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!
