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Looking good! Personally, I think you'd look even better if you grow your hair out more...but that's just me, I like hairy guys, lol.

I have struggled with my weight since I was five years old. Late in 2016- at 28 years old at my heaviest weight- I had my first appointment with a bariatric surgeon in Akron, Ohio where I live and began the steps towards gastric bypass. I was so scared. But I knew that I would rather risk my life than live like this forever. I feared that my parents would bury me in 20 years and that my sister would become an only child. I knew I had to do something. I had tried everything. Between the ages of 8-28 I had tried everything under the sun. I could not lose/maintain the weight loss. On June 26, 2017- I had gastric bypass surgery. I have lost/maintained 180 pound weight loss. I have a whole new life. It is quite beautiful. I look forward to living everyday. I share my journey on Instagram - (my name on there is Maddie5088) and I also have a public Facebook Page called Mornings with Maddie. I created a blog almost a year ago that focuses on sharing my journey, creating/sharing healthy recipes. You can find it here - foodfitnessandbeauty.com I share body positivity, kindness, self love, inclusivity, healthy recipes, grocery hauls, I do monthly giveaways, how to meal prep, affordable/easy meals for bariatric patients and I do Q and As for Bariatric patients. I have felt very called to share my journey with the bariatric community! I hope you come follow along my story! It’s been a heck of a ride! Xoxo Maddie

I'm soooo happy to hear everything went well. Continue to rest up! Onwarf and upward from here![emoji3059][emoji3059] My day is tomorrow! It's MY time!

None of us thought we were “that big” you get used to seeing yourself a certain way. You need to have this surgery, but you also need to explore some therapy.

Anyone that see's you walk down the street would never believe you weighed 322. You look fantastic.

I don't think a reputable surgeon would do that. I can eat a fair amount with my sleeve at 1.5 years out. I don't want to, because I don't want to gain weight back. Example: I used to be able to eat half a medium pizza. Now I am full after 1 slice. The first few bites of most things taste the best anyway. You'll be satiated with less which will help you reach your goal of losing weight.

Today is day 5 for me....I'm better than I thought I would be. I try to stay bust. Omw to sleep now. It's MY time!

Blossom actually does take insurance. In order to by pass the insurance requirements I did out of pocket with blossom. I was 6 weeks start to finish but that had to do with when I could get scheduled. Afterwards, they billed my insurance for out of network benefits and my insurance paid out. I actually paid less then if I’d tried to do it locally with insurance. And I didn’t have the 6-9 month wait.

I actually used the Fast Track program, and I paid entirely out of pocket. They had me on a two week pre-op diet first, which I started on December 24th. I made my first appointment (the check up, talking with the dietitian, and the EKG) for January 2nd, came back in to speak with the surgeon on the 3rd, then had my surgery on the 6th, IV vitamins on the 7th, and I was back home on the 8th (I live in Nevada, so it was just a drive for me). Honestly, the program is worth it. They pay for the hotel they put you at, transportation to and from Blossom and Warm Springs surgical center where you'll have your surgery, and it really is "fast track." The people there are lovely, and almost all of them have had the surgery themselves, so they are really sympathetic to any concerns or fears. It was also nice because I didn't have to stay in a hospital. I was up and walking around 30 minutes after I woke up from surgery, and then pacing around the hotel the rest of the night. It was much less stressful on me because of that.

My Pre-op will be for 12 days beginning on April 17th. My boys keep me in check especially when I want to snack at nights. "They have no problem telling me "mommy go to bed". lol. It's hard especially when there are tons on restaurants near my home and all I can smell is fried chicken and what not.