Life Before Weight Loss Surgery

This blog is written by Kimberly H, a bariatric patient who discusses being a mother, eating well, working out, and trying to lose weight after weight loss surgery. Aside from sharing her experience with WLS, she discusses motivation, self-love, and mental health. 

It is hard to remember what life was like before weight loss surgery. So much has changed and the way you live your life is completely different. It is important to remember where you came from and how hard you have worked to maintain your new lifestyle. Sometimes the best thing to do is reflect on what life was like prior to bariatric surgery. This can really help you if you are struggling with feeling like you haven’t accomplished anything. We beat ourselves up so much about our progress, but it is so important to remember how far you have come. 

Before surgery, you might have found yourself obsessed with food. I remember I would wake up and the first thing I would think about would be what I was going to eat first. Throughout the day, I got anxious if I did not know what I was going to eat next. I was consumed by food and it controlled my mood. If I did not get what I wanted, I would be in a horrible mood. It was a really sad way of living. The addiction took over my mind and it made it so difficult to function. Now, you might not have had such a dramatic situation. There are plenty of people who have the surgery that do not suffer with such an extreme food addiction. Overall though, I have found that many of us have this addiction in common.

My confidence prior to bariatric surgery suffered as well. I was so insecure about how I looked and felt that it made it where I did not want to leave the house. When I was at a restaurant, I was always afraid someone was making fun of me. I also had a fear that I would break the chair I was sitting in. It caused a significant level of anxiety. I suffered from severe depression and I hated the person I saw in the mirror. It was a really painful way of living. No one should hate themselves as much as I hated myself. 

Bariatric surgery changed my life. For the first time in my life, I loved the way I looked and felt. I found myself and blossomed into someone I had always hoped to be. I still struggle with anxiety and depression, and sometimes I find myself going to those dark places that I did prior to surgery, but for the most part, I am a much happier person. I also still struggle with food addiction, but through therapy and discipline, I live a balanced life. The surgery woke me up and allowed me to see clearer. I am so thankful for this tool and I know I wouldn’t be where I am today without it.