Introductions!

[Kayla 6]

Hey Everyone my name is Kayla I am 22 years old I live in Central Florida about an hour south of Orlando! I am currently in College for Nursing I have 2 years left I was one of the crazy kids that went right after High School and jumped into a car payment and Credit Cards! But I am on track to a rewarding career!! I am the oldest of 7 children the two most recent additions to our family are my 3 year old sister Lucy she was born 3 days before my 19th birthday and my sister Sean Renee she turned 1 back in August those two are my WHOLE World!!! I have a wonderful support system in both my Family and Friends they are all ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!! I was sleeved 4 months ago on August 8th!! That day has changed my life forever....I have had an amazing recovery most recently I had to have my Gallbladder removed but that was a small price to pay for how amazing I am feeling I am going to include a post that I had put on the board a few weeks ago for everyone to read!!

"If someone would have told me a year ago today that I would weigh less than 300 lbs I would have laughed at them and thought they were crazy I mean I weighed in at almost 400 lbs and felt horrible about myself and wasn't going anywhere until that night I went to bed thinking to my self I have my whole life ahead of me what am I doing why am I killing myself with food I realize now how selfish I was being I wasn't caring about anyone not even myself I was denying my family the daughter, sister, niece, aunt, and granddaughter they deserved. I was also denying my future spouse who ever he might be a wife and future children. I couldn't sleep that night wondering if I was going to wake up the next morning I was scared to close my eyes because I didn't want it to be the last time I did. I prayed to God and asked him if he would give me the answer I was looking for something to help me. Weight loss surgery has always been in the back of my mind but I was to embarassed to say something to anyone not my family or friends. I was scared of being judged because for some reason someone was going to think she didn't try hard enough or she is taking the easy way out. The next morning I opened my email at work and the first one I came to was an informational email about Lap Band...and my story to a new life begins there. I registered for a seminar the first I could go to was in Orlando with Dr. Weir...I went to the seminar I met him and his nutritionist Nadia and they were both AMAZING people for the first time I felt like I had a future. I will never forget the first time I met Dr. Weir I immediatley felt at ease with him....That night I filled out all the necesarry paper work to get the process started towards a better life. The next morning I called my primary care physician and made an appointment for what would then be a series of 6 appointments over 6 months. Everything went smooth from there....I had decided to change my procedure to Gastric Sleeve at first my family didn't understand why but once they understood they were behind me 100%!! Most everyone on my team at work was aware of my surgery and to my amazement noone judged me for it they were all so supportive. Once I got my approval from insurance I was scheduled for surgery in 5 weeks August 8th!! I have to admit that when I found out in January that I had to do 6 months of prep I was upset and thought GOD it is going to drag on FOREVER...But then I started counting the weeks days hours and minutes til surgery and my excitement was building I have to admit there was some anxiety but I just absolutely couldn't wait!! My Dad Mom and Grandparents were the only ones I wanted at the hospital and they were all SO supportive....I remember my Papa staying with me until the ABSOLUTE last minute he could and he was the first one there when I woke up. My hospital stay seemed like it took forever but 2 days is nothing compared to a whole lifetime of opportunity! Now here I am a few days shy of 4 months out from my surgery and I weigh 295 lbs, I know I still have a way to go but Damn I think I look AMAZING!! I am getting compliments from people I didn't think knew I existed, and I am not afraid to tell someone I had surgery I am so proud of it. I am now doing things I haven't done since high school I run 3 miles a day I work full time I go to school and I still have energy left!! Its amazing!! I am so excited about what my future holds!! Sorry for any misspelling lol!!"