I started dieting around the age of 12 but I was never able to keep the weight off. Previously, I tried Weight Watchers and then simply watched what I ate but nothing worked out. I remember taking a trip to Disney World and anyone who has been there knows there’s a lot of walking. I was in so much pain just walking around and I didn't feel comfortable on any of the rides. That's when I knew that it was time for a change so I looked into weight loss surgery. With a body mass index (BMI) under 35, I qualified for Low-BMI Bariatric Surgery and that helped me to lose weight and keep it off.

RELATED: Low-BMI Bariatric Surgery

I had many health issues before having low-bmi bariatric surgery - type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, fatty liver disease and sleep apnea. Since my surgery with New Jersey Bariatric Center, I am happy to report that all of those medical conditions are gone! I am so grateful that this option was available to me. 

Throughout the process, I also learned so much about food and portion control. I thank my dietitians at NJBC for that. The staff is so knowledgeable and understanding. Any time I had a question, they had an answer and they made me feel comfortable about the process. Now I weigh and measure my food intake. I know to read the nutrition label and look at things like protein, carbs and fat. 

My husband says that since losing weight I seem so much happier and I smile more. Traveling has gotten so much easier. I took a trip to Puerto Rico and was able to move around with ease and no pain! I even tried zip lining for the first time. It turns out that I ended up being too light to make it to the end of the line - talk about a non-scale victory! Shopping has also become more fun. Since losing weight with Low-BMI Bariatric Surgery I love that I can now go into any store and buy myself clothes. I picked up a size small at a sale recently and it fit!