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My name is Monica and I’ am from the Sacramento area.  I just turned 30yrs old on July 11th, BIG BDAY but it was also the beginning to my new life, a healthier and happier life. I suppose I began steadily gaining weight in about the 4^th grade. Growing up as a kid my parents never had "junk food" in the house. But we had plenty of good home made Mexican cooking. If we didn't have dinner at home my aunts lived within a couple of blocks from us and there was always DELICIOUS food around. We often all gathered at one of my aunts houses for dinner, etc. This is gross now that I think of it, but they always cooked with good old fashioned LARD! I know gross isn't it? You name it they cooked with it. Mmmm, the memories of that food and if you didn't eat the food and have seconds even thirds it was as if it was an insult to the cook, oh and all meals were accompanied by Pepsi’s. Not just one, but several and don't forget tortillas. Anyways not that it was their fault I ate so much but that's when my weight gain started. Aside from the great food always at my disposal I also was a very little girl when I experienced a child hood trauma. Looking back now with therapy, etc. I now know that food was my escape and not realizing that as a child. Anyways food became my best friend. Whether I was happy, sad, depressed, anxious, excited you name it I always turned to food. The more the better was my thing. Food was my drug of choice, it was my addiction.

As the years passed I steadily gained weight and started the vicious cycle of yo-yo dieting doing more damage to myself every single time. I've tried acupressure, phen-fen, WW, omnitrition, Atkins, metabolife, Herbalife, a drive down to Mexicali, Mexico to see a weight loss doctor for a concoction of pills, etc. You name it I've tried it and done it. I lost some weight, gained it back and then some. My greatest weight loss was with phen-fen in the mid 90's. I had lost over 70lbs and was at my lowest weight as an adult. At that time I thought "this is it" this was my solution to my years of being overweight. At that time I still thought I was fat, but looking back at pictures I was skinny. I thought I was still fat because I still weighed over 200lbs, weighing in at 218 and wearing a size 12. That was small for me. I'm a little over 5'8" so somewhat tall and a larger frame, not petite whatsoever. I kept that weight off for a good 2-3yrs or so. My downward spiral to the beginning of the weight coming back was being selected to be a juror on a federal case for an entire month while I was going to school in the evening and also working a full time job. I then had no time and energy to put into my maintenance anymore. All that time and effort I had put in to my weight was now all out the window. My weight slowly crept back up on me over the next 8-9yrs. All during that time of course trying several other diets and ultimately failing at all of them.

Fast forwarding to the past few years, in about 2004 I started thinking about WLS and looking in to it from time to time. I remember the first thing that put this idea in my head were the "Surgilite" commercials. Not knowing much about WLS surgery at that time it was merely a thought. Thinking "wow that would definitely be nice to have surgery and lose weight?" It seemed like a no brainer. I thought about if from time to time but not seriously and that was the extent of that. Over these next few years I dieted off and on losing some weight and eventually gaining it back again and then some. Finally topping out at over 350lbs, probably more because I purposely avoided the scale...I was in complete and utter DENIAL!

Early 2006 I began to experience health issues, I hadn't had a menstrual cycle since about 2004, and I developed type II diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, back pain and severe sweating. This was my wake up call; I had to get serious about my health foremost and my weight as well. At that time I started researching WLS on line and it seemed at that time WLS surgery was everywhere on TV in the magazines all over the place. It seemed as if WLS surgery was much more common and everyone was doing it. Finally at a follow up visit with my PCP I asked her about WLS, she was always on me about losing weight and getting healthy. She referred me to Bariatrics and this is where my new life begins. My first information class on WLS was in mid August at this time I had to fill out paperwork and supply them with all my info. Diets I had been on, how much weight I had lost and gained over the years, my eating habits, etc. This class or meeting was more as to let us know the process of being accepted for WLS, time frames, things to expect, etc. They informed us all that attended the class that we would find out in a couple of months whether we met the requirements and were accepted in to the Bariatrics Program. If you can imagine those two months took FOREVER! I finally received my letter in the mail mid October 2006 advising me that I had been accepted in to the Bariatrics program. I still remember it as if it were yesterday, I WAS SO HAPPY! My prayers were finally being answered. I was on a natural high for days!!!! I knew in my heart of hearts that this was the answer for me. I wanted to be able to enjoy my young adult life and not wait until I was midlife before I actually did something about my weight issues. I attended my first OFFICIAL class early January 2007 where they weighed me in and I weighed in at 340lbs! At this time they took Polaroid’s of our full body front pose and a side pose. I was mortified. I have always avoided cameras and mirrors. They gave us our pictures and I remember keeping them face down, not wanting to look at them because I was going to be so disgusted with myself. I had to start to face the music. While fellow patients were getting their pictures taken I slowly and almost secretively turned my pictures over. I thought "OMG, I'm really that FAT?" I remember this sinking feeling inside, a feeling of disgust, disbelief, anger and sadness. It was a very overwhelming moment. But I knew I was there for the right reasons and that I had made the right decision to continue on and "FACE THE MUSIC" I was prepared for everything they were going to throw at me. Needless to say at the end of that first class I was very motivated to get things going. That was the beginning of many classes, appointments, lab work, testing, etc. for the next 5months or so. During this time I began to take my supplements as advised by the Bariatrics team and followed a pre-op meal plan. I was given a target pre-op weight, which for me was 10% of my weight, 30lbs. I slowly began to lose the weight and about mid April was when I began to really exercise hard and on a regular basic. I was committed to seeing this all the way through and there was no way I was going to sabotage losing my surgery. 

Mid April I had my consult with my surgeon - my angel I call him Dr. David Le. I remember going in to that appointment nervous and shaky as a leaf, thinking the worst. Thinking OMG he's going to deny me my surgery. However to my surprise I had continued to steadily lose weight. I didn't quite lose all 30lbs but my surgeon and the bariatrics team were very confident that I was committed to the life long change in my lifestyle. At this time Dr. Le scheduled my surgery date! I was SOOOOOOOOO EXCITED, I FINALLY have it, it's going to happen. I was on cloud nine! I remember walking out of his office with a new spring in my step and happy as can be. This is finally it. My surgery was scheduled for June 18, 2007 exactly two months from that appointment with Dr. Le. I continued on my pre-op meal plan and continued exercising. 

June 18, 2007, my day had finally arrived. I weighed in at 317lbs, I remember being completely excited, a little nervous but mostly excited. This was going to be my new lease on life and the beginning of a healthier happier me. My father, mother, my younger sister, brother-in-law, my three nephews and my niece all accompanied me to South San Francisco for my big day. I remember not being nervous at all that day. I had exercised that morning, showered up and we headed to the hospital. I was so ready and prepared for this that I believe my nerves were very calm that day. Surgery went smooth and my surgeon gave me an excellent report. He was very confident in me and my future success. Everyone involved in my care at SSF were phenomenal! I’ am so very thankful for everything they have done for me and continue to do for others. Words can not express how thankful and grateful I’ am to have been able to have this surgery. I’ am 1month and 1day post op, my total weight loss to date is 63.4lbs!!!! I know this is just the beginning and what a way to start off. I have no regrets and I would do it all over again. I’ am finally on the loser’s bench forever and loving it. I have a lot more to lose and I know I will one day be one of those success stories   . I love my new life, my future is very promising and I’m so excited about what’s to come.
 

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