Hello everyone!

Here is my story as to how I got here and why I am a Sleever!

When I was a young girl I was always a little plump or chubby. I knew that I was because anytime I would go shopping with my mom and I was in the change room I would hear her say to the sales lady " she is a little chunky so this one might not fit so could you get a size up please..." or "hunny you cant buy those shoes because they are way to narrow for your wide feet" etc Yes she was right no matter how much i weighed my feet were and are wide however this was a crutch in my awareness of body image. I attended a catholic school for most of my life and I remember being a very impressionable child praying to God to make me skinny one day. These are definitely memories that I would love to forget but they are ever present in my mind.

I stayed miserably plump until I went into high school. Now, I must say that I started to sneak Snacks here and there because i wanted those snacks so badly... I dont think my parents ever knew that. But even with the snacking I was a VERY active kid. I played soccer in the summer and I was always outside with my friends. When I hit High School age I started playing Hockey in the winters and took up Rugby, Soccer and Golf when it was warmer. I slowly lost my "baby weight" and during my high school years i bounced between 130lbs and 150lbs.

After graduating from High School I was in a very serious relationship with my now husband and became "comfortable" as most would put it. My highly active lifestyle came to a stand still. I no longer had the time or money to play so many different sports and as a consequence the weight began to pile on pound after pound. Every single time that I would come home to visit my parents my mom would mention to me that she noticed i gained more weight since last time she had seen me.. this always bothered me but you can not silence a lion! As my second year progressed I was climbing the scales and reaching the 200lb mark quickly. During that year my hubby proposed to me and thats when the comments about my weight increased from my mom. She would tell me that if I did not lose weight that my DH would find more attractive women else where and cheat on me ... I was hurt and argued but I couldnt help fearing that there was some truth to it.

By my third year of University I decided to join Herbal Magic (a weightloss company that gives u supplements to curb appetite while following their eating plan) and when I began that program I was up to 212lbs. over all i lost a little over 40 lbs and was feeling great. My DH and I got married the following May and I was about 175lbs on my wedding day. Although i felt accomplished I could not afford to keep up with the purchasing of the supplements (225$/month) especially because we were living on student part time wages. So, unfortunately slowly but surely the weight crept back on and there I was back to 214lbs!!! I felt like a total failure! I tried doing the Atkins diet but never lost a lb it was terrible feeling, working so hard and not seeing any results. My DH and i started running every morning before work and I still didnt see any results...

I finally threw in the towel because i thought this is where my body wanted me to be. BUT I want to follow my dream of becoming a pilot for the Air Force, So i really took working out seriously but never saw the results i wanted to see. I grew up in a military household where both parents were in the forces... so working out was always hard core every time. THEN!!! I discovered information about the VSG and was obsessed with research and finding out how i could make this possible!

I made the necessary adjustments in order to get financing for my sleeve and there I was on Oct 1, 2010 in Tijuana getting my sleeve!!!

Its been 7 weeks tomorrow since surgery and as of last friday when i last weighed myself I have lost 30 lbs!!! Im at 184lbs, but Im weighing myself tomorrow to see where I am at the 7 week mark!

I was very lucky to have found this option so early in my life! i have had no negative side effects from the surgery.. not one day of nausea or acid reflux. I feel great!!! I cant wait to Celebrate my 23rd birthday in June a totally new person... by then I hope to be in Basic Training so that i can become an officer in the military!!

thanks for listening!

Jackie

Jackie that is so wonderful that you are going to be able to fullfill a dream of yours. Your story sounds so typical I think of many of us. It is wonderful that you are doing this at such a young age and you are going to be able to do wonderful things because of the weight loss. I mean for some of us it is just about health, others it is about finding ourselves again or being a size that we never even remember being. But I just love that you are going to use it for your career and to give back to our country! I always wanted to be a marine but got caught up in life and so instead I dated a few too many marines LOL. But in all seriousness congrats and thank you for sharing that, I always like to hear how people made it here and what their personal reasons for the surgery are. Best wishes.

Such an inspiring story!!! I am so glad you are following your dream to be in the millitary. I also stuggled with my weight during childhood. It is such a painful memory, even to this day. I just hope I am as successful as you. Congrats!

Becca.... Good luck on your sleeve surgery!! I know you will do great!

MP8BTC--> I want to fly in the air!! and I want to be healthy and happy for as long as i can!!! I thought Id put my story out there for everyone.. it might strike a cord with someone

Becca.... Good luck on your sleeve surgery!! I know you will do great!

MP8BTC--> I want to fly in the air!! and I want to be healthy and happy for as long as i can!!! I thought Id put my story out there for everyone.. it might strike a cord with someone

I am so glad you decided to do this at an early age. I wish I had. Of course, then these options were not around......so I won't beat myself up too much !!!!

Briar Rose

Good luck with your surgery BriarRose!!! Im really gald that I did this NOW before I have to worry about anyone else Now I know when I have children I will be able to be there for them in all ways required

Hi Jackie! Thanks girl for sharing your story with us. I think anything you have written here will strike a cord somewhere and some way with all of us. Hugs, you are doing fantastic!!!

Your dreams WILL come true, and you will soon be a true American Hero.

Thanks for sharing your story I am sure it will inspire some one who is still on the fence to jusp with both feet! I Also wanted to be in the Air Force to be a heliocopter pilot though but my knees where to bad to join up. So good for you taking the inciative to make your self healthy enough to join. Good Luck

thanks so much laylasmojo! I have done all of my interviews and have already been deemed medically fit! My first choice is to be a pilot so that's my goal! I rrrreally want to be fit for my basic training and be fit for my career.. I'm really hoping to get most physically fit female when I graduate basic training!

I thought bariatric surgery was a disqualifier to joining the military..?

Im not sure what the qualifications are in the U.S. but I know that I am ok here in Canada??? plus its something that is not required to disclose I think

Thank you for your story!

It makes me feel, that I have made the right decision!

Ah ok yes I was thinking of US. Phew!

What a truly inspiring story!!! Good luck being in the military. I know you will do GREAT!!!!!

Please keep us updated with your progress.

Deb

thank you Dansha and emilygrace I lost another 4lbs this week bringing me to 34lbs down in 7 weeks!! I'm happy how everything is going .. The sleeve truly is a blessing in my life!