Submitted by: Jodi Steyee Howe
I started this journey in July of 2010 at 454 pounds. I had been obese all my life. I still have a diary of when I was 15 years old weighting 181 pounds and talking about dieting and having to getting skinny. How sad is that? I made it all the way down to 157 when I was 16 and then began the the long slow rise back up. Throughout the years I have gained and lost 100's of pounds.
I decided to have WLS and had a Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy in Dec. I weighed 397 the day of surgery. I have lost 1/2 of my original body weight, 227 pounds so far. Some people think WLS is the easy way out. It is not easy, it is a last resort. Surgery is only a tool, you still have to change your way of life. Just like any other weight loss tool, if you don't use it right, it won't work.
I still have 60 - 80 pounds to go and a whole lot of toning to do. I cannot afford to go to a gym so I do a lot of walking. I made a vow to myself that I would not put the weight back on and will do everything I can to help and educate others. I recently walked in The Walk From Obesity and was the number 3 fundraiser for Dallas. This is just the beginning of the 2nd half of my life.
Copy and paste this link and vote for me to win exercise equipment by clicking under these pictures (Vote for this entry) 55 votes short of winning. This is the last day. If you voted before you can do it again to help her over the top.
Contest ends 01/25/12
apps.facebook.com/spirit_stick_with_it/entry/238271
