Before & After RNY with Sheryl, losing 200 pounds!
May 1, 2018Why I Decided To Have WLS
I have struggled with my weight since puberty. I was always a more naturally larger person as far as my body type. My mom was also overweight and developed diabetes at 29 years old. She saw the struggle that I had with my weight so she tried to limit my access to food.
I started my first diet when I was 13 but then I started to sneak food. When I was 15, I tried the Atkins Diet and lost some weight, but my peers always made me feel like it wasn't good enough. I never had boyfriends in high school because guys were never interested. So why was I working so hard when nobody saw me differently? Needless to say, I graduated high school at a size 18.
Once I lived on my own it was like a free for all with food! No one was looking so I just kept getting bigger!
My weight would yo-yo through the next eight years. I'd lose 40 pounds then gain 60 pounds. After a while, I stopped weighing myself. It's so hard admitting to yourself that you need help and that you have avoided it for so long that it has now become a serious health problem.
By age 26, I knew I must have been over 300 pounds. I was lethargic and down on myself all of the time. I always settled for boyfriends who didn't treat me well because I didn't feel like I deserved better. I saw a story about Carnie Wilson having Gastric Bypass surgery so I began researching to see if it was an option for me. I found insurance to cover it and went to different seminars so I was informed as much as I could be.
Before & After RNY with Sheryl
Name: Sheryl
Total weight loss: 200 pounds
Surgery Type: RNY
Surgery Date: February 2004
Surgeon: Dr. Blaine Nease
My Surgery and Post-Op Life
In 2004, at age 27 and 382 pounds, I had my surgery. In February of 2004, I had Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass surgery with Dr. Blaine Nease in Garden Grove. I wore a size 31. I had a good recovery.
I had a post-op appointment nine days later and had already lost 27 pounds! I returned to work after two weeks. I followed a very low-carb diet and was very strict during my first year. In my first month, I was down 50 pounds. By my six month mark, I had lost 120 pounds! Walking was my main source of exercise, usually every day.
On my year anniversary, I had lost a staggering 200 pounds! I weighed 180 pounds and was a size 10. I was happy with all that I had accomplished.
I did have a lot of hanging skin which made me very self-conscious. I would go to the ObesityHelp forums to hear others' perspective on their experience. I was definitely more of a spectator because I was shy and unsure of everything. I was single and now I worried about dating. Sure, in clothes I looked good. But as we all know, clothes can be very deceiving. I started researching plastic surgeons. My mom was on board to help me cover the cost of surgery.
I came across Dr. Timothy Katzen in Beverly Hills, who specialized in reconstructing patients that had sagging skin from extreme weight loss. I scheduled a consultation and decided my first surgery would be the circumferential body lift. I had a few issues but still recovered quickly.
Two years later I had a breast lift with implants, brachioplasty and sides done. It was the toughest recovery by far because my arms had to be continuously raised up on pillows.
Not long after my last surgery I met and married my husband in 2009. I regained a little weight but lost it before I became pregnant. I managed to only gain 20 pounds and deliver my beautiful baby boy in 2010. Same experience with another baby boy in 2012. About six months later, I started slowly gaining weight again and losing and gaining. In 2016, I reached 272 pounds and decided to do a challenge at a HIIT gym. I exercised every day, ate healthy and lost the regained weight. I fell in love with it and now am down to 182 pounds! I have found a new love for fitness! Maybe one day I'll become a coach!
Special Milestones and Non-Scale Victories
My husband and I enjoy doing mud runs and being more active in life. I have one more surgery to go to complete what I'm wanting to be done. Perfection is not what I'm after. I look in the mirror and am proud of my incredible journey! My biggest victory is finding my self-worth! Knowing that I'm deserving! I never want my kids to experience the struggle that I did, so I lead by example. They are proud that they have a strong mama!
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