As I held him in my arms, I realized that my only job on this earth is to
protect my children, and I couldn't do it at my weight. My weight could have
cost my son his life! That was the only thing that was important to me, and I
had let my weight affect it. I decided at that exact moment that I had to do
something—I had to draw the line and do something about my weight. I carried
my son into the house and went right to my computer to find options. That is
when I started reading about surgery options. I found my surgeon, and within a
week attended a seminar.
How my life has changed
In every way my life has changed! First, I am the mother I should always have
been. I have the energy to take a hike with my kids, to run beside my son's
motorized car while he drives through our neighborhood streets, to run after
him at the park, or to roll around and wrestle with my kids on the floor. I
have the confidence in all areas of my life.
Since I am happy with myself, you can see the difference everywhere in my
life—in my career, in my marriage, in my personal life. I am no longer sitting
in the background, unsure of myself. I stand up and want to be seen. I changed
my hair, making it short and dyeing it in unusual ways. I purchased funky
glasses. I wear trendy clothes. All of these things bring attention to me, and
that is something I like.
When I lost the weight, it didn't only fix my exterior looks. It changed who I
was on the inside. I should say "it fixed who I was on the inside." I am happy
with myself. I am confident. I like myself. I would have never found that
without the REALIZE® Band.
Things I can do now that I couldn't do before
First, as I said, the activities I can now participate in with my children are
the best part. I went snowboarding with my daughter a few months ago. That is
something I would have never done while heavier. I spent the day on the slopes
trying to find a way to stay up. I fell, I rolled down the mountain, I tumbled
and slid every which way! We laughed all day as I tried and tried to catch on
to snowboarding. It was one long day of extreme activity. As we neared the end
of the day, as we lay on the slope laughing at each other, my daughter turned
to me and said, "I will never forget this day!" And as a mother, it doesn't
get any better than that!
I love to hike and walk with my kids—something I missed out on for a long
time. Riding comfortably on an airplane is something so simple, but so
important. We are traveling to Disney World in a week, and I look forward to
going on some rides. That is something you stop doing when you're heavier.
Wearing a bathing suit on vacation. Seems simple, right? Well, I hadn't done
it in years! Until now!
Are you another successful
REALIZE® patient with a great story? Share it here.
