Marie carries two photos in her pocket: one of the old Marie and one of the new.
"Why do I carry it with me? To remind me I don't ever want to go back there," she says. "And because people don't believe me when I say I lost 180 pounds."
It took a full year to shed the first 150 pounds. Since then, she's lost another 30. But she never loses sight of the path she was headed down.
"That girl wouldn't be alive today," Marie says. "I was at the point where I was desperate. I had high blood pressure, high cholesterol, wore a C-pap to breathe at night, took 800 mg of ibuprofen four or five times a day and it still didn't work. My migraines and fibromyalgia were out of control."
So how did she do it? Like so many of us, Marie first tried diets – yo-yoing up and down and never getting a handle on her weight. When she got to the point where she couldn't even tie her shoes, she knew it was time to make a change.
"Marie saved her own life," explains Dr. White. "My job is to help her pick the right operation and do it safely for her and get her through the operative process as well as educate her on the pre-operative and post-operative ways that she can take care of herself and she's done the hard part."
The procedure also saved her from a daily ritual of pills. Marie is off most of her medicine and her fibromyalgia is under control. The surgery jump-started her life – the rest was in her hands.
"The biggest part is the diet," she says. "My portions are better controlled, I eat healthier, my whole family eats healthy and I exercise three to four times a week."
Not bad for a woman who tipped the scales at 365 pounds. Now, as a nurse, Marie is preaching the benefits of a healthy lifestyles to anyone and everyone who will listen, without feeling like she has something to hide.
"They just have to commit to trying to lose the weight and start it."
I am so excited for Marie!! And I know pretty much exactly how she feels. I too had gastric by-pass surgery (Oct 2008) and Dr. White was my surgeon. I went from about 350 lbs to 170 lbs and I couldn't feel better if I were a crowd of people!! Some want to say we did it "the easy way." Marie and I and countless others know that isn't exactly true. Faster way maybe. It's a lifetime committment. It's a tool, not a cure. But I recommend it to anyone considering it. It has truly changed (and lengthened!!) my life. Thanks to Dr. White et al. They are wonderful!!!!
I am so proud of you, Marie. Your hard work and determination has really paid off. You are such an inspiration to others. Enjoy the "Beautiful New You"
I am so proud of you, Marie. Your hard work and determination has really paid off. You are such an inspiration to others. Enjoy the "Beautiful New You"
way to go marie. like you i had gastric bypass with docor white nov 2 2009. i weight in right at 500#s. after surgery 20 months later am i have lose a amazing 295#s. thanks to doctor white ,mary and his amazing staff i have my life back. keep up the good work.
