- Name: Amy Robinson
- Age: 31
- Surgery: Gastric Sleeve
- Surgery date: April 29th, 2016
- Testimonial date: July 5th, 2016
- Surgeon: Dr. Carlos Velazquez
After moving to North Dakota two years ago and nearing my 30s, I gained an excess of 60 pounds. I was having lower back pain, knee pain, pain in my right heel that I could barely put any pressure on, and most of all, I was unhappy with myself. I had tried different diets, lost a little bit of weight, put it back on, and continued this vicious cycle. What I wasn't expecting was to have as hard of a time losing weight as I neared my 30s. I couldn't just lose 5 to 10 pounds in a week or two like I had easily done in my 20s.
As I talked to my friends, family, and co-workers, I decided it was time to take back control over my life and not only get healthy, but feel better about myself. I wanted to be able to keep up with my sons in their sports and outdoor activities without being completely out of breath and I wanted to feel healthier and not have so many ailments.
I had talked to three different individuals living in my town who had had the surgery done through WeightlossAgents and their stories were amazing. Each had actually weighed more than I did at the time and had all three lost 100 lbs. or more within 8-12 months. The most my one friend has lost was 126 lbs. That was amazing to me. All three had said it was the best decision they had ever made and would do it again in a heartbeat.
The conversations had gotten me thinking. A coworker's husband and I decided it was something we wanted and needed to do for ourselves. Plus, if we traveled together, we'd have someone to travel with and go through the surgery with. Once we talked to our significant others and our families, we made the decision to book our surgery date and paid our deposits. The cost to have the surgery in Mexico was by far way more affordable than to have it done stateside. It was an easy decision to choose this option.
Of course I was a little nervous, but having had surgeries in the past and personally knowing three people who had the same surgery done, I was willing to take my chances. And I'm glad I did.
The surgery itself went well, but I was very sick over the next 48-36 hours. I was in pain and extremely nauseated, throwing up a lot. But once those few days passed and we were headed back home from Mexico, I was relieved and I was okay.
I have currently lost 40 pounds. I was 245 pounds to start with. For the first time in a long long time, I am almost below the 200-lb mark, and for me, that is a huge accomplishment. I don't have the heel pain anymore. My lower back pain has decreased a lot. Not completely, but a lot. My knees don't hurt quite as much. I guess I never really knew how much 40 extra pounds on the body could negatively affect me.
There are plateaus where I'll go a couple weeks without losing anything, and then I'll start losing a good amount of weight again. I've been told that is how this process works, but over the course of a year, I am hoping to lose 60 more pounds! I am hopeful and I am happy I made the choice to have the gastric sleeve surgery. I am still adjusting to only being able to eat a couple bites at a time and the feelings of hunger or fullness. It's very different and I'm still adjusting. But I'm taking it one day at a time and I'm so happy I'm regaining my health and my confidence again.
Thank you WeightlossAgents!