A Healthy Mindset Is Key to Your WLS Tool
March 3, 2016Picture this...8 years ago I was an unhealthy 281 pounds and very depressed. This was my low point. I’m sure we all started from a low point in our lives.
I had high blood pressure and found out a few years earlier that I had diabetes as well. I knew I was overweight…ok, let’s keep it real…I knew I was FAT, but at that point, I really didn’t care anymore. My doctors kept telling me to lose weight over the years, but nothing worked for me. I tried every diet out there (yes, the popular ones too), but these diets didn’t help me with my situation.
It wasn’t until I started to lose my eyesight that it became real for me.
My diabetes was getting worse and started to affect my eyes. At this point, I ran out of options until I came upon some information about weight loss surgery online. I was very hesitant to even think about something as drastic as that, but for me, it was my last hope.
The Beginning of My New Life
In April of 2008, I underwent my RNY Gastric Bypass Surgery. That was the beginning of my new life. I lost all of my weight in the first 8 months of my surgery (123 pounds). I was no longer on my high blood pressure/diabetes medications. This was a blessing. As the weight came off, I gained so much more energy and a willingness to start to care about myself again. With each pound lost came more self-confidence about the way I looked and felt.
Fast forward to 2016. I’m now 8 years post op, but seem to struggle every day with trying to keep my weight off. Sometimes, I don’t want to exercise, but I know I have to in order to maintain my current weight and continue to be healthy. It’s a daily struggle to remember to take all my vitamins and stay hydrated and active, but all these things need to be done. Now, I do admit that there are days that I completely forget to take my vitamins and don’t feel like exercising or even eating right (we all have days like that), but what do you do.....you do better the next day.
WLS Was a (Tool) to Aid Me in Losing Weight
It really all starts in your mind.
Having gastric bypass surgery wasn’t a means to an end for me, it wasn’t a fix all situation, it was a (tool) to aid me in losing weight. The hard part comes after the weight loss surgery. You have to follow the rules in order to be successful. You have to have a mindset that you want to be healthy and will do whatever it takes to stay healthy. I’ve met plenty of people who have had the same RNY surgery I had, but gained all their weight back plus more because they didn’t follow the rules and because they didn’t have the mindset that they needed to change their life around. It really all starts in your mind. You have to be willing to make daily sacrifices in order to be successful on your weight loss journey. Remember, weight loss surgery is a tool, not a quick fix to lose weight. You have to put in all the hard work after you’ve had the surgery.
My message to you…do not give up on your weight loss goals. If you fail one day, make sure you pick up the pieces and do better the next day. Have goals you want to accomplish. My goal is to get into modeling. Who would think that a 45-year old woman would be trying to get into modeling at this point in life, but it’s true. My confidence has increased tremendously because of my weight loss and healthy lifestyle. When you believe in yourself, you can do anything!
 | ABOUT THE AUTHOR Cassandra B. is 45 years old and had RNY Gastric Bypass Surgery in April of 2008 @ INOVA Fair Oaks Hospital in Fairfax, VA. Her starting weight was 281 pounds. Currently, she weighs 175 pounds. She believes she is a testament to anyone reaching their weight loss goals and continuing to live a healthy lifestyle thereafter. She encourages all WLS'ers to never give up! Keep telling yourself that you can do it because you can! |
