Each month at WeightWise we feature a patient who is willing to share their journey in the patient spotlight series. It is immensely personal and a courageous thing to share a journey of weight loss. I love reading about each person….where their motivation originates, the ups and downs, the successes and struggles of their journey.
This month we are hearing from Kelly. She has such a way with words and I know that their are so many people out there who have felt the way she did. Thank you, Kelly, for being honest, open, and sharing your story!
PATIENT SPOTLIGHT: KELLY
Growing up as a child all you can think about is wanting to fit in and wanting to be accepted. Growing up overweight puts a stigma on you that will follow you and haunt you for a very long time. I have been overweight for as long as I can remember. I don’t remember ever being less that a size 16 and on the outside I was happy. I was the jokester…if I make fun of myself then it won’t hurt as bad when others made fun of me. You just hold it all inside and keep smiling, eating your feelings and the vicious cycle continues. Before you know it you’re an adult but now your 250 pounds and still putting on the happy face but deep down your dying inside.
You begin to believe that there is no hope for you and that maybe you should just learn to accept that you would never be “NORMAL”. Your body hurts so bad by the end of the day you wonder how your going to get up tomorrow and do it all again but somehow you find it in you to keep going. Your friends and family love you just the way you are but on the inside you hate yourself. You carry so much anger and hatred because you let yourself get this way. I had lost control of myself and my eating habits. I was headed down a path of destruction that was not going to end well for me or my family.
Kelly before she lost 140 pounds with the gastric sleeve surgery.
I married the love of my life, had 3 beautiful kids and such a loving family and friends. How could I not be happy? The fact is I was so happy that I was afraid my happiness was going to end. I was 33 years old and 310 pounds. I was afraid every day that I was going to die and leave behind those who have made me so happy. It was time to CHANGE! I decided in October of 2013 to start the process to have weight loss surgery after knowing so many people who have had such success through WeightWise, I chose them and have never looked back.
On February 4, 2014 I was officially “reborn” again. I underwent gastric sleeve surgery and began living again. I could not believe how fast I was losing weight and regaining control of my life. I have had many memorable moments in the months since my surgery…. like being able to walk into any store I want and buy clothes or being able to order clothes online and they actually fit. My favorite moment was the first day that I saw 199 pounds on the scale. It was the first time in a very long time that I was actually under 200 pounds and it happened to me on my birthday in July 2014. I had originally planned in my mind that if I reached under 200 pounds that I would be content. But that has come and gone. I was in no way done with this journey. I knew in my mind from that point on that I was up for the challenge to keep going. I set myself a new goal and that was to reach the 160’s. So that’s what I did. I have set myself a new goal…. I am now 2 years post op and I am now working to reach 150 pounds on the scale.
Everyone wonders how I keep myself motivated day after day. I do so by looking at an old picture of me every day to not only remind myself of the person I never want to become again, but to also remind myself of where I came from and the hard work it took to get here. I also believe that being open about my decision to have weight loss surgery to my friends, family and co-workers has helped me stay on track because I want to prove to not only myself but to everyone else that I am not going to fail. I may slip up from time to time but failure is not an option. In no way has it been easy but it has been worth it in so many ways. Every body ache I had before surgery is gone. I have found the person trapped inside me who has been there for so many years but was unable to shine. I have so much energy, self-esteem, and for once pride in myself that it’s hard not to succeed. I no longer have to worry about not being here to watch my kids grow. I am able to be the person they need and deserve and the wife that my husband deserves.
I have gone from 310 pounds, size 26/28 to 165 pounds, size 7/8. I have lost half of me but found more of myself along the way. I love the lady that is looking back at me in the mirror. I only have one regret and that is letting other people’s thoughts and words define who I was. Looking back I have always known what a good person I am and what I have to offer the world but now I have the confidence to show it. I hope that my story will inspire at least one person. To let everyone know that you’re not alone in your struggles and that it’s never too late to change. Only you can make yourself happy! I owe so much to Dr. Walton and the whole Weight Wise team. You all have helped me transform into the person who I always knew was there but was unable to shine and for that I will forever be grateful….
If you would like to be featured on our patient spotlight series, please contact lauren.a@weightwise.com.
