Debbie Kleinman
My journey began back in 2001 with becoming a member even before I had my surgery. All of my original posting must have been deleted when the system was updated because, I did not continue posting my journey after a few years. I had a lot of my weight journey information which I wish I could still see. I am posting below what has transpired in the last 15 years as I my 15 year anniversary is on March 25th.
Like many of you, I have tried so many diets in my lifetime and they worked to a point but then the weight just came back on, plus more than I just lost. My journey began in 2001 when I realized that I had to do something as the weight was starting to effect my health. With the passing of my dad in 1998, I knew that I did not want to go that same route and I was heading in that direction. At the time, I was an office assistant in medical billing. One day, I contacted a patient about her insurance and during our conversation she brought the gastric bypass to my attention and I knew it was something I needed to look into further. Fifteen years ago the gastric bypass was not available as it is today and physicians were choosier of who they would do the surgery on. My friend introduced me to her surgeon but he would not do surgery on me because he felt that I was not obese enough, even though I was over 255lbs at 5'6. He did not take into account that I had the onsets of becoming diabetic, was on medication for high blood pressure, an enlarged spleen and let's not forget the weight being over 255 lbs. Aco-worker told me of a surgeon that her neighbor had, so I contacted him. That was Dr Jonathan Aranow in Middletown,CT. I had my 1st consultation in October of 2001. I felt that I could not tell any that I was going to have the gastric bypass because I didn't want anyone to talk me out of it until I was ready. Ready meaning... I had to accept and process it for myself 1st. Like most of you I had to go through a number of tests, see the nutritionist, and get the psych evaluation done before my insurance would approve my surgery. My insurance approved and I had my surgery on March 25, 2002. Once everything was set I was able to tell my family, friends and request my medical leave. I did not have the basic 5 inch incision because at the time of the surgery, I had my spleen removed due to its poor condition. It was not easy in the beginning. I just didn ot have the gastric bypass to recover from but the spleenectomy also. Like most I felt I lost my best friend (food), so don't let people tell you that you took the easy way out. I spent many hours on the obesity website to learn as much as I could. I attended all of the support groups at the hospital. By my 9th month post-op, I had lost most of my weight. I went from a size 24 down to a 12/14. My surgeon told me that I would stop losing weight at about 170 - 180lbs and I could not accept it. I wanted to prove him wrong but could not do it. I would see others lose their weight and I could not understand why I wasn't going to get into a size 8 or 10. I learned through all of this that the surgeon changed my stomach size, but my mindset was still that same old "obese" Debbie. Yes, I was right where the surgeon said I would be, even though I wanted to lose more weight and make my 100lb lost. I had the extra skin removed (tummy tuck) on 2013 and it removed 6-8 lbs of hanging skin off. Shortly after recovering from my tummy tuck, my gallbladder shut down and I had to have another surgery and have it removed. I went down into the 160's at that time but it was short lived.
During the original consulting interview with my surgeon he informed me that right around the one year mark, you may or will gain about 10lbs back and that is where you should stay around that weight (for life) and that is what was happening. I was not happy with that. My mind kept playing back to me what my surgeon had told me, so my mindset took it as written in stone, "This is the weight I will be ...and no lower".
I do not believe that you should not let your life circumstances hold you back from your dreams. You might have to delay them at some point but don't give up! No matter what you take in from other and what they say. I did not forget but I continued my new journey.
In 2008, I graduated from the Institute for Intigrative Nutrition in New York City and I opened up my own health practice that I called "Nourish the Body, LLC" but in the fall of 2010, I changed the business name to "Success Over Obesity,LLC". I believe I have succeeded with my obesity challenge and I wished to help others with their challenges. I am certified with the American Association of Drugless Practitioner's. In my practice, I provided individual counseling, small group counseling and home/office workshops on many different topics.
In November of 2008, I was introduced to Isagenix. It allowed me to get over 40 grams of protein in one meal, along with fruits and veggies that I was not getting enough of. I started feeling better and losing weight and also sleeping better. I still show others about Isagenix and help them to give their bodies what they need to bring their health to a new level.
The more I changed, the more I wanted to grow my knowledge. I obtained my certification with the Acupressure Institute in Berkley, CA after taking 3 weeks off from my job and living there. I could not wait to get home so I could begin eating my home cooked meals again. Talk about listening to your body. Mine was screaming for real food.
The universe then put my life into another direction for knowlege and growth again, so in August, 2011 I received my hypnosis certification with The National Guild of Hypnotist. Since then I have integrated hypnosis into my practice. I tell my clients that ... "Your surgeon changed your stomach size but no one has changed your mindset". You are not the same person you were before the surgery, so "let me help you get that weight off your back, that you are still carrying around". With the support of Dr Aranow, I am letting my clients know that I too had to let go of the feelins that were holding me back in life. I had feeling of neglect and not fitting into my family. I have learned with the help of hypnosis how to release those feeling. I now feel that I have had success over my obesity. I have also learned to bring balance into my life and practice with the help of hypnosis.
In the fall of 2013, I changed the name of the business once again to: Enlightening Minds Hypnosis, LLC. I want people to know that they need to see things differently in order to move forward in their life and it's not just about their weight loss. Everyone is different; it could be neglect, abuse, or so many other barriers that is not allowing them to move forward (like it did to me).
For the 1st time in my life I am feeling blessed. I am helping Bariatric clients with their obesity obstacals. I am helping them to move past what is holding them back, with my knowledge of how hypnosis has changed my life. My mission now is to help others with hypnosis also.
My life has changed dramatically since my surgery and I would have to definately say it is for the better. I have changed so much in my life and this is just the tip of the iceberg.
I can't believe it is almost 15 years! Where has the time gone?????
I am living my Motto: You can change your life by changing your mindset!!!
About Me
Before & After
rollover to see after photo
