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Her own brother hardly recognized her …
Kellie recently saw her brother for the first time in two years, as he was away on military duty. Her own brother hardly recognized her. Kellie had bariatric surgery a year and a half ago at age 26 and lost over half her weight—160 pounds. She started at 292 pounds and now weighs 132. Even her surgeon was amazed at her weight loss.
Prior to the surgery, I had arthritis in my ankles, knees and hips. I had a pinched nerve in my lower back due to my weight, which would make my leg numb. It was hard to walk, and I became very sedentary. I was tired all the time. I didn’t want to go out, because I didn’t want people I knew to see me.
I had struggled with my weight all my life. I even managed several weight loss clinics. I had a lot of issues with food. I watched calories for five years, and the lowest I got was 200 pounds, even with medications.
Even though I was only in my mid-twenties, I looked at least 10 years older than that and was very matronly looking. I didn’t look on the outside like the person I felt on the inside.
I had done a lot of research on bariatric surgery and was very excited about it. I had some family health issues that helped me obtain insurance approval quickly. Adult-onset diabetes is very common in my family. I also had a lot of complications related to my legs. I had a lot of documentation and luckily received approval for the surgery the same day I submitted my request.
My surgical experience was very good. I made sure I got up and walked every half hour. I followed every instruction to the letter. I walked on a treadmill. I watched my diet. I knew the surgery was my chance to change the way I looked at food.
At 5 feet 9 inches tall, my doctors say I’m a little underweight now, so I’m trying to gain a few pounds. I’m a lot more social and active. I finally feel like the person people see is the person I’ve always been on the inside. I look my age, 28. I’m having a lot of fun now.
There are a lot of things I no longer have to worry about. I don’t have to buy clothes at a specialty store. Everything in the closet fits. My arthritis has subsided, and the pinched nerve is gone. I love to go dancing. I can even run. I feel like I have a completely new body. Sometimes I don’t recognize it.
Food isn’t so much a part of my life anymore. There are things that I miss. But I’ll take a bite or two and it doesn’t taste as good as I remember. Memories are better than reality.
I don’t feel like I’ve really lost anything other than weight. I’ve gained quite a bit. I’ve gained confidence. I know my physical abilities now. I look forward to skydiving and doing other things I couldn’t before because of weight limitations. I even avoided concerts and flying because of small seats, but now I can do these things.
I would do it again, definitely. It has changed my outlook on life. I know that anything is possible. I think I’m a lot more goal-oriented now. I know that anything I put my mind to I can accomplish. If can do this, I can do anything. | 
