If I could tell my overweight unhealthy self how good it feels to be on this side I would sing it from the mountain tops! I spent a lot of time trying to convince myself that I was ok at the weight I was (250 lbs) and that life wasn’t passing me by. In truth, I had a pretty great life before I had the gastric sleeve but I knew I was being held back by my weight from so many experiences.
I was scared to death of the surgery since I had not not had any surgeries besides my tonsils out when I was six. When I mentioned to my family doctor that I was researching gastric sleeve but I was nervous about having the procedure she said, ‘In reality you have so many more health risks being at this weight than having a relatively simple procedure (gastric sleeve).’ That hit me hard. Couple that with the realization that I had been gaining and losing the same 10 pounds for years and that I just knew I needed a better ‘tool’ to tackle the 100+ pounds I needed to lose.
My husband and I agreed we would move ahead with gastric sleeve and I had several places recommend to me by friends. I joined every Facebook group I could from different places who offered gastric sleeve. After several weeks my husband asked if I had booked yet and was surprised when I said I hadn’t…nothing felt right. Enter OCC! When I stumbled upon OCC’s website it was like a light went on. I researched what the various accreditation’s meant, mortality rate, success rates…everything matched up with what I wanted for my body and life…THE BEST! and that’s what OCC is. The confidence I felt with OCC got me through the fears and sometimes jeers of surgery south of the boarder.
Now that the weight is gone I can see how limited my old life was, yes I love and loved my body at any weight but now I soar! I hike, play, dance, bike, just like before the weight loss but I can do it so much more easily! A big bonus is I don’t have to try and craft out an outfit that ‘makes me look skinny’ I can throw on almost anything and feel confident. Plus I sleep so much better knowing I’m healthy!
