• Name: Darlene
• Age: 47
• Surgery: Gastric Sleeve
• Surgery date: January 24th, 2012
• Testimonial date: August 16th, 2012
• Surgeon: Dr. Almanza

Hi, I'm Darlene. I have always been a prisoner to my weight issues. Every fad diet out there had to be tried...the egg diet, the cabbage soup diet, atkins, weight watchers, blah, blah, blah. Yes, I'd lose...and then I'd gain and gain. At my surgery date, I was the heaviest I had ever been - 240 lbs and 5'9". I was miserable. I didn't feel good, EVERYTHING hurt, and I couldn't ride my horses...let me clarify, it's not that I couldn't ride, but I couldn't get on! How embarassing. I went to a clinic to look into the lap band; however, according to most "standards" I was not the required 100 lbs overweight. So I had a delimma, do I force myself to gain the other 20 pounds so I qualify or do I keep looking and trying to lose this weight on my own. Neither was happening, and my insurance wouldn't even discuss the surgery without 5 years under doctor care for weight, or under-lying health issues. I'm not rich, I don't have an extra $30,000 or so laying around for a "whim" of an idea such as weight loss surgery, plus there was the problem of that 100 lbs overweight rule.

So, during one of my low times, I went online and put in "cheap, weight loss surgery." I had no idea what I was going to find. And I was blessed to find the website for gastricsleeve.com. This was the answer to my prayers. I told my husband what I wanted to do and where. He was reluctant at first, but we talked alot, did a lot of research and listened to testimonials from others on YouTube. The decision was made. And, as a bonus, I told my sister about it, and after more discussions, decided we were going together.

That was back in January....seems like a lifetime ago! Now it's been almost 7 months and 60, yes SIXTY, pounds ago. I cannot tell you how happy I am I took that step. I feel so good, and I'm RIDING MY HORSES! Easily, I might add...LOL!!!

Was it a piece of cake (no pun intended)? Absolutely, not. The first month, getting the routine established for meals at work, travelling, etc. takes a lot of commitment and planning. I have a high tolerance for pain, and I never had any issues that created a lot of problem.

Guidelines are provided when you have the surgery for how to eat, etc. after you get home. This is the interesting part. My sister and I were 1 pound apart when we had surgery. When she went home, she didn't necessarily follow the guidelines...actually, there were times she just didn't eat at all! Me, on the other hand, I made sure I took in my required protein, drank my water and walked. The results? Today, we are STILL 1 pound apart! Crazy, huh? But that is how well this surgery works.

Yes, I struggled with 3 week plateaus, 2 pound weight gains and was scale obsessed. Doesn't matter, the weight still comes off. Did I mention how good I feel?

I had my surgery on a Thursday, and we returned home on Sunday. Honestly, I could have gone to work that Monday, but I took the week off to establish that routine and rest - which I still recommend to anyone having the surgery.

If you're thinking about the surgery, and wondering if it works, I'm here to tell you...it does!