"My battle with morbid obesity began when I was 19 years old, and for 16 years, I yo-yo dieted my way up to 367 lbs. My life changed on May 2, 2003 when I had Gastric Bypass Surgery through Coastal Center for Obesity. In my first year postop, alone, I lost 184 lbs - more than what I weighed at one year out! To date, I've lost 222 lbs and have been at
... goal since 15 months postop :) I've gone from a Women's Plus Size 7X to a Misses 4. It hasn't been an easy ride, but it is so true when they say that the surgery acts as a tool - not an easy tool but definitely an effective one! I have found that it is no longer just willpower that is keeping me on the right path, and my new anatomy helps to "force" dietary compliance. I am more in touch with my body now more than ever, and I can actually feel hunger and fullness knowing when I need to eat something (and when it is time to stop). I never had this before - rather it was just eat and eat until there was no longer any food left. Before the surgery, I was always eating to feel full and thus satisfied, neither which ever really happened, but since surgery, most of the time I've been full before I am satisfied. For the first time in my life, I finally have control around food (instead of it controlling me), and I am confident that I'll be able to maintain the weight I've lost :) I definitely have no regrets, other than wishing I hadn't waited so long to find out about and follow through with WLS and Coastal Center for Obesity!"
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