Starting my journey soon
I’ve been waiting for this moment for years.
For all 38 years of my life, since the day I came out of my Momma Dukes, I’ve been a big mamacita. I’ve been blessed to enjoy life, good food, and all the beautiful moments that come with it. But I’ve reached a place where I’m ready for something different. I want to feel free in my body.
And don’t get me wrong people always assume bigger bodies come from eating too much, but that hasn’t been my story. I’ve never been a heavy eater. The truth is, obesity runs in my genes.
But today I’m choosing to break that cycle. I’m ready to cut those ties and begin a new chapter for myself one where I feel healthier, lighter, and more free.
Starting a weight loss journey, especially one involving gastric sleeve surgery, is a deeply personal decision that comes with both excitement and challenges. From my experience and research, it’s important to understand that weight isn’t always about overeating; genetics and metabolism play a huge role. Gastric sleeve surgery works by surgically reducing the size of the stomach, which helps limit food intake and reduces hunger hormones, leading to effective weight loss. Preparation before surgery involves a nutrition counseling phase, which many people find invaluable. For example, I received a 'Weight-Loss Surgery Nutrition Handbook' that helped me understand normal gastrointestinal anatomy and how the surgery changes it. Understanding this helped me set realistic expectations and adapt my eating habits gradually. Post-surgery, the journey to wellness isn’t just physical but emotional too. Support groups, either online communities or local groups, have been vital for sharing struggles and successes. The journey also taught me the importance of patience—weight loss is a gradual process and maintaining long-term health requires lifestyle changes, not just surgery. One of the biggest lessons is that this is about gaining freedom in my body, not just losing weight. Feeling lighter and healthier has improved my confidence and motivation to keep pushing forward. For anyone starting a similar path, remember to listen to your body, lean on support, and celebrate every small victory on the road to wellness.
