Weight Loss Story - Gastric Bypass

Deborah - "I would do it all over again in a heartbeat."

My weight problem began when I was 8 years old. When I was 13, my doctor put me on diet pills. That started my long journey with dieting.

I tried everything from hypnosis to diet centers to acupuncture (which was a staple in my ear). I would lose some weight, but gain it back plus more when I would stop the diet. I have felt like a failure many times.

Finding Help

One night I was watching television (while snacking on something of course), when I saw a commercial about surgical weight loss and called the number on the screen. The person on the other end of the line was great. She encouraged me to come to a discussion group on surgical weight loss. I did. It was one of the best things I have ever done in my life. I knew that day it was the answer I had been looking for.

My peak weight was 280 pounds, but I could see 300 pounds coming real soon. I had gastric bypass surgery in August of 1994. Thirteen months later I had lost 154 pounds. Today I weigh 124 pounds and wear a size 3 pair of jeans, which is amazing after wearing a size 26-28 pair.

A New Lifestyle

I am happier now than I've ever been in my life. I have 4 children and they couldn't be more tickled. My 19 year old daughter loves to go shopping with me now. My 16 year old boy carries me around the house. I can kick the soccer ball around with my 10 year old boy and my 8 year old thinks it's the greatest thing to be able to hug me and touch his hands behind my back.

Some days I feel like I'm going to burst if I don't share with someone what this surgery has done for my life. I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.

One of my greatest joys is to be able to support others at Dr. Fox's office.