Angela Sperry-Wenke

Prior to Surgery
My name is Angie, and I am a year and half into my weight loss journey. This has a wild and wonderful journey for me, that would not of been possible without the support of my family and friends. To start off with I should probably share what got me to 329 lbs in the first place. Just like most of us whom are overweight I had a very hard life, from a hard childhood to a hard 25 year marriage. Rather than deal with the pain and emotion of these situations I chose to eat my pain away.
As a child I was born to a sixteen year old Mother who resented me from the first day I was born, because in her young mind I had ruined her life. My Mother also suffered from depression and other problems and my childhood was one of abuse both physically and mentally. While I have grown, and forgaven my Mother it was not an easy life. While I think deep down inside my Mother did love me I think her mental illness and then later her prescription addiction caused her to do horrific things to me growing up. From putting out her cigarettes on my arm, digging her nails into my arms, physically and emotionally abusing me and then later in live partying with me. While I do not want to portray my Mother as a monster, I have realized that she was a sick woman. Shortly before she passed away a few years ago I was allowed to have a honest discussion with her about the abuse I suffered, and for the first time in my life she admitted the abuse and apologized for it. This moment was a huge turning point in my life, because by forgiving her I was finally able to move on in my life. Shortly after this life changing conversation I am sad to say she passed away, but it was made easier by being allowed to love her and forgive her.
At the age of eighteen being a young naive girl I ran away and married the first boy who came along, unfortunately for me I was literally running from one abusive situation into the arms of another one. My ex-husband was a good hearted man, but he came from a family of alcoholics and unfortunately he followed their same path. He did not know how to deal with his insecurities and depression and unfortunately I became his punching bag both literally and emotionally for many years. Being away from this situation now I am able to forgive him as well, because even though he did horrendous things to me, many of them only one person in my life knows. Honestly I don’t think he did these things to be cruel to me, I think he was so unhappy with himself it was his only way of coping. I am in NO way excusing his behavior but I understand his mentality, and regardless he is the father of my girls.
In a way without both of these people being in my life, I may not be the person whom I have become a strong, independent woman who knows she deserves so much better. There is not one thing in my life I would change, and I have suffered a lot of abuse and loses including the lose of a daughter I gave up for adoption. But all of these milestones in my life just made me stronger, and more loving and whom I am today. I needed these hard knocks in life to truly appreciate my girls, my family and my life.
In August of 2014 I finally started my new life by having gastric bypass surgery I have since lost 169 lbs but more than that I gained independence and freedom to live my life for the first time in my life. Never in my 43 years I have I been happier or more at peace in my life, I am active person who loves just to get up and go and not sit on my couch and watch life go on by without me.
The Love of my life Larry
In the last year and half I have done so many new things in my life from walking in 5K’s, going to the local amusement park and riding all the rides, to many other new experiences I never could of done without losing all the weight and freeing myself. Along the way I met the love of my life Larry. Larry has showed me that I am valuable person worth being loved and taken care of still being independent. This man encourages my new life and pushes me to accomplish even more, without holding me back. He has taught me there are still good men out there, and along with Larry I gained his two daughters whom I love and adore and six grand-kids I could not be more proud of. This May we will make it official and tie the knot and I can honestly I cannot wait to marry this man! So follow me on my journey into my new life of independence and freedom!