. Being overweight is an epidemic and I hope sharing my story may help someone else. It is scary but keep pushing forward and know that there are people out there that truly care and I am one of them.