Shelly J.
Hi, My name is Shelly Jackson and I had gastric bypass 8 years ago. When I had the surgery my second child was just one year old. I weighed 269 pounds and was miserable. I have always been heavy and had a problem with my weight. I'm just one of those people who can't eat what others can and not gain weight. Even though I had periods of normal weight, I was usually on the chubby side. After having children I gained so much weight I just couldn't take it off. I could not walk up a flight of stairs without being out of breath for a few minutes. I couldn't sit on the floor to play with my kids or lean over the bathtub to give them a bath. I rarely went outside to play with my kids, and I was embarassed to go to water parks or the beach. I was so self conscious that everywhere I went the first thing I would think is how fat do I look to everyone else. Having the gastric bypass changed my life. I became myself again. I am and energetic, fun, loving and happy person. I can do anything physically that I want to do and I don't hurt anymore. Best of all, I feel good about myself around others and that shows. Although I have to really work to continue my weight loss journey, I'm grateful for such a wonderful head start.