Hi Everybody, my name is Tanisha LaShawn Henry and I have become so much stronger and a little bit healthier since my Gastric Sleeve Surgery on June 3, 2013. It has been almost two months since the surgery and I have been feeling like I can do lots of things that I was not able to do before.

Last year, I went to the Kaiser Permamente Options Program in Fontana to start my surgery program. In the beginning, I weighed almost 420 pounds. I could not walk, eat, even be happy. I was scared at first, because I thought that other people would laugh and make fun at me. But a few weeks passed, I have started to lose a few pounds at a time.

Ever since then, I have made a commitment to lose as much weight as possible before my surgery. I have walked everyday. It helps me gain strength everyday.

When I went to see the bariatric doctor on May 2013, he told me that I was the only woman to lose the most pounds before surgery. I have lost almost 60 pounds before my surgery.

Before my surgery on June 3, 2013, I was weak, tired and mostly low of energy. A few weeks have passed and I have gain a little bit of strength and I feel my confidence returning to me.

Since last year and two months after my surgery, I have lost over 100 pounds so far; going from 420 pounds to 313.3 pounds.

I feel lighter, stronger, and so much healthier than I was years ago. I can walk faster, dance for more that 30mins., I want to swim lots of laps, and so much more.

For all of the future surgery candidates out there: This surgery is not a quick fix. You have to make the weight loss worth it and it's up to you to make the surgery a success. It's a tough, long, and hard journey, but if you believe in yourself and your success, you can make anything happen.

Congratulations on all of your successes!