Laura’s journey starts a thousand miles away. Literally. Laura came to us all the way from Chicago, IL to make a change. She came to Oklahoma with a boat load of motivation and left us with a ton of confidence and 100 pounds lighter.
Whatever barriers you might be facing–distance, finances, personal support, anxiety–they can be overcome. Read our patient spotlight story on Laura to see how she overcame numerous barriers and how drastically different her life is now. Congratulations, Laura, the weight you lost has lead to so many great things for you and we couldn’t be happier to be a part of that! ~Your WeightWise Team.
What is/was your motivation?
I’d been overweight all of my life. There came a point where I looked into the mirror and was shocked by who I had become. I knew I needed the help of professionals however nothing I did was successful long term. I started to research surgical options and the rest is history!
Laura before she started her journey to Oklahoma.
What are/were your goals and have you had any wow moments along the way?
The biggest thing my sleeve surgery gave me was confidence. I had always been a terribly shy person- hiding in the back. I no longer have any social anxiety! That is huge for me. With my confidence, I grew the courage to date. I started to blossom at work and was promoted to my dream position. When I look in the mirror I feel sexy. Another huge moment for me was the moment I saw some current pictures of my twin sister and I together. For the first time in YEARS, we looks like twins! I had always been the “fat” twin, now we truly are the same.
Laura and her twin before she had surgery at WeightWise
TWINS! Laura and her twin looking very twin like.
What advice would you give to yourself at the beginning of your journey?
Relax. I recall having a brief moment of panic when they wheeled me out of the pre-op room and away from my mom and sister. It quickly passed as I reminded myself I was in the best possible hands and why I was there.
What do you do everyday to ensure your long term success?
Don’t stress the small stuff- in life, in weight loss, whatever! The weight will come off in time. Do what you were taught how to do and when in doubt- email the gang at WeightWise. They’re professionals!
Why did you choose WeightWise?
First, let me say- I live near Chicago. Quite a distance from Edmond, OK! I was on the internet for weeks researcing facilities, teams, and surgeons. I am not made of money- in fact, I had to take out a loan and a line of credit to pay for surgery. I chose WeightWise because I could not find a single negative thing about WeightWise or Dr. Walton. All of my questions were answered quickly and completely. Each person I spoke with- Marsha, Lauren A., Lauren D., and Dr. Walton was genuine and it was clearly their passion to help people lose weight and keep it off for good. Marsha was a god send with all of my questions about what to expect post surgery. Huge for me because I would be flying into an area I had never stayed previously. I was 100% comfortable before, during, and after the entire process.
Laura has since lost 100+ pounds, has new found confidence, and a new career!
Other advice or information?
Biggest advice- don’t be obsessed with numbers. Weight yourself once a week to make sure you don’g gain. Don’t count protein- you’ll just be tempted to up it! Stick with the options your dietitian gives you and you’ll be golden! Advice for those pre-op– soak it all in like a sponge. Ask questions!! I had some truly silly ones but it will put your mind at ease to ask everything you think of. Good luck! <3.
Thank you again, Laura, for being our patient spotlight and sharing your story and being such great motivation for us!