Sherry was 23 years old, 350 pounds and on an unhealthy downward spiral when she decided to have weight loss surgery. Now, 170 pounds lighter, she's a tri-athlete and Iron Man contender.
Sherry's Story
"I would sweat tying my shoes."
At my highest weight I was 348 pounds. It was very difficult for me to do normal things. I would be out of breath walking down the hallway. I wasn't healthy, I had high blood pressure, I had joint pain. It was hard to find clothes, and I didn't think I looked attractive. I was just miserable. I was not a normal 23-year-old.
I tried watching my diet and doing weight loss programs, but I would lose weight and then I would ultimately gain a lot more back. My husband and I tried to start a family, but nothing was working. When I saw a reproductive endocrinologist, she said it was too risky to help me get pregnant due to my weight. That was the turning point; I needed to lose weight if I wanted to start a family.
"I decided to get weight loss surgery."
There are different types of weight loss surgery. The most popular is the Roux-en-Y, which is what I have. They divide your stomach and cut it most of the way down and then they staple it. I got mine done laporscopically, which means they made five small incisions on my abdomen and they used surgical tools so that it wouldn't cut the muscle as much and I'd have a better recovery.
I was totally ready to have the surgery. I didn't tell many people that I was having it because at the time there were a lot of negative perceptions about it. Everyone knew someone who had died from it. Carnie Wilson and Al Roker had just had it done. I didn't tell many people because it was my decision, and I didn't need their opinions.
When I woke up from surgery I could definitely tell my insides were rearranged, which was good because I was nervous that I was going to wake up and they would tell me that they couldn't do the surgery for some reason. It was the best and worst feeling.
"My diet changed dramatically."
For the first month when your stomach is healing they put you on a liquid diet where you have to drink a lot of not very good protein shakes and drink a lot of water. I was on liquids for a month, and I dropped weight really fast. After a month I went on a pureed diet for a few weeks, and after that they let me on solids because I was doing really well. When I got onto real food like meat and cooked vegetables, I was only able to eat a few spoonfuls at a time and I was full. I lost between 160 and 170 pounds within nine months, and I have been steady since.
"The first thing I did was sign up at a gym."
I signed up at a ladies' gym because I felt comfortable going there and not having all the men look at me. I started working out pretty much every day. I went from someone who couldn't even walk down the block to someone who is training for an Iron Man in November. I have run a marathon, I do triathlons. The biggest thing that has kept the weight off has been the exercise. I have to exercise several days a week to maintain, but now I like to exercise. It has been a total life change for me.
"Weight loss surgery is not for everyone. It won't fix your personal problems. It fixes your stomach, but it won't fix your brain."
You have to do it for yourself. If you do it for someone else to change their opinion of you, it most likely won't. I have known people who have gone through divorce after the surgery because the husband was jealous, or maybe they had problems before and they just escalated once the wife had lost the weight. A lot of insurance companies and doctors offices require you to get a psychological exam because there are other reasons besides overeating that you become that heavy. I went through therapy for six months after the gastric bypass to make sure that my mind was in the right place to deal with my lifestyle change.
"I am definitely looking forward to being a mom."
I have had a few years to enjoy my life as a new lady, so when my husband and I start that family we set out to have three or four years ago, I'll be ready. I am in a much better position to have kids now. I could be a good mom to them because I can be active and run around the house and play with them. Life is just really turning out great for me.
