jmmurray

Over the years, I have struggled with weight gain and yo-yo dieting. This had been my entire life. I underwent surgery for a gastric sleeve in 2012 after having my first child in 2011 at my highest weight. The surgery was successful. I was young, and I felt and looked great. After years of working in mental health, I went back to school for nutrition science. With a love for both, I went into counseling as a nutritionist. While on this path, I got married, moved out of state, completed my Master's, and became a Registered Dietitian. You may be familiar with the weight gain that sometimes comes with these significant life changes. I let life get away from me and lost focus on my health and myself.
In 2023, I decided to refocus and knew I needed something different. For health reasons, I decided to return to a surgeon for a conversion to gastric bypass. For a long time, what I saw as my failure was a source of shame and disappointment— especially as a dietitian. Around this time, I decided it was the time to share my story of failures and successes to inspire and encourage others while holding myself accountable. This Bariatric lifestyle is unique, and I found through both processes that no one on my healthcare team had been through what I had. I wanted to meet with a healthcare provider who truly understood my journey. This could be an opportunity to relate to other bariatric patients while offering evidence-based nutrition information.
With that in mind, I created POP Wellness. As a perfectionist who struggled with negative self-talk, I adopted the saying “Progress over Perfection.” As long as we are better than yesterday, all is well. This is a journey, and it’s essential to focus on one day, sometimes one hour, at a time. It is my pleasure to walk alongside you on your journey, sharing my motto, experiences, and expertise, which only someone who has been through it could know and appreciate.
https://www.popwellnessgroup.com/