Molly C.
Surgery was never something I considered seriously until about 5 years ago. I have gained and lost weight my whole life, but I was always convinced I could do it myself. In college I got up to 314 pounds. When I graduated I started eating right and exercising and dropped down to 230. I felt great, I was on the right track and I had done it myself!
I kept that weight off for years, but never get it below that. I changed workouts, changed eating, changed the scenery and somehow it would just never budge. As my life changed, and I got older, my weight began to creep back up.
I toyed with the idea of lapband for a bit. I even had surgery scheduled and just 2 days before decided it wasn't right for me. I had dropped 18 pounds in the two weeks leading up to surgery and I felt confident I could do it again. So I did. I dropped another 25 pounds and settled back around 240, which was good enough. I was walking three miles a day and working out and knew eventually the plateau would leave and I'd go down again.
Then an injury happened which haulted working out entirely for a year. You guessed it...the weight was no longer creeping back up. I was soon pushing 290 again and so distraught that an injury could set me back that far.
Finally, surgery had to be the answer. If a simple injury could kick me that far back into the hole, I needed something to help me get back out. I needed a lifeline.
Two people in my life had gotten gastric bypass with Dr. LePort and so I decided he had to be the guy. I met with his team, who are amazing, and we set on the journey. I did the 7 nutrition classes my insurance required and met with all the specialists and jumped through all the hoops and in that time actually gained more weight. My body wasn't playing around anymore. I got back up to 314 exactly. Not a great time for me.
But on June 6, 2017...just 3 weeks ago...I finally had surgery. And today I weighed in at 274. Now some of that weight was lost pre-surgery; but 14 pounds of it is post. I'm still fitting in all my clothes, but they feel good again. I still look like me, but the puffiness in my face is gone. And for the first time in my life I actually believe I'll make it below the 230 mark that has always elluded me.
I cannot wait to heal entirely and be able to work out again. To sit on a plane without a seatbelt extender. To finally have a tool that helps me fight the cravings that have plagued me.
My future is brighter, lighter and as I push 40 I think I'll actually be in the best shape of my life :)
I'm cataloguing my surgical journey on instagram if you're interested: @mollythegypsylite
UPDATE (1/31/2018): Reading through this really hit home. I'm now almost 8 months post-op and I'm down 95 pounds. 95 pounds. NINETY-FIVE POUNDS!!!! I'm below the 230 mark, weighing in at 219. I can't believe I finally made it. Now I am still struggling at this weight...my body clearly enjoys being around this as I haven't lost anything in 6 weeks; but thanks to my bypass, I am not sitting here starving as I wait for my body to cooperate. I'm just being me. I do CrossFit 3 days a week and have done a 5k every month since October and go on hikes with my boyfriend every chance we get. I flew without a seatbelt extender and have needed new clothes. I feel incredible and it only seems to get better.
About Me
Before & After
rollover to see after photo
