Pamela lost 160 pounds with weight loss surgery

Pamela lost 160 pounds with weight loss surgery.  Her journey is today’s featured success story. This proud mom decided to have gastric bypass surgery to be healthier.  She told us that she chose life over death with no reservations. Read more about her journey:

Hello, my name is Pamela March. My starting weight was 394 pounds and my motivation to lose weight is me and my son . I decided to have gastric bypass weight loss surgery on June 14, 2012. I want to be healthy and enjoy life. I was 45 years old when I had the surgery so the choice was ME living or dying and I want to live. I had no fear or doubts when I decided to have the survey.

During the first 8 months, the surgery does the work. After that, it’s on you to make change happen.  Therefore, I changed my eating habits. I took all white foods, junk food and soda pop out of my diet. I did portion control and I ate out a salad saucer. No doubling up and NO seconds. I do allow myself to have a treat maybe once every two weeks. I also started eating more seafood like salmon, tilapia, as well as turkey.  Now, I cook with canola or olive oil and I eat wheat pasta once every two weeks. I’m not a big carb eater, but I do eat fresh fruit and vegetables.  I don’t want to eat any processed food at all. For exercise, I work out 10 minutes a morning. I do weights, jumping jacks, as well as leg and arm exercises.  I walk around the track maybe twice week for 20 minutes.

It has taken me 2 years so far and I have lost 160 pounds. I am currently at 234 and I have 20 more pounds to reach my goal.  I thank God, my doctors and my family and friends for all their support on this journey. Without them, I couldn’t have made it.

My advice to others is to find out what works for you. It might take some times but stick with what works and you will reach your goal. If I was talking to someone interested in weight loss surgery, I would tell that person go to a hospital that specializes in weight loss surgery, do research on your procedure, check out your surgeon before selecting one, and have a good support group.  I am in an online group through my hospital where I had the surgery. You want to have people who are going to support you and your journey. You don’t need any one who  is going to make you doubt your decision. I also tell everyone, “Don’t weigh yourself everyday.” I think it is best to weigh yourself once every two weeks. That work for me.