I am Thankful for Massive Weight Loss

November is traditionally a time to give deeper consideration for all that which we have to be thankful. And I am thankful for massive weight loss because it has given me back my health and my life. Before my gastric bypass in 2003, I had cycled through obesity, anorexia, binge eating disorder, bulimia, and finally morbid obesity. I was physically and emotionally deteriorated when I turned to bariatric surgery. But I did the hard work and pulled myself together to achieve the level of fitness I have today. Please know this dear reader: You have the power to change your life just as I do. Here is my story…

Thankful for Massive Weight Loss

As a twenty-something year old I quickly began to go from fit to fat — why? I’ll never know. What I do know is that I became a processed food junkie and couch potato with diabetes, celiac disease, depression, acid reflux, asthma, and hypertension. In my 30s, I was morbidly obese and on ~10 prescription medications for obesity-related illnesses. I was headed to an early grave. I needed a drastic, life-changing intervention. My health and my life were literally at stake.

Since 2003 I’ve maintained massive weight loss from the gastric bypass with Dr. Vishal Mehta (Mehta Obesity Center). I also have remained free from 9 of the 10 prescription medications. I went from a size 24W to a size 14.

Plastic Surgery after Massive Weight Loss

I am three-years out from my plastic surgery with Dr. Joseph F. Capella (Capella Plastic Surgery) and facial plastic surgery with Dr. Catherine Winslow (Winslow Facial Plastic Surgery). My plastic surgeons removed the last traces of my former obesity — the hanging skin that remained from massive weight gain and loss and had interfered with my daily living and inhibited my self esteem. The plastic surgery was the completion of erasing the sins of my past, getting rid of the telltale skin that was a constant reminder that I was a failure with regard to respecting my body for so long. I went from a size 14 to a size 2.

Emotions after Massive Weight Loss

It is hard to look at old photos and reflect back on how I abused my body for so long. But it is a wonderful dose of reality to see how far I have come — and a reminder that I must now and forever take excellent care of my body. Getting a diagnosis of diabetes was such a turning point in my life. It was a wake-up call that I answered. Had I not gotten diabetes, then I likely would not have gotten bariatric surgery and plastic surgery or turned my health and my life around.

My words cannot do justice to the life changing transformation plastic surgery has been for me. Having gone through my transformation, I think that I now know how people feel having hit the lottery after decades of living in poverty. My results from facial rejuvenation with Dr. Catherine Winslow and body contouring plastic surgery with Dr. Joseph F. Capella are so good, that it is sometimes surreal. After a decade of not having achieved the body and face I wanted to achieve after bariatric surgery, there are times when I feel as if my transformation is just a wonderful dream. And I might awaken from this wonderful dream, lying in my bed in my former puddle of flesh, and not caring much about how I looked.

Before and After Massive Weight Loss

The physical changes were outstanding. From the plastic surgery I lost 50 inches and 50 pounds and 6 jeans sizes. I look about 15-years younger. Dr. Winslow gave me back a matured version of the pretty face I had in high school – yes, believe it or not, I was thin and pretty before I became morbidly obese in my adulthood. And Dr. Capella gave me a body better than what I had in high school. Someone told me that they took me from a 1.5 to an 8.5. It is true. Weight loss surgery may have saved my life but it left me with a distorted face and ugly body. I now have the body that weight loss surgery could not give me. You can see the change for yourself in my amazing transformation video below The side by side photos do not even look like the same person.

Read about my gastric bypass surgery.

Read about my body contouring plastic surgery.

Read about my amazing facelift.

Massive Weight Loss of 135 Pounds

In total, I have lost 135 pounds and 11 pants sizes. Never could I have done this without my gastric bypass and body contouring plastic surgery. But they aren’t the easy way out. It took dedication to change the behaviors that led me to be morbidly obese in the first place. I eat very healthy – no processed foods, no grains (that includes corn), no red meat, no sugar sweetened beverages, no “diet” beverages or foods, no artificial sweeteners, no legumes, no white potatoes, no dairy. I eat everything fresh, and organic as much as possible. Just as important as the surgeries were the changes I made to my diet and exercise habits. Following a Paleo diet and running and taking vitamins/supplements have been key.

I am grateful that I persisted in doing that. I am thankful that I had insurance coverage for my bariatric surgery with Dr. Vishal Mehta. I am blessed to have had the money for body contouring and facial plastic surgeries after massive weight loss, because mine weren’t covered by insurance. I am deeply endeared to my two very talented and relatively affordably plastic surgeons – Dr. Catherine Winslow and Dr. Joseph F. Capella. Most of all, I am so very happy to be the person I am today.

Not only did it shame me to look at my naked body in the mirror, but also it kept me from fully being present to living a life I love. The emotional changes have been magical. It is an amazing thing to experience your body changing so dramatically so quickly. To understand just what that feels like must be experienced for yourself; only those whom have gone through massive weight loss know exactly what I mean. One patient told me that “plastic surgery is so much more about finding the person you were meant to be.” Another person told me that bariatric surgery saved her life and plastic surgery saved her soul.

I am now focused on finding myself and living life fully. I was never a wall flower but there were things that I let hold me back from doing exactly what it is I want to do or saying what is in my heart. Well, no more. I am breaking through all my barriers and grabbing life with both hands. Life is beautiful. I’ve got a lot of life to live and I intend to live a life I love.

Massive Weight Loss Dreams Come True

Whoever you are reading this, know that you have within you what it takes to succeed at permanent massive weight loss. You have the power to change your life, if only you will give yourself a chance. If it can happen to me, then it can happen to you. And it’s a whole lot more possible than your chances of winning the lottery! It really can and does happen. My wish for you is that you live a life you love and love the life you live.