This is my Journey!

Jul 01, 2019

"I have self confidence now and can be the active mother I’ve always wanted to be."

Cerissa | Snohomish, WA

I looked into the eyes of my precious little girl and knew that I had to make a major life change so I could be the mother that she deserved. I decided that now was the time. I made the appointment to start my process. I was told that my insurance didn’t cover Eviva, but I didn’t let that stop me, I changed my insurance policies and I started the journey of getting my life back.

“If you don’t do something to lose this excess weight you will not live long enough to see your daughter graduate from high school, get married or have kids. Don’t you want your daughter to have a mom?” This was the thought that made me realize that it was time to change my life.  I will never forget that day in January of 2015 when I stepped on the scale and it read 405 pounds.  How could this be? How did I let myself get to this point? In addition to obesity, I was battling depression, anxiety, self harm, I had a broken back, fibromyalgia and hyper mobility.

What was life like prior to surgery? Horrible, I was a couch potato and ashamed to show my face out in public and felt like my hubby and kid were embarrassed to be seen with me.  I would hide from the camera and so I have no pics with my kiddo as a small child and with me.

Living my life and being involved in my kid’s life were almost non existent. My weight and size kept me from standing for more than 5 minutes, walking more then 50 ft, and fitting in seats that were not benches. I couldn’t be the wife, mother and person that I longed to be. I was ashamed and embarrassed of my self. I have tried everything that you can think of, WW, south beach, slim fast, fasting, starving and purging myself just to name a few. The tipping point for me was seeing the scale read 405lbs 01/2015.

I looked into the eyes of my precious little girl and knew that I had to make a major life change so I could be the mother that she deserved. I decided that now was the time. I made the appointment to start my process. I was told that my insurance didn’t cover Eviva, but I didn’t let that stop me, I changed my insurance policies and I started the journey of getting my life back.

During my consultation I felt like there was finally a place that would be there to help me get better. It felt like they genuinely cared about me as a person and not just another patient. They wanted me to succeed!

I had my LapSleeve in October of 2016 and have lost 223lbs. From 405lbs down to 182. I went from a size 32 to a size 12. I have more confidence, and am more outgoing instead of hiding in the shadows pretending I’m invisible.

I have self confidence now and can be the active mother I’ve always wanted to be.

I have overcome so much these past years and I am in a spot I never thought I would be in my whole life. A place that I dreamed of. I am smaller than I was in 6th grade! It feels so surreal.  I still look in the mirror and am shocked at the person I see looking back at me.

I would say to the old me that as hard as things have been, it is all worth it. You will learn how strong of a person you can be, you will gain strength and learn how to be the real you. You are teaching your daughter that no matter how hard things can be you will overcome it. To remember that you are not doing this alone and that you will have a whole group of people that will help you along your journey.

No matter how hard things get, it will be worth it.  You will find a strength inside yourself that you didn’t know was there.

-Cerissa

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About Me
29.4
BMI
Mar 15, 2019
Member Since

Before & After
rollover to see after photo
405lbs
180lbs

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