Chele Martines

Hi I'm Chele!  I gained weight after taking a sedentary job followed by two C-Sections, a full hip replacement, and a hysterectomy all within four years.  Back to back babies and surgeries took a toll on my body.  Eventually, my job changed and I traveled one week out of each month.  I soon found myself eating really well with clients – and I don’t mean healthy – I mean fine dining full of fatty sauces, wine, Hors d'oeuvres, and then fast food at the airports. I dieted and exercised the best I could but my weight got out of control, I got sick so easily, and I had NO ENERGY.  I looked in to Gastric Surgery a few times in the past but it was never covered by insurance and I did not want to take out a loan for the surgery.  Finally I reached 250lbs which is a lot on a small 5’3” frame.  I got the pre-diabetic and high blood pressure warning bells and that set me on the Gastric Surgery train again.  So here I am.  I started this process in May of 2014.  I was 238lbs the first time I weighed in at the doctor’s office. I had been on a low calorie diet for six months at that point and the side effects were not killing me.  I had the Gastric Sleeve surgery on 12/29/14.  I am now down to 220lbs but most of that was lost before the surgery – I have lost about 6lbs in five days.  I have a long road to travel.