It took me a while to recognize that I was severely overweight. I was active. I ran half marathons—at nearly 300 pounds. I didn’t have diabetes or heart disease yet, but I knew I was a ticking time bomb. That’s when I decided to prioritize myself and my health.
I’d been unsuccessful at losing weight on my own, so I turned to Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center’s comprehensive Surgical Weight Loss program. Surgery does not guarantee success; it doesn’t meal prep for me, exercise for me, or make good decisions for me. That part’s on me. But there’s still help at every step. And that’s where the care team’s comprehensive support is invaluable—both before and after surgery.
In December 2019, after completing all of the program’s fundamental steps, I underwent gastric bypass surgery. Now, after losing close to 130 pounds, I see how my weight was impacting my health in ways I didn’t know. Now, I run and enjoy myself. I don’t have migraines. I don’t wake up with aches and pains. I’ve started doing activities I forgot I loved to do, like water skiing.
Finally I feel like how I look on the outside matches how I feel on the inside. After choosing my partner, this is the best decision I’ve ever made for myself. Surgical weight loss has added more life to my years. You can’t put a price on that.