My Bariatric Life

Since many health insurance plans exclude weight loss surgery, more people are opting to self-pay and turning to Mexico for bariatric surgery at facilities like the BariatricPal Hospital MX in Tijuana. That is because the cost of weight loss surgery in Mexico can be significantly reduced from the costs for surgery in the USA and Canada. But is it safe? My heart breaks for morbidly obese people whose health plans do not cover bariatric surgery. With health plans that exclude weight loss surgery, if they deem it a medical necessity then you may be able to successfully fight for surgery coverage. I don't know what the success rate is for people who attempt this but it is surely worth trying. Since many health insurance plans exclude weight loss surgery, this leaves people faced with the decision to self-pay for bariatric surgery or to forgo what could very well be a life-saving procedure given the devastating effects of obesity and obesity-related diseases on health. Accordingly, more people are opting to self-pay and turning to Mexico for bariatric surgery at facilities like the BariatricPal Hospital MX in Tijuana. That is because the cost of weight loss surgery in Mexico can be significantly reduced from the costs for surgery in the USA and Canada. For others, the preconceived notion of Mexico being an undeveloped country filled with sub-par "everything" and drug cartels has banished any thoughts of traveling there for bariatric surgery. But I can tell you from personal experience that Mexico is not like that. I drove through Mexico last year from the US border to the Belize border, throughout the Yucatan Peninsula and most of the eastern states. I spent about 5-weeks living there. And I even received healthcare from a gastroenterologist at StarMedica in Merida. It was a very good experience... a wonderful experience. And both the healthcare and the facility were on-par with -- if not better than -- that which I have experienced in the USA. Mexico is largely like the USA with cities and infrastructure and shopping malls and hospitals. Of course there are isolated rural areas, but I did not encounter problems with safety even there. What I did encounter was a very warm and friendly culture that I would one day like to revisit. With the question of safety of weight loss surgery in Mexico being being top of mind, I turned to Alex Brecher founder of BariatricPal Hospital MX for further exploration. Alex Brecher opened the BariatricPal Hospital MX in 2017 after having run a Mexico medical tourism business for 10 years. I am sure that my interview with Alex Brecher of the BariatricPal Hospital MX will further set your mind at ease. Our entire discussion is about safe surgery.

After my transformation (see video) from plastic surgery following massive weight loss, I went through an identity crisis. I looked back at my pre-bariatric surgery photos from 2003 and no longer identified with that person. I gazed at my new and improved reflection in the mirror and wondered who “she” wanted to be. So I set out to find myself, and in doing so, I found love. I gained True Love for myself and others. I learned What Love is Not. And I grew fascinated with understanding the Soul Relationships in my life. If you are on the path to find your self after weight loss, then may this series of articles be helpful guideposts along your journey. We lightly explored the spiritual and sexual aspects of soul mate and twin flame relationships in Soul Relationships part 1. In part 2 we’ll explore how to recognize soul love and the purpose of the . Attraction is a curious thing. We can meet someone who has all the right qualities we seek in a mate, and yet not be attracted to him in the least bit. Less frequently, we meet someone and are physically attracted to him and an emotional attraction develops as we get to know him. Even less frequently, we meet someone and quickly we are drawn to him physically and emotionally, even though we do not yet know him deeply. The emotional attraction even may happen before the physical attraction, and can be very powerful. There is a recognition. When you feel this strong urge to enter into a relationship with someone, that’s soul love. If you’re in a true soul connection, you and your twin will truly love each other more than you’ve ever loved before. You love each other’s soul in a pure spiritual way and that love has existed before you even met. If the twins are not spiritually awake enough to welcome these loving feelings that consume them almost daily, then they may cause fear. Fear, insecurity, and doubt can be terrifying — a love that’s so powerful you begin to fear it because you’ve no control. You fear getting hurt. But you love her and you cannot help but to draw her near. You don’t understand these feelings, its as if she’s put a spell on you. You might analyze the relationship to death and come up with all the reasons why not to follow your heart’s desire. Or you may doubt her love (it’s not her fault, it’s your insecurity). You may push her away, by cutting her out of your life. Remember, each twin always feels what the other is feeling. So she may question your love and test you to see if you truly love her. Both twins are being forced to evaluate what their love is, and what it should be. There will be a crisis, or series of crisis, and this part of the process is very painful. The commitment level of both twins on the validity of their unconditional love is being put to the test. They are flooded with an emotional hurricane and eventually one or both twins withdraw from the other. This in turn, causes one twin to chase the other, and is an equally painful experience. The purpose here is to teach the twins that the Universe is in command and it is time to put their destiny into Its hands and release control. This surrender begins a powerful healing process. The quickest way through is to release pain, fears, judgement, and control to the Universe and send your twin unconditional love if you want her to come back. If she feels your anger she will stay away. If this is you, then you join a huge group of people who have experienced the inexplicable, "What the heck is going on?" Do not worry, just have faith and trust. This relationship is under Divine protection and all will be revealed and harmonized in the end. The Universe has brought the twins together because the time is right. Once you both grow to new levels of spiritual consciousness you will be reunited in the physical. Unconditional love is key to growing through that which challenge us most. That’s our Soul’s purpose—to learn and grow. When we do, we ascend to our higher consciousness. Our soul relationships trigger our issues precisely so we grow into our highest self, we lose our egos and love unconditionally. Unconditional love is what makes the twin flame union work. All feelings are derivatives of love or fear. To grow simply means we transform experiences of fear into experiences of love. We grow by consciously committing to unconditional love, each and every day. Choosing love means we see people (including ourselves) beyond their mistakes. We focus on the good in someone rather than the bad. We see the potential in our mates even when they cannot see it within themselves. We work through our “stuff.” We are kind, compassionate, understanding, and forgiving, even when it's hard to do. Both twins must accept that what is destined will be no matter what. Don’t be under the illusion that you can somehow circumvent this process. You are not the orchestrator of the Universe. The only thing your procrastination will accomplish is to prolong the hell that accompanies the Twin Flame Process and delay bliss. Your free will is not powerful enough to override it. That’s because the twin soul union has a Divine purpose. The Twin Flame journey is immensely deep and sacred. As the twins’ egos die completely the Divine force and destined events happen. Each twin experiences an awakening and Divine light and love radiates from them. You ask, “What was I thinking to run away from him" as both twins experience flashes of insight that ignites their spirituality and unconditional love. Together the twins have extraordinary power to heal, and this is their Divine purpose. The Twin Flame connection is beyond words, beyond time and beyond the ego. It has a destiny of it’s own, and is written in the stars. You can’t control it, you can only surrender to it. The Twin Flame Reunion may not adhere to your mind’s or society’s ideas of what is ‘normal’ within relationship paradigms, but remember we are in the midst of a global shift in energy that requires a new way of thinking about how life, and love, works. Please always listen to your own intuitive knowing about your twin flame, and don’t discount what you feel. You have the power to create or destroy your future. Our beliefs and desires manifest for us and reveal the key to nurturing love and joy in your lives.

There are many options when it comes to affording bariatric surgery and getting FREE or reduced-cost weight loss surgery is possible. There are many options when it comes to paying for bariatric surgery. Let's explore them. Click on each hyperlink to learn more on the topic. Having health insurance does not mean that weight-loss surgery is covered in your policy. About one quarter of people seeking weight-loss surgery will be denied three times before they receive weight-loss surgery insurance approval. If you have insurance coverage for bariatric surgery and are denied, you have the right to contest the decision and write a bariatric surgery insurance appeal letter. Since many health insurance plans exclude weight loss surgery, this leaves people faced with the decision to self-pay for bariatric surgery or to forgo what could very well be a life-saving procedure given the devastating effects of obesity and obesity-related diseases on health. An option is to take out a medical loan for weight-loss surgery. However, bariatric surgery is expensive if health insurance will not cover the surgery. And many people seek bariatric surgery outside the U.S. and engage in the process of weight loss surgery medical tourism. Thousands of individuals head to Mexico for Bariatric Surgery to realize excellent quality care, fast wait times, and attractive prices. With the question of safety of weight loss surgery in Mexico being being top of mind, I turned to Alex Brecher founder of BariatricPal Hospital MX for further exploration. Alex Brecher opened the BariatricPal Hospital MX in 2017 after having run a Mexico medical tourism business for 10 years. As far as free bariatric surgery in the US, while it will no doubt be a challenge, free weight-loss surgery is within the realm of possibility. Free or reduced cost WLS grants and charity care are available. There also are bariatric surgery clinical trials for surgical weight-loss candidates. Use our Match to Clinical Trials in 60-seconds widget on the bottom right column of MyBariatricLife.org to locate a trial near you.

There are many options when it comes to paying for bariatric surgery. Let's explore them. Click on each hyperlink to learn more on the topic. Having health insurance does not mean that weight-loss surgery is covered in your policy. About one quarter of people seeking weight-loss surgery will be denied three times before they receive weight-loss surgery insurance approval. If you have insurance coverage for bariatric surgery and are denied, you have the right to contest the decision and write a bariatric surgery insurance appeal letter. Since many health insurance plans exclude weight loss surgery, this leaves people faced with the decision to self-pay for bariatric surgery or to forgo what could very well be a life-saving procedure given the devastating effects of obesity and obesity-related diseases on health. An option is to take out a medical loan for weight-loss surgery. However, bariatric surgery is expensive if health insurance will not cover the surgery. And many people seek bariatric surgery outside the U.S. and engage in the process of weight loss surgery medical tourism. Thousands of individuals head to Mexico for Bariatric Surgery to realize excellent quality care, fast wait times, and attractive prices. With the question of safety of weight loss surgery in Mexico being being top of mind, I turned to Alex Brecher founder of BariatricPal Hospital MX for further exploration. Alex Brecher opened the BariatricPal Hospital MX in 2017 after having run a Mexico medical tourism business for 10 years. As far as free bariatric surgery in the US, while it will no doubt be a challenge, free weight-loss surgery is within the realm of possibility. Free or reduced cost WLS grants and charity care are available. There also are bariatric surgery clinical trials for surgical weight-loss candidates. Use our Match to Clinical Trials in 60-seconds widget on the bottom right column of MyBariatricLife.org to locate a trial near you.

Eat Right Now® is an Evidence-based program developed from over 10 years of groundbreaking medical research by Dr. Judson Brewer MD, PhD while he was at Yale University School of Medicine’s Therapeutic Neuroscience Clinic and UMass Medical School’s Center for Mindfulness. Oh if the weight loss surgery fixed our "brains," too. Or wherever it is that originate the preoccupation with food, the gnawing in the pit of our stomachs, and the loud voice that says, "I want that!" Unfortunately our brains are WIRED FOR ADDICTION according to research. Each time we eat something sweet or salty or crunchy our brains release “feel good” chemicals – the same chemicals that drive other addictions like smoking, alcohol and even cocaine. Fortunately, we can learn to differentiate between real hunger and emotional craving, and to identify the triggers that drive our cravings. Psychiatrist Judson Brewer's A Simple Way to Break a Bad Habit was the 4th most watched TED Talk of 2016. Psychiatrist Judson Brewer is a thought leader in the “science of self mastery,” having combined nearly 20 years of experience with mindfulness with his scientific research therein. An internationally known expert in mindfulness training for addictions (he wrote the book The Craving Mind), Judson has developed novel treatments to help individuals with substance abuse and eating disorders. And these same principals can work to stop cravings and bad eating habits. To learn more about the mechanism of habit development and discover a simple but profound tactic that might help you beat your next urge to snack, check out Dr. Brewer's app Eat Right Now®. Eat Right Now® is an Evidence-based program developed from over 10 years of groundbreaking medical research by Dr. Judson Brewer MD, PhD while he was at Yale University School of Medicine’s Therapeutic Neuroscience Clinic and UMass Medical School’s Center for Mindfulness. The app can change people’s unhealthy relationships with food and help them break the cycle of craving-related eating, according to a study published in the Journal of Behavioral Medicine. Dr. Brewer is joined by experts Kara Nance, MD FACP, a leading nutrition and weight management expert, and Ashley E. Mason, PhD, an expert in food craving and addiction. According to a study from UCSF, participants in the Eat Right Now® program reduced their food-related cravings by 40%. You can learn about the Eat Right Now app on the program website and sign up for a 7-day free trial. Note that this is NOT an affiliate link.

My heart breaks for morbidly obese people whose health plans do not cover bariatric surgery. With health plans that exclude weight loss surgery, if they deem it a medical necessity then you may be able to successfully fight for surgery coverage. I don't know what the success rate is for people who attempt this but it is surely worth trying. Since many health insurance plans exclude weight loss surgery, this leaves people faced with the decision to self-pay for bariatric surgery or to forgo what could very well be a life-saving procedure given the devastating effects of obesity and obesity-related diseases on health. Accordingly, more people are opting to self-pay and turning to Mexico for bariatric surgery at facilities like the BariatricPal Hospital MX in Tijuana. That is because the cost of weight loss surgery in Mexico can be significantly reduced from the costs for surgery in the USA and Canada. For others, the preconceived notion of Mexico being an undeveloped country filled with sub-par "everything" and drug cartels has banished any thoughts of traveling there for bariatric surgery. But I can tell you from personal experience that Mexico is not like that. I drove through Mexico last year from the US border to the Belize border, throughout the Yucatan Peninsula and most of the eastern states. I spent about 5-weeks living there. And I even received healthcare from a gastroenterologist at StarMedica in Merida. It was a very good experience... a wonderful experience. And both the healthcare and the facility were on-par with -- if not better than -- that which I have experienced in the USA. Mexico is largely like the USA with cities and infrastructure and shopping malls and hospitals. Of course there are isolated rural areas, but I did not encounter problems with safety even there. What I did encounter was a very warm and friendly culture that I would one day like to revisit. With the question of safety of weight loss surgery in Mexico being being top of mind, I turned to Alex Brecher founder of BariatricPal Hospital MX for further exploration. Alex Brecher opened the BariatricPal Hospital MX in 2017 after having run a Mexico medical tourism business for 10 years. I am sure that my interview with Alex Brecher of the BariatricPal Hospital MX will further set your mind at ease. Our entire discussion is about safe surgery.

In this article I interview Alex Brecher founder of BariatricPal Hospital MXabout the safety of weight loss surgery in Mexico. http://www.mybariatriclife.org/bariatricpal-hospital-mx-qa-safe-bariatric-surgery/

I am so glad that a woman who had been through it gave me the insider tips on my facelift. I owe her big time for: 1) convincing me not to have my face done by the bariatric plastic surgeon who did our body lifts, and 2) preparing me that I would look like monster after my facelift. In the end, I got the most incredible amazing life-changing facelift from a FACIAL plastic surgeon, Dr. Catherine Winslow, and she was cheaper than my body contouring plastic surgeon wanted for the facelift who never could have done the work that she did. And I did not have an emotional breakdown when I woke up form surgery and looked like a monster... and slightly inhuman for weeks afterwards. Although it was quite a shock to my family! I repeat: Be prepared. If you get a facelift by a facial plastic surgeon s/he is likely to do a whole lot more to maximize the improvements to your facelift after weight loss than a bariatric plastic surgeon is able to do. Thusly this extensive amount of work might leave you looking slightly inhuman for a week or more, as it did me. And, like me, you may not look like yourself for months. Now I will prepare you just like my friend prepared me. Here are a couple of photos from the early weeks after my facelift. I look slightly inhuman or at least like someone beat me up. And you will, too, so be prepared for this and avoid a panic attack after your facial plastic surgery! This links to my blog post. http://www.mybariatriclife.org/my-facelift-after-weight-loss-and-looking-slightly-inhuman/

What are the pitfalls that you've encountered on this journey? Night time eating is a big one for me. I always was a late night binge eater. Although I don't binge eat any more the habit of craving food at night is a monkey on my back. There are times I can go virtually all day without eating but at night there are times when I'll be starving for food. There is actually a syndrome related to nighttime eating categorized as either night eating syndrome (NES) or the sleep-related eating disorder (SRED). NES is characterized by evening hunger, abnormally increased food intake after the evening meal, nocturnal awakings with ingestions, morning anorexia, and insomnia. Unlike binge eating, excessive amounts of food are not eaten. Ironically, one of the treatments for NES is to eat regularly throughout the day and include protein at every meal. If you suspect that you have NES then get yourself to a therapist who specializes in eating disorders. The National Eating Disorders hotline can be a good starting point: 800-931-2237.

I just love Dr. Winslow. I cannot say enough good things about her. I have to add that she went to the Oklahoma City Bombing and was reconstructing the faces of the children who suffered injuries. G-d bless Dr. Winslow. xoxo

Good idea about taking melatonin. Thanks!

It is a dream for most people to have full, thick hair especially when they notice that thinning hair and/or hair loss is visible. Most bariatric surgeons will tell you the hair loss is only temporary -- but most patients will become quite alarmed to see the many strands of hair at the bottom of their bathtubs day after day. Causes of Hair Loss and Hair Thinning Following weight loss surgery, our bodies must adjust to a lesser amount of calories. Only those organs that require nutrients the most will receive them. Hair is not among those organs. Hair strands also retreat into a state of temporary suspension after weight-loss surgery and do not produce new strands. The condition is temporary, and you don’t need to be concerned about losing all your hair. Likewise, thinning hair is caused by deficiencies in our nutrition; for instance, low iron levels in the body causes hair loss. Treatment for Fuller Thicker Hair The causes of hair thinning and hair loss can be treated using natural elements like supplements and essential oils. Additionally, remedies for thinning hair or loss include reducing stress, having balanced hormones, eating a great diet and so much more. Read these articles to learn how to slow or stop hair loss with natural treatments: Stop Hair Loss After Weight Loss In the first 6-months it's common for patients to experience hair loss after weight loss surgery. You can take the following steps to slow or stop hair loss... 10 Home Remedies for Thinning Hair Here are 10 natural remedies for thinning hair that include: reducing stress, having balanced hormones, eating a great diet, using supplements and much more...

It is a dream for most people to have full, thick hair especially when they notice that thinning hair and/or hair loss is visible. Most bariatric surgeons will tell you the hair loss is only temporary -- but most patients will become quite alarmed to see the many strands of hair at the bottom of their bathtubs day after day. You can take the following steps to slow or stop hair loss and thinning hair... It is a dream for most people to have full, thick hair especially when they notice that thinning hair and/or hair loss is visible. Most bariatric surgeons will tell you the hair loss is only temporary -- but most patients will become quite alarmed to see the many strands of hair at the bottom of their bathtubs day after day. Causes of Hair Loss and Hair Thinning Following weight loss surgery, our bodies must adjust to a lesser amount of calories. Only those organs that require nutrients the most will receive them. Hair is not among those organs. Hair strands also retreat into a state of temporary suspension after weight-loss surgery and do not produce new strands. The condition is temporary, and you don’t need to be concerned about losing all your hair. Likewise, thinning hair is caused by deficiencies in our nutrition; for instance, low iron levels in the body causes hair loss. Treatment for Fuller Thicker Hair The causes of hair thinning and hair loss can be treated using natural elements like supplements and essential oils. Additionally, remedies for thinning hair or loss include reducing stress, having balanced hormones, eating a great diet and so much more. Read these articles to learn how to slow or stop hair loss with natural treatments: Stop Hair Loss After Weight Loss In the first 6-months it's common for patients to experience hair loss after weight loss surgery. You can take the following steps to slow or stop hair loss... 10 Home Remedies for Thinning Hair Here are 10 natural remedies for thinning hair that include: reducing stress, having balanced hormones, eating a great diet, using supplements and much more...

I did not have surgery in MX but I did have treatment at StarMedica hospital in Merida for IBS. And I found just as you did that the quality of care and the facility were as good if not better than I have gotten in the USA. I don't speak Spanish but did not have too much of a problem communicating with people during the month that we were in MX. Many speak English, and Google Translate app on my mobile phone was helpful when I encountered people who did not. How is your aftercare being managed? Do you attend any support groups?

After safely driving all over Mexico for a month last year and experiencing excellent healthcare and a warm and friendly culture for myself, I would feel very comfortable going there for surgery and saving loads of money. Fortunately my RNY in 2003 was covered nearly 100% by my insurance company and I did not have to go through the red tape of supervised 6-mos diets, psychiatric evaluations, and nutrition counseling. But I have a close family member whose insurance does not cover WLS. We are considering the gastric sleeve and if and when he decides to go through with it then we will travel to MX for surgery. The gastric sleeve is in fact a fairly straightforward surgery and the cost in MX can be as little as 10% of the cost in the USA. According to the ASMBS it has less early complications than the DS or RNY. I don't see any data on long term complications but I am sure it does not carry the risk of nutritional deficiencies as the DS and RNY. I would love to hear the real life experience of people who have had the gastric sleeve in MX. Thank you.

How much did it cost? Do you have to go back to Mexico for the aftercare? We do not live anywhere near the border. But we are considering living in MX for the Winter.

I am very glad that my friend prepared me for this! And I am very glad that I went with Dr. Winslow! Holy cow she does amazing work!

YOU LOOK WONDERFUL AND THE HOSPITAL AND RECOVERY HOUSE LOOK FANTASTIC. I AM GLAD TO HEAR AND SEE SUCH POSITIVE REVIEWS.

THanks. Do you care to elaborate on your experience?

@NegreteLove thank you for sharing your experience and your surgeon.

A few years back, I was 1 of 6 people featured in a photo shoot of real people who have defeated their diabetes. And what an incredible day it was! I got to choose the location of my shoot -- the beach -- and was driven there by limousine. The photographer took shots of me doing planks, sprints, and meditation on the beach, as well as hanging out on the boardwalk. That experience was the closest I've come to being a model (a teenage dream of mine). Across the decades I have been every size, from a junior size 7 to a women’s size 24. Getting a diagnosis of diabetes was a critical turning point in my life. It was a wake-up call that I answered, the impetus for me to have my gastric bypass surgery. Had I not gotten diabetes, then I likely would not have had the surgery and turned my health and my life around. My diabetes earned me a 3-night staycation in the hospital. I went home with 5 prescriptions for diabetes and hypertension. Within a year I had bariatric surgery and I credit it with saving my life. But getting the surgery isn't a guarantee of success. It is vital, too, that we become skilled in Using Your Gastric Pouch for Weight Loss. Over the years I must have slipped back into old dysfunctional patterns of relating to food because I began to gain weight at 5-years post-op. And I ended up having a revision surgery. Fast forward to 2013 after my plastic surgery, I became set upon living life larger than ever -- doing all the things that I wanted to do. One might say I am making up for lost time. I came to love planks and squats and HIIT and lifting weights and sprints with my dog Blue and BodyCombat class. I ran with my granddaughter in her first 3k, and we hiked for hours in the mountains of northern California. I learned to row, meditate, belly dance, and tai chi. I completed a strenuous all-day ropes course and overcame my fear of heights. I traveled the USA in an RV and lived in Belize and Mexico for 4-months. And so much more, more, more. I feel that the plastic surgery saved my soul. I am so grateful for how my life has changed, now having defeated my obesity and diabetes for nearly 15 years. I lead a life well-lived. But when I was morbidly obese, I led a life half-lived. The biotech company behind the photo shoot shares my story with patients and healthcare professionals and with employees to encourage people that they can defeat diabetes, too. It is an honor to inspire people to better health. Be thankful for who you are now, but keep fighting for what you want to be tomorrow. Strive for Daily Success.

Getting a diagnosis of diabetes nearly two decades ago was a critical turning point in my life. Had I not gotten diabetes, then I likely would not have gotten the surgery in 2003 and turned my health and my life around. A few years back, I was 1 of 6 people featured in a photo shoot of real people who have defeated their diabetes. And what an incredible day it was! I got to choose the location of my shoot -- the beach -- and was driven there by limousine. The photographer took shots of me doing planks, sprints, and meditation on the beach, as well as hanging out on the boardwalk. That experience was the closest I've come to being a model (a teenage dream of mine). Across the decades I have been every size, from a junior size 7 to a women’s size 24. Getting a diagnosis of diabetes was a critical turning point in my life. It was a wake-up call that I answered, the impetus for me to have my gastric bypass surgery. Had I not gotten diabetes, then I likely would not have had the surgery and turned my health and my life around. My diabetes earned me a 3-night staycation in the hospital. I went home with 5 prescriptions for diabetes and hypertension. Within a year I had bariatric surgery and I credit it with saving my life. But getting the surgery isn't a guarantee of success. It is vital, too, that we become skilled in Using Your Gastric Pouch for Weight Loss. Over the years I must have slipped back into old dysfunctional patterns of relating to food because I began to gain weight at 5-years post-op. And I ended up having a revision surgery. Fast forward to 2013 after my plastic surgery, I became set upon living life larger than ever -- doing all the things that I wanted to do. One might say I am making up for lost time. I came to love planks and squats and HIIT and lifting weights and sprints with my dog Blue and BodyCombat class. I ran with my granddaughter in her first 3k, and we hiked for hours in the mountains of northern California. I learned to row, meditate, belly dance, and tai chi. I completed a strenuous all-day ropes course and overcame my fear of heights. I traveled the USA in an RV and lived in Belize and Mexico for 4-months. And so much more, more, more. I feel that the plastic surgery saved my soul. I am so grateful for how my life has changed, now having defeated my obesity and diabetes for nearly 15 years. I lead a life well-lived. But when I was morbidly obese, I led a life half-lived. The biotech company behind the photo shoot shares my story with patients and healthcare professionals and with employees to encourage people that they can defeat diabetes, too. It is an honor to inspire people to better health. Be thankful for who you are now, but keep fighting for what you want to be tomorrow. Strive for Daily Success.

You look great but that's a lot of money for Mexico.

I have become much more health conscious and logical since having my gastric bypass weight loss surgery in 2003. And I have witnessed that just as there is a method for obesity, there is a method for weight loss. As a result, making good food choices for your bariatric life can be as simple as swapping out unhealthy foods and cooking methods for their healthy versions. I promise you will love cauliflower rice, zoodles, and air-fried veggie chips so much that you’ll never feel deprived of your potatoes and pasta again. Say buh-bye to the habits that kept you trapped in mounds of flesh and fat. And say hello to easy-to-prepare home-cooked meals of whole foods. INVEST IN SEVERAL QUALITY SMALL APPLIANCES AND LEARN NEW, HEALTHY WAYS OF PREPARING FOODS. Investing in a few high-quality small appliances and kitchen tools will pay for themselves with the money you save on processed convenience foods — and you’ll be rewarded with highly nutritious foods and superior taste! Check out a few basics to get you started: • Coleman grill for amazing grilled meats, fish, and vegetables! Take this portable grill on road trips, too! • Slow cooker or electric pressure cooker make food very tender and easier to digest. • Osterizer is the best blender I’ve ever had for frozen protein shakes and smoothies — and it’s far cheaper than a Vitamix! • Cuisinart food processor for chopping cauliflower into rice to pureeing cashews into nut butter or roasted cauliflower into mashed potatoes, and more. • Wok pan for quick and healthy stir-fry meals in minutes. • Vegetable spiralizer to make grain-free noodles from zucchini (zoodles) or sweet potatoes. • Air-fryer for healthy veggie fries, crunchy veggie chips and more! Want the Bariatric Diet Tips that I have culled from experts in health and wellness and have enabled me to maintain a 120+ pound weight loss? Get more life-changing bariatric diet tips: READ NOW. Living larger than ever, My Bariatric Life

Say buh-bye to the habits that kept you trapped in mounds of flesh and fat. And say hello to easy-to-prepare home-cooked meals of whole foods. I have become much more health conscious and logical since having my gastric bypass weight loss surgery in 2003. And I have witnessed that just as there is a method for obesity, there is a method for weight loss. As a result, making good food choices for your bariatric life can be as simple as swapping out unhealthy foods and cooking methods for their healthy versions. I promise you will love cauliflower rice, zoodles, and air-fried veggie chips so much that you’ll never feel deprived of your potatoes and pasta again. Say buh-bye to the habits that kept you trapped in mounds of flesh and fat. And say hello to easy-to-prepare home-cooked meals of whole foods. INVEST IN SEVERAL QUALITY SMALL APPLIANCES AND LEARN NEW, HEALTHY WAYS OF PREPARING FOODS. Investing in a few high-quality small appliances and kitchen tools will pay for themselves with the money you save on processed convenience foods — and you’ll be rewarded with highly nutritious foods and superior taste! Check out a few basics to get you started: • Coleman grill for amazing grilled meats, fish, and vegetables! Take this portable grill on road trips, too! • Slow cooker or electric pressure cooker make food very tender and easier to digest. • Osterizer is the best blender I’ve ever had for frozen protein shakes and smoothies — and it’s far cheaper than a Vitamix! • Cuisinart food processor for chopping cauliflower into rice to pureeing cashews into nut butter or roasted cauliflower into mashed potatoes, and more. • Wok pan for quick and healthy stir-fry meals in minutes. • Vegetable spiralizer to make grain-free noodles from zucchini (zoodles) or sweet potatoes. • Air-fryer for healthy veggie fries, crunchy veggie chips and more! Want the Bariatric Diet Tips that I have culled from experts in health and wellness and have enabled me to maintain a 120+ pound weight loss? Get more life-changing bariatric diet tips: READ NOW. Living larger than ever, My Bariatric Life